Introduction:
We've seen a lot of innovation in the Small Form Factor (SFF) community during the last ten years, but as a recent (last three years) SFF enthusiast I've become tired of the limitations that I'm forced to accept when it comes to component and enclosure choice. I want to have the latest GPU, I want the latest CPU, and I want more widely available and compatible options for storage, power, and cooling in my SFF enclosure. I'm a "modder" at heart, and I've thoroughly (and will always) enjoy hacking a case to meet my desires during a "themed" build, but I don't want to hack a beautifully designed case with a specific purpose (like the NFC S4 Mini) JUST to meet my needs for component size or cooling. Some of you may know me from the builds I've done in the past on this forum (and others), and I've enjoyed the challenges that I've faced while trying to cram as much hardware as possible into sub-12L cases. However, there are a lot of compromises that have to be made, especially when it comes to GPU choice and cooling options. During my experiences with cases like the S4M, the Dan A4-SFX, the NCase M1 I've always had a moment where I wished that each case had a few more millimeters in specific areas to accommodate a larger CPU cooler, or a longer GPU. I appreciate what each of those cases have to offer, and I genuinely respect their creators and understand some of the decisions that they made while designing them. That being said, I'm still not satisfied with what's currently available, and I know I'm not the only one that feels this way. So begins my first leap into the "rabbit hole" of case design.
Project "Ether": 12.95L SFF Case, optimized for air cooling with a clean minimalist design.
The base design for this case focuses on a "sandwich" style layout, but the idea is improved upon by separating the GPU and CPU chambers with an internal air chamber to allow for and take advantage of GPU cooler designs like the Nvidia 3080/3090 Founders Edition. The internal air chamber passes through the entire length of the case and is 20mm wide. Heat expelled from the CPU chamber never reaches the GPU chamber, and vice versa. The only compromise is the choice of CPU cooler since the maximum supported height is 70mm, but up to a 120mm AIO might be possible (still working on configuration). There are several cutouts located in the top and bottom spines of the case frame to allow for cables to pass from one chamber to the other without being visible. A 200mm RGB-LED strip is located in the top spine of the case frame to cast a glow through the internal air chamber. This case has a clamshell design that allows the top and bottom shells, back plate, and the face plate to be removed allowing for unrestricted and easy access to all areas of the case while building or during hardware swaps.
Case dimensions: 352mm x 194.5mm x 204.5mm (with case feet and protrusions), 342mm x 194.5mm x 194.5mm (without case feet)
Motherboard: Mini-ITX
Max CPU Cooler Height: 70mm
Max 3-Slot GPU up to 338mm x 147mm (LxH)
GPU Retention Block Mechanism
150mm Type-B PCI-E Riser Cable
2 x 16mm Power Button Cutouts (one rear mounted and one bottom mounted)
200mm RGB-LED (addressable) Strip - Optional
SFX/SFX-L PSU compatibility
4 x SSD Storage Mounting Brackets
C14 Female Power Plug with Extension Cable
4 Machined Aluminum Case Feet (30mm x 10mm)
1.6mm Aluminum Skeleton with 2mm Aluminum Shell/Faceplate.
Project “Serum”: 15.75L SFF Case, optimized for water cooling with a clean minimalist design.
The base design for this case builds upon the “Ether” case by reducing the width of the CPU chamber, since it is designed for an AIO water cooling system where a CPU/Pump block will be used. The height has been extended at the top of the case to accommodate a 280mm x 55mm AIO (30mm radiator paired with two 140mm x 25mm fans), like the NZXT Kraken X63/Z63. A maximum height of 59mm is supported for the CPU/Pump block combo. There is a 20mm cutout within the spine of the case above the center air chamber to allow for water cooling tubing to pass from one chamber to the other without being visible, in addition to the same cutouts used in the “Ether” case for cable routing. The only differences between the “Ether” and the “Serum” cases are the outer shells, the front and back panels, and the side panels. The frame for both cases is the same. They share the same mounting options, ventilation, features, and access while building or during hardware swaps.
Case Dimensions: 342mm x 180.9mm x 264.5mm (with case feet), 342mm x 180.9mm x 254.5mm (without case feet).
Motherboard: Mini-ITX
Max CPU Cooler Height: 59mm
Max 3-Slot GPU up to 338mm x 147mm (LxH)
GPU Retention Block Mechanism
Radiator Size: 280mm x 30mm (paired with two 140mm x 25mm fans)
150mm Type-B PCI-E Riser Cable
2 x 16mm Power Button Cutouts (one rear mounted and one bottom mounted)
200mm RGB-LED (addressable) Strip - Optional
SFX/SFX-L PSU Compatibility
4 x SSD Storage Mounting Brackets
C14 Female Power Plug with Extension Cable
4 Machined Aluminum Case Feet (30mm x 10mm)
1.6mm Aluminum Skeleton with 2mm Aluminum Shell/Faceplate.
Feedback and Planning:
I’m open to ideas and suggestions for this case design. I'm still on the fence regarding which style of ventilation holes that I should use. The ones that you see are 3mm holes with 3mm spacing, but I'm thinking about making larger holes or slots. Let me know what your opinions are. I’m pretty close to making a prototype to ensure placement and fitting of components. I look forward to your criticism and suggestions. I am also looking for any information that will help me get this off the ground and into production. Thanks for your time.
