SFF Cupboard build.

cavemanoc · 4 Nov 2009 at 17:15

I should finally be getting my HTPC build sorted over the next couple of weeks. I've got an Asus MAtx board with the AMD 7750 on board. I'm looking to put it into a HI-FI cabinet that I've picked up as a 'naked' build, with a little damage as possible to the cabinet:

The internal shelf dimensions are H26cm W33cm D39cm

I'd like to make a bit of a show piece out of it with a neat and inventive layout - wasn't planning on watercooling, but I do have lots of bits lying about so Might consider it (would certainly help with the cooling if the Rad were external. Will probably look to build on a mobo tray with the drives (2.5" laptop sata and a DVD drive (slot loading) suspended above and to the side perhaps.

Any bright ideas?

cavemanoc · 5 Nov 2009 at 12:06

Kinda what I was thinking - won't be able to eat into the lower drawer so I will probably go for a slot loading DVD on its side, hidden by the frame of the door. If I decide to watercool - 'warming' to the idea

then I'd definitely look at rear mounting the Rad outside the unit. just depends what the holes are like. My pump has got the Chrome top so actually looks quite nice, will probably just put it on a mount in the most sensible (tube routing) place that fits.

The HDD will be tiny (2.5" laptop drive) - so unless I decide to put it in a shroud it'll probably just get tucked away on one of the sides, or behind the mobo. Still deciding on the colour scheme - will check the mobo and see what fits - but yeah - just a subtle glow, rather than 'urban light show' would be nice!

Tempted to get a little LCD display for it - perhaps running Sideshow or something similar - anyone know of anything at a reasonable price out there?

cavemanoc · 6 Nov 2009 at 14:01

On a slightly different note - I was wondering about the PSU - obviously it needs to be 'silent' as this will be a media machine and the cabinet has little/no sound dampening - so... Given the spec below, could I get away with a pico psu and a power brick, and if so - which?

Athlon Dual Core 7750 (2.70Ghz)
2x2GB Corsair XMS RAM
ASUS M3A78-EM mATX (780G/SB700)
TRUE with 1x120mm Fan
2.5" Laptop HDD - probably a 5400RPM one
DVD Drive - TBD

I'm pretty sure the 7750 can be undervolted by a considerably margin. The on-board GFX will take care of all the media requirements - so no beefy GFX card.

Any ideas?

cavemanoc · 6 Nov 2009 at 16:41

I've just bought a plug in power monitor from 'somewhere else' - will plug it and do some burn testing to see what sort of draw to expect - on a positive note - I've still got my old Dell XPS 1710 power brick kicking around which is good up to 130W so I should be able to save some cash on that - will be nice to move the heat out of the cupboard as well - I suspect that the PSU will be one of the largest heat sources in this build!

Anyone got any advice on brands/prices for a 120/150W pico - I wouldn't buy a rubbish psu, so a bit concerned about buying a fleabay special - but don't want to get shafted on price either... just want clean, stable power - and if it regulates the 12v as well so much the better!

cavemanoc · 6 Nov 2009 at 21:17

Osian said:
Just get a real Pico?

Is Pico the brand name? Never realised - will simplify things!
-Hoop! Just my luck - it appears that most places are sold out of the 150W ones (12V 150W PicoPSU-150-XT) until the beginning of December

optitech-uk said:
Thats a really nice cupboard you have there. Will look lovely with an SFF build in there.

Part of the reason I'm desperate not to butcher it, and not to end up with anything too flashy or gaudy!

cavemanoc · 10 Nov 2009 at 11:46

Further thought on the PSU - I do have my old dell brick (thought it might have gone to fleabay) and it's rated to 130W, which is great. My power reader only gives total system drain - so it only gives half the story, as the PicoPSU provides 120W across the 3.3V and 5V lines, and passes through the 12V - so technically I have a combined power (max) of about 250W - obviously the 12V will take the lion's share of the load - any way to work out what load is running on each line? (I do have a multimeter - so presumably I could test at the psu?)

I'm definitely leaning towards the PicoPSU solution - and as I already have half of it (Dell) - it's actually quite economical - just need to ensure that it has enough power to run the system.