Small side project.

Bradley8988 · 13 Feb 2010 at 19:48

Im posting it here as the SFF section is pretty dead.
Well with my current rig just using silly amounts of power for basically msn and browsing, so iv decided to keep it for gaming and to one day finish my main project but build another for what I mostly use my pc for.

Uses are:

Browsing.
Light PS.
Chat.
Watching SD/HD movies.
Listening to music.
Leaving on all night downloading.

So the spec will be:

E5200.
Zotac GF 9300-I-E Nvidia (Socket 775) DDR2 Wi-fi.
Crucial Ballistix Tracer Red 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C4 800MHz.
Small laptop drive for OS and programs.
Large eco 1TB+ storage drive.
Large CPU cooler.
150w Pico PSU.
Lian Li PC-Q07 Mini ITX Case.
2x Black silent fans.

I plan to not use a ATX PSU like the case is designed for which should give me enough room to run a big CPU cooler and slow running fan to allow very very low noise and not too bad temps. I expect i will do some other case mods like a window and some braiding but we will see. Will update with some pics once the parts start rolling in next week. I dont want this to take more than a few weeks so should see it finished pretty soon.

Found this pic (Thanks Neil) just to give an idea of size.

Thanks.

Cookeh · 13 Feb 2010 at 19:56

Alright cool.
Liking the sound of it

chipps101 · 13 Feb 2010 at 22:27

im running the scythe mini ninja passive on my e3200 in my htpc and it keeps the temps to 41c running prime 95, so that would be my suggestion for your cpu cooler

if you feel you need some airflow on it just get a sharkoon silent eagle 1000 80mm on it and it will still be almost silent and have a gentle breeze going through it, but in all honesty the scythe fan that came with it is pretty quiet anyhows.

Bradley8988 · 13 Feb 2010 at 23:37

Well im thinking more along the lines of a TRUE black. Possibly running passive with the case fan doing the work. All depends on space. I would like to cool the mobo too so maybe something like a Scythe Zipang 2 would help that. Silent as possible is the aim here.

Bradley8988 · 15 Feb 2010 at 20:31

Well not much of a update but anyway.

The case was first to arrive today and although I expected the box to be small, when i walked though the door after work i was alittle shocked on how small it really was.

Once opened up I stole a vented dvd bay cover to help alittle with the cooling. Matches the side of the case too. The case already had some fingerprints on and the invoice was inside so looks like nova must have had a peak before sending.

Not quite sure where i can mod the case to fit a quiet case fan. I may design a new cover for where the PSU would be and have it cut out of black brushed lian aluminium. Just as more vents to let cool air in.

Tomorrow the mobo should arrive for some fitting and measuring for coolers.

Thanks Brad.

Bradley8988 · 17 Feb 2010 at 17:28

Few more bits of hardware arrived.

Little Zotac itx board. Cute

Some new DDR2 ram that should kinda match the mobo abit while not been too tall.

Got the E5200 fitted and then mounted in the case. My plan is to turn the PSU hole into a intake so i think im going to cut out some sort of window in the side and fill it with some tinted plexi as you can see with the red outline.

What im still totally un decided on is the CPU cooler...

Do I go for a tall cooler like the TRUE which would hardly need any air to keep the cpu cool? Problem is it wont send any air to the mobo which i feel will be a problem soo theres always this. One thing i dont like though is the cost and if it will fit..

Bradley8988 · 19 Feb 2010 at 20:13

Will let the pics do most of the talking.

Bradley8988 · 19 Feb 2010 at 20:13

Looks pretty big compared to the little mobo.

Tested in the case I found it wont fit at the moment as it fouls the dvd drive supports but that's nothing alittle trimming wont fix. Got a new fan coming tomorrow hopefully so will get rid of that **** coloured noctua.

Muel · 19 Feb 2010 at 20:18

It looks like the CPU cooler will actually be blowing hot air onto the RAM and the rest of the motherboard? Or are you planning on running the fan sucking air across them? I doubt it will need an overclock for the usages you've stated.

Bradley8988 · 19 Feb 2010 at 20:23

It will be blowing warm air across but it shouldnt exactly be hot. Will probably run it at stock or a very mild OC.

As this is the only fan in the case it needs to get air across the mobo some how.

capriboy1978 · 19 Feb 2010 at 20:25

loving that little case. Since my sharp blu ray died i've been umming and arring over a htpc to replace it. What sort of budget is this running to bud?

/subscribed btw.

Bradley8988 · 19 Feb 2010 at 20:28

Well i wanted it to be really cheap (£200 max) but thats kinda gone outa the window. All the parts are on there way to my house now. Cost alittle over £500 total without OS.. Hopefully it will be finished at the end of next week as long as theres no problems.

Muel · 19 Feb 2010 at 20:51

Bradley8988 said:
It will be blowing warm air across but it shouldnt exactly be hot. Will probably run it at stock or a very mild OC.

As this is the only fan in the case it needs to get air across the mobo some how.

Yeh I suppose it's better than no air flow.

Bradley8988 · 20 Feb 2010 at 18:41

More pics of bits that got delivered today.

Some new MX-3 TIM. Iv always used MX-2 so was a easy choice.

Small collection going now.

Also decided on a 1150rpm Typhoon in the end. Its not the best looking fan around but should be very very quiet.

All fitted.

This is the amount that needs to be cut out of the 5.25" bay in the roof which I plan to do tomorrow.

I should be able to get it wrapped up on Monday/Tuesday bar the PSU plate vent I want to get made up by Tom.

Thanks.

Bradley8988 · 22 Feb 2010 at 20:38

Hdd and PSU came today but not happy with the position of the hdd mounting so going to adjust that alittle to help cable tidying.

As for the rear plate iv decided on this design with the Lian-li logo to try keep a stock look. Will be CNC cut outa some aluminium.

What ya think?

Technics · 22 Feb 2010 at 21:04

Very nice build there, that cooler looks quality made...have to agree with you on the nactua color sceme....it's ugly. And the case is great, which is to be expected of most lian-li's these days.

I was thining about a little HTPC as im very much the same as you, got a gaming rig that i mostly use to browse, use office software and msn. However the 500 price tag for this rig has kind of put me of the idea :S, my main rig didn't cost to much more than that.

Bradley8988 · 22 Feb 2010 at 21:21

Technics said:
Very nice build there, that cooler looks quality made...have to agree with you on the nactua color sceme....it's ugly. And the case is great, which is to be expected of most lian-li's these days.

I was thining about a little HTPC as im very much the same as you, got a gaming rig that i mostly use to browse, use office software and msn. However the 500 price tag for this rig has kind of put me of the idea :S, my main rig didn't cost to much more than that.

Well tbh i probably would not have built it if i knew how much it would end up costing but as it progressed i just said it would cost as much as it cost and i wouldn't cut corners if possible.

VortX · 22 Feb 2010 at 23:08

This actually looks really nice! Bigger doesn't always = better

This looks really smart and tidy haha

misterPK · 23 Feb 2010 at 10:19

I hope the final design of the plate has neater edges! It just doesnt look right to me at the moment...

PK!

Bradley8988 · 23 Feb 2010 at 16:41

misterPK said:
I hope the final design of the plate has neater edges! It just doesnt look right to me at the moment...

PK!

It will mate its just a rough design to give to the laser cutter. CNC wouldnt be able to get right into the small points so only other way is laser.