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Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

teenage.engineering

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Re: Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

#101

Post by formerly_proven »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #67
formerly_proven wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Big annoyance with SFF builds is noise. Many of these are overall smaller than just my GPU and CPU cooler, and SFX PSUs have smaller fans and aren’t available in passive configurations. And they’re usually more expensive than a more normal-sized build.

> Big annoyance with SFF builds is noise. Not really any more. Most popular mini-ITX cases for enthusiasts support 240mm AIOs for CPU cooling. Noctua even has low-profile air coolers that fit in some mini-ITX cases and rival their biggest heatsinks in performance. The SFX PSUs are slightly more expensive, but the good ones are so efficient that the fans won't even turn on during normal (non-gaming) use. Modern SFF bu…

They do OK in noise-normalized tests, which are good for comparing and still relatively easy to perform. They're inadequate for quiet operation though. In fact the huge coolers I am using currently are barely adequate for their respective components - they require clearly audible fan speeds to avoid unhealthily high temperatures under sustained load. Certainly not extremely quiet; I'm not really happy with it, and I have the best air coolers with some of the best fans and the best thermal compound on the market and I have very carefully tuned fan profiles. Water cooling would offer slightly better cooling performance, but it has other issues - mainly pump and motor noise - plus it's rather expensive (more than 10x the cost of air cooling).

You can of course make an extremely quiet SFF build, just not with an upper-midrange CPU and a highend GPU. With the same components you can make a decently quiet mid-tower desktop, like I have.

("Extremely quiet", "virtually noiseless" and so on are pet-peeve phrases of mine - I'm always assuming that marketing people are half-deaf because they keep referring to stuff emitting 20 dBa or more like this.)

Re: Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

#102

Post by karmicthreat »

cletus wrote: post #26

I'm a big fan of this form factor, specifically just big enough to fit a motherboard/CPU/RAM plus a real-size GPU. These all use SFX PSUs and typically just an M2 SSD on the motherboard. They also have only 2 RAM slots. The days of needing a tower are over for most people. I'm all about space-saving while still having a full-power PC. It's a niche, boutique market but there are some really interesting cases. My perso…

The Dr Zaber Sentry case is also pretty good http://zaber.com.pl/sentry/. I'm not sure they will make them again though. Mine is pretty nice, though you need to be careful about your GPU size.

Re: Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

#103

Post by cletus »

formerly_proven wrote: post #61
cletus wrote: post #26

I'm a big fan of this form factor, specifically just big enough to fit a motherboard/CPU/RAM plus a real-size GPU. These all use SFX PSUs and typically just an M2 SSD on the motherboard. They also have only 2 RAM slots. The days of needing a tower are over for most people. I'm all about space-saving while still having a full-power PC. It's a niche, boutique market but there are some really interesting cases. My perso…

Big annoyance with SFF builds is noise. Many of these are overall smaller than just my GPU and CPU cooler, and SFX PSUs have smaller fans and aren’t available in passive configurations. And they’re usually more expensive than a more normal-sized build.

There are really two flavours of SFF PC: those with a full-power GPU (typically for gaming or professional use) and those that don't. For the latter, it shouldn't be too hard to build something even passively cooled. You can go even smaller. I know less about this space because it hasn't been my focus however.

Gaming SFF PCs are my jam and here the Louqe Ghost S1 holds up extremely well:

1. It takes almost all double-slot cards. Getting something a little shorter can help in terms of getting the card in and out and for cable management but there's really no need to shop for a specific shorter model. The more than two slot cards (eg RTX 3090, RX6900XT) won't fit but say a 3080 (assuming you can even get one) will be just fine;

2. My personal preference for PSU is something like the Corsair SF750. It's a 750W highly-rated SFX form factor PSU. It works well, can power a 3080 system and seems to be relatively quiet;

3. The Ghost with a top hat can then mount something like an NZXT Kraken X530 AIO to cool your PC. This is going to cut down a lot of your noise; and

4. With a separate top hat on the bottom of the case you mount two quality Noctua 120mm fans in exhaust (meaning it pulls air from the case).