-730
We've seen a lot of innovation in the Small Form Factor (SFF) community during the last ten years, but as a recent (last three years) SFF enthusiast I've become tired of the limitations that I'm forced to accept when it comes to component and enclosure choice. I want to have the latest GPU, I want the latest CPU, and I want more widely available and compatible options for storage, power, and cooling in my SFF enclosure. I'm a "modder" at heart, and I've thoroughly (and will always) enjoy hacking a case to meet my desires during a "themed" build, but I don't want to hack a beautifully designed case with a specific purpose (like the NFC S4 Mini) JUST to meet my needs for component size or cooling. Some of you may know me from the builds I've done in the past on this forum (and others), and I've enjoyed the challenges that I've faced while trying to cram as much hardware as possible into sub-12L cases. However, there are a lot of compromises that have to be made, especially when it comes to GPU choice and cooling options. During my experiences with cases like the S4M, the Dan A4-SFX, the NCase M1 I've always had a moment where I wished that each case had a few more millimeters in specific areas to accommodate a larger CPU cooler, or a longer GPU. I appreciate what each of those cases have to offer, and I genuinely respect their creators and understand some of the decisions that they made while designing them. That being said, I'm still not satisfied with what's currently available, and I know I'm not the only one that feels this way. So begins my first leap into the "rabbit hole" of case design.
Project "Ether": 12.95L SFF Case, optimized for air cooling with a clean minimalist design.
The base design for this case focuses on a "sandwich" style layout, but the idea is improved upon by separating the GPU and CPU chambers with an internal air chamber to allow for and take advantage of GPU cooler designs like the Nvidia 3080/3090 Founders Edition. The internal air chamber passes through the entire length of the case and is 20mm wide. Heat expelled from the CPU chamber never reaches the GPU chamber, and vice versa. The only compromise is the choice of CPU cooler since the maximum supported height is 70mm, but up to a 120mm AIO might be possible (still working on configuration). There are several cutouts located in the top and bottom spines of the case frame to allow for cables to pass from one chamber to the other without being visible. A 200mm RGB-LED strip is located in the top spine of the case frame to cast a glow through the internal air chamber. This case has a clamshell design that allows the top and bottom shells, back plate, and the face plate to be removed allowing for unrestricted and easy access to all areas of the case while building or during hardware swaps.
Case dimensions: 352mm x 194.5mm x 204.5mm (with case feet and protrusions), 342mm x 194.5mm x 194.5mm (without case feet)
Motherboard: Mini-ITX
Max CPU Cooler Height: 70mm
Max 3-Slot GPU up to 338mm x 147mm (LxH)
GPU Retention Block Mechanism
150mm Type-B PCI-E Riser Cable
2 x 16mm Power Button Cutouts (one rear mounted and one bottom mounted)
200mm RGB-LED (addressable) Strip - Optional
SFX/SFX-L PSU compatibility
4 x SSD Storage Mounting Brackets
C14 Female Power Plug with Extension Cable
4 Machined Aluminum Case Feet (30mm x 10mm)
1.6mm Aluminum Skeleton with 2mm Aluminum Shell/Faceplate.
Project “Serum”: 15.75L SFF Case, optimized for water cooling with a clean minimalist design.
The base design for this case builds upon the “Ether” case by reducing the width of the CPU chamber, since it is designed for an AIO water cooling system where a CPU/Pump block will be used. The height has been extended at the top of the case to accommodate a 280mm x 55mm AIO (30mm radiator paired with two 140mm x 25mm fans), like the NZXT Kraken X63/Z63. A maximum height of 59mm is supported for the CPU/Pump block combo. There is a 20mm cutout within the spine of the case above the center air chamber to allow for water cooling tubing to pass from one chamber to the other without being visible, in addition to the same cutouts used in the “Ether” case for cable routing. The only differences between the “Ether” and the “Serum” cases are the outer shells, the front and back panels, and the side panels. The frame for both cases is the same. They share the same mounting options, ventilation, features, and access while building or during hardware swaps.
Case Dimensions: 342mm x 180.9mm x 264.5mm (with case feet), 342mm x 180.9mm x 254.5mm (without case feet).
Motherboard: Mini-ITX
Max CPU Cooler Height: 59mm
Max 3-Slot GPU up to 338mm x 147mm (LxH)
GPU Retention Block Mechanism
Radiator Size: 280mm x 30mm (paired with two 140mm x 25mm fans)
150mm Type-B PCI-E Riser Cable
2 x 16mm Power Button Cutouts (one rear mounted and one bottom mounted)
200mm RGB-LED (addressable) Strip - Optional
SFX/SFX-L PSU Compatibility
4 x SSD Storage Mounting Brackets
C14 Female Power Plug with Extension Cable
4 Machined Aluminum Case Feet (30mm x 10mm)
1.6mm Aluminum Skeleton with 2mm Aluminum Shell/Faceplate.
Feedback and Planning:
I’m open to ideas and suggestions for this case design. I'm still on the fence regarding which style of ventilation holes that I should use. The ones that you see are 3mm holes with 3mm spacing, but I'm thinking about making larger holes or slots. Let me know what your opinions are. I’m pretty close to making a prototype to ensure placement and fitting of components. I look forward to your criticism and suggestions. I am also looking for any information that will help me get this off the ground and into production. Thanks for your time.
-730
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