Mini ITX build aesthetics

mazty · 29 Jul 2014 at 15:39

I'm planning on making a mini itx build using these components:

Bit fenix phenom mini itx
Asus impact VII
I7 4790k
H105
BeQuiet! Silent Wings 2 140mm x 1, 120mm x 2
Taking over a 480gb crucial ssd and 1 tb hdd (3.5")
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8gb x2 2133mhz ram
650w PSU
R9 290

As you can see the list starts off specific and ends up vague. The reason is im wanting to get components that don't just perform well but also look great when combined together with subtle lighting. My thoughts so far are going for a seasonic gold psu, the new low profile hyperx Kingston ram with red accents, the r9 290 sapphire tri-x OC and throw in orange strips around the case edge to highlight the components. Any thoughts on such a setup or suggestions on better components? Price isn't really an issue but I don't want to get anything too ridiculous! However I do want to avoid the red and black setup as its been done to death and as the pc will be on the desk next to me, volume is an issue.

tbyeah · 29 Jul 2014 at 15:40

That'll look fine, not sure what I'd change. Maybe an Asus 290 to match the board?

snips86x · 29 Jul 2014 at 15:41

Airflow in the Phenom isnt great - what about the prodigy or the Corsair 250D?

tbyeah · 29 Jul 2014 at 15:43

snips86x said:
Airflow in the Phenom isnt great - what about the prodigy or the Corsair 250D?

This also, I'd go for a 250D with a H100i instead.

However, personally I'd go for an ITX case that's actually small as otherwise I don't see the point of ITX in the first place.

snips86x · 29 Jul 2014 at 15:44

Just beware with the 250D and H100i, it restricts one of the rear 80mm fans - well....only really relevant if you're getting the 250

The Prodigy with a window panel would be nice, and look sick with a WC loop, but that case comes with micro ATX too, so that's kind of pointless too!

MichaelAwkward · 29 Jul 2014 at 15:48

The Aerocool Dead Silence is an alternative if you're considering the Phenom/Prodigy. It's not much bigger but allows for horizontal Micro ATX instead.

Danny75 · 29 Jul 2014 at 16:08

Phenom doesn't have window (and the Prodigy window won't fit on it) to display the aesthetics, unless you're going to mod.

mazty · 29 Jul 2014 at 16:38

Thanks for the suggestions but I really prefer the look of the phenom over all the other mini itx cases out there, plus of push comes to shove a dremel can always be used to open up the front venting further

Danny75 said:
Phenom doesn't have window (and the Prodigy window won't fit on it) to display the aesthetics, unless you're going to mod.

Depending on temperatures I may either mod the side for a window or install the newly released vented side panel which wouldn't be as nice as a window, but still would offer a look inside.

Danny75 · 29 Jul 2014 at 17:09

mazty said:
Thanks for the suggestions but I really prefer the look of the phenom over all the other mini itx cases out there, plus of push comes to shove a dremel can always be used to open up the front venting further

I agree it's a gorgeous case, built two of them (black and white, and never managed to decide which looked nicer).

mazty said:
Depending on temperatures I may either mod the side for a window or install the newly released vented side panel which wouldn't be as nice as a window, but still would offer a look inside.

Oh, new vented side panel? Had no idea. Do you have a link for that please, as I've searched for it on bitfenix.com without success?

The GPU does get a bit hot and vents would be very helpful.

A nice big 230mm Spectre Pro fan at the front helps cool RAM/mobo and feed the CPU cooler (if it's an air one). It's very quiet on 7v (7v molex comes with it).

MichaelAwkward · 29 Jul 2014 at 17:40

http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/accessories/phenom-vented-side-panel/

Even with these on the Prodigy though, the GPU is still relatively starved of air and the side does get hot to the touch.

mazty · 29 Jul 2014 at 18:55

MichaelAwkward said:
http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/accessories/phenom-vented-side-panel/

Even with these on the Prodigy though, the GPU is still relatively starved of air and the side does get hot to the touch.

Really? I'd have imagined with the panels the ventilation would be better than a standard case as the GPU is probably only an inch away from a clean air intake rather than relying on a front intake that's ~4 inches away.

Danny75 said:
I agree it's a gorgeous case, built two of them (black and white, and never managed to decide which looked nicer).

Oh, new vented side panel? Had no idea. Do you have a link for that please, as I've searched for it on bitfenix.com without success?

The GPU does get a bit hot and vents would be very helpful.

A nice big 230mm Spectre Pro fan at the front helps cool RAM/mobo and feed the CPU cooler (if it's an air one). It's very quiet on 7v (7v molex comes with it).

Michael beat me to the link. I was thinking a 230mm would be good for noise reduction but two Silent Wings 120mm may allow to fully utilise the front intake with the higher pressure of them. Still I do suspect it may be overkill as the front is limited to a few key holes so I'll more than likely widen them up if temperatures become an issue.

MichaelAwkward · 29 Jul 2014 at 19:12

mazty said:
Really? I'd have imagined with the panels the ventilation would be better than a standard case as the GPU is probably only an inch away from a clean air intake rather than relying on a front intake that's ~4 inches away.

Yeah, it is surprising but then there's barely 1cm between the panel and my MSI GTX 670 with the Twin Frozr cooler, I guess it's just not enough space for any significant airflow.

OracIe · 30 Jul 2014 at 11:58

snips86x said:
Just beware with the 250D and H100i, it restricts one of the rear 80mm fans

it does a bit

mazty · 1 Aug 2014 at 10:04

MichaelAwkward said:
Yeah, it is surprising but then there's barely 1cm between the panel and my MSI GTX 670 with the Twin Frozr cooler, I guess it's just not enough space for any significant airflow.

Having thought about this as clearly its going to be quite a problem - if I want a quiet build having a cooler that has to battle with limited airflow isn't going to help. So a thought is to use a stock cooler as its side blowing? Just kidding, kind of. I'm tempted to look into getting the cheapest r9 I can (brand new), throwing off the cooler and installing a g10 kraken and a 120mm radiator AIO mounted to one of the front intakes. A 240mm may be possible but as I've 3 hdds (2 are 3.5's) im not sure I'll have the room. Does this sound plausible?

LePhuronn · 6 Aug 2014 at 13:30

mazty said:
Thanks for the suggestions but I really prefer the look of the phenom over all the other mini itx cases out there

i think the In-win 901 will disagree with your statement

But it's very much form over function (and you won't get the H105 in there). I'm still very tempted to do an Impact VII build in that case. Would look the ****, even if it's restricted to a H60 cooler

MichaelAwkward · 6 Aug 2014 at 14:13

mazty said:
Having thought about this as clearly its going to be quite a problem - if I want a quiet build having a cooler that has to battle with limited airflow isn't going to help. So a thought is to use a stock cooler as its side blowing? Just kidding, kind of. I'm tempted to look into getting the cheapest r9 I can (brand new), throwing off the cooler and installing a g10 kraken and a 120mm radiator AIO mounted to one of the front intakes. A 240mm may be possible but as I've 3 hdds (2 are 3.5's) im not sure I'll have the room. Does this sound plausible?

It does, but I doubt it would improve temperatures that much and it'll work out much more expensive. You'd better off just getting a GPU that blows outwards. Mine sucks air in, so the lack of space between the case and the cooler is a problem. Blowing outwards should be fine though.