Project: Stylish productivity setup

Cheetah Designs · 20 Apr 2012 at 13:28

Code:

BenQ EW2430 24" LCD monitor
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Crucial RealSSD M4 128GB 
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Logitech K750 keyboard
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Logitech M705 mouse
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HDMI cable
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M350 mini-ITX case + VESA mount screws
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Scythe Kozuti
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Samsung Green 8GB (2x4GB)
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Intel Core i7-3770K
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Asrock Z77E-ITX
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150W Pico PSU + 150W Power Brick

Cheetah Designs · 27 Apr 2012 at 10:48

Added a couple of pictures to show just how small the case is and what it looks like from the front (you can't see it basically).

Remember the costs include a monitor, premium keyboard and premium mouse.

Deep · 28 Apr 2012 at 10:18

Now that is pretty smart!
If you wanted a bog standard PC that would be perfect

Cheetah Designs · 28 Apr 2012 at 12:54

Deep said:
Now that is pretty smart!
If you wanted a bog standard PC that would be perfect

The case is tiny! Only 192mm x 210mm x 62mm so you can't see it at all from the front.

Its metal rather than plastic and the build quality is good for the price (in my opinion).

Obviously you have the trouble of working in a small place.

I will take some proper pictures and do a review on the case when I build my IB setup.

Plan on putting the following:

- ASRock Z77-E mini-ITX motherboard
- Intel i5 3750k
- Samsung 8GB Green DDR3 (already bought this)

There is currently a lot of heat from the motherboard heatsinks because of the IGP, I'm hoping that it will be better when I move to IB as the IGP is in the CPU and the heatsinks for the motherboard are far smaller.

I haven't had the chance to install the Scythe HSF yet - so I don't know if that is actually going to fit or not!

Genoma · 29 Apr 2012 at 12:25

Looks interesting, how is it mounted on the tv?

Cheetah Designs · 29 Apr 2012 at 12:51

Its actually a monitor. It is mounted using a standard VESA mount.

If your TV/Monitor has a VESA mount, then you can mount this case on the back. You just have to buy some screws. If you use this method, you can't then mount the TV onto a wall as the mounting sockets are used by the case....

...HOWEVER, should you wish to mount the TV on the wall with the call, there is also a mounting bracket for this case that will allow you to do so.

George@ASDA · 11 May 2012 at 09:12

Looks very similar to what I fancy doing.. would love to hear your experience once the IB kit goes in.

Cheetah Designs · 12 May 2012 at 11:31

George@ASDA said:
Looks very similar to what I fancy doing.. would love to hear your experience once the IB kit goes in.

Just waiting for OCUK to delivery my motherboard...been delayed for a week now.

Axom · 14 May 2012 at 12:06

Hi Cheetah,

you've inspired me to make a similar build for my family pc (casual browsing + 1080p mkvs)

I was wondering if you intended to have any other cooling fans in the case i.e. there are various 40mm fan positions available on the case --- I'm still unsure how to balance noise vs heat

p.s. this was the cpu fan recommended on mini-itx.com >> Akasa 7106HP Low Profile Cooler (think it sits at about 30mm) but would be very interested to see how the scythe performs

thanks

Cheetah Designs · 14 May 2012 at 12:46

Im not having any other fans other than the CPU fan.

I purposely chose the case as it has lots of holes, the memory as it was low heat, so the only real source of heat is the CPU/IGP.

Still waiting for the Scythe to be delivered and my motherboard too.

George@ASDA · 14 May 2012 at 17:23

cheeky request - any chance of weighing the m350 while you next have it in bits? Couldn't find the weight listed anywhere and wondered how it compared to other small cases..

Cheetah Designs · 14 May 2012 at 18:30

George@ASDA said:
cheeky request - any chance of weighing the m350 while you next have it in bits? Couldn't find the weight listed anywhere and wondered how it compared to other small cases..

Will try and remember to when I install the new bits. I can remember it was pretty heavy though - It's build very well.....so you will have to have a study base for the monitor you want to mount it onto.

Cheetah Designs · 15 May 2012 at 16:24

George@ASDA said:
cheeky request - any chance of weighing the m350 while you next have it in bits? Couldn't find the weight listed anywhere and wondered how it compared to other small cases..

Weight it just under 1KG

George@ASDA · 15 May 2012 at 16:33

Thank you - much appreciated. Well if 1KG feel heavy for mounting to a monitor then I think my idea of using an Antek ISK300-150 is hopeless - it's listed at 2.5KG.

Cheetah Designs · 15 May 2012 at 16:41

Thats 1KG without anything in it....the motherboard with everything on it is heavier.

All depends on whether your monitor can support it.

Cheetah Designs · 17 May 2012 at 12:04

Kozuti is now in
so it is nice and quiet. I'm going to have to velctro mount the hard drive though.

George@ASDA · 17 May 2012 at 12:29

Was the stock HSF particularly noisy?

thanks for responding to all the Q's

Cheetah Designs · 17 May 2012 at 13:04

Not massively, but coming from using a Macbook Air which is silent its a was a big step up in noise.

This is the first desktop I have had in a while.

Axom · 17 May 2012 at 22:27

ah thats reasssuring to hear -- glad that the kozuti does the job

cheers for keeping me updated too

Cheetah Designs · 30 May 2012 at 09:51

Added some more pictures....hope its useful.

Havent got one of the Kozuti in yet....will be changing the thermal paste soon, so hopefully get some in then.