Mini by Ninja

Greetings everyone and thanks for stopping by! I am brand new to these forums but have been interested in computers for a long time! This will be my second pc build, although this is my first time posting a build log so if I mess up or dont do things according to the rules please let me know!

Well here is what I am aiming for, I have been in love with many small form factor builds that manage to pack a large amount of power into an extremely small enclosure. In particular the Falcon Northwest TIKI and the Alienware X51.
No matter how hard I searched, nobody has done a custom book style mini-ITX build like this! If you do know of someone who has done one, please post a link! I am always looking for new inspiration!
I plan to gram as much power and performance into something just a little bigger than an xbox 360 or ps3, as well as being smaller than both the alienware and the falcon tiki!

My current computer specs are as follows:
CPU: Intel i7 2600k
Mobo: ASUS P8P67 EVO
GPU: EVGA GTX570
Ram: 16gb of G-Skill Ripjaws X
SSD(OS): Intel 520 120Gb
HDD(Storage) Samsung 2Tb
HDD(Backup) Samsung 2Tb
Disk Drive: LG Blu Ray

Intended specs:
CPU: Intel i7 3770s or 4770s
Mobo: ASUS z77i-deluxe or Maximus VI Impact
GPU: EVGA GTX780
Ram: 8gb of G-Skill Ripjaws X
SSD(OS): Intel 520 120Gb
HDD(Storage) Samsung 1tb 2.5 hdd
Disk Drive: none

I plan to reuse the cpu, gpu and SSD in this build, I have purchased an ASUS z77-i deluxe ITX board and all works fine! so my components run!
The size of the GTX570 is almost the exact dimensions of the gtx780 (will be quite an upgrade) So it will be used to mockup the case, it also demands 200w of power so power requirements are just a little less.

I will want to get a 3770s or a 4770s(if I decide to splurge on the new Maximus VI impact!)

Here is where I stand:
[] = not completed
[/] = partial completion
[x] = completed

[x] Purchase Pci Riser card that works with gpu and motherboard (took a few tries)
[x] Test components to be used in mockup
[/] Purchase and receive G-alantic Ga620ibk Case (plan to mod it extensively)
[] select a power supply either the silverstone sfx 450 watt gold psu or mod
an atx size psu to fit with in 66mm of height(removal of top fan and adding a side 60mm fan or two) I am aiming between 450w and 600w total power with gold efficiency as a minimum
[] Purchase GTX 780
[] More points will be added as the build comes along and takes shape!

here are a few quick shots of a mockup in google sketchup visualizing what I want to accomplish:

View from the front, note how the 60mm fan is aimed directly at the intake for the GTX780.


View from rear still not sure how I will migrate the psu plug and power switch to the back of the case, either use the psu's own plugs/switch or use an extension and leave the switch alone.


View from top, these dont display the final dimensions, again just a quick and dirty mockup for you guys, I plan to have seperate cooling zones for each of the gpu, motherboard and cpu and powersupply so they are independent of eachother and don't trade hot air

Hope you all enjoy this build and look forward to updates! I am a University student so it will be a long one I am afraid, however this has been a dream of mine and I have finally saved the funds and hope to deliver!

More pics of actual components are inbound once I get hold of a camera!

Good idea nice and compact..but my questions are hows that g-card being held up are you going to make a tiny stand under it to stop it bending down at the back?
also...are you going to be pimping the outer of the case?

Toppy said:

Good idea nice and compact..but my questions are hows that g-card being held up are you going to make a tiny stand under it to stop it bending down at the back?
also...are you going to be pimping the outer of the case?

Click to expand...

Hey toppy, the graphics card will be supported by a backplate that has a retention arm to hold it in place, making it very solid. Google silverstone raven itx images for the idea, I want it to be very secure so the case has portability.

I will definitely pimp the outside of the case, I'm thinking an industrial look, perforated aluminum for the front, brushed/anodized aluminum for the sides depending on what prices my mate in fab work can offer me! Also would welcome any ideas you guys could offer me! I have only built one pc before and would love experienced input!

