low power mini-ITX Office/student computer?

[Raphtheone]

I added the "student"-part since it's the season, maybe there are students out there looking for a portable stationary (oxymoron) computer.

At first I was thinking no moving parts, ergo no fans, HDD, etc. If you want to do it to the letter, technically the power button is a movable part, so Wake on Lan support of the MoBo would be ideal. But then I realized it would cause more hassle than the wow-factor would compensate for.

So, right now I'm looking at the 1037U or 4130T. I'm unsure if I want to go the portability route and get a really, really compact case, like the IX-01B, or if I should get something larger in case I want to stick a 750 Ti into it. I've searched, but couldn't find any cases similar to the IX-01B in size, but allowing for a graphics card.

I was thinking that instead of it fitting into the MoBo horizontally (like the shape of the letter "L"), forcing the case to be much wider for the sake of one card, that it could be connected with a cable or something and hang it up in parallell with the MoBo (like so: "ll"). I can't be the first person in the world to want this feature. Just brainstorming here, since I noticed the IX-01B has a seperate 3,5" "case widener", but could such a GPU solution be used with that "addon"?

In the end I think I'll probably favor the smaller case over a graphics card, but if I've learned something making threads in these forums, I usually don't end up doing what I originally intended due to well constructed and motivated replies.

[Remilia]

Only thing I can think of is something like a PCI-E riser but I don't know how that'd work with GPUs and video outputs.

Personally I'd go with an AMD APU set up for such a small case. I doubt the 750Ti would even fit in that case honestly.

Whatever size SSD I suppose, I just stuck 256GB in there as a placeholder?
I realize you're in sweden but I have no idea what site to use.

edit: Just looked at the size of the thing again and well... what I had in mind isn't going to work.
The 90W supply the case has isn't going to even power the APU let alone a 750Ti at all... =\

[Raphtheone]

Yeah, the 90W supply that you have to buy seperately (<- not included) won't be enough for 75+35+leftovers. If I'll go that route, I'll just go with something like this (just googled pico PSU and picked the first result). I normally go for komplett.se, inet.se and netonnet.se (since I live next to one of their stores I won't have to wait for shipping). But thanks to my earlier mentioned google search, I've found a new store probably more suited to my needs that I can browse, as my normal venues are pretty bad at stocking up on smaller market stuff.

Iirc when I looked at something similar a year or something ago, I think I was looking at a chassi called M350 (or something along those lines) with VESA mounts, suited to hook up on the back of the screen. Which is along the lines of what I'd like to go for now as well, but if possible (though not probable) with space for a graphics card. I want to fit the most amount of power into the smallest space possible, with the greatest performance/wattage possible. If only there were Raspberry Pi Model C/D.

[Denpepe]

Not sure if this is anything you could use but can't hurt to have a look

[Cows For Life]

If you want full size graphics cards you'll probably need one of the cube shaped ITX cases.

Half height cards are in between but probably won't make anyone happy.

[lockblock]

http://silverstonetek.com/raven/prod...=RVZ01&area=en
The above case is designed to fit a GPU vertically. I'm not sure if you can get them in Sweden though.

[Masark]

http://silverstonetek.com/raven/prod...=RVZ01&area=en
The above case is designed to fit a GPU vertically. I'm not sure if you can get them in Sweden though.

That case is apparently available on two of the OP's preferred sites, among others.

https://www.inet.se/produkt/6909326/...ne-rvz01-raven
https://www.komplett.se/silverstone-...x-svart/809921
http://silverstonetek.com/wheretobuy...e=swed&area=en

[Raphtheone]

Not sure if this is anything you could use but can't hurt to have a look

Intel NUC is a no-go. I love the concept, and they've really made a tiny, absolutely marvelous device with performance/wattage that makes me tilt my hat in respect. Its shortcomings however are the reasons I don't look into it. The biggest ones are the lackluster gaming potential, and scalability/ease of upgrades. Not to mention the price. If it wasn't for the fan whine of the Gigabyte's Brix Gaming, I'd probably go for one of those. It too has an astounding performance/space. As does the Raspberry Pi, but it has draw backs of its own.

