I want to build decent a Mini-ITX computer - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cavi Mike · 08-23-2010, 06:09 PM

My current computer is the center of my entertainment..center..in my living room. Though it still runs like the day I built it 6 years ago, it's a bit dated and lags on high-quality flash-based videos on Vimeo, Hulu, etc. It's also very large, loud and cumbersome. I'd like to build something small that can fit at least two 3.5" HDD's and a full-size video card so I won't have any problems running my monitor at 1280x1024 and my "TV" at 1280x768. It will likely also be running a projector in the near future at the same resolution or higher so I'm going to be needing a card that's quite large. Obviously this is going to generate some heat so I don't have any idea if a case this small is going to cause cooling issues, if I can even fit what I want in there.

If this sounds like a stupid idea, don't be afraid to say so.

I'm also partial to Asus, AMD and NVidia, if any of that matters.

Zweiblumen · 08-24-2010, 02:53 PM

You should at least find some interesting reading at Mini-ITX Systems - Industrial Computing News

Yours
ZB

LordEden · 08-25-2010, 11:07 AM

What is the deal with people wanting a full sized PC rig in a computer half the size of a fucking shoebox. If you want a PC, buy a PC. Jeez, you are not losing THAT much space with even a full sized PC.

/end rant about end users wanting the smallest pcs ever

*****

The biggest problem with a mini-itx PC you are going to run into is your want for 2 HDDs and a full sized video card. Those cases are SMALL and only can hold laptop HDDs and only one of those. There is no place for expansion cards in most of them. They also run hot and usually need fan/heatsink upgrades after you buy them if you want them to run at decent temps.

Get a slimline PC and be done with it. You are not going to get what you want out of a mini-itx.

Cavi Mike · 08-25-2010, 11:57 AM

Wow, so much hate for something so insignificant. Lian Li makes Mini-ITX form factor cases that fit full-size video cards and even fit regular ATX PSU's while having multiple 3.5" HDD bays. Obviously things are tight (if it's even possible to fit what they claim) but I'm the one assembling it so why would you care how difficult it would be to fit all of that in there? You should see my case right now. In fact, I'm gonna charge my camera and snap a picture of it. 2 PSU's, 4 HDD's, 1 HDD cooler, 3.5" floppy, 2 ODD's, a front panel with extra SATA, audio and USB jacks, it's crazy. This rig would be a nightmare to anyone else but I'm not anyone else. It's my problem so don't get so over-worked about it.

In fact, I'm so in love with how I've managed to get all of this crap inside this thing that I'm thinking about scrapping the Mini-ITX thing and just getting a new mobo, CPU, vid-card and RAM and call it a day.

*edit* I used to do control wiring and loved it so maybe that's why I like things like this.

LordEden · 08-25-2010, 12:58 PM

That rant was not for you, it was for all my end users that see these little computers and have to have them, because of the size. Then complain that when they have a ton of programs running and it slows to a crawl. Then they ask me to upgrade them to something that the mini-ITX board can't handle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavi Mike

If this sounds like a stupid idea, don't be afraid to say so.

I said what you might have problems with, if you want to stuff all that stuff into a case, be my guest. Not my problem.

I looked at the case on that site and while it is nice, why would you buy a larger case and run a mini-ITX? It will fit a mini-ATX MB which means you can have more than one core for a CPU. Just seems silly when you can get that case and put a mini-atx MB in it and have no problems.

Cavi Mike · 08-25-2010, 02:27 PM

Yup, I'm just gonna update my current rig. I like it too much. I've decided to put it next to my sofa and run some long cables around the room to reach it.

The mess that's inside:

im2smrt4u · 08-25-2010, 02:46 PM

That is a pretty packed machine, but I would avoid that if possible. Full size cases offer better airflow and cable management that just can't be matched in the small form factors. IMO I agree that a mini ATX system is a good compromise. You could make a system that would fit in a media center for example.

FWIW, my solution is a small form factor PC (Acer Aspire Revo 1600) with a gigabit LAN connection to a NAS box with two 1.5TB drives. Hardly elegant, but effective and compact.

Xerxys · 08-25-2010, 02:51 PM

Question: Why do you want 3.5" HDD? Is it that you are unable to get a similar quantity with 2.5"? I've always thought for a small setup you would prefer the laptop HDD over the PC's.