Cheers
Ninja

welcome to the forums,
awesome idea, i really like these small and powerful builds

will definitely keep an eye on this thread!

Cru3L139 said:

welcome to the forums,
awesome idea, i really like these small and powerful builds

will definitely keep an eye on this thread!

Click to expand...

Thanks! Ill be sure to keep you hooked with proper eye candy soon!:lol:

Oh yeah i see the g-card idea now...nice

Just a work! Got some more pics for you guys in a few hours!

mini update

Just wanted to show you guys a pics of the hardware, I have so far, what I aim to do and the reasoning behind it.


Top view, of the card with a 40mm pciex16 riser card, however the backplate of the card interferes with the audio jack ports on the back of the motherboard, so I ordered an extension to get around that problem

Here is the riser card




Rear view, with motherboard spacers, there should probably be just enough room for a noctua 14x92mm fan to feed the gpu with air from the bottom or for 4 SSD mounts, yes you read that right, I want to give this case the ability to mount 4 SSD or 2.5in HDD in a hotswap bay under the gpu. accessible by removing the side panel.

But we will solve that issue when we come to it! will have to make a hot swap pcb!

And sorry for the terrible camera phone photos, my canon 6d got destroyed last holiday!

Where did you find that riser card? I know it's not exactly something new but I have just never known what exactly to search for when I think about it.

Mgutierrez33 said:

Where did you find that riser card? I know it's not exactly something new but I have just never known what exactly to search for when I think about it.

Click to expand...

I searched pcie x16 riser card in google images,

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/563241924/PCI_Express_riser_card.html

this is not the exact same but its the same dimensions, just different retention clip on the socket, same mounting hole locations which I plan to use to secure the backplate/sideplate to the gpu holder.

Edit: by the way is there a limit to how many images i can post in an update? i think there is about 20....

Hey OC3D forum!

First major update is on its way! Case arrived today, and its TINY! this thing isnt much bigger than an xbox at all! but with small size comes a multitude of small problems to solve! Getting busy with the dremel now!

Cheers
Ninja

MiNi NiNjA said:

Hey OC3D forum!

First major update is on its way! Case arrived today, and its TINY! this thing isnt much bigger than an xbox at all! but with small size comes a multitude of small problems to solve! Getting busy with the dremel now!

Cheers
Ninja

Click to expand...

Good! Any updates soon?

Feronix said:

Good! Any updates soon?

Click to expand...

Sorry Feronix! Im typing out the update now/uploading all the pictures, its a big one with plenty of things for you to look at!

MiNi NiNjA said:

Sorry Feronix! Im typing out the update now/uploading all the pictures, its a big one with plenty of things for you to look at!

Click to expand...

Yay! I'm really interested in this. I like out-of-the-box thinking

Do you have a link to that raiser card for me?

Feronix said:

Yay! I'm really interested in this. I like out-of-the-box thinking

Do you have a link to that raiser card for me?

Click to expand...

Done most of the text of the update but imgur is bloody slow at the moment!
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/56...iser_card.html
This isnt the same card but its the same size, The case came with its own card thats slightly taller, its a G-alantic 620ibk case bought from logicsupply.com

cheers
Ninja

MiNi NiNjA said:

Done most of the text of the update but imgur is bloody slow at the moment!
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/56...iser_card.html
This isnt the same card but its the same size, The case came with its own card thats slightly taller, its a G-alantic 620ibk case bought from logicsupply.com

cheers
Ninja

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately I cannot open the first link, but I did find one on a Dutch site! The second site is also very convenient so thanks for that.

MiNi NiNjA said:

by the way is there a limit to how many images i can post in an update? i think there is about 20....

Click to expand...

No, not as far as I know.
Also, in the future please use the button to edit your post instead of double posting

So do you mean I have to cut and paste everything into the first post I made?
Sorry Im new at this, does each update get its own post or do you guys want the entire log in one post?

