Orangulan Deux Build Log
I'd like to introduce my first Not From Concentrate S4M build, Orangulan Deux. For those of you not familiar with my first Orangulan build, you can find it here:
https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/nfc-s4-mini-77-orangulan-brickless-s4.812/
As a long time hater of external AC-DC bricks, the obvious motivation for my first Orangulan build was to eliminate the pesky AC-DC brick so many small form factor PC users have grown accustomed to. By the time I had completed my first Orangulan build, I had successfully managed to not just eliminate the external power supply but also to cram a significantly larger amount of computing power into the S4M-C's diminutive frame that I had originally planned. I was especially pleased by the build's reception in the small form factor community and the series of similar builds that followed including the eventual GTX 1060 version of the brickless S4 Mini.
When I learned the particulars of the new Skyreach 4 Mini, my brain immediately set to work in figuring out how best to implement a brickless build for this new and exciting platform. My first idea involved making a 3D printed kit I dubbed the "Fat Boy" that essentially spaced out the side panels of the case in order to accommodate the HDPlex 300W AC-DC unit. This plan was immediately crushed when I received my case and attempted to fit the PSU into the case alongside my Zotac GTX 1080 Mini. Because the HDPlex units will only fit under the GPU in cases where a reference height card is used, there was simply not enough room to use this brick without chopping up the case.
As I continued to play around with the various orientations of both the HDPlex 300W and 160W AC-DC units, I quickly realized that it was possible to fit two HDPlex 160W AC-DC adapters inside the front of the case when using a 170mm GPU. Furthermore, with the recent revision to the HDPlex 160W AC-DC to provide substantially more power than its predecessor, this build will hypothetically provide a rated 320W of power with a peak wattage of over 400W in a teeny-tiny package. I will be merging the two AC-DC power supplies into a single unit using the Mini Box Y-Pwr load sharing controller which can output up to 30A @ 19V (380W).
As such, here is the parts list for this build:
CPU: Intel i7 7700K
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z270N-Gaming 5
RAM: 16GB G.Skill Trident Z 3200 MHz DDR RAM Kit (with orange accents)
Storage: Samsung 960 Pro 512GB NVMe Drive
GPU: GeForce GTX 1080 Mini ITX 8G
CPU Cooler: Top Secret
AC-DC Power Supply - HDPlex 160W AC-DC x 2
DC-DC Power Supply - KMPKT Dynamo 360 + KMPKT Dynamo Mini
Power Merging Device - Mini Box Y-Pwr Load Sharing Controller (Hopefully replaced by KMPKT Merge eventually)
Of course this build will require a fair amount of modification to actually get off the ground, and this is where I will need a little help from my friends. In collaboration with @Josh | NFC, I will be 3D printing a modification kit for the build (provided we can pull it off) that will allow for secure mounting of the both the AC-DC and DC-DC power supplies at appropriate locations within the enclosure. I will also be making extensive use of Not From Concentrate's custom bulgin switches, C8 inlet connectors and SkyWire Cables to pull this build together. I'm really excited to share this build log with the Smallformfactor.net community and hopefully it will be a success.
And now the first look:
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