micro ATX case that will fit a H50 cooler and supports 2 480gtx.

marc512 · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:02

Seems a bit much but after having a faulty MB, im changing to a microATX set up.

I dont know what case to go for. Any help??

My future plans is to have 2 480gtxs running 3d surround. This is the kind of setup im AIMING for..i probably wont get it but i would like a small case what supports microATX and has support for SLI/Crossfire.
It also should have support for a large CPU cooler OR a H50.

Whats the best/smallest case?

i was thinking of something like
Lian Li PC-Q08B
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-186-LL&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=187

but only 2 expansion slots

Lian Li PC-V351B
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-154-LL&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=187

dont think it will support 2 high end cards....but as i said i probably wont buy 2 480gtx, at least i will have 2 5850s or 2 5770s

3t3P · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:24

mate not to add another slur on fermis thermal output but you think sli will be doable in small cases?

I'm worried about 3D Surround, read you can't have the outer monitors angled as perspective problems are created, I don't really wanna play with three monitors alll in a line in front of me

Hope they can alter drivers somehow to allow wrap-around

marc512 · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:33

3t3P said:
mate not to add another slur on fermis thermal output but you think sli will be doable in small cases?

I'm worried about 3D Surround, read you can't have the outer monitors angled as perspective problems are created, I don't really wanna play with three monitors alll in a line in front of me Hope they can alter drivers somehow to allow wrap-around

as i said i want it to support 2 480gtxs, if it can then i wont have to worry about a case in the future

Tute · 27 Apr 2010 at 22:45

Antec Mini P180?

Marvin · 28 Apr 2010 at 00:31

Yeah, I'd go with the Antec, due to the cooling prospects of two GPUs in a small case. Two 5850s or 5870s is possible in a V351, but the temps would be prohibitive, unless on water or with aftermarket coolers. The single 5850 in my case comes off around 10°C higher after gaming than it did in my old case (a larger 5 fans monstrosity), whilst I now am using a V351.

Curunen · 28 Apr 2010 at 00:57

Smallest for that, something like SG03/4 or v351, though it might be a bit cramped to work in with sli, and possibly quite warm. Mini P180 looks like it can hande it.

Hotwired · 28 Apr 2010 at 01:08

Yeah the Antec can fit a H50 no worries and if you snaffle out the bottom HDD cage you can fit a 120mm fan to blow air in onto the cards.

marc512 · 28 Apr 2010 at 08:39

Hotwired said:
Yeah the Antec can fit a H50 no worries and if you snaffle out the bottom HDD cage you can fit a 120mm fan to blow air in onto the cards.

If i got the antec case, where will be the best place to put the H50?

Hotwired · 28 Apr 2010 at 10:52

marc512 said:
If i got the antec case, where will be the best place to put the H50?

The front if you don't mind fiddling about removing the HDD cage mounts to make space.

However that removes the top HDD cage and if you've taken out the bottom cage as well you've got just three 5.25" bays left for any drives you want.

I don't mind myself, Top drive is optical and the bottom two are two 1TB drives on 5.25 to 3.5 adapters.

marc512 · 28 Apr 2010 at 16:20

Hotwired said:
The front if you don't mind fiddling about removing the HDD cage mounts to make space.

However that removes the top HDD cage and if you've taken out the bottom cage as well you've got just three 5.25" bays left for any drives you want.

I don't mind myself, Top drive is optical and the bottom two are two 1TB drives on 5.25 to 3.5 adapters.

seems like a good case! i will be having the case up high so ill have to use one of the bottom 5.25 bays for a optical drive. I heard that some drives in the top bay hit against the fan. I only have 1 HD so it wont effect me

Gepetto · 28 Apr 2010 at 17:06

Have you considered the lian Li A05NB Marc? I know it's not a Micro ATX specifically, but I think it's smaller than the Mini P180.

For two graphics cards I would consider the extra vents in the roof that seems to be a popular mod, possibly with fans blowing out. And I think the H20 would fit on the rear intake (reverse airflow in that case, front exhaust), although I may be wrong.

johnny sublime · 28 Apr 2010 at 17:28

lian li a05nb is a very nice case unusual layout but a tidy case im getting one when i upgrade for my current rig to go in

Hotwired · 28 Apr 2010 at 19:34

marc512 said:
I heard that some drives in the top bay hit against the fan.

That is true, but it refers to older 5.25" optical drives generally. Mine is a fairly cheap drive, it fits snugly but no contact and the wires didn't have to be mangled to fit either.

A 3.5" HDD in a 5.25" -> 3.5" adapter is a lot shorter than a 5.25" optical drive.

Nemesis379 · 28 Apr 2010 at 20:42

antec 3480 is nice if painted

wakayoda · 28 Apr 2010 at 23:48

if your getting 3 120HZ monitors how can you be lacking in space for a tower case?

CraigN · 30 Apr 2010 at 12:16

heres my mini p180 with a single 5970 in shows easily enough room for 2 good size cards

and you can fit a fan to pull air in from the front and pass it over the two graphics cards which effects temps by a good few degrees.

im also running an over clocked i7 920 @ 4ghz in this with no temp issues at all as well as 2 1tb WD caviar blacks and a crucial M225 128gb SSD and the CD rom drive doesn't touch the fan.