News Phanteks Enthoo Mini XL

Gigantic case (WHY YOU POST ON SFF?!), but fits two machines inside, which, I think is an interesting (if novel) idea.

The case isn't new, but they're going to release their own power splitter so that one PSU can run both machines, which, to be honest, this case needed, due to it's awkward setup (SFX PSU on bottom, ATX on opposite side of case behind where the mITX board resides).

Pic's from Tom's Hardware in an article regarding upcoming Phanteks stuff.

 

[jeshikat]

I'm still not sure who this is targeted at but the splitter is much better. That SFX PSU all the way across the height of the case from the ITX location is silly.

 

[Phuncz]

Dual-system cases aren't new, I believe Thermaltake did one or two way in the past. You know, when they weren't just copying other manufacturer's stuff
I once contemplated doing a dual-system, but it's almost always useless or a redundant scenario.

 

[Vittra]

Yeah, it's a specific niche. A couple people have noted using the smaller/low power rig for everyday tasks, and the more powerful rig for gaming, but they prefer having it in one enclosure.

You could also make either of the machines a server, as the case certainly has enough room to accommodate a variety of hard drives and the like.

 

[EdZ]

While it would need an integrated KVM switch (or fartarseing around with monitor input switching and KB&M switching), I can see it being useful to have one PC for light web use and office tasks, and a completely separate PC for gaming. It's a huge pain to shut down a pile of browser sessions and documents in order to prevent them dogging down the machine when you want to play something that taxes the system (and need to start everything up again afterwards), and you can run day-to-day on a quieter more power efficient system than an idling monster used for office work.

 

[jeshikat]

Modern high-end CPUs and GPUs can idle very low though. I could kind of see the reasoning for different use sessions. The ITX all setup with work software and the mATX for play or something.

 

[EdZ]

If Windows had the ability to hibernate and restore user sessions rather than an entire machine that would work too.

 

[Phuncz]

The ITX all setup with work software and the mATX for play or something.

But that's something a decent Intel NUC could also do and I could easily get that fitted in my Ncase. Hmm idea ?

My Core i3 NUC with 8GB RAM and 120GB SSD installed running ESXi 5.5 at home for home-server duty. It could easily run desktop stuffs or one could spring for the i5. No need for all that extra hoopla and huge honking case adding mITX for other tasks when mITX is already very powerful for gaming.

 

[Vittra]

Yeah, I think someone spoke on [H] about sticking a NUC in the front 5.25" bays of their FT02. You could probably fit 4-5 of them in that area

With machines being so small these days, there's a lot of ways you can sneak in a secondary machine into your main rig without having one like this. I think I like this case so much as a curiosity piece, probably not so much as anything practical.

 

[PlayfulPhoenix]

I'm incredibly proud to announce that Phanteks has won not one, but two unofficial SFF Forum Computex 2015 awards!*

In the first category... Computex's 'Best Product That Nobody Was Asking For'! Always one that many companies fight for, making the win a remarkable achievement!

And, in the second category... Computex's 'Most Ironic Product Name of the Year'! Really, with a name like "Mini XL", it wasn't much of a contest.

Congratulations once again to Phanteks! An impressive showing

*The SFF Forum Computex 2015 Awards are not affiliated with Computex, Computex Taipei, or indeed SFF Forum. Those responsible for the awarding of awards have been sacked.

 

[rawr]

Haha even the name is an oxymoron.

 

[Phuncz]

LOL nice one Phoenix

 

[WiSK]

With machines being so small these days, there's a lot of ways you can sneak in a secondary machine into your main rig without having one like this. I think I like this case so much as a curiosity piece, probably not so much as anything practical.

Somehow your words remind me of this photo

 

[Vittra]

HA, yes! Still room to mount in the ATX chassis too.

 

[iFreilicht]

I know that some youtubers do this multi-system thing. They play, cut and render on the main rig, then upload from the second one, because that takes hours upon hours.