Who has the smallest gaming machine?

[Blue_Max]

I'd prefer a zero-footprint PC like a throwback to the early days!

Now if they could just alter it a little to add a good MXM graphics module, it'd be the ultimate porter! :wub:

 

[Ketchup]

ncase m1 like this:

Takes a full-size video card and a dual 120mm radiator

Intel Core i7 4770k

Swiftech dual 120mm watercooling

Corsair 240GB mSATA drive directly mounted on the board (no PSU connection)

Silverstone FlexATX (microATX) modular PSU.

NVIDIA GTX 760 4GB (temporary)

I remember seeing these a few months ago, and I really like it!

 

[monkeydelmagico]

No offense to a cool case mod, but that's some seriously hard work, when just a little more case size will allow a standard power supply - and there's plenty of fast video cards that aren't too long for them.

Agreed. I loved the concept of small form factor but found it fussy. The cooling is so much better and the noise lower when you step up the case size to at least allow for some front to back 120mm fans. Standard power supply is a must have for any decent gaming rig.

Otherwise we are talking laptops. Sure they can game but do they count?

 

[Blue_Max]

Otherwise we are talking laptops. Sure they can game but do they count?

Sure, you can count out the hundred dollar bills as they fly out of your wallet at about triple the rate of desktop components.

Some of these nifty ITX cubes are definitely the best balance between high speed and tiny size. I love how some video card MFR's are making short-length versions of their mid/high-end cards for that purpose!

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Sure, you can count out the hundred dollar bills as they fly out of your wallet at about triple the rate of desktop components.

Agreed for the most part. I still see itx as being a bit pricey as well when a mATX isn't much larger, typically cools better, and offers a wider range of low cost options.

 

[Ketchup]

Agreed for the most part. I still see itx as being a bit pricey as well when a mATX isn't much larger, typically cools better, and offers a wider range of low cost options.

This is very true right now. Interestingly, I was just glancing at a few results on the new 960, and it looks like a great card to balance power usage/heat/game-ability for such a build.

 

[Runamok81]

Agreed, that wold be hard to beat. The riser card is what did it, I think. I don't have time to read the entire thread there, but can you share with us what the performance, noise is like?

Performance is spot on. Both CPU and GPU overclock well. Benchmarks put it near the top of the pack, 1500pts in Heaven Max'd 60fps, 1080P. But GPU heat can get close to 76 so later on, I upgraded the stock 92mm Gigabyte GPU fan to a 120mm Yate Loon. Very quiet now. Better cooling. Doesn't make a peep in the living room.

No offense to a cool case mod, but that's some seriously hard work, when just a little more case size will allow a standard power supply - and there's plenty of fast video cards that aren't too long for them.

None taken. I agree. There was ALOT of extra work involved with going this small.

I mean... its bragging rights mostly, not common sense. But, It turned out okay. Can overclock and cooling is acceptable and quiet.

 

[Blue_Max]

Just bumping this up because I'm seriously considering building one... ITX in a tiny cube like the one I mentioned. Tempting to go low-profile to save the size, but that limits your video card options so badly...

I wish AMD's top APU was faster, that'd make it a no-brainer!

 

[Charlie98]

I remember seeing these a few months ago, and I really like it!

I just wish they wouldn't have buried the I/O panel at the bottom. Why did they do that...? Other than that, it's a pretty nice case.

 

[CZroe]

I just wish they wouldn't have buried the I/O panel at the bottom. Why did they do that...? Other than that, it's a pretty nice case.

Huh? I/O shield is in the normal ATX position/orientation. If you mean FPIO (front panel ports), the only issue I have is that the USB ports are flipped compared to most cases with them set vertical (might be reverse-able) and they are surrounded by brushed aluminum that can easily scratch if you don't CAREFULLY align your USB plugs before inserting.

This case is so small that it belongs ON your desk. When on your desk the FPIO ports should be on the bottom so that cables don't drape and tangle or waste a significant portion of the length of your device cables. It would look terrible with anything plugged in if they were higher up. Besides, the slot-load optical drive would have to go somewhere else if the ports were moved to the top.

 

[Charlie98]

I have a question about small PCs and water cooling...

In my mind, if you are building a small machine... mITX in a small case, GPU if it's for gaming... why are so many of the case builders making room for water cooling? In my mind it doesn't make sense. You take all these small components... and then add the size and complexity of hoses and radiator(s)??? For that matter, I see that in some mATX cases, not that mATX is the ultimate trade-off in size, but they could make some very small mATX cases if they would leave out the requirement for water cooling (and 8 HDDs, but that is another thread.)

...am I all wet over this, or am I making any sense?

 

[Charlie98]

Huh? I/O shield is in the normal ATX position/orientation. If you mean FPIO (front panel ports), the only issue I have is that the USB ports are flipped compared to most cases with them set vertical (might be reverse-able) and they are surrounded by brushed aluminum that can easily scratch if you don't CAREFULLY align your USB plugs before inserting.

