What is the smallest case that takes ATX PSU ?

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tridion
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What is the smallest case that takes ATX PSU ?

Post by tridion » Sat Aug 30, 2003 1:10 am

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 ?

jafb2000
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Post by jafb2000 » Sat Aug 30, 2003 2:20 pm

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).

Landroval
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Re: What is the smallest case that takes ATX PSU ?

Post by Landroval » Sun Aug 31, 2003 12:09 am

tridion wrote:What is the smallest desktop case which takes an ATX PSU ?
The ATC-620 is nice and will take an ATX PSU, but it's not that small.
http://www.coolermaster.com/case/p620.htm

Bluefront
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Post by Bluefront » Sun Aug 31, 2003 3:23 am

small case

Looks pretty good to me with a big enough rear opening for a cpu duct or whatever!

jafb2000
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Post by jafb2000 » Sun Aug 31, 2003 3:34 am

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.

tridion
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Post by tridion » Sun Aug 31, 2003 6:12 am

thanks for all the advice from everyone.

Shuriken
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Post by Shuriken » Sun Aug 31, 2003 11:44 am

Bluefront wrote:small case

Looks pretty good to me with a big enough rear opening for a cpu duct or whatever!
This is not a ATX case but a M-ATX.

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

Rusty075
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Post by Rusty075 » Sun Aug 31, 2003 11:54 am

Shuriken, he is looking for a case that takes an ATX PSU, not mobo. I think when he said that he was looking for the smallest case possible he was already planning on using something smaller than a full ATX board.

Bluefront
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Post by Bluefront » Sun Aug 31, 2003 12:23 pm

Yeah...tridion's only spec was a case that used a standard ATX PSU. He never mentioned what sort of MB he was using.

I guess that goes to prove when you ask a question around here, you should be as specific as possible. Heh....

Shuriken
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Post by Shuriken » Mon Sep 01, 2003 2:46 am

:shock: Oops guess it was getting late already.

Justin_R
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Post by Justin_R » Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:38 pm

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.

WannaOC
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Post by WannaOC » Wed Sep 03, 2003 8:03 am

I think the Lian-Li PC50 takes a ATX PSU and motherboard and is pretty small. Not bad looking either.

pony-tail
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Post by pony-tail » Sun Sep 07, 2003 10:31 pm

I would suggest a Lian Li PC-30 as it is small , light , takes a standard ATX psu and will take a full ATX motherboard.

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