Modified Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX
Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:45 pm
Hello everybody.
I have decided to modify this case because:
- it is relatively small, about the size of Sugo SG07/08;
- it looks nice (IMHO);
- it is REALLY REALLY cheap, like 4 times cheaper than the Silverstones (about half the price after buying a psu);
- unlike the SUGOs, I can choose a modular PSU;
- and last but not least, I think it has great potential... as in "I would never use it in its default configuration".
So... the components:
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX
PSU: 520W Seasonic M12II-520 Bronze
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H67N-USB3-B3
CPU: Intel i5-3570K
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Contac 21
RAM: 8GB Kingston HyperX 1600 bla bla bla
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 660 OC
SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 90GB / Samsung 830 128GB
Case coolers: 1x120mm + 2x80mm Nexus RealSilent
Pictures:
* Sorry, no pictures of the original layout of the case, I have already dismembered it
Here is a link to the Cooler Master site: http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product ... ct_id=3102
Not exactly Miss Elite 120, but definitely functional
Details:
- yes, the 80mm fan cage is from an old Antec ISK;
- the SSD is screwed to the floor vertically (there is space for about 3 x 2.5" drives, but I only use one);
- all the case fans are running at 7V;
- the output of the PSU never gets even close to warm, so it has no impact on the intake of the two 80mm Nexus fans, even though they share the right side of the case;
- to mount the PSU vertically I have adapted the original PSU bracket that came with the case;
- at idle, from about 50 cm you can barely hear a slight whoosh from the videocard - pretty much noiseless system;
- at benchmark load, both the GPU and CPU fans ramp up, so they can be heard. Not exactly loud, but not silent;
- at gaming load, only the GPU fans spin faster, but not by much, and the Gigabyte Windforce cooler is pretty quiet (check out reviews, there are quite a few out there)... So the system remains quiet, I am definitely pleased with it.
- also, the idle and load (30 minutes of Furmark + Prime95) temperatures are great (room temp - about 22 degrees C):
The Furmark graphic shows 44 degrees as minimum temp because I ran it immediately (a few seconds) after another Furmark session, so there was no time for the video card to cool down.
I have decided to modify this case because:
- it is relatively small, about the size of Sugo SG07/08;
- it looks nice (IMHO);
- it is REALLY REALLY cheap, like 4 times cheaper than the Silverstones (about half the price after buying a psu);
- unlike the SUGOs, I can choose a modular PSU;
- and last but not least, I think it has great potential... as in "I would never use it in its default configuration".
So... the components:
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX
PSU: 520W Seasonic M12II-520 Bronze
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H67N-USB3-B3
CPU: Intel i5-3570K
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Contac 21
RAM: 8GB Kingston HyperX 1600 bla bla bla
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 660 OC
SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 90GB / Samsung 830 128GB
Case coolers: 1x120mm + 2x80mm Nexus RealSilent
Pictures:
* Sorry, no pictures of the original layout of the case, I have already dismembered it
Here is a link to the Cooler Master site: http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product ... ct_id=3102
Not exactly Miss Elite 120, but definitely functional
Details:
- yes, the 80mm fan cage is from an old Antec ISK;
- the SSD is screwed to the floor vertically (there is space for about 3 x 2.5" drives, but I only use one);
- all the case fans are running at 7V;
- the output of the PSU never gets even close to warm, so it has no impact on the intake of the two 80mm Nexus fans, even though they share the right side of the case;
- to mount the PSU vertically I have adapted the original PSU bracket that came with the case;
- at idle, from about 50 cm you can barely hear a slight whoosh from the videocard - pretty much noiseless system;
- at benchmark load, both the GPU and CPU fans ramp up, so they can be heard. Not exactly loud, but not silent;
- at gaming load, only the GPU fans spin faster, but not by much, and the Gigabyte Windforce cooler is pretty quiet (check out reviews, there are quite a few out there)... So the system remains quiet, I am definitely pleased with it.
- also, the idle and load (30 minutes of Furmark + Prime95) temperatures are great (room temp - about 22 degrees C):
The Furmark graphic shows 44 degrees as minimum temp because I ran it immediately (a few seconds) after another Furmark session, so there was no time for the video card to cool down.