Motherboard Great advice if you can't find a full-featured SFF MBO

[Tilltech]

If you want an mATX but have no compromise in terms of silence and cooling there are VERY limited options.

However, those options that do exist are kinda great.

If you can find a proper mATX or ITX MBO, and you want a silent and cooled high-end PC, then this is the way to go:
Define Mini C with three Silent Wings 3 PWM fans - 1 120mm back, 2 140mm front. These fans are inaudible at highest speed and offer great CFM at the same time.

If you can't find a proper mATX or ITX MBO, then you can go with ATX but still have a small case. It's the Corsair 400Q, it is almost the same dimensions as Define Mini C, just slightly taller - only 5cm difference in height. It has everything else identically to Define Mini C: PSU cover, fan setup, noise isolation. So, the same fan setup as before. There really is no other such borderline SFF mid-case with those feature.

 

[Jonny727272]

The Define Mini C is actually really big unless you are doing a full custom loop water cooling. That being said, it is a really nice case and can be very quiet with the right set up. The Silent Wings fan are super nice though. I haven't used them personally but I've read countless reviews of people saying they are great.

 

[Tilltech]

Well, it is restricted to mATX so if you are not satisfied with less than stellar offer of those boards, then the marginally bigger Corsair 400Q is the way to go. They are so similar in every way that it's hard to say who copied whom.

The corsair one is even compatible with eATX.

 

[Tilltech]

For those who think Corsair 400Q is "big" -

It's the smallest ATX, silence-oriented mid-case.

 

[jØrd]

*cough* cerberus x *cough*

 

[LocoMoto]

It's the smallest ATX, silence-oriented mid-case.

Be careful saying the smallest, for one, there's the Define C being about 3L smaller with the feet/protrusions, second, you didn't define it having to be by a mass seller

 

[AleksandarK]

For those who think Corsair 400Q is "big" -

It's the smallest ATX, silence-oriented mid-case.

42 Liters*chokes*. It is to big

 

[IntoxicatedPuma]

Jonsbo RM2, 21.6L and under $50

 

[Tilltech]

*cough* cerberus x *cough*

What about the word "silence" do you not understand?
That case might as well be a completely open test bench as far as the noise isolation goes..

 

[jØrd]

id hazard a guess @MarcParis & @Aibohphobia would be better qualified to answer that question

i'll stop feeding the troll now

peace out

 

[T_Tank]

Id think if you can't get a cerberus x the next smallest matx case would be on of silverstones sugo series or enermax's steelwing.
Which as a steelwing owner that case is tiny! I didnt think a matx case could be so small!

 

[MarcParis]

id hazard a guess @MarcParis & @Aibohphobia would be better qualified to answer that question

i'll stop feeding the troll now

peace out

OOOOO someone summoned me?..

Well based on my experience on Cerberus-X :

• Desktop/web browsing/multimedia : Almost silent PC (passive GPU, passive PSU, 500rpm 140mm fans)
• Gaming : Quiet Cerberus-X (1500-1800rpm gpu, PSU well cooled, 800rpm 140 fans)

I precise that I'm a bit too sensitive on noise...thus it was mandatory for me to have a quiet gaming machine.

If you have any question, please me know.

 

[DocH]

i actually just picked up the Fractal Define Nano S for a water cooled build. I haven't seen anything smaller with a window that can handle two 240mm rads. But i agree there are better cases than the one suggested from OP.

But then again i have a S4 mini sitting on my desk next to my acer x34.

 

[Phuncz]

*cough* cerberus x *cough*

I hear the availability is not that great

 

[MarcParis]

I don't know what you mean lol..

 

[jeshikat]

What about the word "silence" do you not understand?
That case might as well be a completely open test bench as far as the noise isolation goes..

Baffling isn't the only route to a quiet PC. Good ventilation and low fan RPMs is another method, and really the only feasible solution for a small case.

 

[MarcParis]

Baffling isn't the only route to a quiet PC. Good ventilation and low fan RPMs is another method, and really the only feasible solution for a small case.

I totally agree with you..

 

[Josh | NFC]

Hey Tilltech, do you live in NYC?