Cavi Mike · 08-26-2010, 03:17 AM

I already have the 3.5's and one of them is still empty. I don't need any more HDD's.

Dragonlich · 08-26-2010, 11:59 AM

If you don't like noise, you could take a look at silentpcreview.com | Everything about Silent / Quiet Computers
They also deal with smaller PC's, even mini-ITX.

And for the harddisks: 2.5" harddisks tend be be more quiet, although I might be tempted to suggest a flash disk these days. You could use the 3.5's in a NAS in another room.

08-23-2010, 06:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cavi Mike rightUp Location: San Fran, NY USA	I want to build decent a Mini-ITX computer My current computer is the center of my entertainment..center..in my living room. Though it still runs like the day I built it 6 years ago, it's a bit dated and lags on high-quality flash-based videos on Vimeo, Hulu, etc. It's also very large, loud and cumbersome. I'd like to build something small that can fit at least two 3.5" HDD's and a full-size video card so I won't have any problems running my monitor at 1280x1024 and my "TV" at 1280x768. It will likely also be running a projector in the near future at the same resolution or higher so I'm going to be needing a card that's quite large. Obviously this is going to generate some heat so I don't have any idea if a case this small is going to cause cooling issues, if I can even fit what I want in there. If this sounds like a stupid idea, don't be afraid to say so. I'm also partial to Asus, AMD and NVidia, if any of that matters. __________________ pearls ain't free

08-24-2010, 02:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zweiblumen Insane Location: at home	You should at least find some interesting reading at Mini-ITX Systems - Industrial Computing News Yours ZB __________________ Sodomy non sapiens. : I'm buggered if I know

08-25-2010, 11:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cavi Mike rightUp Location: San Fran, NY USA	Wow, so much hate for something so insignificant. Lian Li makes Mini-ITX form factor cases that fit full-size video cards and even fit regular ATX PSU's while having multiple 3.5" HDD bays. Obviously things are tight (if it's even possible to fit what they claim) but I'm the one assembling it so why would you care how difficult it would be to fit all of that in there? You should see my case right now. In fact, I'm gonna charge my camera and snap a picture of it. 2 PSU's, 4 HDD's, 1 HDD cooler, 3.5" floppy, 2 ODD's, a front panel with extra SATA, audio and USB jacks, it's crazy. This rig would be a nightmare to anyone else but I'm not anyone else. It's my problem so don't get so over-worked about it. In fact, I'm so in love with how I've managed to get all of this crap inside this thing that I'm thinking about scrapping the Mini-ITX thing and just getting a new mobo, CPU, vid-card and RAM and call it a day. edit I used to do control wiring and loved it so maybe that's why I like things like this. __________________ pearls ain't free Last edited by Cavi Mike; 08-25-2010 at 12:01 PM..

08-25-2010, 02:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cavi Mike rightUp Location: San Fran, NY USA	Yup, I'm just gonna update my current rig. I like it too much. I've decided to put it next to my sofa and run some long cables around the room to reach it. The mess that's inside: __________________ pearls ain't free

08-25-2010, 02:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
im2smrt4u Beer Aficionado Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA	That is a pretty packed machine, but I would avoid that if possible. Full size cases offer better airflow and cable management that just can't be matched in the small form factors. IMO I agree that a mini ATX system is a good compromise. You could make a system that would fit in a media center for example. FWIW, my solution is a small form factor PC (Acer Aspire Revo 1600) with a gigabit LAN connection to a NAS box with two 1.5TB drives. Hardly elegant, but effective and compact. __________________ Starkizzer Fan Club - President & Founder

08-25-2010, 02:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	Question: Why do you want 3.5" HDD? Is it that you are unable to get a similar quantity with 2.5"? I've always thought for a small setup you would prefer the laptop HDD over the PC's.

08-26-2010, 03:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cavi Mike rightUp Location: San Fran, NY USA	I already have the 3.5's and one of them is still empty. I don't need any more HDD's. __________________ pearls ain't free

08-26-2010, 11:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	If you don't like noise, you could take a look at silentpcreview.com \| Everything about Silent / Quiet Computers They also deal with smaller PC's, even mini-ITX. And for the harddisks: 2.5" harddisks tend be be more quiet, although I might be tempted to suggest a flash disk these days. You could use the 3.5's in a NAS in another room.