antec isk-100: mini-itx, 90w, 2x2.5", 248x212x108mm

[porkchop]

http://store.antec.com/Product/enclosur ... 170-2.aspx

very barebones, i've always wanted something like this.
and with a 90w psu included, it's not too expensive.

100mm fan is awkward though, and no usb3 front ports.

edit: pic

[quest_for_silence]

So what?

Btw, I guess that 100mm fan might be relaced by a quieter slim 100mm Scythe, if power draw will never be close to those 90W.

[porkchop]

my pcs have gotten smaller and smaller, and i'm always trying to make them even more so.
this is the first tiny case i've seen that should be widely available and reasonably priced, i figured i wasn't the only one interested so thought i would share -the only reason i found it was an ebay search for 'antec isk'.

100mm is simply not as common as 120mm.

a lowish powered system with integrated graphics should be very quiet in such a case.

[quest_for_silence]

i figured i wasn't the only one interested

Sorry, I haven't understood it.

100mm is simply not as common as 120mm.

Yes, the Scythe slim ones are the only I'm aware of.

a lowish powered system with integrated graphics should be very quiet in such a case.

I mean too much small cases today cannot be either enough quiet or enough powerful.

[MikeC]

Since the entire side is perforated, it'd be easy to remove the 100mm grill and put on whatever size fan you want -- on the outside. We have a sample here, btw. Review to come soon enough.

[victorhortalives]

The downside of these v small cases is that they inevitably end up closer to the user due to the need to access the controls/dvd unit.
e.g. on the desk next to/behind the VDU.
So any noise at all is apparent.

I've managed to get a very quiet ITX system in a LianLi Q07 case that sits on top of another noisier PC in an Antec P182 case. The noisier one is generally off.
The only fan runs on the opposite side of the case and blows into an open bookcase - so minimal noise.

I guess I could do the same with this Antec.

[porkchop]

looking forward to the review, i'm particularly interested in the efficiency of the psu- pico like psus aren't readily available around here.

btw, dimensions without the stand are 220x210x70mm, not including the fan bulge.

[JamieG]

looking forward to the review, i'm particularly interested in the efficiency of the psu- pico like psus aren't readily available around here.

Just thought I'd point out this website, if you haven't seen it already. Their stock levels are pretty poor though. (I'm kicking myself for not buying a picoPSU 150XT and 12.5A brick when they were in stock).

[chanman]

The downside of these v small cases is that they inevitably end up closer to the user due to the need to access the controls/dvd unit.
e.g. on the desk next to/behind the VDU.
So any noise at all is apparent.

I've managed to get a very quiet ITX system in a LianLi Q07 case that sits on top of another noisier PC in an Antec P182 case. The noisier one is generally off.
The only fan runs on the opposite side of the case and blows into an open bookcase - so minimal noise.

I guess I could do the same with this Antec.

There's no provision for an optical drive for the ISK-100, so that probably won't be a problem. I imagine you'd probably want to put it in a VESA mounting, like with some other SFF PCs.

[quest_for_silence]

There's no provision for an optical drive for the ISK-100, so that probably won't be a problem.

Have you ever heard any external unit, how loud it can "fly"? Or are you talking about never access any optical media?

[porkchop]

thanks for the link JamieG, guess i simply wasn't looking hard enough!

i think if you wanted a odd, you'd get a different case.
i for one want to move away from them since hdds are now cheaper per gb, in the off chance i need to read/write a disc, i'd just hook one up through usb or open up the case and plug it right in the mb.

[chanman]

There's no provision for an optical drive for the ISK-100, so that probably won't be a problem.

Have you ever heard any external unit, how loud it can "fly"? Or are you talking about never access any optical media?

Well, the previous post mentioned accessing the DVD drive. I was pointing out that the ISK-100 simply does not have an internal bay that you would access, so it is a problem that literally can not exist for the ISK-100.

My internal optical drives are plenty loud, so from a quiet perspective, using one at all would seem to compromise your noise levels. As well, how frequently do you plan to access optical media? It doesn't seem to be a pressing concern with nettop or netbook users. Windows 7 aside (and that's installable from a USB drive), Corel, Adobe, and MS Office can all be purchased as direct downloads. Unless you are viewing a lot of DVDs or playing legacy games, I don't really see a problem with the very occasional use of an external drive.

In terms of size, I'm not sure you can look at the ISK-100 as anything but a DIY nettop enclosure like the Zotac or Acer machines.

[Enzo_FX]

Can't wait for the review!

I myself can't stand optical disc drives, don't even have them in any of my desktops. Who even uses those anymore? =P Even those who do, do so like too rarely enough to justify having one connected at all times, or at least that's how I see it hah. You could always just have one usb/external one to use among all your computers.

[chanman]

looking forward to the review, i'm particularly interested in the efficiency of the psu- pico like psus aren't readily available around here.

btw, dimensions without the stand are 220x210x70mm, not including the fan bulge.

JonnyGuru recently reviewed a few pico PSU/brick combinations

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?na ... y&reid=207

[deruberhanyok]

Has anyone picked one of these up yet? I'm curious as to overall user impressions.

[Mumrik]

And what happened to that review MikeC?
I can't find it on the site...

[quest_for_silence]

And what happened to that review MikeC?
I can't find it on the site...

AFAIK it has never been published: my very personal guesswork is that it has turned out to be too much loud (or, however, it has turned out to be overall not so worthy) for SPCR standards.

[andyb]

AFAIK it has never been published: my very personal guesswork is that it has turned out to be too much loud (or, however, it has turned out to be overall not so worthy) for SPCR standards.

Judging by how many times it has been mentioned, and the large amounts of reviews of Antec kit by SPCR I would expect that it is likely to be tested WITH a suitable ITX motherboard, hopefully an AMD E-350 board to give a realistic review - at least that is what I am hoping for.


Andy

[quest_for_silence]

at least that is what I am hoping for.

Five months later that MikeC state, I'm a bit dubious it will ever happen, but who knows...