mITX Custom Build Layout - Noise and Cooling

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wscarlton

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Jan 17, 2014
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Hey guys, totally new hear, but I've been reading the forums for awhile, preparing for my first full custom build. The goal is to pack some power into a small wooden case that doesn't look like a pc. HTPC and occasional gaming will be its use. You can view pics and a few sketchup models here:

(https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B_heoAxXaJ1iOExRWWwxRHhINUU&usp=sharing)


My main concerns are cooling and noise. By mounting the graphics card beneath the mobo (via a flexible pci extension) I can vent the exhaust out of the bottom of the case. The CPU will be vented out the top of the case via a low profile heat sink and fan. Both component fans will be right next to the enclosure (with vents), and a third fan will pull fresh air into the case from the front. If you look at the models, this will be a very small case (approx 8" x 8" x 4").

What do you guys think? Will I have an issue with cooling or noise? Any tips would be helpful - fell free to play with the models if you like and relink them in your response.

Parts list here:

(http://pcpartpicker.com/user/wscarlton/saved/3swc)
 
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DarkSable


...he's got an AMD HD 7770, not a GTX 770. Big difference there. The 600w rating is also severly inflated.

Allocco91, I like your suggestion of an APU build with the new Kaveri APUs that came out recently - overclocked they could be a decent force to be reckoned with in a tiny build. Same with going with a locked CPU that doesn't have integrated graphics, though overclocking moderately is possible in a small form factor build like this. Since he is going to be gaming though, I wouldn't go with a 7750 - I considered recommending that myself, but... it's just not incredibly powerful. It depends how much size matters vs how...
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wscarlton

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Jan 17, 2014
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PS, I know the pico PSU is not enough for the graphics card, so I'm toying with the idea of either powering the graphics card with a dedicated pico PSU or running extensions to an external modular PSU. I have a spare 700W OCZ PSU around.
 
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allocco91

allocco91

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Nov 4, 2013
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Just a few notes:

You can drop that card down a notch and go with a fanless 7750.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121655

Another this is that I'm assuming you already factored out the possibility of an APU build? Do you have to overclock or can you opt for a CPU with no integrated graphics, which will run cooler and use less power?

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Supply-PicoPSU-110-240vAC-Switching/dp/B0081S1YEE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1389937406&sr=8-6&keywords=picopsu

This should be enough to power something like that.


 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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You're going to be fine on cooling, I think, as long as you aren't trying to overclock heavily - as a note, I would get the CM GeminII s524 and put a 140mm fan on it - best low profile updraft cooler out there, and shouldn't stick up above the motherboard units.

Don't know about noise, especially with a wooden case. What I would say is that you're going to want to use rubber in strategic points to keep the fans from vibrating against the wood.

Biggest issue that I see is that I question how in the world your graphics card is going to get any air intake? Would it be possible to take this thing and stand it on its edge, so that you have the CPU venting out one side and the graphics card pulling air in on the other?

As for power, hmm... Why can't you cram a SFX PSU in there? Is it still too thick, or what's the problem? Because something like the Silverstone 450w model would be more than enough for your needs, and heck, would allow you to get a more powerful graphics card.

One thing that I can throw out there... you do NOT want AMD for a small form factor build. Their graphics cards run HOT. I would highly, highly suggest going with a gtx 760 mini - it will give you way more GPU power, will fit perfectly, and will be cooler.
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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...he's got an AMD HD 7770, not a GTX 770. Big difference there. The 600w rating is also severly inflated.

Allocco91, I like your suggestion of an APU build with the new Kaveri APUs that came out recently - overclocked they could be a decent force to be reckoned with in a tiny build. Same with going with a locked CPU that doesn't have integrated graphics, though overclocking moderately is possible in a small form factor build like this. Since he is going to be gaming though, I wouldn't go with a 7750 - I considered recommending that myself, but... it's just not incredibly powerful. It depends how much size matters vs how much gaming performance matters.

Oh, and OP? One thing about ventilation that I didn't think about - you're going to want holes other places than just for the fans. I'm thinking you'll do standard fan holes on the intakes and output, but I would also put them strategically around the output of the CPU fan too, just so that if it has airflow issues it can draw in cool air from outside the case.
 
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allocco91

allocco91

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Yeah, the mini GPU sounds like a good idea. Since he originally picked out a 7770, I just thought he wasn't going to do that much gaming.

About the APU, the A8-7600 should be released in the very near future. I saw the benchmarks on a TH article. It's 65w TDP, with a 45w option through ASRock's TDP firmware setting, and it acutally wiped the floor with some games against the 6800k! I think it's going to be on the market for like 120-130, not sure. But I'm seriously looking into it.
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Yeah, if you're doing a SFF build, those GPUs are the way to go - I loved seeing the mini 670s, and several manufacturers have done the same thing with 760s.

Ahh, my bad, I thought those APUs were out already. I would definitely go with the overclockable offering though, for the stronger GPU and, you know, overclocking. :p
 
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wscarlton

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Jan 17, 2014
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Yep, I have a 700w PSU that I could repurpose, but I don't want it inside the case, so I would keep it external and run a cable extension to it, like this one (http://www.amazon.com/CB-24P-Sleeved-Motherboard-Extension-Premium/dp/B0036ORCHG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389967436&sr=8-2&keywords=psu+extension+cable).
 
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wscarlton

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Jan 17, 2014
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Great responses - a couple of thoughts...

As for the APU, I want to run dual OS, so that pretty much limits me to Intel and Gigabyte mobo in order to get OS X running reliably. I thought about waiting for Broadwell chips because supposedly the Iris Pro IGU is much better than the current one, but if I can work a decent graphics card into the design, then that's the way I'll go. I picked the MSI card because it fits very nicely beneath the mobo.

Thanks for the idea to mount will rubber to reduce noise. I'll definitely do that.

There will be vent holes front, back, top, and bottom. Front and back holes are to keep air circulating through the case (front the front intake fan). Bottom hole will be cut to the size and location of the graphics card fan. Top holes are a bit trickier because I want them to blend in, but they will run almost the full length of the case, seen here (holes are the filled in squares).

(https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_heoAxXaJ1iSGZDR0Z6Y1VoalU/edit?usp=sharing)
 
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DarkSable

DarkSable

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Ahh, yeah, having this also be a Hackintosh is a pain. I wouldn't worry about the Iris Pro graphics; since you are going to be gaming a little, you're going to want a graphics card. You can certainly use that HD 7770 if you want, but if you want better graphics, the 760 mini is more powerful and still no longer than the motherboard.

I don't know if those top holes are going to be able to vent out the hot air from the cooler well enough... What would the issue be with just doing a pattern of round drill-holes right over where you need them?

 
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