Looking for decent case for M-ITX build
Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 5:21 am
I'm using a Fractal Design R5 case for my main/gaming PC and I'm very happy with how quiet that is. With my EVGA 750W G2 in fanless mode the system was pretty much silent, even with several HDDs but that PSU developed a fault so I'm using an EVGA 750W G+ at the moment and that's definitely audible.
Now I want to build a PC for music production, so I will only need a cheap, basic GPU (I'm going for a Ryzen 3600 or 3700 build, so no IGP unfortunately). I can't see any need to add any other PCI-E cards, as the audio interface will be external USB and I won't need to use an NVME SSD, so I won't need a card for that, even if the motherboard doesn't have a slot for it, so I'm thinking of using an M-ITX board. I'll need to ask around, including on music productions forums, for advice re. motherboards but something like the MSI B450I GAMING PLUS AC will probably do.
I'll probably have one SSD for the OS and software, another SSD for samples and current projects I'm working on and then a HDD for storage of projects. I could even use an external portable HDD instead of an internal one for the storage if I had to.
So I don't really want to get a big heavy full tower case for his as it's unnecessary and it's just easier to find somewhere to put a smaller case. For example a full tower on the desk might block the speaker but a shorter case won't and will also weigh less and with a smaller case on the floor I could put stuff on top of it, whereas with a full tower there might not be enough room between the case and the underside of the desk.
My Define R5 is 232 x 462 x 531 mm (WxHxD) with feet/screws/protrusions. Ideally I'd like to use something under 300mm high and 300mm deep, which should be possible in theory as an M-ITX board is only 170mm high and an ATX PSU is only 86mm high, for a total of 256mm and allowing 212mm depth for the PSU should allow enough space for the SSDs/HDD in front of it, or they could go above it in front of the motherboard. I haven't managed to find anything that size though. I've seen the cube cases like the Coolermaster Elite 110 but they're too small and orient the motherboard so that the CPU cooler is pointing up at the PSU, limiting the available space to 70-80mm.
The Fractal Design Define Nano S ITX is 203 x 344 x 412 mm (WxHxD) with feet/screws/protrusions but the CPU cooler max height is only 162mm vs the R5's 180mm and the PSU max length is 160 mm vs the R5's 190/170 mm with a bottom fan installed (which I'm not using) or 300 mm without, so that would be a problem as the EVGA 750W G2 length is 180mm and I don't know if that allows for the space needed for the cables or is just the length of the actual PSU.
https://www.fractal-design.com/products ... o-s/black/
https://www.evga.com/Products/Specs/PSU ... 6D7480DCB7
The Phanteks Evolv ITX is 230 x 375 x 395 mm (WxHxD). It actually has more CPU cooler space than my R5 (200mm vs 180mm) which maybe suggests it doesn't have much cable management space behind the motherboard and it accommodates a full-size 212mm PSU but the tempered glass panel is probably not suitable for a quiet build http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Evolv-ITX.html
The NZXT H210i is 210 x 349 x 372 mm (WxHxD) (with feet) and the max PSU length is 311mm but the CPU cooler max height is only 165mm and it has a tempered glass panel. https://www.nzxt.com/products/h210i-matte-white
Can anyone suggest any other, more suitable options for a compact, quiet, well-cooled build?
Now I want to build a PC for music production, so I will only need a cheap, basic GPU (I'm going for a Ryzen 3600 or 3700 build, so no IGP unfortunately). I can't see any need to add any other PCI-E cards, as the audio interface will be external USB and I won't need to use an NVME SSD, so I won't need a card for that, even if the motherboard doesn't have a slot for it, so I'm thinking of using an M-ITX board. I'll need to ask around, including on music productions forums, for advice re. motherboards but something like the MSI B450I GAMING PLUS AC will probably do.
I'll probably have one SSD for the OS and software, another SSD for samples and current projects I'm working on and then a HDD for storage of projects. I could even use an external portable HDD instead of an internal one for the storage if I had to.
So I don't really want to get a big heavy full tower case for his as it's unnecessary and it's just easier to find somewhere to put a smaller case. For example a full tower on the desk might block the speaker but a shorter case won't and will also weigh less and with a smaller case on the floor I could put stuff on top of it, whereas with a full tower there might not be enough room between the case and the underside of the desk.
My Define R5 is 232 x 462 x 531 mm (WxHxD) with feet/screws/protrusions. Ideally I'd like to use something under 300mm high and 300mm deep, which should be possible in theory as an M-ITX board is only 170mm high and an ATX PSU is only 86mm high, for a total of 256mm and allowing 212mm depth for the PSU should allow enough space for the SSDs/HDD in front of it, or they could go above it in front of the motherboard. I haven't managed to find anything that size though. I've seen the cube cases like the Coolermaster Elite 110 but they're too small and orient the motherboard so that the CPU cooler is pointing up at the PSU, limiting the available space to 70-80mm.
The Fractal Design Define Nano S ITX is 203 x 344 x 412 mm (WxHxD) with feet/screws/protrusions but the CPU cooler max height is only 162mm vs the R5's 180mm and the PSU max length is 160 mm vs the R5's 190/170 mm with a bottom fan installed (which I'm not using) or 300 mm without, so that would be a problem as the EVGA 750W G2 length is 180mm and I don't know if that allows for the space needed for the cables or is just the length of the actual PSU.
https://www.fractal-design.com/products ... o-s/black/
https://www.evga.com/Products/Specs/PSU ... 6D7480DCB7
The Phanteks Evolv ITX is 230 x 375 x 395 mm (WxHxD). It actually has more CPU cooler space than my R5 (200mm vs 180mm) which maybe suggests it doesn't have much cable management space behind the motherboard and it accommodates a full-size 212mm PSU but the tempered glass panel is probably not suitable for a quiet build http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Evolv-ITX.html
The NZXT H210i is 210 x 349 x 372 mm (WxHxD) (with feet) and the max PSU length is 311mm but the CPU cooler max height is only 165mm and it has a tempered glass panel. https://www.nzxt.com/products/h210i-matte-white
Can anyone suggest any other, more suitable options for a compact, quiet, well-cooled build?