Downsize Help Required

[Gray2233]

I've got Phanteks Evolv X, which I have just stripped, wife has Phanteks P400. We're going to sell our boards and replace them with ITX versions using this case - https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ante...3NDUwODAkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODk3NDUwODQkajU2JGwwJGgw

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Lian Li B4 mATX Mesh White (SKU: CAS-LIA-07996) = GBP64.90

Total: GBP72.89 (includes delivery: GBP7.99)​

Half the price and not much larger, you'll have much better options in terms of motherboards and other components too.

The A3 is also worth looking at, but I think it's a touch larger.

 

[jigger]

Sell everything and buy a pair of Minisforum MS-A2 Workstations? Even at full tilt with max power profiles the MS-A2 would be under 130watts and offer a massive performance upgrade.

 

[snips86x]

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Lian Li B4 mATX Mesh White (SKU: CAS-LIA-07996) = GBP64.90

Total: GBP72.89 (includes delivery: GBP7.99)​

Half the price and not much larger, you'll have much better options in terms of motherboards and other components too.

The A3 is also worth looking at, but I think it's a touch larger.

Not keen on the design, the one I linked is cheaper elsewhere but our preferences is to not have an eye sore.

 

[Tetras]

Not keen on the design, the one I linked is cheaper elsewhere but our preferences is to not have an eye sore.

Generically, if you don't go for a very small ITX case, then a modern compact MATX isn't that much different size wise.

Getting away from SFX PSUs is a big advantage. The CPU cooler height is pretty restricted on the Antec case too.

Lian Li's A3 only real weakness is size of the PSU impacts GPU length, though even then the allowance is decent.

 

[snips86x]

Generically, if you don't go for a very small ITX case, then a modern compact MATX isn't that much different size wise.

Getting away from SFX PSUs is a big advantage. The CPU cooler height is pretty restricted on the Antec case too.

Lian Li's A3 only real weakness is size of the PSU impacts GPU length, though even then the allowance is decent.

The wooden one looks about perfect actually.

 

[snips86x]

So the Lian li A3 with one of these 3 coolers given they are no bigger than 165mm

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Lian Li A3 mATX Wood Edition - Black (SKU: CAS-LIA-02630) = GBP71.95
• 1 x Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Pure Black CPU Cooler with Dual 140m Fans (SKU: HS-03M-NC) = GBP109.99
• 1 x Noctua NH-D15S Chromax Black CPU cooler - 140mm (SKU: HS-03R-NC) = GBP104.99
• 1 x Noctua NH-U12A High Performance CPU Cooler - 120mm (SKU: HS-03K-NC) = GBP109.99

Total: GBP409.91 (includes delivery: GBP12.99)​

 

[Gray2233]

So the Lian li A3 with one of these 3 coolers given they are no bigger than 165mm

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Lian Li A3 mATX Wood Edition - Black (SKU: CAS-LIA-02630) = GBP71.95
• 1 x Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Pure Black CPU Cooler with Dual 140m Fans (SKU: HS-03M-NC) = GBP109.99
• 1 x Noctua NH-D15S Chromax Black CPU cooler - 140mm (SKU: HS-03R-NC) = GBP104.99
• 1 x Noctua NH-U12A High Performance CPU Cooler - 120mm (SKU: HS-03K-NC) = GBP109.99

Total: GBP409.91 (includes delivery: GBP12.99)​

While Noctua have some good products, they're also ridiculously priced for their performance levels.

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler - 120mm (SKU: COO-TLR-02665) = GBP29.99

Total: GBP37.98 (includes delivery: GBP7.99)​

This would be ample for both of your CPU's and performs extremely close to the D15's.

I've used countless Thermalright HSF's and AiO's, they're superb for the money.

 

[snips86x]

While Noctua have some good products, they're also ridiculously priced for their performance levels.

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler - 120mm (SKU: COO-TLR-02665) = GBP29.99

Total: GBP37.98 (includes delivery: GBP7.99)​

This would be ample for both of your CPU's and performs extremely close to the D15's.

I've used countless Thermalright HSF's and AiO's, they're superb for the money.

That's perfect, thanks.

 

[Tetras]

So the Lian li A3 with one of these 3 coolers given they are no bigger than 165mm

If you're re-using, what is the length of your 6900XT and PSU?

 

[snips86x]

@Tetras @Gray2233
Thanks for the pointers, I've stripped my rig, removed the AIO, blasted everything, replaced fans, removed LEDs and fitted that air cooler and it's fantastic.
I've disabled one CCD and it's performing perfectly at 95w TDP.
GPU has been under volted and -10% power, sits around 110w in game but I've only briefly tested Div2 and Dragonwilds capped at 60fps running 1440p.
In all, it's on par with my Series X Galaxy black which I'm happy about.

 

[Séan Pan]

@Tetras @Gray2233
Thanks for the pointers, I've stripped my rig, removed the AIO, blasted everything, replaced fans, removed LEDs and fitted that air cooler and it's fantastic.
I've disabled one CCD and it's performing perfectly at 95w TDP.
GPU has been under volted and -10% power, sits around 110w in game but I've only briefly tested Div2 and Dragonwilds capped at 60fps running 1440p.
In all, it's on par with my Series X Galaxy black which I'm happy about.

I get what you're saying but there are multiple elements to this. Firstly, we haven't used our PCs for about 6 months. They've been put away and we replaced them with series X instead. We haven't missed them tbh.

Secondly, I work from home so my pc used to run from 0900 through to about 2300. Some days idle, some not.

When we switched to Xbox, our electric usage dropped heavily. We had laptops for some games but they're not as convenient as console. Pickup and out down of the controller made it far more appealing.

My rig is massive. It's too big to put anywhere now and the heat it used to generate was also abhorrent.

We've gotten used to small easy to use and hide consoles and even have tried steam decks but the resolution when docking is far from ideal.

It was our intention to replace the PC with a smaller hardware which would fit into an itx case but we're also considering gaming NUCs for those games we miss on steam.

Don't Forget About.: https://rog.asus.com/external-graphics-docks-group/

Razer Core X - Thunderbolt™ 3 eGPU | Razer Middle East and North Africa

Now compatible with Mac and Windows laptops, featuring 3-slot PCI-Express desktop graphic cards, 650W power supply, and charges via USB-C.

www.razer.com

or similar like.:

eGFX Breakaway Box for AMD and NVIDIA GPUs | Sonnet

AKiTiO Node | Thunderbolt™ 3 eGXF expansion chassis for eGPUs | AKiTiO

The Thunderbolt™ 3 eGXF box is a low cost PCIe expansion chassis designed to house an external graphics card (eGPU).

www.akitio.com

// Obviously, the graphics cards won't run at 100% capacity there.: though that applies to top-tier models /// in your case.: it might be worth considering. I admit i’m not a fan of this approach, but I dislike NUCs even more.)