So far, all pre-built solutions I've seen focus mainly on aspects that has never before been really considered, while leaving out the aspects I'm looking for untouched.

http://silverstonetek.com/raven/prod...=RVZ01&area=en
The above case is designed to fit a GPU vertically. I'm not sure if you can get them in Sweden though.

Thank you for that one. That's what I'm looking for, basically. I just need to find something 60-80% its size. But that's the concept I'm looking for. The ultimate goal is for a chassis the size of two high end GPU's in SLI/XF. If the system is energy efficient enough, it won't have to house a PSU, and the CPU should survive on a low profile flower type fan. And a la NUC style, RAM + SSD can be mounted on the backside of the vertically placed MoBo. All of this is in theory, at least. That's why I'm looking for something like that. Surely hardware has progressed to a point where you can do Word, some basic programming and watching Youtube on such a system. And since high end gaming isn't on the menu, I could find use again for my old 70Mb (you read it correctly) barebone WinXP that I made for an old guildie since the new (at the time) Vista was way to taxing.

Your post made me look around, and it led me to this marvelous machine. I'm gonna go look around if I can order just the case or something. While that machine focuses pretty much solely on raw performance, and on a tiny space as a very close second, I'm sure there are compromises one can do with the case if you go for 4130T or 4570T (both 35W) and a 750Ti (60W), instead of the 4570 + 780 (84 + 265W, respectively). That's a ~73% reduction! Sure, it will hardly pack the same punch, but the point of the system is to be compact first, performance second (steambox seems to be the other way around).

I've refined what I'm looking for (much thanks to this thread, many thanks to its contributors!):
1) A mini-ITX MoBo, a low-powered CPU with high performance, with a low profile silent flower fan
2) This amazing device. (or something similar)
3) A 750 Ti or something fitting from the 800-series (pref <75W, see #4 as to why)
4) No PSU if it can be solved with a pico PSU (or other external solutions)
5) The slimmest possible case (with VESA mount) to fit these few things + a SSD into. Preferably perforated with airholes. Even more preferably if it can fit low profile intake fan(s).

Worst case, I'll make a case out of the metal of old chassis I've got in storage. How hard can it be.

[lockblock]

Thank you for that one. That's what I'm looking for, basically. I just need to find something 60-80% its size. But that's the concept I'm looking for. The ultimate goal is for a chassis the size of two high end GPU's in SLI/XF. If the system is energy efficient enough, it won't have to house a PSU, and the CPU should survive on a low profile flower type fan. And a la NUC style, RAM + SSD can be mounted on the backside of the vertically placed MoBo. All of this is in theory, at least. That's why I'm looking for something like that. Surely hardware has progressed to a point where you can do Word, some basic programming and watching Youtube on such a system. And since high end gaming isn't on the menu, I could find use again for my old 70Mb (you read it correctly) barebone WinXP that I made for an old guildie since the new (at the time) Vista was way to taxing.

You will not find anything considerably smaller then rvz01 or other steambox like case without sacrificing the gpu entirely. For the love of tech don't use win xp. I'm sure the majority of this forum will agree with that.

I'm sure there are compromises one can do with the case if you go for 4130T or 4570T

Don't waste money on T class intel processors. You can achieve similar results by underclocking + undervolting a regular 4130 or 4750 or any other model for that matter.

I've refined what I'm looking for (much thanks to this thread, many thanks to its contributors!):
1) A mini-ITX MoBo, a low-powered CPU with high performance, with a low profile silent flower fan
2) This amazing device. (or something similar)
3) A 750 Ti or something fitting from the 800-series (pref <75W, see #4 as to why)
4) No PSU if it can be solved with a pico PSU (or other external solutions)
5) The slimmest possible case (with VESA mount) to fit these few things + a SSD into. Preferably perforated with airholes. Even more preferably if it can fit low profile intake fan(s).

