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Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:58 am
by Gramkow
I am currently planning a Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge build (quad-core) mainly for gaming purposes.

Intend to use a PC-Q08 for the system. Not too happy with the socket placement of most of the socket 1155 Mini-ITX boards I've seen so far, but then I stumbled across this: http://www.foxconnchannel.com/product/M ... -us0000515

It is a pretty basic board (I can live with that), but socket placement seems pretty ideal for a proper top-down cooler. Have been pondering whether a Noctua NH-C14 will fit (with just the lower fan fitted, height is not an issue). A discrete video card will be fitted as well, so any cooler chosen must not interfere with the PCI-E x16 slot on the board.

Any opinions - will it fit ? Or should I ditch the idea and go for an Asus P8H67-I Deluxe or Zotac's H67 board instead, with a Samurai ZZ or Samuel 17 for cooling ?

Regards,
Lars

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:43 pm
by ces
I would go with a mainstream Gigabyte, Zotac or Asus ITX. The new coolers will start adapting to the new CPU placement. For instance, take a look at the Thermalright HR-02 or the new Noctua top down. How much headroom do you have for a top down with the PC-Q08? Is it more than with the Q07?

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:54 pm
by Gramkow
Clearance is about 110 millimeters for the HSF, so the HR-02 and similar are not an option (160 mm height for the HR-02).

As for Noctua - can't see any of the current Noctua top-down models being able to fit an H67 (or H55) mITX board with the standard CPU socket placement near to the graphics card slot...

Samurai ZZ or Samuel 17 w/120mm fan looks to be the only worthwhile options for those boards - or perhaps an AXP-140, but that's unavailable where I'm located. Thus, my interest in the H67S continues :)

/ Lars

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:21 pm
by ces
Take a closer look at the new Noctua down draft with just an under fan
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Noctua_NH-C14_CPU_Cooler
It is asymmetrical. It seems like they designed it specifically to fit the new placement of the 1155 CPUs.

I am very interested in what you are doing because sooner or later I will follow down your path. Please let me know what you end up doing.

Also take a look at the configuration that I am proposing here.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=61324&p=531249#p531249

What do you think about it?

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build... NH-C14 questions

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:26 am
by Gramkow
NH-C14 with only the lower fan fitted is what I am aiming for.

Did some more rough estimation on the Asus P8H67-I Deluxe, and I think the NH-C14 will actually fit - with the "short" side of the heatsink oriented towards the PCI-E slot.

Can anybody with an NH-C14 provide the measurement for the "overhang" on the short side of the heatsink, from the edge of the heatsink base (CPU interface) to the furthest outside point of the heatsink?`

Regards,
Lars

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:25 am
by tim851
Be aware that there will be absolutely no clearance between the PSU and the heatsink. You probably have to attach the heatsink fan in a way that it will blow up towards the power supply and then let the powersupply act as the second heatsink fan. I've had a similar setup in a Silverstone SG04-F an in the summertime the PSU got really hot.

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:17 pm
by micah161
Which CPU are you planning on using? I suppose the 45W TDP i5-2500T might be the best bet for a quad core mini-ITX system?

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:05 pm
by ces
tim851 wrote:Be aware that there will be absolutely no clearance between the PSU and the heatsink. You probably have to attach the heatsink fan in a way that it will blow up towards the power supply and then let the powersupply act as the second heatsink fan. I've had a similar setup in a Silverstone SG04-F an in the summertime the PSU got really hot.
I think on this case you can flip the PSU around so it's fan doesn't interfere that of the cpu heat sink.

It is hard to predict which circulation direction will work best. He will just have to experiment with both ways.

I think with low rpms it may not make much of a difference.... and will probably work well both ways.

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build... NH-C14 questions

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:06 pm
by ces
Gramkow wrote:Can anybody with an NH-C14 provide the measurement for the "overhang" on the short side of the heatsink, from the edge of the heatsink base (CPU interface) to the furthest outside point of the heatsink?`
Try contacting Noctua. They have exceedingly good support.

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:02 pm
by Rusna
Have you got any reply from Noctua?

How's your project going on? I'm also interested in Lian Li's Q08 and this heatsink.

Re: Mini-ITX Sandy Bridge gaming build...

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:53 pm
by smallworld
Bump and slight derail because it's the same thread title I was going to use. I'm also trying to make a mini itx sandy bridge system using the spcr silent gaming pc article as a starting point. I came up with these components and just want to run it by you all before pulling the trigger.

Ideally it could be silent at idle and watching movies and cool when I'm actually playing games. There's no mini itx P67 mobos that I can see in stock right now so the 2500k is kind of wasted, but meh:

Case: Silverstone SG07
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-H67N-USB3-B3 LGA 1155 Intel H67

CPU: Intel i5-2500k
CPU cooler: Scythe Samurai ZZ

GPU: Sapphire HD6950 2GB
GPU cooler: Scythe Setsugen 2

SSD: OCZ Vertex 3 120GB
RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3

$1321 total on newegg

Thanks in advance