MiNi NiNjA said:

So do you mean I have to cut and paste everything into the first post I made?
Sorry Im new at this, does each update get its own post or do you guys want the entire log in one post?

Click to expand...

No no, you can just make a new post.

I meant to say that when you make a post in any topic where you reply to multiple people (multi-quote button: ) and you want to add additional information after you've already posted it, you hit the EDIT button to add it to you current post.

That way you won't have to post twice in a row (without anyone posting inbetween your posts) and it will stop threads from getting spammy

Feronix said:

No no, you can just make a new post.

I meant to say that when you make a post in any topic where you reply to multiple people (multi-quote button:

) and you want to add additional information after you've already posted it, you hit the EDIT button to add it to you current post.

That way you won't have to post twice in a row (without anyone posting inbetween your posts) and it will stop threads from getting spammy

Click to expand...

Ahhh Now I get what you mean thanks for that!

Imgur finally finished, now to just insert all the pictures!

Major update

Hi guys, first major update of the MINI!

I just want to recap what I aim to do with this build, I have never seen anyone do anything this small, sure there have been stuff like cube cases but nobody doing book style ITX cases where you can build your own rather than buy from a company (alienware x51, falcon tiki, digitalstorm bolt ect) They are all awesome computers in their own right with tons of great engineering but I want something where we can do it ourselves as most enthusiasts are wont to do.

So lets get started!
WARNING LOTS OF PICTURES INBOUND

Love it when you get packages in the mail!


This thing is TINY, I really don't think I will be able to achieve this build without serous gutsy modding.... oh well at least the dremel will be happy!
Front

Rear

Inside

So small this is daunting...

G-alantic also supply this pci-e x16 riser card but it is optional so you do have to pay for it...


First things first, lets strip it down!


Damn these are cute little fans! Too bad I dont think I will use them


For some reason they covered the second slot with a piece of metal.... looks like the dremel will get busy quite early!


Graphics card.... snug as a bug... not even a millimeter of space at the front! just enough space on the side for power cables, I still am waiting on a backplate for my gtx570 so I can make a retention bracket to hold the card stiff and secure.



Now the motherboard in as well, immediately I would need to slice up the pci slot backplate of the gpu, its blocking the audio plugs! I didnt like the two fingers of metal there anyway, off they go!


The offending backplate


The graphics card is the biggest hurdle right behind the PSU at the moment, I will need to fasion another bracing plate that holds the card lower in the slots to account for the short riser card as well as make gpu bracing plate/backplate that holds it steady, google Silverstone raven Itx for the idea and see how they handled that problem. I want to do the same thing.


How it looks so far in the mockup, looks can be deceiving though, still a LONG way to go and ALOT of modding, I need to lengthen the entire case by about 25mm to even fit an sfx psu in there, its a good thing the metal is quite thin, I am thinking of adding angled aluminum to reinforce it, the case is still quite stiff though!

I also plan to replace the stock cpu cooler with a Noctua LH-9i


Teaser: things are getting done!


Please I am really open to ideas, there must be a few things I havent thought of. The issue of the PSU, getting that in will be tricky, I will have to cut those standoffs out and im not sure how my dremel will handle that... I can do 3 things to get a psu in

1. go nuts and get an short atx sized psu(think silverstone strider), remove the fan and cut the sides to bring it down to 65mm in height (ATX spec is 86mm height) Will also have to lenthen the case by at least 30-50mm and use a 60mm fan or two for cooling laterally. from inside the case to the outside. this will enable up to 650 watts gold

2. Get the silverstone st45sf-g Less modding but only up to 450 watts in gold and I dont need to do anything crazy to get it in

3. Do what dell did in the alienware X51 and use a powerboard assembly, the most compact and least modding needed but only up to 330 watts. not enough for what I want, will only power a gtx 670(maybe) or 760. I want a 780 dammit!

If someone has an ATX sized psu with a 120mm fan that they have lying around, I really need to get hold of one thats disposable, to see how small I can engineer it!

Thanks for reading!
Cheers
Ninja