Prototype DR ZĄBER STRICT - Even smaller console cases focused on standard sized cards

[SaperPL]

Small update on the project:

The generic common PCB riser​

We have decided to use the generic / common, not to say fairly standard, 40mm tall PCB rack riser because those started coming out with stated pci-e 4.0 version compatibility:

The main advantage of this riser is that whatever happens in the future, there will be more of those as replacement because it's designed around rack cases.

Small version refactor​

I have updated the design of smaller version of the case, the one using low profile cards and 250W GaN HD-Plex power supply, to match the core design of the main 5.25L case. The reason is that slimming case down more than the 5.25L variant made it so that there would be too many differences in construction while at the same time the smaller distance between cooler and perforation would require restricting the CPU temperature significantly for it to not get loud. The case is now 4L in volume - not great, not terrible - same thickness as the main one, same depth as before, but slightly taller by 1cm and the motherboard is not recessed anymore.

On top of that, if the case is mostly matching the manufacturing process of the 5.25L variant, there is potential for it to be more than just a concept case at least during prototyping phase. With that said, we will have to look at the viability of this when either we get low profile radeons of current generation or we get gaming low profile Arc cards and better support in SteamOS or we finally get nvidia driver support for SteamOS. For now we are not yet sure if it even makes sense with 5060 low profile because those cards have limited cooling potential in comparison to their 140~150W power draw. But we're leaving the door open for this form factor for a situation if it ever starts making more sense.

Additional advantage for this approach is that whatever change we decide on with the front panel in the future, the same can be applied to both cases.

No support for display connectors sticking out of cooler outline​

We have also decided to not support the cards that use the PCB protrusion meant for attaching the PCI bracket for display output or other components.
The good example of what will not be supported is mentioned RTX 5060 low profile as visible here:

While Intel Arc B50 low profile and RTX Blackwell SFF cards have this protrusion completely removed:

The reason behind it is simple - the space occupied by HDMI / DP connector sticking outside of card outline will be used for IEC C14 panel connector placed between the card and the motherboard. This is not only for the smaller version, but for the 5.25L one as well. Same restriction goes for both. They will support the intended use of this protrusion however when it is just there to attach the PCB bracket as in PCI-E electromechanical spec:

So cards doing this as intended by the pci-e spec, like for example PowerColor Reaper RX 9060 XT are going to be supported - the PCI bracket will be removed along the screw and there is room for the PCB itself above the IEC C14 connector

 

[BeauchN]

I’d be very interested in the smaller STRICT case. It would be perfect for a portable build with my Arc B50 in it. The only thing I’m less keen on is the power connector. If it’s using a HDPlex GaN 250, would something like the GX16 AC connector fit? I have one from Josh at NFC for my S4Tiny and that works well. There would be no dangling cable and it screws in place so no chance of it being disconnected by accident.

In answer to your questions though.
- I don’t think many enthusiasts would be worried about removing a GPU bracket, especially the sort of enthusiasts you’d find on this forum.
- I think power connectors are very dependent on what cards you’re wanting to put in. I see cases this size as being aimed at more midrange builds (small workstation, Steam Machine, portable rig) rather than powerhouse gaming machines. But personally have no concerns about 8-pin only.
- If only manufacturers actually made a range of reference size cards these days! I think there is a risk of making the case to a particular size and then cards just no longer being available to fit that, as even getting a mid-range card that is a true 2-slot is difficult enough. But, I don’t see any way of future-proofing so think you should just go for it.
- in terms of components; for the CPU I would look at a 65w chip with a 36-47mm cooler (L9, AXP90-36/47, Black Ridge, etc.), and for the GPU a smaller 2-slot card in the larger case (9060XT/9070/5060ti/5070) or a low-profile half-height card in the smaller case (B50/A4000/5060).

 

[SaperPL]

Thanks for feedback @BeauchN !

I’d be very interested in the smaller STRICT case. It would be perfect for a portable build with my Arc B50 in it.

I'm still tinkering with this idea, just B50 being the only still available card for SteamOS isn't perfect target for this. If there was a two slot B380 Low profile with just HDMI and DP port, it's be nice.

The only thing I’m less keen on is the power connector. If it’s using a HDPlex GaN 250, would something like the GX16 AC connector fit?

With the restriction I explained in my previous post, we would be using the IEC C14 panel connector that comes with HDPlex GaN 250. No need for some specialized connector, but if you'd like, you should be able to print or cut yourself a plate that is screwed in the same way as the C14. This could make sense if you end up with a card that intrudes into that C14 space with its connector soldered onto the reserved area on the pcb.

- I think power connectors are very dependent on what cards you’re wanting to put in. I see cases this size as being aimed at more midrange builds (small workstation, Steam Machine, portable rig) rather than powerhouse gaming machines. But personally have no concerns about 8-pin only.

