Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > Need help finding a good Small Form Factor case

Need help finding a good Small Form Factor case

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - Need help finding a good Small Form Factor case

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ssj4vegitia   05-17-2007 at 02:05:21 PM

As the subject says I need to help in choosing a SFF case. Any help would be grateful

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TSIMonster   05-17-2007 at 03:49:52 PM
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what do you plan on using the PC for? and how small do you want it to be?

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ssj4vegitia   05-17-2007 at 04:01:21 PM
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I plan on using it for gaming. I am in the military and deploy alot so I would like to have a gaming pc that I can carry with me when I deploy. So It needs to be small I was thinking of this case http://www.newegg.com/product/prod [...] 6811133035

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lostandwandering   05-17-2007 at 04:10:27 PM
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Take a look at the TT Lanbox Lite. Same basic thing, but it looks better IMO and its cheaper.
LanBox Lite

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TSIMonster   05-17-2007 at 04:19:24 PM
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You'll want something tough, so don't cheap out. I had the Ultra MicroFly (same as apevia q-pack) and it worked well... but was sort of flimsy.

Those TT cases look good, but the Apevia Xpack2 might server you just as well for cheaper.

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yourmothersanastronaut   05-17-2007 at 04:49:24 PM
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The Lanbox Lite is currently the case I'm looking at for my SFF build.

As to the flimsiness remark, the Lanbox (the Lite version and the black regular one) is made of steel, not aluminum. It's quite a substantial little case.

It can fit an 8800GTS with no problem, and if you take out the hard drive cage you can fit a GTX in there. It's also big enough for one of those huge Zalman 120mm HSF coolers (or the Thermaltake Blue Orb). As far as I know, the Lanbox Lite is the best SFF case out there.

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deimos88   05-17-2007 at 04:54:21 PM
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the lanbox is good, and the silverstone sg01's are also

also i didnt know you can bring a computer when you get deployed, thats crazy

Reply to deimos88
FriedchikenCamo   05-18-2007 at 05:21:25 PM
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Hi, like ssj4vegitia, I'm looking for a case that I can take for travel. I won't travel that much with this computer, but I am an out of state college student who needs to take the airlines. I do not feel secure leaving this computer in a storage place were dampness or dust would be a problem, which is why i want some portability with my components. I am using this computer primarily for gaming.

When taking the airlines, I plan to put this computer in my small carry-on. I can easily lift a full sized Dell rig up and down, so weight shouldn't be so severe when placing it into the storage bins above the seats. My priority for portability is that this case fits in the dimensions of a small carry-on baggage you can take true the security check-points.

I was reading the mid-range build marathon page and I was very impressed with the components. Could anyone look at these parts that I have selected and suggest which cases I should look into? Perhaps the minor changes in parts are incompatible?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817331002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103010
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130082
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130055
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820220144
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152022
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827152079

I'm being a bit specific linking ALL the components, but since this is my first computer I am building from scratch, I'm being a little more cautious.

This was the original case I was looking into, but obviously it's a little big.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119068

PS: The Lanbox Lite looks excellent. Do the components I chose fit in it? Sorry for the newbishness.

"Motherboard Compatibility - Micro ATX/ mini ITX"
It seems I need to choose a different motherboard for this smaller case?

Reply to FriedchikenCamo
yourmothersanastronaut   05-18-2007 at 06:20:27 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

I was reading the mid-range build marathon page and I was very impressed with the components. Could anyone look at these parts that I have selected and suggest which cases I should look into? Perhaps the minor changes in parts are incompatible?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817331002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103010
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130082
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130055
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820220144
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152022
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827152079

I'm being a bit specific linking ALL the components, but since this is my first computer I am building from scratch, I'm being a little more cautious.

This was the original case I was looking into, but obviously it's a little big.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119068

PS: The Lanbox Lite looks excellent. Do the components I chose fit in it? Sorry for the newbishness.

"Motherboard Compatibility - Micro ATX/ mini ITX"
It seems I need to choose a different motherboard for this smaller case?



If you want a MicroATX case such as the Lanbox/Lite. the Apevia X-QPack, or the Ultra Microfly (I recommend the Lanbox), you'll need a MicroATX motherboard. This Abitboard or this Gigabyteone are good ones. A couple people have reported that the Abit board died on them unexpectedly, I'm waiting to see what new MicroATX boards are out later this summer before I make a decision to buy one. Another concern with the Abit is that with a long video card cooler (like the one on the 8800GTS), two of the SATA ports are blocked. If you replace the stock GPU cooler with something not quite as long, it looks like it'd be fine.

You'll want a new CPU cooler too, the Coolermaster you picked out is too tall. Try out this Zalmanfan instead, it's made of copper and has a silent 92mm fan. It also lies flat against the motherboard, which is the best kind of cooler for a cube case. There's also a version with a blue LED. If you go with that cooler, you'll need an adapterfor LGA775 sockets.

Everything else will fit, the Lanbox is a pretty awesome case.

Reply to yourmothersanastronaut
occdavid   05-18-2007 at 09:13:59 PM
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You might want to check out the Silverstone Sugo SG-03. New version of the SG-01 but in a small tower form. You can also get their duffle bag for it if you want or pad your own. I'm thinking about using it with that Abit board listed above for my next build.

Reply to occdavid
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