Which ITX case?

MaDMaX** · 19 Feb 2020 at 18:33

Ive spent the last several days researching cases, for my 1st SFF build,

I have the following parts to install,
EVGA RTX 2070 super Hybrid XC (120mm AIO)
Corsair SFX 750 PSU
Ryzen 3600
MSI B450I GAMING PLUS
Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 3200 MHz, DDR4, DRAM 32 GB (2 x 16)

but finding the right case hasn't been easy, what with them either been hard to get in the US, or kickstarter cases that have finished production and no news of the next phase!

im trying to keep to the SFF build ethos, and personally want it as small as possible, but practical as well, i know i could crunch it all in a 50 pence piece, but the thermals are gonna hurt!

my initial plan is to have a case that can fit my GPU 120mm AIO and in the 1st instance have the CPU air-cooled, but if it doesn't work go with a 120/140/160mm AIO , like a Kraken M22/X42 for example,
so need a case that can accommodate that,

anyone fitted two 120mm AIO's side by side ?
the only 2 cases i found for my purpose so far and actually Overclockers stock, nice

DA2
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/streacom-da2-mini-itx-case-silver-ca-05h-sr.html

Ophion EVO
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/raij...-itx-case-black-tempered-glass-ca-03v-rt.html

with these
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/raijintek-ophion-evo-aluminium-side-panel-set-black-ca-040-rt.html

the Da2 is £199, but if you want a real USB TYPE-C 3.1 GEN2 front AIO its yours for an extra £20 or so, not to mention the price for extra case brackets, which im still waiting on Streacom to reply to, so thats gonna push north of £230

However, a lot of good reviews on YouTube especially from Optimum Tech and Linus

the EVO is around £135 incl the ALI side panels, which is a bonus,

but although there are some YouTube reviews out there, could not find one review including the ali side panels,

anyone own either can shed some light on which one is better ?

random_matt · 19 Feb 2020 at 20:24

The DA2 is guaranteed quality, but you have to pay extra for glass panels and acrylic panels (You really need these). I had the Evo Matx version, very good case.

MaDMaX** · 19 Feb 2020 at 20:52

random_matt said:
The DA2 is guaranteed quality, but you have to pay extra for glass panels and acrylic panels (You really need these). I had the Evo Matx version, very good case.

Thanks for the help

Are you saying the DA2 would look better with the windowed panels ? hmmm I like them on the Ophion evo but also like the ali ones, i personally would be buying the DA2 looks wise as is, i like the hidden style, suits it,

are you saying you own the Ophion EVO Matx case ? thats bigger than the NZXT 200 then ? eeek my little SF750 cables would struggle reaching the corners in either, hence why i ditched thinking of getting the NZXT, but nice looking case,

McPhee · 19 Feb 2020 at 22:03

Have you bought the other parts yet? Seems like it's the hybrid GPU that's really limiting case choice here.

For the Ophion, there are some user reviews of the alu side panels on Reddit. They don't seem that favourable. Might be worth just buying the case as-is and seeing how you get on?

random_matt · 19 Feb 2020 at 22:25

MaDMaX** said:
Thanks for the help

Are you saying the DA2 would look better with the windowed panels ? hmmm I like them on the Ophion evo but also like the ali ones, i personally would be buying the DA2 looks wise as is, i like the hidden style, suits it,

are you saying you own the Ophion EVO Matx case ? thats bigger than the NZXT 200 then ? eeek my little SF750 cables would struggle reaching the corners in either, hence why i ditched thinking of getting the NZXT, but nice looking case,

It is one of the most compact ones around for matx, fits a 360 rad as well. But you will need these: https://streacom.com/products/dx2-pap/ Buy them direct from streacom, the glass panels can be bought here from (Not allowed to say)

MaDMaX** · 19 Feb 2020 at 22:49

random_matt said:
It is one of the most compact ones around for matx, fits a 360 rad as well. But you will need these: https://streacom.com/products/dx2-pap/ Buy them direct from streacom, the glass panels can be bought here from (Not allowed to say)

thanks for the heads up on the matx evo, something to consider

satchef1 said:
Have you bought the other parts yet? Seems like it's the hybrid GPU that's really limiting case choice here.

For the Ophion, there are some user reviews of the alu side panels on Reddit. They don't seem that favourable. Might be worth just buying the case as-is and seeing how you get on?

yep all parts bought, to be honest, you are right re the hybrid gpu, but it’s a no brainier if it can fit in a SFF case, the temps in my Alienware graphics amp we’re shockingly low, like 45deg c while gaming ,

yeah I did think for the money I might plump for the ophion and if it’s not great, then get the DA2, but the DA2 is probably perfect for my needs, just wish it was just a bit cheaper

orbitalwalsh · 20 Feb 2020 at 10:01

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/lian...ium-mini-itx-case-black-window-ca-77j-ll.html

??

