What is the smallest case that takes ATX PSU ?
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What is the smallest case that takes ATX PSU ?
I am looking to build as small a system as possible but with a normal ATX PSU (as I already have a couple of very quiet ones sitting around).
What is the smallest desktop case which takes an ATX PSU ?
What is the smallest desktop case which takes an ATX PSU ?
If you want a really small case, yet an ATX PSU...
o Pick up a shuttle case & motherboard, externalise the PSU
---- PSU cables are long enough, but do sheath them
---- or a similar very small case
o Build your own case out of two pieces of 5mm U aluminium
---- lower U, upper U
---- Plexiglass (Acrylic) is also possible, just get them to bend & cut
The latter is somewhat more complex re cutting, bending & so on.
Probably easier to do in Nylon with a brushed aluminium front etc.
Alternatively, use a generic 2U rack case - not PC, generic.
You must make sure height-inside is 86mm re the PSU height, as
the outside whilst 88.80mm for EIA spec can be 84mm inside
That gives you a very small case - and 14" 17" widths, 28cm depth.
Reason is, the smallest ATX-PSU case is "an ATX case".
Either one of the very short mini-towers or very small desktops.
With the proviso that small rapidly gets you into "Micro-ATX" PSU.
Nothing to stop you making one of out wood, as long as:
o Ideally, it should be fully screened inside by (very) thin aluminium
o Aluminium sheet under the PSU simply re "containment"
Rack cabinet flight cases are frequently made out of wood and can
house 1-48 PCs in them with 7-10kW of heat to get out of them.
Each is a metal housing, but you can duplicate that as needed.
Have seen a (very) expensive high-end entertainment PC done in
walnut (!) to match a similarly esoteric pile of separate everything.
If you have multiple spare PSUs, sell them and buy Mini-itx?
That limits you (really) to about 55-70W re fanless PSU. Nothing
like enough for any upgraded VIA C3 system let alone Celeron etc.
A problem with many of the "entertainment" or "small" PC cases is
they 1) don't use the lower-noise high-output ATX PSU and 2) force
people into 60mm fans. They could use 80mm fans at 45-degrees as
many rack cases do - since 60mm is a form factor never <15dB(A).
o Pick up a shuttle case & motherboard, externalise the PSU
---- PSU cables are long enough, but do sheath them
---- or a similar very small case
o Build your own case out of two pieces of 5mm U aluminium
---- lower U, upper U
---- Plexiglass (Acrylic) is also possible, just get them to bend & cut
The latter is somewhat more complex re cutting, bending & so on.
Probably easier to do in Nylon with a brushed aluminium front etc.
Alternatively, use a generic 2U rack case - not PC, generic.
You must make sure height-inside is 86mm re the PSU height, as
the outside whilst 88.80mm for EIA spec can be 84mm inside
That gives you a very small case - and 14" 17" widths, 28cm depth.
Reason is, the smallest ATX-PSU case is "an ATX case".
Either one of the very short mini-towers or very small desktops.
With the proviso that small rapidly gets you into "Micro-ATX" PSU.
Nothing to stop you making one of out wood, as long as:
o Ideally, it should be fully screened inside by (very) thin aluminium
o Aluminium sheet under the PSU simply re "containment"
Rack cabinet flight cases are frequently made out of wood and can
house 1-48 PCs in them with 7-10kW of heat to get out of them.
Each is a metal housing, but you can duplicate that as needed.
Have seen a (very) expensive high-end entertainment PC done in
walnut (!) to match a similarly esoteric pile of separate everything.
If you have multiple spare PSUs, sell them and buy Mini-itx?
That limits you (really) to about 55-70W re fanless PSU. Nothing
like enough for any upgraded VIA C3 system let alone Celeron etc.
A problem with many of the "entertainment" or "small" PC cases is
they 1) don't use the lower-noise high-output ATX PSU and 2) force
people into 60mm fans. They could use 80mm fans at 45-degrees as
many rack cases do - since 60mm is a form factor never <15dB(A).
Re: What is the smallest case that takes ATX PSU ?
The ATC-620 is nice and will take an ATX PSU, but it's not that small.tridion wrote:What is the smallest desktop case which takes an ATX PSU ?
http://www.coolermaster.com/case/p620.htm
That last one's got some good design:
o Great rear perforations
---- altho check the fan duct only covers all of it re short-circuit
o Very Compact whilst taking a proper ATX PSU
---- and avoiding resorting to 60mm fans re noise
To get really small around an ATX PSU requires custom work.
Not easy, and very very timeconsumiing.
CC'd it to colleagues for print/net-server use. Thanks.
o Great rear perforations
---- altho check the fan duct only covers all of it re short-circuit
o Very Compact whilst taking a proper ATX PSU
---- and avoiding resorting to 60mm fans re noise
To get really small around an ATX PSU requires custom work.
Not easy, and very very timeconsumiing.
CC'd it to colleagues for print/net-server use. Thanks.
This is not a ATX case but a M-ATX.Bluefront wrote:small case
Looks pretty good to me with a big enough rear opening for a cpu duct or whatever!
I quote:
ATX 2.01 compliant case
Must use Micro ATX or Flex mainboard
Configurations: Two 5.25" & One 3.5" visible, & Two 3.5" hidden drive bays
If you do want a case that can take a full ATX motherboard, try something with a sideways-mounted PSU like the (cheap) Linkworld 312H or the (pricey) Lian Li PC-37.