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Unofficial mini-ITX case thread - Page 19

post #541 of 643
5/8/12 at 1:44pm
The SG05 looks nice, but it has a bigger footprint than the others. Space on the desk is a big consideration. I'd probably rather go with the Lian Li Q11 if I end up with one of those 'bigger' cases.
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post #542 of 643
5/8/12 at 1:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dankev View Post

The SG05 looks nice, but it has a bigger footprint than the others. Space on the desk is a big consideration. I'd probably rather go with the Lian Li Q11 if I end up with one of those 'bigger' cases.

You're right, it's much shorter, but the footprint is about 2cm larger in each direction.

The Antec ISK 300-150 is obviously a lot smaller, but I don't know if it will fit everything you want to put in it. If I was building in a ISK 300-150 I'd use an SSD and a laptop hard drive. It's a nice case though.
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post #543 of 643
5/8/12 at 2:02pm
I'm pretty stuck on having space for a 3.5, since I already have a spare 1.5 tb drive sitting around, unused. Apart from that, the Antec would have been on my list, too.
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post #544 of 643
5/8/12 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 
I've built a few PC with the PC-Q07 (previous version of PC-Q11) are they are really nice cases. They are even nicer if you don't get a standard PSU for them.

The CPU HSF fights with an ATX PSU in these cases for breathing room. The standard Intel HSF comes pretty close to the back of the PSU and it gets hot and noisy. I would look at getting a picoPSU for the PC-Q07/Q11. You can get a plate for mounting a 80mm fan and the picoPSU power jack in the PC-Q07. If you're not into that, this is a great PSU for the PC-Q07/Q11/Q08 cases: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104075. It comes with an adapter plate to fit it into the ATX PSU opening. It takes up a lot less room than an ATX power supply. FSP makes good power supplies. I have the 80+ Bronze version of this in my PC-Q08 home server.

PC-Q07/Q11 + picoPSU makes a great very quiet small footprint desktop PC that can take full-size components.

Here are some picture of the PC-Q07 with the picoPSU: http://outsidethestb.blogspot.com/20...prototype.html

Here's a recent thread about running SandyBridge w/ picoPSU: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1409510
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post #545 of 643
5/8/12 at 3:07pm
That's a pretty tricky mod for the picoPSU with a fan attachment. I had considered the pico, but if I go with the Q11, I had been leaning toward that FSP you linked.
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post #546 of 643
5/8/12 at 3:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dankev View Post

That's a pretty tricky mod for the picoPSU with a fan attachment. I had considered the pico, but if I go with the Q11, I had been leaning toward that FSP you linked.

Luckily, it's a mod you can just buy. It makes a dramatic change in the case as far as heat and noise.

A SFX12V (like that FSP) works well too. Seasonic makes an SFX12V too but I don't know how it fits in the PC-Q07/Q11/Q08 with the fan bump out. The SFX-to-ATX adapter plate can be bought too if the PSU doesn't come with one.
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post #547 of 643
5/8/12 at 9:31pm
I also have that Lian Li PC-Q07 case and standard ATX PSU does fight the HSF for air. There are several options to solve this:

1. One option is to mount the PSU with fan facing out. The Lian Li PSU adapter plate allows reverse mounting. But then the PSU fan doesn't contribute to internal cooling.
2. Use a Dynatron K666 HSF which blows sideways. K650 is a higher airflow version but louder. These HSF should be mounted to blow upwards so hot air comes out the top.
3. The FSP GHS series SFX PSU is a good option to free up space inside the PC-Q07. This PSU has very nice thermal fan control. At low power consumption the fan would be off. It is available as low as 300W.
4. picoPSU is a good option but I would go for wide input voltage type and use 72W-120W, 19V-21V notebook adapters. These are much more efficient than no name adapters.

I am using the Dynatron K666 HSF and a Mad Dog ATX PSU with modular cabling and thermal controlled fan inside the Lian Li PC-Q07 at the moment. I may try the FSP GHS PSU later. The computer is a 65W i5-2500S on Zotac H67ITX MB.
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post #548 of 643
5/9/12 at 6:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dksc318 View Post

4. picoPSU is a good option but I would go for wide input voltage type and use 72W-120W, 19V-21V notebook adapters. These are much more efficient than no name adapters.

