Why dont they get ITX cases right?

d_brennen · 1 May 2020 at 08:29

The Osmi 3 case looks nice, can't see much info about it or EU supplier though

FL630 · 1 May 2020 at 10:33

sg0 said:
100% agree. It just seems to me you have compromise with some aspect of a case even if you have no plans to overclock with mid/top components. Unfortunately cooling solutions haven't seen much innovation over the years and decent air coolers are huge. Its a shame you cant have a riser cable solution for the cpu lol.

The Louqe ghost s1 looked promising with its modular design but is too pricy and difficult to get. I myself will pick up the H1, an itx that can fit a 2080ti with that foot print and is the best I've seen yet.

The Ghost S1 is fantastic, but was a real pain to get hold of as you say. Quality is unreal and the fit and finish is perfect. It's tiny too, but sadly sacrifices a small amount of size to limit cards to 2 slots only, which these days is quite difficult! If they made it just 1cm wider it would possibly be the perfect PC case!

offitmassive · 1 May 2020 at 15:12

Relentless81 said:
I'll check that thanks but can't see it bettering the lian li tu150

It's a very nice case and I'd checked it out but I have a 240mm aio so it doesn't fit. I did look at the inwin 301 but it's too big... I have a 1080ti gaming x which is like 51mm thick so almost 3 slots and I've got the ophion evo bookmarked as saw it will fit, have already bought the slightly longer TG standoffs to aid cooling for the gpu (but would also consider the aluminium side panels) and saw the ophion m evo on ocuk for the same price at the itx version.. Next time I visited to buy, it'd gone back to £145. I've sold my atx psu and awaiting delivery of a Fractal Design ion SFX-L 650 in hoping this helps find me an itx case I want.

McPhee · 1 May 2020 at 19:16

Donnie Fisher said:
ended up with an Evolv Shift. Although on the larger ITX side, offered the best balance of air cooling future expansion etc etc

You bought a Shift for the cooling? On air? :eek:

To be fair, it's a nice looking case. I've been tempted a few times. And a 2400G is likely to be fine. But it certainly has a bit of a reputation on the cooling front

As you say though, not a lot of choice when it comes to small, windowed ITX cases around that price. It's basically the Shift, the Ophion, or the Metis Plus. Anything better is either larger, or over £200 (and often needs importing). That's largely why I've still got the 301.

FL630 said:
If they made it just 1cm wider it would possibly be the perfect PC case!

They'd get a load of backlash if they did that.

For reference, see the flacl Dondan has had over the C4 for small increases in size to improve compatibility, versus the praise the Formd T1 gets with fairly wonky compatibility. The two cases aren't even all that different in size...

Donnie Fisher · 3 May 2020 at 10:01

McPhee said:
You bought a Shift for the cooling? On air?

... certainly has a bit of a reputation on the cooling front

Hell yeah ! It'll be fine .... I hope !

WuMyster · 15 May 2020 at 13:40

Have you checked out the Sliger cases?

There’s 4 models that basically cover all any build path you want.

offitmassive · 15 May 2020 at 18:02

WuMyster said:
Have you checked out the Sliger cases?

There’s 4 models that basically cover all any build path you want.

Such wow! Such expense! I'd have to check if they fitted my gpu but they're nice

WuMyster · 15 May 2020 at 19:10

offitmassive said:
Such wow! Such expense! I'd have to check if they fitted my gpu but they're nice

Yeah unfortunately if you want a good SFF case you're gunna have to pay for it. Their EU destributor is https://www.density.sk/. I paid something like €250 for my SM570. If you check the Sliger website you'll find the max GPU length for each case.

If you're willing to wait who knows how long, Dan Cases have a new C4 that looks promising as well, estimated to cost between €190 - 220.

Donnie Fisher · 15 May 2020 at 20:25

Well, its built, its on air ... and I'm not jealous ... no, no, no, not at all jealous ...

I'll post a seperate thread somewhere and some more pictures about building it. I've not even installed windows on it yet - so cant comment on temps yet. That being said, its a bit fiddly at times and cables are messy, but overall, pleased to far.

McPhee · 16 May 2020 at 00:16

Donnie Fisher said:
Well, its built, its on air ... and I'm not jealous ... no, no, no, not at all jealous ...

I'll post a seperate thread somewhere and some more pictures about building it. I've not even installed windows on it yet - so cant comment on temps yet. That being said, its a bit fiddly at times and cables are messy, but overall, pleased to far.

Looks stunning.

WuMyster said:
Yeah unfortunately if you want a good SFF case you're gunna have to pay for it. Their EU destributor is https://www.density.sk/. I paid something like €250 for my SM570. If you check the Sliger website you'll find the max GPU length for each case.

If you're willing to wait who knows how long, Dan Cases have a new C4 that looks promising as well, estimated to cost between €190 - 220.