I assume you meant blower style fan like on gpus, laptops, etc. Personally I haven't seen one of those other then prebuilt systems. (could exist though)
You might be able to get that exact same steambox case but does a few centimeters really matter that much. Either way it will not be vesa mounted unless you do some modding to one of those cases. I wouldn't even attempt to do a mod like this as a system that big would likely exceed the weigh limit of whatever stand your monitor/tv is designed to hold.
I have yet to see a steambox style case with an external psu. (not including prebuilts such as the alienware x51 etc)

Personally I would Just get the silverstone case and go from there. If size is the utmost importance then go with the best amd apu you can get in an antec isk 110-vesa.

Worst case, I'll make a case out of the metal of old chassis I've got in storage. How hard can it be.

In the event you try this please share the results here.

[Raphtheone]

You will not find anything considerably smaller then rvz01 or other steambox like case without sacrificing the gpu entirely.

I went ahead and did a CAD mockup of what I'm after. After all, a picture says more than a thread full of posts.



* The yellow is a standard sized mini-ITX board with a Vortex 211Q in mind (remember, mockup, not final draft). The real world height of the MoBo isn't as uniform as in the picture, but I figured it's space that won't be used to house anything else, so it's of little significance.
* The red is a Nvidia 770 (MSI's Twin Frozr 4, Sapphires Tri-X). Add another 6mm thickness for DirectCU II, or another 6mm for 780 Twin Frozr 4, but basically, there's wiggle room due to the other components. No idea about AMD GPU's, but I'm just flat out assuming they're on similar dimensions.
* The white are 3,5" HDD's. I thought of doing a HDD + SSD, but I saved a whole minute by copy-pasting the 3,5" HDD.

This is more to show the concept, I'm well aware the HDD's need a little more space from the MoBo, and that the GPU in all likelihood will be a bit closer to the MoBo, and so on. Having a single SSD might also shave off on the height, but allowing 3,5" HDD's gives wiggle room for longer GPU's.

So, the important question here, have I missed something obvious that makes such a design flawed by nature? And if not, the logical follow up question is this; Why on earth aren't these cases/solutions/whatever available for purchase? As I can only presume I'm far from alone wanting one of these bad boys.

You might be able to get that exact same steambox case but does a few centimeters really matter that much.

BLASPHEMY! Progress is all about vision! Updated smart phone models are millimeters smaller, grams lighter. Cars getting a kilometer more per deciliter of fuel. Screens get thinner (which on the whole should be considered blatantly irrelevant, it's the front that matters!), and so on. To some people it's all about the specs. To achieve more on less, basically. Playing real life Tetris with a computer system (or anything for that matter) has to be like crack to others as well, not only me.

[Remilia]

Where's the PSU?
Instead of 3.5" HDDs, why not just stick to the 2.5". You can get 1TB 2.5" HDDs for storage.
The issue with these kinds of thing really is it's hard to pin an absolute. Small cases are potentially harder to cool, and doesn't allow for complicated heat sinks. Only things like the Noctua's NH-L9a/i are for but still require a tiny bit of room still.
I'm also unsure where you're going to get components for the on/off switch, or maybe you can just procure one out of an old case.

I love how you're trying to go through with this and would love to see the results.

[Raphtheone]

Where's the PSU?

The idea I had was one of a system targeted for students, home offices, casual gamers, eco friendly nut jobs () and the likes. The middle of the road people, those that wouldn't mind gaming from time to time and won't mind not playing at the highest settings. For the people where a Raspberry Pi / Intel NUC just don't quite cover it, and a high end midi tower gaming rig is way too much. By cherry picking energy efficient hardware (CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD, etc) you can get away with two things. By reducing the thermal footprint you can get away with less cooling, and cram it all into less space. And by having a energy efficient system, you can get away without the PSU and opt for external solutions like the pico PSU's or the likes (think notebook power cable with that box converter on it). By opting for a GPU that doesn't require additional power (like the 750 Ti, awesome piece of hardware for the people who like playing games on Mid-settings), you won't need the additional cables a PSU provides.