I actually saved money and recycled using this approach. My company was getting rid of a bunch of old IBM T30 laptops. They let me take a few of the 16V-4.5A-72W adapters which have the 2.5mm*5.5mm tip needed for the picoPSU. They were going to toss them along with the T30s. The WI picoPSUs are more expensive but I got the AC adapter for free so it came out better.

With all the old T20s/T30s out there in the corporate world there must be quite the surplus of old 16V-4.5A-72W 2.5mm*5.5mm adapters. I'd love to get my hands on more.
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post #549 of 643
5/9/12 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

I actually saved money and recycled using this approach. My company was getting rid of a bunch of old IBM T30 laptops. They let me take a few of the 16V-4.5A-72W adapters which have the 2.5mm*5.5mm tip needed for the picoPSU. They were going to toss them along with the T30s. The WI picoPSUs are more expensive but I got the AC adapter for free so it came out better.

With all the old T20s/T30s out there in the corporate world there must be quite the surplus of old 16V-4.5A-72W 2.5mm*5.5mm adapters. I'd love to get my hands on more.

Ive got some T60 at my job that we're throwing away. do u know if they would work too with pico psu? i could take a picture tomorrow maybe..

My bad its a Lenovo Thinkpad T60
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post #550 of 643
5/9/12 at 3:39pm
Ah, saw IBM/Lenovo are basicly the same.
Anyways, a question.

Does the voltage matter? I saw on most pico PSU they are 12v? If I get an old laptop chargerbrick with 19v, won't it burn my pico PSU cords and perhaps mobo??
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post #551 of 643
5/9/12 at 4:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sliddjur View Post

Ah, saw IBM/Lenovo are basicly the same.
Anyways, a question.

Does the voltage matter? I saw on most pico PSU they are 12v? If I get an old laptop chargerbrick with 19v, won't it burn my pico PSU cords and perhaps mobo??

There are two versions of picoPSU - 12V and "wide input" which can take 12V-25V. If you use a 19V AC adapter, you need the "WI" picoPSU such as the 120-WI-25.
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post #552 of 643
5/9/12 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sliddjur View Post

Ive got some T60 at my job that we're throwing away. do u know if they would work too with pico psu? i could take a picture tomorrow maybe..

My bad its a Lenovo Thinkpad T60

To fit the picoPSU barrel jack, the tip needs to be 2.5mm*5.5mm. The T60 is a different size. I believe T30, T40 and T41 have the correct size.
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post #553 of 643
5/9/12 at 10:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

To fit the picoPSU barrel jack, the tip needs to be 2.5mm*5.5mm. The T60 is a different size. I believe T30, T40 and T41 have the correct size.

Can you post a picture of it?
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post #554 of 643
5/10/12 at 12:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

I actually saved money and recycled using this approach. My company was getting rid of a bunch of old IBM T30 laptops. They let me take a few of the 16V-4.5A-72W adapters which have the 2.5mm*5.5mm tip needed for the picoPSU. They were going to toss them along with the T30s. The WI picoPSUs are more expensive but I got the AC adapter for free so it came out better.

With all the old T20s/T30s out there in the corporate world there must be quite the surplus of old 16V-4.5A-72W 2.5mm*5.5mm adapters. I'd love to get my hands on more.

Before getting back into desktops, the whole family was on Thinkpads. We moved to newer 21V type so still have many 16V AC adapters left. They are pretty efficient also. It just that the 120W types use that funky 4 pin DIN type plug that no one else use.
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post #555 of 643
5/10/12 at 12:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

To fit the picoPSU barrel jack, the tip needs to be 2.5mm*5.5mm. The T60 is a different size. I believe T30, T40 and T41 have the correct size.

To solve this problem, I used a 21V Thinkpad power input jack with pigtail and re-crimp the connector on the pigtail.
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post #556 of 643
5/10/12 at 7:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sliddjur View Post

Can you post a picture of it?

