Login at Kodi Home

denz13 · 2013-02-22, 00:07

Hi all!

I've just bought myself a AMD A6-3500 & ASRock A75m-ITX Mobo and need a slim ITX case to suit.

My main goal is to be able to fit a silent case into a space less than 86mm (That's the height of the space in my TV unit - Currently got an Xbox 360 & Samsung AV Receiver)

1. Does anyone have experience in cases this size?
2. Do they pose any major limitations?
3.. Is heating a problem?
4. Is it possible to get it silent?

Alternatively I can put a larger HTPC alongside my TV unit, but that doesn't really achieve the look I'm hoping for...

**Dougie Fresh** · (This post was last modified: 2013-02-22, 04:04 by Dougie Fresh.)

You might like the case in this thread with the same components: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=132688 (not the first picture but scroll down a bit)

And if you want the same but with an optical, this is a A10-5700 build: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=144728

denz13 · (This post was last modified: 2013-02-22, 14:45 by denz13.)

Thanks for this Dougie, looks like a nice case to go for!

Hopefully you can advise how would I achieve a very quiet/silent build using this case and it's size limitations? Can a fanless PSU and external power brick be used with it (I don't have any experience of using these in any of my previous builds so any advice would be appreciated)

In your experience, what's the quietest fan to use with this build?

This seller can provide a power brick adaptor with the case for a little extra cost, is this the way to go? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-e-Mini-i...27ce296412

**Dougie Fresh** · (This post was last modified: 2013-02-22, 16:04 by Dougie Fresh.)

The E-i5 includes a fanless internal DC power supply and external AC adapter. I would upgrade the AC adapter to the 120W version. [Edit] looks like that seller doesn't have the E-i5, bummer.

Finding a good, quiet, low profile AMD fan is the harder part. I've had ok luck with the Silverstone NT07-AM2 and you can switch out the fan for a quiet Noctua fan. If you're willing to spend the money, Noctua has a quiet, low-profile AMD fan that'll fit in the E-i5. You have about 42mm of clearance,

I think the E-i3 would be too small to keep cool with an A6-3500 and you would be limited to a 28mm tall CPU cooler such as the Gelid Slim Silence a-Plus.

This one would work well though you might not be able to fit the Noctua cooler: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-e-Mini-K...1037670211

denz13 · 2013-02-22, 18:31

thanks for the advice man!
I'm on a tight budget and getting hold of the e-15 looks expensive so mayhave to resort to that case you've linked to and chance it with a new cooler. I take it the cpu cooler is the loudest part of this htpc build?

**Dougie Fresh** · 2013-02-22, 18:41

(2013-02-22, 18:31)denz13 Wrote: thanks for the advice man!
I'm on a tight budget and getting hold of the e-15 looks expensive so mayhave to resort to that case you've linked to and chance it with a new cooler. I take it the cpu cooler is the loudest part of this htpc build?

The CPU would be the only moving part in the case, so yeah, the only one making noise. I think you could fit a 37mm cooler in the E-K3 with a SSD. If you want more information on it you can find it here (though your seller may configure it differently, the dimensions are the same).

http://www.ecosmartpc.com/ek3.html
http://www.minicase.net/product_E-K3.html

grantd · 2013-02-22, 20:38

Dougie do you know if either the ek3 or e-i3 can be bought without the power supply? I like the cases but I'm looking at the new thin ITX case which embeds the power supply into the board and allows you to reuse an existing power brick say from an old laptop.

grantd · 2013-02-22, 20:48

The M-350 fits the size bill and the ventilation is about as good as it could be. It's not the most attractive case that I've seen but it has the added bonus of being vesa mountable. Oh and it's pretty cheap too.

http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal-m...-enclosure

**Dougie Fresh** · 2013-02-22, 22:18

(2013-02-22, 20:38)grantd Wrote: Dougie do you know if either the ek3 or e-i3 can be bought without the power supply? I like the cases but I'm looking at the new thin ITX case which embeds the power supply into the board and allows you to reuse an existing power brick say from an old laptop.

They can definitely be configured that way from the manufacturer but it would be up to the UK seller if they want to do that.

blazin912 · 2013-07-18, 18:57

Rather than starting my own, figured I'd bump something.. similar.

Built my bedroom HTPC, M-350, ASRock E350M1/USB3, Regular old HDD.

I see most people building in the SFF with SSDs, I'm curious if I can get away with a normal HDD and a slim fan with 4-5 CFM rating to drop the temp of the HDD.

I'm seeing 43, 46, 50C idle, load, max HDD temps. I'd prefer to be seeing all those numbers down by 10C, but don't know if that's possible.

Do you think adding a fan would do anything? How much heat does a standard laptop hdd dissipate?

Bite the bullet and go SSD?

What say you?

solamnic · 2013-07-18, 19:08

Go SSD... its bedroom HTPC... you will benefit from boost in speed and the lack of noise... Wink

**Roby77** · 2013-07-18, 19:12

take a look at hd-plex.com case

In August there will be a new version H1 (smaller than h3)

**Dougie Fresh** · 2013-07-18, 19:55

(2013-07-18, 19:08)solamnic Wrote: Go SSD... its bedroom HTPC... you will benefit from boost in speed and the lack of noise...

+1. And 45C-50C is good temps for a mini-ITX build so don't sweat it (pun intended).

blazin912 · 2013-07-19, 01:14

but 45-50C for an HDD will end it prematurely... so yea sounds like SSD is in the future.

**Dougie Fresh** · 2013-07-19, 17:08

45-50C should be no issue for a 2.5" notebook HDD. The environment inside a laptop is much worse than inside an M350 case. An SSD is a better choice IMHO all-around though when storage is elsewhere.