Instead of 3.5" HDDs, why not just stick to the 2.5"..

If I can fit 2x 3,5" HDD's, I can fit a single 2,5" HDD/SSD. I simply wanted to show the nonbelievers there is space for it (in theory!).

Small cases are potentially harder to cool, and doesn't allow for complicated heat sinks.

An engineering challenge! I love it!

I'm also unsure where you're going to get components for the on/off switch, or maybe you can just procure one out of an old case.

On/Off switches can be purchased separately in "any" hardware store, they're pretty common place if you know where to look, and what to look for. Besides, a computer doesn't actually need a power button. As the first step out of a 7-step security measure I've kinked out for my current gaming rig, I'm turning it on through my cell phone. It has no power button (plugged in). I wanted the convenience of having it ready to go when I get home from work (HDD system drive, SSD is for game installs only), so a minute or two before coming home I simply turn it on through one of those clever Wake on Lan apps.

But yes, one can simply salvage a on/off or reset-button from an old chassi, but it's also possible to make one of your own if you want to place it conveniently by your keyboard or screen (did one for my work computer at my previous job).

[Remilia]

The 750Ti and CPU will need about 250W Gold on load I imagine. I don't know if any external can provide that. The idle for 750Ti is about 75W but load is still something you need to consider with it going about 180W.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7764/t...iew-maxwell/22

I'm not sure if there's a publicly available thing that allows you to get SATA power cables, PCI-E cables and the MoBo cable from an external PSU.
Cause those tiny ones are proprietary kinds of thing I imagine.

[Raphtheone]

750Ti has a TDP of 60W. The 75W/180W are for total system consumption. This includes the i7-4960X @ 4.2GHz (130W @ 3,6Ghz), 4x 1.5V RAM modules (I googled a general comparison of different voltages), and from what I can gather, a very thirsty deluxe MoBo.

As you can see on the temperatures of the GPU itself from your link, they're not that hard to manage, which means you can confine such a card more freely than a card requiring more juice. The idea is to shave off all that extra overhead, and simply keep the core. For instance, while the 2500k isn't exactly state of the art nowadays, I still find it difficult to find reasons to upgrade it. It's far, far away from being a bottle neck in any game I throw at it, and other than specialist areas (like video encoding, working with 3D renders/heavy photoshop etc), it can do anything that the current gen replacement model (4570k?) can. So why put a 84W CPU into a small factor system when a 35W/45W CPU (of similar performance as the 2500k) can do the same job without notable difference?

Keep in mind we're not talking about enthusiasts who likes running benchmarks, do some overclocking, hardware tuning, or mining/folding in the background. Or people who has youtube as a main source of income, freelances as 3D-animators, and what not. I'm talking about the huge chasm between the low end and the high end that is the middle ground. For all the students, office workers (GPU optional! ), normal gamers and anyone and their parents who's content with enough power to play BF4 on Mid/High at 1080p60. For anyone who want a home computer to work on, that also can serve as HTPC, and for respectable gaming. If you're playing PvP competitively you don't run on max graphics anyway, you run on the lowest setting that doesn't hurt your performance, giving even such a computer even odds vs people with more expensive battle stations.

Edit:
Darn, I forgot about the HDD's/SSD's needing extra power. Yeah, I need to look into that. I'm sure it can be solved somehow. But right now I'm off to the storage to see what I've got lying around.

[Remilia]

I understand what you mean. Personally for a tiny computer I'd just go without the GPU but that's just me.

SSD's power is kinda negligible. It's like 8W on load or something for the newer ones, not sure about HDDs.