The tip would like like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Tip-DC...-/190642148984

Could also be a black tip.
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post #557 of 643
5/11/12 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

I ordered one of these from China (the black one). If I ever get it I'll post some pictures. I have my doubts if it will ever show but it's a good experiment and all it takes to get my money back is to open a dispute with PayPal so at least I am protected there.



I was attracted to the case purely on looks. We'll see what happens. I just wish there were a US distributor of these cases (and lots of other cases I've seen on Asian websites).

This is from post #16 of this thread in Feb 2011.

I finally have these cases on the way . They'll be delivered Monday.
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post #558 of 643
5/13/12 at 12:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

This is from post #16 of this thread in Feb 2011.

I finally have these cases on the way . They'll be delivered Monday.

price?
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post #559 of 643
5/13/12 at 5:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

This is from post #16 of this thread in Feb 2011.

I finally have these cases on the way . They'll be delivered Monday.

Any explanation as to why it took so long or did you just accidentally order them from a source using a Chinese calendar?
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post #560 of 643
5/13/12 at 7:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by weilian View Post

price?

I haven't set the price yet (and likely isn't something ok to talk about here). It will come with the IR receiver/remote but no power supply. It's meant to fit the picoPSU. Once I get them in I'll test them for fit/temp/etc. and post pictures/etc.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LexInVA View Post

Any explanation as to why it took so long or did you just accidentally order them from a source using a Chinese calendar?

The first order last year never arrived. I didn't renew interest in getting them until recently. Meanwhile, it took a long time too to find a reliable source, establish a relationship, etc.
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post #561 of 643
5/16/12 at 7:45am
Thread Starter 
Hmmm, can anyone tell me what's wrong with this picture?



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post #562 of 643
5/16/12 at 8:11am
Did you strip the screws? Or is there something pushing up from within?
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post #563 of 643
5/16/12 at 8:18am
Got nothing to add StardogChampion except nice site and blog

At some point I may get antsy to build another mini-ITX HTPC, will definitely keep EcoSmartPC in mind.
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post #564 of 643
5/16/12 at 10:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FantaXP7 View Post

Did you strip the screws? Or is there something pushing up from within?

Nope, that's not it. Hint: look at the ODD and the opening. It's pretty tragic actually, considering I have a whole carton of them all with the same issue...

Quote:
Originally Posted by dbone1026 View Post

Got nothing to add StardogChampion except nice site and blog

At some point I may get antsy to build another mini-ITX HTPC, will definitely keep EcoSmartPC in mind.

Thanks! I appreciate it!
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post #565 of 643
5/16/12 at 11:02am
Quote:


Hmmm, can anyone tell me what's wrong with this picture?

Should be slot load

DRB
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post #566 of 643
5/16/12 at 11:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

Nope, that's not it. Hint: look at the ODD and the opening. It's pretty tragic actually, considering I have a whole carton of them all with the same issue...



Thanks! I appreciate it!

The tray hits the filleted corners? Nice.
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post #567 of 643
5/16/12 at 11:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ru4real View Post

The tray hits the filleted corners? Nice.

Close enough.

The answer is: it doesn't fit at all. When the slot for the tray-load was cut by the manufacturer they made it tall/wide enough for the body of the ODD -- forgetting about the bezel.

So, they're junk.
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post #568 of 643
5/16/12 at 12:12pm
You would think they had planned to replace the tray bezel with one which matched the case??
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post #569 of 643
5/16/12 at 12:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

Close enough.

The answer is: it doesn't fit at all. When the slot for the tray-load was cut by the manufacturer they made it tall/wide enough for the body of the ODD -- forgetting about the bezel.

So, they're junk.

Man that sucks!

I wonder what in the hell they were thinking....
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post #570 of 643
5/16/12 at 12:23pm
Thread Starter 
It'll be interesting to hear what they have to say. They have two different versions: tray or slot load. They were out of stock on the tray so they did a product run. I guess someone forgot to measure twice cut once. I though tray load would be easier to find. Besides that the case is really cool and even smaller than the E-I5!
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