Stalled Compact 24L water cooling oriented ATX case

[Necere]

would it be possible to keep the atx form factor and sfx-l if you where to flip the front rad so the ports are on top, and chose the top rad with ports like below so you could put them both in parallel?

just an idea, might not be possible tho

Maybe if the front rad was a 240 instead of a 280. It's not all that apparent, but the top rad is offset to one side in order to clear the motherboard. You'd want to have the front 240 similarly offset so the ports would line up. The smaller rad would also give you some room for a tubing connection between them. Having said that, I don't really see how it'd be worth it.

One possibility would be to chop three of the eight expansion slots, and then have the SFX-L mount right at the back of the case, instead of needing to have that space for the right angle C13. That would let you use both SFX-L and an ATX motherboard with the triple rad setup, but it comes at the cost of really limiting how "ATX" this case is, with only five expansion slots. There's also no good way to make the back panel swappable between slots/SFX bracket, so it would have to be one or the other permanently.

 

[3lfk1ng]

Out of curiosity, is there any consideration for a side mounted 240mm rad like the M1 and Cerberus?

 

[Necere]

Out of curiosity, is there any consideration for a side mounted 240mm rad like the M1 and Cerberus?

Nope. I figure most people who water cool would want a window, or at least to be able to have a (relatively) easier time setting up the loop. At best, you'd gain one extra 120mm rad, but at the cost of having to use an external reservoir and in general being more difficult to work in.

 

[Wahaha360]

Purposefully designing something completely different from your first product also seems like not moving forward. You'd only want a different design if the different design is better, not just because it's different.
I personally dislike the rounded corner model. Project Sidearm and the 7L concept are amazing though in my opinion.

Afaik there are no functional difference between Style #1 and #2, so it's purely based on personal preference.

Style #1 has allows for more vents for intake than Style #2 no (no sure how much temp difference it makes)?

Anyways, I already told Necere I don't care about it enough to protest. I just think rounded corner tend to blend in better with furniture - again personal preference.

 

[kenrico]

Ah, I forgot the case was inverted and said bottom 240mm. What I was talking about was switching just the positions of the ATX PSU and 120mm rad here:



Though now that I look, even with the rad pushed as far back as the frame allows an ATX PSU wouldn't clear the 240mm without increasing the depth of the case.

I like this one

Kenny

 

[Biowarejak]

Is there really any sense in having an ATX psu? I feel like SFX-L is more than sufficient for the great majority of builds that would go into it.

 

[Kmpkt]

Afaik there are no functional difference between Style #1 and #2, so it's purely based on personal preference.

Style #1 has allows for more vents for intake than Style #2 no (no sure how much temp difference it makes)?

Anyways, I already told Necere I don't care about it enough to protest. I just think rounded corner tend to blend in better with furniture - again personal preference.

Why is your text so white?

 

[QuantumBraced]

I think ATX would make sense for non/semi-liquid cooled builds. It's cheaper and quieter. You can even get a fanless 600W unit whereas SFX(-L) will always have noise under any load especially with SLI (I know I know, SilverStone is working on a fanless 450W SFX). Also, a lot of ATX builders are already going to have ATX PSUs, often premium ones, and will expect an ATX case to support it. I do see the value in trying to advance a standard and keeping compatibility simple though, but this case doesn't seem like the best candidate for that IMO because you can basically support ATX for free, so it seems too forced to take away something free. My subjective opinion.

 

[Biowarejak]

I think ATX would make sense for non/semi-liquid cooled builds. It's cheaper and quieter. You can even get a fanless 600W unit whereas SFX(-L) will always have noise under any load especially with SLI (I know I know, SilverStone is working on a fanless 450W SFX). Also, a lot of ATX builders are already going to have ATX PSUs, often premium ones, and will expect an ATX case to support it. I do see the value in trying to advance a standard and keeping compatibility simple though, but this case doesn't seem like the best candidate for that IMO because you can basically support ATX for free, so it seems too forced to take away something free. My subjective opinion.

That's true, but at 24L it's already pushing the SFF definition. If that's purely for radiator space it's more acceptable in my opinion if you're looking to get into SFF you probably are already looking at swapping power supplies right?

 

[jeshikat]

Is there really any sense in having an ATX psu? I feel like SFX-L is more than sufficient for the great majority of builds that would go into it.

Threadripper/Skylake-X plus dual Vegas will easily be pushing 800W+ if overclocked.

Why is your text so white?

Copy/paste from HardForum preserved the formatting.

 

[QuantumBraced]

That's true, but at 24L it's already pushing the SFF definition. If that's purely for radiator space it's more acceptable in my opinion if you're looking to get into SFF you probably are already looking at swapping power supplies right?

I'm not sure the audience for this case will be exclusively or even mostly SFF seekers, I think a lot of people will see it as a premium ATX case that just happens to be small/space-efficient, and those people may be turned off by lack of ATX support. It would be the first ATX case that doesn't support ATX power. Now, I'm guessing most people buying this case will be getting it for the dual radiator support, but not all. It's extremely common to just go CPU+AIO and an air-cooled card, or 2 air-cooled cards - your needs may be met by the M1 there if going a single card, but a lot of people don't want or need something super tiny and don't want to limit themselves to ITX. So a good chunk of builders may just go single radiator, and a lot of those people are going to want to reuse their ATX power supply or be turned off by a smaller/noiser power supply, especially when the case clearly has space for ATX in the front. I see a lot of reviewers subtracting points for this too.

My whole argument/thinking is predicated on the idea that this case is not strictly an SFF product, but will be competing with other ATX cases and the audience for it will be much wider than for the M1. So ATX support will be important for much of that audience, which is just regular PC builders.

