I am planning a Small Form Factor build to replace my wife’s aging HP Pavilion computer. It will be used for MS Office applications and web browsing. The key factors are modest size and quiet performance. I’ve selected the Intel Core i3-3225 Ivy Bridge HD Graphics 4000 chip so that I will not need an additional GPU. I will be using the Gigabyte GA-Z77N-WIFI LGA 1144 mini-ITX MoBo as it has built in WiFi to connect to our home network. Storage will be handled by an SSD for the OS and a modest HD for data files.
The problem I am having is selecting the case and PSU. The three cases under consideration (in order of size displacement on the desktop) are: Fractal Designs Node 304, SilverStone SUGO SG-05, and the new Lian Li PC-Q27. I am not planning on installing an optical drive to save space (the Fractal case does not allow this anyway) but will have an external one for the rare occasion that she needs one. The Lian Li case is so new that I cannot find any build reviews on line but its size is tempting but I am concerned about the passive cooling (no fans in this unit) and there is not a lot of internal space to work with.
All three cases take ATX PSU and the Corsair CX430M (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139049) seems to be a good choice since it is modular and I can reduce the cable stuffing in the case. Here are my issues:
1) the Fractal Designs case is probably the easiest to build, but the footprint is the largest,
2) the Lian Li case is has the smallest foot print but I’m unsure whether there would be adequate cooling and (air circulation would only come from the CPU fan and the PSU which will exhaust air because of the way it mounts in the case.
3) the SUGO SG-05 appears to be a good candidate but I’m not certain about the noise level from the fan.
I would appreciate any thoughts about passive cooling from those who have built small systems and the specifics outlined above.
The problem I am having is selecting the case and PSU. The three cases under consideration (in order of size displacement on the desktop) are: Fractal Designs Node 304, SilverStone SUGO SG-05, and the new Lian Li PC-Q27. I am not planning on installing an optical drive to save space (the Fractal case does not allow this anyway) but will have an external one for the rare occasion that she needs one. The Lian Li case is so new that I cannot find any build reviews on line but its size is tempting but I am concerned about the passive cooling (no fans in this unit) and there is not a lot of internal space to work with.
All three cases take ATX PSU and the Corsair CX430M (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139049) seems to be a good choice since it is modular and I can reduce the cable stuffing in the case. Here are my issues:
1) the Fractal Designs case is probably the easiest to build, but the footprint is the largest,
2) the Lian Li case is has the smallest foot print but I’m unsure whether there would be adequate cooling and (air circulation would only come from the CPU fan and the PSU which will exhaust air because of the way it mounts in the case.
3) the SUGO SG-05 appears to be a good candidate but I’m not certain about the noise level from the fan.
I would appreciate any thoughts about passive cooling from those who have built small systems and the specifics outlined above.
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