Small ATX Case.

rhysduck · 8 Mar 2010 at 10:15

I'm after one of the above.
I've been looking at the CoolerMaster 334 case - but its not that small (compared to the big one that I have now @ about 40cm high.)

It needs to house an ATX motherboard and full size psu.
What can you guys recommend?

shadowscotland · 8 Mar 2010 at 10:37

Smallest one I know is a GMC-R2 (or R3)
That take full size atx boards, cards and psu's - but only 2 HHD / 1 optical as stock.
It a cheap case - but actually very easy to build a system in.

Silverstone do a lot of HTPC ATX cases - but they are simular in size to a midi tower.
I had a CW01 - before I move the the GMC above for reduced size.

mart981 · 8 Mar 2010 at 11:35

I've got a coolermaster 360 on the way for a mate's build, admittedly I'm using a mATX mobo but they do apparently take full ATX. Hopefully should have all the parts in a couple of days, will post some pics.

rhysduck · 8 Mar 2010 at 12:42

Saw those GMC cases a little while back and came to one conclusion - they're hideous

Despite being something of what I'm after....

The CM 360 is the one I've been looking too - seems a nice simplistic case and cheap. Due to the fact that the pc had a uATX motherboard prior to being 'upgraded' (to a ATX mobo) then it's unavoidable for a small change in height.

Hm... CM 360 or not...

Makhaira · 8 Mar 2010 at 12:44

You may well have valid reasons, but to probe the requirements a bit, what is the need for a full size ATX mobo?

rhysduck · 8 Mar 2010 at 12:56

Nothing specific - it was cheap so went for that as the placement motherboard.
Should have gone with a uATX board thinking about it - but if I buy one of them now, I'll have a surplus ATX board.
Didn't think about case sizes when buying the board!

johnny sublime · 9 Mar 2010 at 01:37

try the lian li a05 its 38 cm and has the clean look of a lian li and is also pretty light like a lian li

johnny sublime · 9 Mar 2010 at 01:38

or try a trade on mebers market or even sell on MM and buy a matx(uatx)

mart981 · 9 Mar 2010 at 22:56

Almost done with the build with the CM 360. The mATX mobo is quite a snug fit, not sure I'd want to try a full size board.

I really like the case apart from a couple of things - the screwless 3.5 and 5.25 drive system. It's not very tight, if you're going to use your cd/dvd drive a lot I would either get a different case or try to pack something on the sides to hold the drive more tightly. Also a couple of the motherboard pre drilled stand off screw holes were pretty shoddy, had to get the trusty pliers out to screw a couple in to get past burrs.

Overall though I was pleasently surprised when you look at the price. It's geniunely a cheap and cheerful product.

I'll post a couple of pics tomorrow.

chipps101 · 9 Mar 2010 at 23:22

here's a pic of a build i have just done in a coolermaster elite 330, it is just 413 mm tall and should fit an atx motherboard fine -

i think the 334 is about the same size as this

Nemesis379 · 9 Mar 2010 at 23:48

smallest atx motherboard case is the lian li a05, sleek looks, better than the one above imo.

chipps101 · 9 Mar 2010 at 23:56

yes it is better than the coolermaster, no argument from me there but it is also more than double the price. £30 for the coolermaster and £73 for the lian li.

rhysduck · 10 Mar 2010 at 10:58

mart981 said:
Almost done with the build with the CM 360. The mATX mobo is quite a snug fit, not sure I'd want to try a full size board.

Interesting - the pictures on the product page for this (@ OcUK) are very confusing. This picture seems to show that with an ATX board the psu is housed in the bottom, front of the case. :confused:

I really like the case apart from a couple of things - the screwless 3.5 and 5.25 drive system. It's not very tight, if you're going to use your cd/dvd drive a lot I would either get a different case or try to pack something on the sides to hold the drive more tightly. Also a couple of the motherboard pre drilled stand off screw holes were pretty shoddy, had to get the trusty pliers out to screw a couple in to get past burrs.

Overall though I was pleasently surprised when you look at the price. It's geniunely a cheap and cheerful product.

I'll post a couple of pics tomorrow.

Interesting about the screwless system though - not something I expected from Coolermaster, even in the lower end of cases.
Thanks

(pics)

reeceLAV said:
smallest atx motherboard case is the lian li a05, sleek looks, better than the one above imo.

chipps101 said:
yes it is better than the coolermaster, no argument from me there but it is also more than double the price. £30 for the coolermaster and £73 for the lian li.

Exactly, despite a good looking case and possibly exactly what I'm after - its more than I'm willing to pay for the purpose and use of the pc its going to house. Definitely a contender for my next build though.

mart981 · 11 Mar 2010 at 12:40

It's round at his house now so difficult to go and get more pics, these were just a few I took when I was going to do a build thread but I couldn't be bothered in the end

Yep the PSU is mounted on it's side at the bootom of the case, there's an pre installed extension cable that runs along behind the mobo to the front up to the back at the top to the more standard position where you plug in your kettle lead.

Fan set up is one 80mm intake on the bottom. 120mm intake on the side blowing down onto the cpu fan thats blowing down onto the heatsink, 80mm exhaust rear and 120mm exhaust on top. Probably not the best set up for the smoothest airflow in the case but it keeps everything at 40ish C. Considering he'll never play games on it I doubt the cpu will ever get any prolonged usage over 20% so not worried about temps.

The side 120mm fan and the cpu fan are turned down to their lowest speed by the fan controller - the 120mm came with the case and is a hairdryer at full speed. The Fractual 120 and the 80 sharkoons are relatively silent at normal speed so left them. Overall only a whisper of noise from the case now.

My old 520 corsair psu and dvd drive not shown.

I did swap the old ide dvd drive, which I was only using to install OS, for his current sata drive. Also removed that cable tie round the power leads so they don't overhang the mobo now.

He's using it stood up for now, but either way is cool and quiet. Even though I was initially dubious about the screwless drive bays I can't hear any HDD rattle and although the DVD drive probably does have a bit more vibration noise than a tight screw fit when it's in use but it's probably acceptable with such a cheap case, especially if you won't be watching dvd's or playing games with the disc in.

Well Splattered · 11 Mar 2010 at 12:54

As a result of this thread I have actually purchased one of the Coolermaster 360's (yesterday). Its just arrived in its box and is just as I expected. Its light, has sharp edges and cramped working conditions. The buttons are functional with a satisfying click. The case does not flex too much, but will see how it fairs with the weight of a dell 3007 on top in desktop orientation later when I get home.

Its going to replace my NZXT Rogue which is sadly a little too wide for LAN parties. Its too tall to place a monitor on, and its too wide to place on the table next too the monitor.

My current spec in sig will be squeezed into the Coolermaster 360. Maybe the 295gtx will fit, maybe it will not! Its going to be right up against the PSU!

There are no mechanical HDD's to fit. Only four SSD drives and one optical blue ray, so that will help matters.

Its not going to stay black for very long, I am going to get the wet and dry out with some cans of spray paint. The dremel will also come out to play.