Case: SilverStone SG05
Fan: Scythe Gentle Typhoon AP-13 1150 RPM 120mm, used as front exhaust
PSU: Seasonic X-460 Fanless
Motherboard: ASRock Z77E-ITX
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2
CPU cooler: Antec Kuhler H2O 620
RAM: Samsung 8GB 30nm 1.35V DDR3 1600
GPU: PowerColor Go! Green AX7750
SSD: Samsung 830 Series 256GB



I replaced the original restrictive front hex grill with a much more open hex grill (ModRight ModMesh).



I modified this case to accommodate a full size ATX modular power supply.



A sheet of aluminum was cut to hold the SSD drive at the side of the case.

I measured AC power consumption with a Kill A Watt.

Power Consumption:

IDLE: 39W
Prime95: 98W
Prime95 + Furmark: 138W

Prime95 was set to Torture Test In-place large FFTs.

That's absolutely brilliant! Perfect choice of parts IMO, and it looks so clean.

Any pump noise from the Antec cooler? Or does the Gentle Typhoon fan mask the pump noise?

Very nice built considering how small that case is.

That's just incredibly neat very nice!

Thanks for the nice comments!

The pump and fan noise is very low. Audible, but low enough where I often mistake the computer for being off.

The fan and pump speed is controlled by the motherboard in BIOS. Too slow and the pump makes a light clicking noise. So I have the speed up a few notches from the lowest setting.

Very nice. If its this small one could even mask the noise by having it behind som kind of shield, like a miniversion of the cubicle shields one sees in office landscapes.

Nice system. I want to build something similar and I stumbled upon this page searching the internet to see how I can optimally fit my components to obtain a quiet and compact system. I'm used with laptops and don't like noisy monsters.

My system (I hope to have all parts next week):
Mobo: Asrock Z77e-itx
CPU: i5-3570k
Cooler: Antec KuHLER 620
PSU: Seasonic SS-460FL fanless
GPU: waiting for the fanless HD7770. Hope will be released soon.

I have some questions:
- What is the distance between the PSU and the Mobo?
- Is possible to lower even more the PSU on top of Mobo? Is there any danger if I try to lower even more the distance?
- You are using any case fan cooler in this system?

Hello macuso,

Welcome to SPCR!

If the power supply is lowered, there would be a gap above it where the existing opening is located. You could probably add some mesh or aluminum to seal this gap.

The power supply is 2.75" above the motherboard. It is about 1.375" above the Antec Kuhler's water block.

The only fan I am using is the Scythe 120mm on the Antec Kuhler's radiator.

@josephclemente
Thank you.
Do you have tried to see how is performing the "Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120 mm" on full load?
What are the maximum temperatures and noise level?
Personally I'm thinking to put this fan: Akasa Viper or this one Akasa Apache, two of them in push-pull configuration. I want to know if is there any advantages with two fans in push-pull configuration against just one fan. Theoretically need to be better airflow.

Great pictures. How hard was it to remove the original front grill from the SG05?
I have one but I can't tell if it's just a pressure fit, glued, or what. I hope to make
a new build with a Haswell processor later in 2013, and would like to do this ... perhaps
painting the modder's mesh in a different color, such as dark blue.

Thanks!

macuso - I haven't recorded my temperatures just yet. Just ran some stress tests and saw the temperatures were all OK and didn't think much about it since then. One of these days I'll do it and write them down

b3nbranch - the original grill is pretty easy to remove. The mesh is bent 90 degrees at certain points. You just un-bend these spots and it comes right out.

@josephclemente,
Terrific work, thanks for sharing,
Can you please detail a bit about the cutting process? (which tools / techniques)
Thanks!
Tal Aloni

Terrific work, josephclemente. Does the radiator prohibit installation of longer GPUs?

Reading your comment on the Node 304, I ended up to your previous build.
Very nice!

Did you have some pictures without the PSU, to see your installation of the Antec cooler?

Were you satisfied, since last July?
Noise, heat dissipation, etc.

tal.aloni - I use a nibbler hand tool whenever I need to make cuts. To keep the edges smooth, I follow up with sanding. I mask surrounding areas with masking tape to make sure I don't add "work marks" to the metal during both nibbling and filing. Also, all electronics are removed when cutting/filing.

Jay_S - The radiator can fit with longer graphics cards. It is pretty close though - a rubber bumper or two would help make sure nothing touches if the card should flex towards the radiator.

thierry. - This build has been running strong with no issues. I have been very happy with the noise, heat and power consumption.

As of last night, it is mostly disassembled to upgrade other machines in the house. I'll put this case back to work eventually though.

I am way behind on posting my systems in the forum. I am currently running my main system in an SG05, but air cooled with a smaller SFX Silverstone ST45SF-G power supply. The video card is a Titan and I still have room for an optical drive.

In the living room I am running two Node 304 cases. One is running as a 20TB file server/home security camera recorder/Plex server. The other Node 304 is for games.

How do you like the Node 304 cases and builds? I saw some sceptical comments on the quality of certain parts on the case. But you're content? Also, you couldn't just briefly wright the hardware you use for the gaming rig, and give a short comment on the noise level and power draw, perhaps?
I really really like the look of 304 but got really disapointed by the comments on the build quality. It seems like opinions are mixed.

Nice data space on so small "box"!
I can't wait to see all these new rigs in the forum.