This case is so small that it belongs ON your desk. When on your desk the FPIO ports should be on the bottom so that cables don't drape and tangle or waste a significant portion of the length of your device cables. It would look terrible with anything plugged in if they were higher up. Besides, the slot-load optical drive would have to go somewhere else if the ports were moved to the top.

That's what I meant...

Silly me, I thought we were out of the '80's and having the IBM 286 setting on the desk.

 

[Ichinisan]

I have a question about small PCs and water cooling...

In my mind, if you are building a small machine... mITX in a small case, GPU if it's for gaming... why are so many of the case builders making room for water cooling? In my mind it doesn't make sense. You take all these small components... and then add the size and complexity of hoses and radiator(s)??? For that matter, I see that in some mATX cases, not that mATX is the ultimate trade-off in size, but they could make some very small mATX cases if they would leave out the requirement for water cooling (and 8 HDDs, but that is another thread.)

...am I all wet over this, or am I making any sense?

I think the systems you're referring to take mini-ITX boards, not "micro ATX."

One of the design goals of the NCASE M1 was to fit a closed-loop watercooling system with dual 120mm radiator. They managed to do that in a very tiny system. If you decide not to use a dual 120mm radiator, you can use the included drive cages there. There's also an option to use a full-size ATX power supply if you want.

 

[Termie]

I have a question about small PCs and water cooling...

In my mind, if you are building a small machine... mITX in a small case, GPU if it's for gaming... why are so many of the case builders making room for water cooling? In my mind it doesn't make sense. You take all these small components... and then add the size and complexity of hoses and radiator(s)??? For that matter, I see that in some mATX cases, not that mATX is the ultimate trade-off in size, but they could make some very small mATX cases if they would leave out the requirement for water cooling (and 8 HDDs, but that is another thread.)

...am I all wet over this, or am I making any sense?

There's one simple reason: tower air coolers will almost never fit, not just due to height but also due to clearance problems on the motherboard. And in a truly small itx case, height becomes a huge factor, compromising the effectiveness of even low profile cooling.

 

[mfenn]

There's one simple reason: tower air coolers will almost never fit, not just due to height but also due to clearance problems on the motherboard. And in a truly small itx case, height becomes a huge factor, compromising the effectiveness of even low profile cooling.

Yeah, being able to split the block that makes contact with the CPU and the heat exchanger into two separate pieces gives you a lot more flexibility when working in tight spaces.

 

[Blue_Max]

That's what I meant...

Silly me, I thought we were out of the '80's and having the IBM 286 setting on the desk.

Hey, I miss those days! I wish I had a computer so quiet, gorgeous and the right size it could be right on the desk in front of me all the time.

 

[Charlie98]

There's one simple reason: tower air coolers will almost never fit, not just due to height but also due to clearance problems on the motherboard. And in a truly small itx case, height becomes a huge factor, compromising the effectiveness of even low profile cooling.

Interesting thought... and I guess it makes sense. It just seems like a reasonable OC with a cooler like a Gemini M4 or similar could get you there... but I understand the air has to move out of the case, too.

 

[GoStumpy]

This thread needs moar pics!

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811119261

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811139033

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811139052

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811147236

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811108457

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811156312

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811163231

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811112348

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811133260

I'll take one of each

 

[Termie]

Interesting thought... and I guess it makes sense. It just seems like a reasonable OC with a cooler like a Gemini M4 or similar could get you there... but I understand the air has to move out of the case, too.

The GeminII M4 actually doesn't fit on a lot of ITX boards. The sockets are typically too close to the PCIe slot.

 

[muskie32]

My smallest gaming system is probably my laptop...

The Sugo builds are really nice. I have built systems in about five of their cases.

 

[Blue_Max]

My smallest gaming system is probably my laptop...

Can't argue with that... except you can build an itx gamer with these cool parts for ~$600 and still outperform a near-$2000 laptop. (Provided you've got a screen to hook up to once you get there, otherwise you're carrying that with you too!)

 

[GoStumpy]

Wife said she'll buy this one for me:

Sounds like the start of a new ITX built, w00t

 

[Blue_Max]

Wife said she'll buy this one for me:

Sounds like the start of a new ITX built, w00t

Lucky man!! Gotta' enjoy those magic moments where even the ladies find computers cool to look at and use!

 

[Ichinisan]

Wife said she'll buy this one for me:

Sounds like the start of a new ITX built, w00t

I think you'll need to buy some air conditioner filters and install them all over that case.

It's hard to tell from that picture, but the footprint looks almost like a cube case. Not feeling it.

 

[GoStumpy]

I think you'll need to buy some air conditioner filters and install them all over that case.

It's hard to tell from that picture, but the footprint looks almost like a cube case. Not feeling it.

I have no issues with dust in my house, takes a year to get the filters dirty in my P182SE

It's not tiny I suppose, 11x14x15... my Antec P182SE is 8x20x20, and my Antec 300 is 8x18x18..

The Thermaltake one is 10x11x12, so a bit smaller for sure.

I just saw this one and damn that's cool looking... like the Dr. Seuss of PC cases:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-406-_-Product

Not a ton of room for the GPU so maybe not a great gaming case..