Small and light upgrade

newbieclocker · 23 Jul 2013 at 19:24

Hey guys,

When I first made my build I started with the bitfenix prodigy for my build which was great until I got my GPU where the fans kept scraping along the side panel. I then bought myself a CM Storm Stryker which is the other side of the spectrum which is very heavy. This is a problem as I intend on taking my machine with me and so wish it to be portable. I now wish to find a case that is somewhere in between.

I wish the case to be micro-ATX and larger, be around +/-10kg, be able to fit a noctua nh-d14 and two SLI asus 770's and a windowed side panel would be preferable.

Thanks.

Doomedspeed · 23 Jul 2013 at 19:43

This case was made for you.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Corsair Obsidian 350D Windowed Micro ATX Case - Black £99.95
Total : £111.05 (includes shipping : £9.25).

Only slight downside.

The cooler height (limit) is 160mm and as we know the D14 is 159mm.. It should fit though.

As the 350D has 5 PCI brackets if you motherboard has 3 lanes with a X8 at the bottom, you can get a nice airgap between your two cards.

newbieclocker · 23 Jul 2013 at 19:56

I have had my eye on this one. Not sure about the build quality and temperatures. It seems to good to be true at 7kg...

Doomedspeed · 23 Jul 2013 at 20:09

newbieclocker said:
I have had my eye on this one. Not sure about the build quality and temperatures. It seems to good to be true at 7kg...

True,

I think the cooling performance is down to corsairs really odd choice of stock fans though. With one relitively small intake you won't get much air into that thing.

Im sure putting another 140mm fan (to make 2 x 140mm's) or 2 x 120mm's at the front will improve this no end.

newbieclocker · 23 Jul 2013 at 20:37

The fractal design arc midi R2 looks good but is slightly heavy. How heavy should the case be to be portable?

newbieclocker · 23 Jul 2013 at 21:27

"i5 2500k @4.7Ghz ¦ TJ08-E ¦ EVGA GTX 570 2.5GB ¦ NH-D14 ¦ 64GB M4"

The TJ08-E also looks great, its only 5kg! A window is only optional...

Do you think I can add two asus gtx 770 inside.

Doomedspeed · 23 Jul 2013 at 21:57

newbieclocker said:
The fractal design arc midi R2 looks good but is slightly heavy. How heavy should the case be to be portable?

The midi is the ATX case, the Arc mini is mATX and should therefore be lighter still.

To be honest, the stuff inside makes a fair bit of difference.

My D14 weighs near to 1kg, graphics card about half a kg and the rest about another Kg or so.

newbieclocker said:
"i5 2500k @4.7Ghz ¦ TJ08-E ¦ EVGA GTX 570 2.5GB ¦ NH-D14 ¦ 64GB M4"

The TJ08-E also looks great, its only 5kg! A window is only optional...

Do you think I can add two asus gtx 770 inside.

I don't think you can buy side windows for them even, you'll need to mod it. Cosmetic i know but the side panel is on the opposite side to most (the right side of the case), just bear that in mind.

You can get your cards in though i wouldn't. not much airflow happens around the GPU in this case, die to the front fan being low and rear fan being even lower.

Also there will be no air gap between the two cards as on the 350D.

All those problems are negated if you custom watercool though. (though you'll need a 180mm rad, as it can't take 240mm rads),,

Anywhoo.. Yeah.

newbieclocker · 23 Jul 2013 at 22:04

Doomedspeed said:
You can get your cards in though i wouldn't. not much airflow happens around the GPU in this case, die to the front fan being low and rear fan being even lower.

Also there will be no air gap between the two cards as on the 350D.

I don't have two of these cards but I am trying to make it as future proof as possible. If I wanted a upgrade I could buy a more powerful single GPU.

newbieclocker · 23 Jul 2013 at 22:10

When you install your GPU do you have to remove the HDD cage? If so where can I put my SSD and HD.

Doomedspeed · 23 Jul 2013 at 22:10

newbieclocker said:
I don't have two of these cards but I am trying to make it as future proof as possible. If I wanted a upgrade I could buy a more powerful single GPU.

Thats fair enough.

For a single card setup this case is great.

Though im waiting for the BitFenix Prodigy M..

newbieclocker · 23 Jul 2013 at 22:25

Where do I install my HDD and SSD as I think I need to remove my HDD cage.

Doomedspeed · 23 Jul 2013 at 22:28

newbieclocker said:
Where do I install my HDD and SSD as I think I need to remove my HDD cage.

If you want to get a D14 you will. I have mine in my 5.25 bay using an adpater which can take one 3.5" drive and 2 2.5 drives (i use one of each).

You wouldn't have this issue on a 350D though.

newbieclocker · 23 Jul 2013 at 23:22

Doomedspeed said:
You wouldn't have this issue on a 350D though.

Its 2 kg lighter and looks like it has a greater build quality. I think the bottom cover is for a standard HDD mount I can then mount my SSD behind the motherboard tray.

Do you reckon my system will be portable enough?

Doomedspeed · 24 Jul 2013 at 08:45

newbieclocker said:
Its 2 kg lighter and looks like it has a greater build quality. I think the bottom cover is for a standard HDD mount I can then mount my SSD behind the motherboard tray.

Do you reckon my system will be portable enough?

The TJ08-e is 5.3kg and the 350D is 6kg so i don't know where you go 2kg from.

I assume your talking about the TJ08-E here?

If so, Yes you can mount your HDD down there and there is a little bit of room behind the motherboard for an SSD.

Easily. I used to carry mine around all the time. (just up and down stairs though). The box isn't much bigger than the actual case anyway.