Whats the closest you can get to SFF, without being SFF?

[idea]

I'm donating my awesome Antec 3700 to my fileserver. Using it as my workstation is a waste. It has 4x 5.25" and 5xHDD slots, and I only use 1 hdd and 1 dvdrw. My fileserver needs the space much more.

So I'm looking to keep it simple. I don't want an SFF case like the Antec Aria. I still like room to work inside and I do have desk space anyway. I'm looking for a real small tower with good cooling, hopefully 120mm intake/exhaust. I only need 1 or 2 5.25", and 2 hdd slots. Hopefully it can have external USB/firewire ports, maybe even a card reader or some other spiffy features. I love spiffy features. I like quality stuff. I hope it looks real nice too.

Does this remind you guys of anything? This is going to be the last case I buy for a while so I want it to be perfect

 

[Zap]

If you plan to use a normal ATX motherboard, possibly the smallest case that has 120mm fans is the Antec Super LAN Boy. If you search this forum you'll find many complaints that it is cramped inside - I never felt that way but then again my system is kinda stripped down at one optical drive, one hard drive, a video card - no other cards or drives.

 

[Zepper]

Chenming has some nice small cases (about 16" high) that can take an ATX mobo. Or the Aspire X-Sonic if you don't like a door.

.bh.

 

[idea]

Those are all too big. They all have 4x 5.25" spaces. I have a feeling I'm going to be building an SFF box soon.

 

[Zepper]

Well if you can live with a microATX mobo, the Chenming 118 is nice, the Enermax Venus series or the similar AOpen. SFF shoebox types are all proprietary inside - PSU, mobo and sometimes even the CPU cooler. I couldn't stand for all those choices to be made for me.

.bh.

 

[idea]

I've built a few computers for myself over the years and I noticed one thing -- they all do the same exact thing.

Building a computer has gotten a lot more complicated and I'm glad to buy a barebones system where all the thinking has been done for me. I agree with you on the PSU though, stock ones are always cheap quality

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: idea
Those are all too big. They all have 4x 5.25" spaces.

Nope, Super LAN Boy has 3x5¼". Same with the small Chenming aluminum cases (same chassis as original LAN Boy) though those use "mere" 80mm fans. The Super LAN Boy case will be smaller than just about any other ATX tower case you set it next to, plus it has the 120mm fans. To give you an idea of how small the SLB case is...

For height, get a normal ATX motherboard and stick a power supply on top of it.

For depth, get a normal ATX motherboard and stick a 5¼" face plate lengthwise in front of it.

 

[capeconsultant]

 

[capeconsultant]

I really like my Antec 2650. A suprisingly nice combination of room vs size. And side ventilated too! With hard drive grommets too! And easy insert cd bays. I have 2 sitting on my desk, made to be silent, of course.

Dave

 

[capeconsultant]

I think maybe it is the ANtec 2650 BQE, officially.

 

[Zepper]

Hey Capecon...,

Does the SLK2650-BQE have any HD cooling? Can't tell from the pix on the Egg...

.bh.

 

[Zepper]

I found about the smallest case I've ever seen to fit an ATX mobo - the JPAC NJA:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811217013
. No HD cooling - problematic other cooling - junk OE PSU (L&C). But dang it's tight!

.bh.

 

[Zap]

Wow, what a funky design. Props to the company for not being afraid to think beyond the cookie cutter. Just from the pictures I can see limitations, such as 60mm exhaust fans and the PSU may or may not be proprietary (depending on power cord). If PSU was standard ATX and there were some 80mm blowholes on top instead of the 60mm rear fans...

 

[Zepper]

Power cord from back panel is like a short extension - plugs into the back of the PSU inside - clever! I might have to get one to play with. Anyone want a NICE, BRAND NEW L&C PSU??? ...

.bh.

 

[capeconsultant]

2650 BQE has no hard drive cooling per se. Room for an 80 or 90 mm fan in front of case. Dave

 

[Zepper]

Thanks capecon...

.bh.