The net effect of all this is that air is drawn in from the sides and expelled out from the top and bottom. It is also a negative pressure set up, meaning there is more force for exhaust than intake.

Positive pressure would be nice for keeping dust out of your case but negative pressure here is better for airflow and thus noise (by operating at lower RPM).

The above will have almost full case power and airflow and be relatively quiet. It won't be as good as you can get with a full or mid tower case but it's pretty darn close.

Re: Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

#104

Post by PascLeRasc »

filleokus wrote: post #87

I was actually just today looking at chassis like this for an upcoming build, really good timing! This looks really neat. However, I'm leaning more towards a horizontal chassi (think like a piece of stereo equipment or something). I think it could be pretty nice to have it lying on a shelf / on top of a AV rack, and then run a Thunderbolt cable to a small desk nearby. I found the F12C from Streacom [0] which matches…

I've wanted to build a PC in the Cryorig Taku for a few years now. http://www.cryorig.com/taku.php

But the Node 202 would be the much cheaper option.

Re: Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

#105

Post by Synaesthesia »

rvz wrote: post #84
flatiron wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you are comparing an all in one non-upgradeable computer with a computer chassis to build your own computer. i dont think they are really comparable

Good. Makes it even easier to ignore it. And regardless, why bother building with a fancy box with this when the CPUs and GPUs available for the mini-ITX are going to be 10,000 times slower than the M1 and 100,000 time slower than the M1 Max? Not going to throw money on something and build a computer that is already going to be behind the state of the art. Given that Linux is coming to Apple Silicon machines, it is a…

The M1 is very fast and efficient but you exaggerate a little.

Re: Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

#106

Post by charwalker »

cletus wrote: post #26

I'm a big fan of this form factor, specifically just big enough to fit a motherboard/CPU/RAM plus a real-size GPU. These all use SFX PSUs and typically just an M2 SSD on the motherboard. They also have only 2 RAM slots. The days of needing a tower are over for most people. I'm all about space-saving while still having a full-power PC. It's a niche, boutique market but there are some really interesting cases. My perso…

r/sffpc is solid with a spreadsheet covering parts, cases, etc for compatibility and more. I just moved into a Lian Li Q58 from an SG05, bigger but cooler.

Re: Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

#107

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

rvz wrote: post #84
flatiron wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you are comparing an all in one non-upgradeable computer with a computer chassis to build your own computer. i dont think they are really comparable

Good. Makes it even easier to ignore it. And regardless, why bother building with a fancy box with this when the CPUs and GPUs available for the mini-ITX are going to be 10,000 times slower than the M1 and 100,000 time slower than the M1 Max? Not going to throw money on something and build a computer that is already going to be behind the state of the art. Given that Linux is coming to Apple Silicon machines, it is a…

> And regardless, why bother building with a fancy box with this when the CPUs and GPUs available for the mini-ITX are going to be 10,000 times slower than the M1 and 100,000 time slower than the M1 Max?

The benchmarks I can find seem to put M1 family at maybe 2-3 times faster than x86. Except for the benchmarks that are slower, of course. The new versions might be even better, but they're not that much better.

Re: Computer-1 mini-ITX Chassis

#108

Post by pjs_ »

throw_m239339 wrote: post #18
gambiting wrote: post #5

I mean...neat? But the price is insane. £195 for a very basic case that you have to assemble yourself?

It's Teenage Engineer! And behold their 600€ radio: https://teenage.engineering/products/ob-4 Yes, I said a radio. While the OP-1 is a unique musical instrument (sold a $700 10 years ago, now $1200 new, god only knows why...), these designers will make you pay a premium for most of their products, aside from the low quality pocket operators.

Is that a bootleg G-shock?
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