The SM570 is €295 inc. shipping now, without any configuration options. For what you get, that's expensive. Even by SFF standards.

Relentless81 · 21 May 2020 at 10:20

@Donnie Fisher

Any comments on temps yet?

It does look good

Donnie Fisher · 21 May 2020 at 22:21

Funny, was just thinking I hadn't updated about the temps. Yeah, really good so far for my needs. In short, I dialled out the the overclocking to keep the 2400G at 3.6GHz, and set the power profile in windows to reduce the minimum CPU usage down to 10%. There just isn't the need for overclocking for my sons usage, so why bother pushing temps up. On the quiet fan setting, I'm getting:

Idle in windows: 36degC
Playing Minecraft (Windows Version) @ 1080p: hovers 55degC

If I allow it to overclock itself, it'll push upto 3.9Ghz, and the idle temps hover about 40degC and the fans ramp up and down a little.

So, err, yeah - pretty bloomin good !

Cooler: Wraith Stealth. Using Carbonaut pad. The RGB fans as EZ-DIY FAB ones ... I'm hugely impressed by them. They are really quiet. In fact, the whole thing is very quiet.

I do accept though, that adding a GPU will punch the temps up ... but thats for another day.

Radox-0 · 22 May 2020 at 15:09

Relentless81 said:
@Donnie Fisher

Any comments on temps yet?

It does look good

Not aimed at me, but do own the larger Shift X. For lower powered builds you will be fine.

However as Donnie indicated once you start adding in other bits like a GPU, then temps do suffer. The top has tight mesh and the intakes on the whole are pretty small. There is vents on the bottom, but once again fine mesh. GPU temps of course will suffer if fans are against the glass.

On the whole, with a GPU and CPU that does use a bit of power (I use stock 1080Ti and 8700k in the shift X HTPC build) temps do get warm. pulling off the front panel which lets the fan's have access to more air dropped temps by around 15 degrees. Mine is under a custom loop now so temps are reasonable 50 - 60 under load.

Phantek's for example did bring out new mesh side panels for this case partly to allow options to improve airflow: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/phanteks-enthoo-evolv-shift-fabric-mesh-panel-black-ca-09x-pt.html

On the whole, for lower power consuming parts, its fine but above that, temps would suffer compared to a case with better airflow.

Relentless81 · 22 May 2020 at 16:34

Radox-0 said:
Not aimed at me, but do own the larger Shift X. For lower powered builds you will be fine.

However as Donnie indicated once you start adding in other bits like a GPU, then temps do suffer. The top has tight mesh and the intakes on the whole are pretty small. There is vents on the bottom, but once again fine mesh. GPU temps of course will suffer if fans are against the glass.

On the whole, with a GPU and CPU that does use a bit of power (I use stock 1080Ti and 8700k in the shift X HTPC build) temps do get warm. pulling off the front panel which lets the fan's have access to more air dropped temps by around 15 degrees. Mine is under a custom loop now so temps are reasonable 50 - 60 under load.

Phantek's for example did bring out new mesh side panels for this case partly to allow options to improve airflow: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/phanteks-enthoo-evolv-shift-fabric-mesh-panel-black-ca-09x-pt.html

On the whole, for lower power consuming parts, its fine but above that, temps would suffer compared to a case with better airflow.

Thanks for this, it's another case I'll have to rule out based on your info. I'm after something with a small footprint it can be as tall as it likes but I need it to have the smallest footprint possible and there is only this and the nzxt H1 and both appear to be not great for cooling

Donnie Fisher · 22 May 2020 at 18:43

I think if you went for a blower card, then that may perform better as it would be drawing in cooler air from the lower chamber and exhausting it out the top. A radial fan cooler is far more likely to re-circulate its air around the case, and so eventually draw in air that its already warmed up.

The reality is that these small footprint cases are always going to have a compromise.

Radox-0 · 23 May 2020 at 00:10

Donnie Fisher said:
I think if you went for a blower card, then that may perform better as it would be drawing in cooler air from the lower chamber and exhausting it out the top. A radial fan cooler is far more likely to re-circulate its air around the case, and so eventually draw in air that its already warmed up.

The reality is that these small footprint cases are always going to have a compromise.

its still mixed with blower in this build. I used a Founders Edition Model as well as strix. Not sure if the smaller Shift is different, but heat cannot easily escape up top due to the fine mesh on the shift X and the metal grills covering a significant portion of the top also, pop open the top and it will help, but in normal config it will restrict heat flowing from the top.

That is ignoring the fact the blower cards will generally still sit a thermal throttle point in a case with good airflow due to there nature. Will get better performance by turning a radial card with fans inwards to the case I found as that will allow the GPU to maintain cooler temps. Cooler temps on most modern GPUs = higher clock speed which for most people is the limiting factor for performance.

Just my two cents as to when I was testing before throwing it all under water.