Assuming you're talking about the bigger one - well, if someone wants to use an angled power connector that fits, we will still have room for that. It's just that we can't be fighting on that front making room for the cable and thinking about all the cards that will vary in size at the same time.

Also this is a conscious decision that we've made after seeing over and over again that our cases end up not being tested for what they are supposed to be because the reviewers keep squeezing in as much as possible into those small cases while at the same time not showing that there can be a build that is just a steam machine that is cold and quiet in the living room. This video here explains this attitude of reviewers in context of steam machine:



And we had the same problem with reviews of our cases so far, it's just that we're too small in this market to have leverage to force anyone to do a 200W total build... unless we made it impossible or impractical to go at higher wattage parts, which we are doing with this case - that's the whole point.

If only manufacturers actually made a range of reference size cards these days! I think there is a risk of making the case to a particular size and then cards just no longer being available to fit that, as even getting a mid-range card that is a true 2-slot is difficult enough. But, I don’t see any way of future-proofing so think you should just go for it.

If nobody tries doing what we do here, then there won't be a reason for card vendors to confirm to it. But we see cases for low profile cards and we got some low profile RTX 5060s recently. We also get cases for ITX cards and we got some ITX cards, so let's if we can get more reference sized cards if there's a case that gets some traction in SFF community.

in terms of components; for the CPU I would look at a 65w chip with a 36-47mm cooler (L9, AXP90-36/47, Black Ridge, etc.), and for the GPU a smaller 2-slot card in the larger case (9060XT/9070/5060ti/5070) or a low-profile half-height card in the smaller case (B50/A4000/5060).

We're already locked in on NH-L9 height with just few mm of space. I think 40mm cooler would be a tight fit. We tried a lot of different coolers and there's no silver bullet out there since Zen2 got turbo that rushes its boost up to that 95 degrees. It's also another point where the case should show that it should be possible to have itx boards with 140mm fan size coolers at the height of NH-L9 that I mentioned along the lpcamm2 somewhere here already.

I tinkered with this concept of the board over the weekend and dropped it on reddit here:



If that's not going to happen soon, then still for a steamOS build, it works with NH-L9a and PBO max temperature limit on a 65W TDP CPU. The only thing that I feel it hits is the shader compilation times, which I hope at some point will be solved better at least for radeon cards in SteamOS.

As for the cards - reference sized 270mm / 10.5" card should be possible with 3 fans and at least one of them having full pass-through. I'd say it should be something at the power range of 9060XT or 5060ti.

And I'm hoping we'll see 9050 4GB at dual slot low profile without a power connector and 9050XT 8GB at dual slot with 8pin power connector once vendors realize people want low profile radeons for small steamOS builds before valve figures out the support for nvidia driver correctly.

 

[SaperPL]

We've got some info about 9060XT Low Profile from Minisforum:

https://store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-895d7-mini-pc

The DisplayPort 2.1 is on the PCB protrusion meaning it would be colliding with the IEC C14 connector...

 

[SaperPL]

Seems like Vastarmor is actually doing the low profile card: https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/2073408678129053760

 

[SaperPL]

I've been trying to figure out what to do with that connector on the PCB protrusion intruding into IEC C14 area. For those who don't get it, here's how it looks:

The cutout is where the connectors can be for the low profile card if they are properly within the main part of PCB and that HDMI on the left is on the protrusion. Card is connected through a single PCB riser, the one like mentioned above.

I looked through alternative types of C14 connectors that could be smaller, but it complicates things unnecessarily, so simpler approach is to keep the C14 for full size version and enforce no output connectors on that PCB protrusion as there are cards to pick from that do this, and go with limited support of C6 connector that is already included with HD-Plex 250W GaN psu. There is a bit of a problem with that connector however...

There is an IEC C6 connector from Schurter - 6160.0001 / 2561 that has ideal size to be held within the 40mm spacing between the attachment points for that common IEC C14 panel connector. It would be easy to just put some kind of frame around holding it in place:

The problem is that this Schurter connector is being phased out and HD-Plex is using a different, bigger one (39mm instead of 37mm), so it becomes a bit of topology problem of how to hold whole thing while one of the screws need to be behind the connector because both don't fit on the sides.

I came up with a 3d-printable adapter like this:

This is printed with PETG so it's a bit flexible and definitely more heat resistant than PLA.

Installation:

1. It needs to be attached with one screw from the top first.
2. Then the IEC C6 connector from HD-Plex kit fits in. (Note how it's over the top screw while hole for bottom screw is touching it.)
3. Then close the lid and screw it in with bottom screw.

Overall thickness of it is roughly the same as the the IEC C14 connector (5.5mm total) and seems to be working okay.

It's a solution to the problem, but the fact that DP 2.1 is going to be obstructed with it will still be problematic for those who would want to use that specific connector. But at the same time the whole point of the case is to try and enforce some rules, so it's only a fallback for low profile version because of how those low profile gaming cards look right now.