Cooling options for SFF Mini-ITX build

[doctorrg]

Ok, so I've bought myself a couple of Streacom F1C cases the other week, and I'm currently considering a few different options on how to keep the CPU, and subsequently the case, cool, without negatively effecting aesthetics too much.

I've got a few ideas here.

Firstly, I'm taking out the ODD tray, as I don't need it. The SSD, which sits in the tray as well, will be mounted differently. This will give me a clearance of about 60mm.

Now, first option would be to simply choose a very low profile cooler to leave enough room for airflow, and make use of the existing ventilation.

As the processor doesn't necessarily see excessive usage, that may just work with leaving the outer case "as is".

Second option would be to choose the best cooler which can still fit, i.e the Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev.B, and mod the top to allow for airflow.

With a height of 58mm, this cooler will pretty much touch the top of the case, so there are a couple of options on how this could be done. I did initially think of just drilling holes, but quickly ruled it out as I'd expect it to be way too noisy.

That said, this leaves me with either cutting out a smaller area where the cooler sits, and replace it with high quality mesh, or to simply build a frame from scratch, and have the entire top covered with a rigid high quality mesh that doesn't bend, and doesn't look all too unappealing.

That's three options to consider already, but then it came to me, and I had yet another idea.

I had to realize that with one of my motherboard options, the ASRock FM2A85X-ITX, the CPU cooler would sit pretty much in the middle of the case, and that got me thinking.

Why not make a cut out big enough to fit the CoolerMaster V8, and have half of it stick out the top? With a cooler this size you likely don't even need the fan, or can run it at very low speeds. Or you may just be able to throw in a better higher wattage processor.

So, what do you guys think, might that indeed look rather cool, or have I just lost it?

 

[sesselpupser]

I like the last option but... Actually no, safety is overrated. Do it.

Do it.

 

[doctorrg]

I like the last option but... Actually no, safety is overrated. Do it.

Do it.

I'm so tempted! And if it's only to see how it would look!!

 

[nick09]

There's this(37mm), this(59mm), this(45mm), this(37mm), this
(60mm), this(37mm), and this(53mm).

 

[doctorrg]

There's this(37mm), this(59mm), this(45mm), this(37mm), this
(60mm), this(37mm), and this(53mm).

Thanks. There are a few coolers which would fit and not require any case modding. Closer to 60mm will definitely require modding. 37mm might even still fit with the ODD tray in (specs state 34mm as maximum cpu cooler height, I measured 50 from the bottom of the case to the bottom of the ODD tray, so it's close). At least with the smaller and lighter coolers you don't get any issues with your motherboard, seeing a lot of these mini-ITX boards won't let you use a backplate.

The V8, on the other hand, would require a custom-build support system, otherwise it may indeed fall straight through your motherboard.

Then again, I don't really build this system for anything in particular. I've ordered two cases because shipping one, which I'm going to use for a new HTPC build, was too expensive, so I threw in another and a cable to reach the free shipping limit. And yes, I know it's false economy, but now it gives me something to play with.

 

[nick09]

You should also note that some of them have CPU wattage limits such as 65watts. Of course this is due to the heatsink's small size and cooling is limited.

 

[doctorrg]

You should also note that some of them have CPU wattage limits such as 65watts. Of course this is due to the heatsink's small size and cooling is limited.

Can't put too hungry a processor in anyway, as maximum wattage will be limited by the PSU. Thinking of the picoPSU-160-XT with 192W Power Adapter as a maximum, as there really isn't any room for anything else.

Needless to say, a CPU cooler for a maximum TDP of 180W would be overkill for the actual processor used, I simply got a thing for that V8 sticking out of the hood.

 

[nick09]

This one would be a great option at only 28mm tall. Though I think you would be better off with the Noctua NH-L9i due to the fact the product would do better. Of course if you go that route I'd suggest removing the ODD bay.

 

[doctorrg]

This one would be a great option at only 28mm tall. Though I think you would be better off with the Noctua NH-L9i due to the fact the product would do better. Of course if you go that route I'd suggest removing the ODD bay.

Yeah, not sure about the GELID Solutions Slim Silence x-Plus coolers, these seem to perform quite a bit worse than even the stock cpu coolers, from the tests I've seen. The Noctua NH-L9x coolers, of course, may be good options without requiring any case modding.

 

[Sharky.]

External water-cooling loop. Do it.

Nobody ever said the reservoir or pump had to be in your case, after all...

 

[doctorrg]

External water-cooling loop. Do it.

Nobody ever said the reservoir or pump had to be in your case, after all...

Hmm, if I can think of a way to make it look good.

 

[Sharky.]

*cough*

fish tank

*cough*

 

[djinline]

*list of cpu coolers*

There's also the Scythe Kozuti which is only 40mm in height. But that V8 idea would be very cool, more ideal for overclocking and/or >65W TDP than these low-profile coolers.

EDIT: Someone has actually done something like that with a HTPC case.

 

[doctorrg]

There's also the Scythe Kozuti which is only 40mm in height. But that V8 idea would be very cool, more ideal for overclocking and/or >65W TDP than these low-profile coolers.

EDIT: Someone has actually done something like that with a HTPC case.

That V8 is just asking for it!

 

[nick09]

Yeah, not sure about the GELID Solutions Slim Silence x-Plus coolers, these seem to perform quite a bit worse than even the stock cpu coolers, from the tests I've seen. The Noctua NH-L9x coolers, of course, may be good options without requiring any case modding.

Oh I had a previous model in my old computer. Worked fine and cooling was a slight worst than the stock cooler. I eventually did this so I could overclock my CPU

With a fair amount of denting with a hammer and a round pipe I got it all to work to fit the Scythe Big Shuriken 1.

 

[Grayfox]

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php...=21829&zenid=b818d93fad53a19d2a44ffa780542b71

This is 3mm to big, but you could shave it down a little.


But this is your best bet
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GELID-Sl...?pt=US_CPU_Fans_Heatsinks&hash=item2574ca63ca

 

[nick09]

I already suggested the Noctua(Just slightly different model which is an update for the model you posted) and the Gelid you posted I've read that it's a horrible cooler.

 

[Grayfox]

Gelid you posted I've read that it's a horrible cooler.

There is only so much you can do with 30mm worth of cooling.

50mm is doable.

 

[doctorrg]

[...]
With a fair amount of denting with a hammer and a round pipe I got it all to work to fit the Scythe Big Shuriken 1.

That's quite funny actually.

There is only so much you can do with 30mm worth of cooling.

50mm is doable.

True that. I just threw a Xigmatek Praeton on my new mini-ITX board for my new HTPC. At 44mm height it has enough clearance with the HDD bay thrown out. I'll test it in my current HTPC case first, to get some reference numbers, and then I'll move it over into one of my new Streacom cases, to see just how much hotter it gets. Was considering the Noctua NH-L9a for my HTPC, but figured at A$55, on a A$66 processor, I'll give a A$19 cooler a shot first. Probably is enough for it too, even with a slow running fan, seeing the processor hardly ever needs to do any real work, only exception being HD/Full HD Hi10P, and even then it hardly ever goes past 50% usage.

That said, I'm not sure how well either of those would fair in this build, as I want to at least sufficiently cool an overclocked 65W processor, and in a very small case.

 

[nick09]

That's quite funny actually.

Yep. A huge heatsink with a 120mm fan. It also did quite a good job cooling the GPU/Northbridge heatsink at the same time. I was able to overclock a Core 2 Duo E7500 to 3.5GGHz stable with the heatsink. I don't own it anymore but I sold it to a person in church for $350 and it's being used for his son. To be fair the mod that I did to the case did make it harder to put back together.