MaDMaX** · 20 Feb 2020 at 10:16

orbitalwalsh said:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/lian...ium-mini-itx-case-black-window-ca-77j-ll.html

??

eeek those feet ! Am a fan of Li cases had one or two in atx builds, just not a fan of that one thanks for the heads up thou

orbitalwalsh · 20 Feb 2020 at 10:17

MaDMaX** said:
eeek those feet ! Am a fan of Li cases had one or two in atx builds, just not a fan of that one thanks for the heads up thou

https://www.sliger.com/products/cases/

they do have an EU distributor ... ££££ BUT DAMN!

MaDMaX** · 20 Feb 2020 at 10:28

orbitalwalsh said:
https://www.sliger.com/products/cases/

they do have an EU distributor ... ££££ BUT DAMN!

yep looked at the SM 580,

like you said lots of money, everyone raves about the S1 ghost, I noticed looking at one on optimum techs videos, it was such a slight angle but you could see the bowing between the top hat and the case, so even the most revered cases have there issues

I’m gonna order the DA2 today I think

MaDMaX** · 20 Feb 2020 at 12:09

Thanks for all your input guys, ordered the DA2 today, from overclockers im proud to say,

Looking forward to getting my build started

random_matt · 20 Feb 2020 at 12:39

MaDMaX** said:
yep looked at the SM 580,

like you said lots of money, everyone raves about the S1 ghost, I noticed looking at one on optimum techs videos, it was such a slight angle but you could see the bowing between the top hat and the case, so even the most revered cases have there issues

I’m gonna order the DA2 today I think

If you want a Ghost, then it is £350 with a tophat. You have to go through an agent, legit but expensive and the only way. Louqe do not give a **** about equality.

MaDMaX** · 20 Feb 2020 at 13:02

random_matt said:
If you want a Ghost, then it is £350 with a tophat. You have to go through an agent, legit but expensive and the only way. Louqe do not give a **** about equality.

It’s a shame as there are some good clones out there like the sliger etc but just as unfortunate they are not much cheaper lol

anyway screacom has my money now

McPhee · 20 Feb 2020 at 15:17

orbitalwalsh said:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/lian...ium-mini-itx-case-black-window-ca-77j-ll.html

??

IIRC, no 120mm AIOs fit at the front due to the PSU placement. Bit of an "oops" on Lian Li's part really, as it means you can't do dual AIOs, or even an air cooled CPU and AIO on the GPU. But then, they didn't design the TU150 to be flexible. They designed it to take a big air cooler on the CPU and a chunky cooler on the graphics card.

MaDMaX** said:
Thanks for all your input guys, ordered the DA2 today, from overclockers im proud to say,

Looking forward to getting my build started

Let us know how you get on. Been tempted by a DA2 since release.

orbitalwalsh · 20 Feb 2020 at 15:42

MaDMaX** said:
yep looked at the SM 580,

like you said lots of money, everyone raves about the S1 ghost, I noticed looking at one on optimum techs videos, it was such a slight angle but you could see the bowing between the top hat and the case, so even the most revered cases have there issues

I’m gonna order the DA2 today I think

modded my Silverstone Console case to take dual 240mm aio and ATX mobo instead of ITX in 16 litres of space

want it done right, got to do it yourself

MaDMaX** · 20 Feb 2020 at 16:41

orbitalwalsh said:
modded my Silverstone Console case to take dual 240mm aio and ATX mobo instead of ITX in 16 litres of space want it done right, got to do it yourself

Ha Ha you nutter, thats pretty die hard, did you post your progress ? , be good to see,
my plan is to get my DA2 build done, then once my building confidence is back, im goona look out for a project, im currently watching a Zaber Sentry Mini-ITX SFF PC Case V1 on an auction site as we speak, once i get down the road with a few upgrades, will keep leftover parts aside to see if i can squeeze them in my project, would love a mid/high end gaming machine that small

satchef1 said:
Let us know how you get on. Been tempted by a DA2 since release.

its arriving tomorrow, plan is to start it next week, I've got some extra vertical and horizontal brackets coming, as watching/reading reviews it could do with some extra ones, and also have a Type-C USB 3.1 Gen2 Cable for the front connector on the DA2 coming, as the one in the case is 3.0 !! very odd but there you go, so want to be prepared ! for now going to be using the included standard wraith cooler for the cpu, and see how it goes, and also once everything else is fitted, i can work out what size AIO i can fit for the CPU if needed, or if its not worth it then get a bigger air cooler,

orbitalwalsh · 20 Feb 2020 at 19:37

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...itx-rvz-03-full-water-and-dual-240s.18863171/

MaDMaX** · 20 Feb 2020 at 20:51

orbitalwalsh said:
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...itx-rvz-03-full-water-and-dual-240s.18863171/

I asked for that didn't I !

head still spinning, what a rush, loved the Lego stand offs !

have subscribed should there be updates

but you are def one radical son of a, or just mental! ,, p.s do people live in that RTX 2080 !!! its massive

im not sure i could ever go that far or have the guts n knowledge to try, be happy just to see my DA2 finished end of next week