But as we discussed this in [H], Necere suggested that perhaps an ATX bracket can exist for people who want to order it separately, but not be in the default package. As it's something that can always be added later, I think it's fine to just wait and see what people want.

 

[Biowarejak]

Threadripper/Skylake-X plus dual Vegas will easily be pushing 800W+ if overclocked.

Ah yes, fair point!

I'm not sure the audience for this case will be exclusively or even mostly SFF seekers, I think a lot of people will see it as a premium ATX case that just happens to be small/space-efficient, and those people may be turned off by lack of ATX support. It would be the first ATX case that doesn't support ATX power. Now, I'm guessing most people buying this case will be getting it for the dual radiator support, but not all. It's extremely common to just go CPU+AIO and an air-cooled card, or 2 air-cooled cards - your needs may be met by the M1 there if going a single card, but a lot of people don't want or need something super tiny and don't want to limit themselves to ITX. So a good chunk of builders may just go single radiator, and a lot of those people are going to want to reuse their ATX power supply or be turned off by a smaller/noiser power supply, especially when the case clearly has space for ATX in the front. I see a lot of reviewers subtracting points for this too.

My whole argument/thinking is predicated on the idea that this case is not strictly an SFF product, but will be competing with other ATX cases and the audience for it will be much wider than for the M1. So ATX support will be important for much of that audience, which is just regular PC builders.

But as we discussed this in [H], Necere suggested that perhaps an ATX bracket can exist for people who want to order it separately, but not be in the default package. As it's something that can always be added later, I think it's fine to just wait and see what people want.

Right, your argument does make sense to me now

 

[dudeskis]

This case is beautiful. Registered for this forum to say that I'm on board and let me know when I can give you money. This form factor and style has been just what I've been looking for for years. Can we Kickstarter this? I'm so eager for this case. There just aren't any small atx, aluminum, fully vented front (no optical bays) cases out there. I've searched all over and they can't be had at any price.

 

[AcquaCow]

Another [H] person here. Also registered just to have a cleaner thread for this project. I really just want to know where I can sign-up to be notified when I can throw money your way. I don't want to miss this when it becomes available.

Thanks!

 

[Necere]

This case is beautiful. Registered for this forum to say that I'm on board and let me know when I can give you money. This form factor and style has been just what I've been looking for for years. Can we Kickstarter this? I'm so eager for this case. There just aren't any small atx, aluminum, fully vented front (no optical bays) cases out there. I've searched all over and they can't be had at any price.

Another [H] person here. Also registered just to have a cleaner thread for this project. I really just want to know where I can sign-up to be notified when I can throw money your way. I don't want to miss this when it becomes available.

Thanks!

Thanks guys, I appreciate the support. I do think there's a niche and demand that isn't being met for an "SFF ATX" case like this or the Cerberus(-X), and I hope others would agree. Developing a larger case does present some significant challenges for an indie case maker, owing to the rapidly rising cost of shipping as you go bigger - something we didn't have to contend with in a smaller case like the M1.

We're still probably a ways from a viable product, so we won't be collecting emails just yet. Keep tabs on the thread here and on [H] though, and as always I'm open to any feedback you might have.

 

[jeshikat]

Registered for this forum to say that I'm on board and let me know when I can give you money.

Another [H] person here. Also registered just to have a cleaner thread for this project.

Yes, yesss, soon SFF Forum shall unite the scattered small form factor communities and stand supreme atop the pile of crumbling and neglected sub-sections, then my long awaited reign of terror can begin and... *ahem* I mean, welcome to the forum!

 

[Biowarejak]

Yes, yesss, soon SFF Forum shall unite the scattered small form factor communities and stand supreme atop the pile of crumbling and neglected sub-sections, then my long awaited reign of terror can begin and... *ahem* I mean, welcome to the forum!

Lmao! Yes, welcome everybody!

 

[Phuncz]

( @Aibohphobia )

 

[Nanook]

I am also from [H], and registered here just to follow this thread.

I'm not sure the audience for this case will be exclusively or even mostly SFF seekers, I think a lot of people will see it as a premium ATX case that just happens to be small/space-efficient, and those people may be turned off by lack of ATX support. It would be the first ATX case that doesn't support ATX power. Now, I'm guessing most people buying this case will be getting it for the dual radiator support, but not all. It's extremely common to just go CPU+AIO and an air-cooled card, or 2 air-cooled cards - your needs may be met by the M1 there if going a single card, but a lot of people don't want or need something super tiny and don't want to limit themselves to ITX. So a good chunk of builders may just go single radiator, and a lot of those people are going to want to reuse their ATX power supply or be turned off by a smaller/noiser power supply, especially when the case clearly has space for ATX in the front. I see a lot of reviewers subtracting points for this too.

My whole argument/thinking is predicated on the idea that this case is not strictly an SFF product, but will be competing with other ATX cases and the audience for it will be much wider than for the M1. So ATX support will be important for much of that audience, which is just regular PC builders.

But as we discussed this in [H], Necere suggested that perhaps an ATX bracket can exist for people who want to order it separately, but not be in the default package. As it's something that can always be added later, I think it's fine to just wait and see what people want.

The Thermaltake Core G3, that was launched last year, has ATX motherboard support, but only fits SFX power supply. While waiting for this 24L ATX case, I'm going to try out the G3, mod it to squeeze in a 360 rad...

 

[Phuncz]

I have that exact case, don't expect the PCIe extender to work. Mine didn't and I've seen other reports online of it also not working (stably). In the end I choose to cut my case's rear open so I can just use two GPUs normally without the extender, but I had to remove the PCIe brackets to fit. If I transition back to mITX I'm going to try and make it into a reference card supporting case.