Log mATX SFF research + prep work (Mesh-mATX)

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

But fear not! After feeling down a bit, and nearly already been ordering a different AIO, we gave it a final try!
Another test fitting of the Artic Liquid Freezer II revealed: SAMA - no, but Meshi - YEAH!


Just absolute not in the position we expected. Needs to sit on the upper right corner. Then both tubes and the whole radiator including preinstalled fans is gonna fit snugly inside.

Hah! That means our calculations and mockup fitting tests were indeed correct, just the position wasnt. We are happy - despite having to wait a bit more till we can really build stuff. The Asus Prime AP201 is gonna work as intermediate consolation price, and the actual work on the mesh is gonna continue when we've gotten everything together thats required to rearrange and extend things.

Those are:
- tools, mostly (eg. foldable rechargabel battery-powered (percussion) drill)
- a few brackets to keep the radiator properly in position (mostly from below)
- extension for the radiator brackets
- a small extension for the front, so that the panel still fits onto the case even with the "nudge" in the middle cut out

The bigger front extension is gonna be arranged when I've decided on the GPU, but maybe its still gonna work out as expected, so that the initial extension is enough.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Another update (and still no pictures; this gonna be a massive image dump in the nearby future): I dont want to bother myself with another PSU failure, experiments etc., so I'm going for the Corsair SF 750, and the GPU is, as already mentioned in the initial (updated) post, an RX 6700 XT.

For the GPU, the PowerColor Radeon RX 6700 XT Fighter looks just about perfect, both in size and its potential for a Noctua-/T30/Be Quiet-ification

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Just a quickly dashed down note: The Asus Prime AP101 is NOT 33L, but actually measures around 29.9L. Ie. inner measurements vs. outer measurements; ie. the front adds about 2 cm to the 44 in depth, and the legs add about 2cm in height, but the front is not really usable or repurposable, like it is in eg. the SAMA IM01 or the NR 200 (no usable openings).

Was looking at the Metallicgear Neo V2 Micro rn, and was thinking: That one looks nice, but its not as nice as the intermediate case (ie. the Asus Prime). Also doesnt support 360 mm radiators, just 280mm in front (while the Asus Prime supports 360 on top!).

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

So, after a bit more tinkering and pondering, I'm strongly considering using a custom loop over AIO.

Options include using the EK-Quantum Velocity² DDC Pump-CPU Block-Res combo, or maybe more classic with a small Pump Res combo and a separate CPU block (either EKWB or Alphacool). Going with regular tubes and not something clear (probably 13/10 though), because I dont like massive RGB rainbow light pollution. Only RGB is going to be on the fans and some understated accents, eg. underglow effects etc.

Radiator is going to be 240 mm, probably with 35 or 40 mm depth, as the current intermediate build using the Arctic LQ II with 240 mm radiator has proven very solid.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

On further research, the original plan with putting the GPU on the mainboard side, might actually be doable. But for a full custom loop only. The advantage: go for a 280 mm radiator, a 200 x 200, or maybe even 2x 240 mm side-by-sides

GPU is either going to be an RTX 3080 (Ti) or RX 7900 XT (if I'm lucky, maybe "just" an 6900 XT).

I also pondered about adding a top hat and using a 360 mm radiator, but I just dont want to make so many excessive changes - the side panel already needs at least 1 cm of spacers.

cu, w0lf.