PC-Q07: 193 (w) x 280 (h) x 208 (d) / Mini ITX form factor: 170 x 170 mm
JamieG wrote:
With dimensions like this, it would have made far more sense IMO to put the the mini-ITX mobo on the bottom of the case, move the PSU to the top of the case and fit ODD and HDD bays where you could.
Never thought about that, but that's a pretty good idea.
I have build this case in paper 1:1 (original scale).

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With the height of this case and some clever expansion bay spacing, this might leave some room for mid-sized CPU coolers. This would be a much better use of the size of this case.
If we kept the original measurements of that case, the gap between CPU and PSU would be bigger, leaving more space for a CPU cooler.
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My idea: Put the mini-ITX mobo on the bottom of this case.
If you kept the sideways style PSU mount but put it in the top corner (over the expansion slot areas of the bottom-mounted mobo), vertically mount the ODD bay facing out the front of the case with a rack to vertically mount 1 HDD between the PSU and the ODD (in the area over the CPU area of the mobo), I think you would be able to fit all the essential components on the roof of the case (I did a quick sketch with measurements that suggests this would work).
I could also imagine to leave the ODD at where it is now (horizontal on top) and locate the PSU horizontal underneath.
And the motherboard on the bottom would leave enough space for the HDD to be placed vertically, attached flat to the front panel.
Another thought would be to place the heaviest item (PSU) at the bottom and the motherboard horizontally above.
That required a division frame within the case but would the cables coming from the PSU be long enough ?
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This would give you ~120mm vertical space between the motherboard and all the components on the roof - enough to fit a Ninja Mini or a decent blow-down cooler, I think. Similarly, there would be about ~120mm vertical clearance over the expansion slots, with the ~200mm depth for a graphics card (although I don't think many high-end or even medium-end graphics cards are this small though) or other add-in cards.
There are good low profile graphics card existing. We will have to source them separately.
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... maybe I should go into PC design.
Let's work this out and I will present our result to a Lian Li Production Manager whom I have contact with.
What do you think ?