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Completed Project Thin-X case: Super small, super flexible
- Thread starter CC Ricers
- Start date
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- case thin mini itx
This one: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/thin-mini-itx-powered-pcie-riser-4x-to-16x.5852/
I believe it's too tall.
Maybe not. It's about 40mm high which gives enough room for it to fit inside. Problem is, you just can't connect a GPU directly to the x16 slot unless you use an offset CPU cooler with thin heatpipes as shown there.
To use it in this particular case, you'd have to offset the GPU instead, with a 5cm riser cable, so that it can be placed in the single low profile slot.
Ah. And I sorta want the powered riser. Thanks, and I may get back to you on this!
I'm running the same build, with a G4600T and a dual slot GTX 1050 Ti.
Both CPU and GPU passively cooled.
The whole build is powered by a single 12V AC adapter.
By using a singe-slot GTX 1050 Ti, I figured you could go down to around 3L, that is with an external adapter.
You could certainly lower the volume by using a short GPU such as the GT 1030.
Could I have a link to that x4-x16 riser? It's short enough and appears to be powered.
Thanks
This riser was custom-made by Qinx for its awesome H2O Micro project.
The ultimate thin mini-itx build
I was lucky to get one riser. I still have it.
The ultimate thin mini-itx build
I was lucky to get one riser. I still have it.
I want to get this project back on track. A member of this forum is considering making one for themselves, and possibly out of metal, but it's still very early and I don't have all the details yet.
Outside of that I'd consider another run of these cases in plastic with some slight changes/improvements to the design, and be more cost effective. I faced challenges in production and shipping last time around so I'm looking to fix that as well.
Outside of that I'd consider another run of these cases in plastic with some slight changes/improvements to the design, and be more cost effective. I faced challenges in production and shipping last time around so I'm looking to fix that as well.
Here is a draft of the re-design. The body shell now has an integrated bottom side, reinforcing the standoffs and reducing the need to laser cut additional bottom panels. Side panel attachment tabs are also widened, and require only 2 screws instead of 3.
This new design is possible by choosing to use a different material for 3D printing. The SLS printed material I used from Shapeways made the part too expensive to print and not worth the extra cost, so I will go with FDM printing, using ABS or a vinyl/carbon blend.
This new design is possible by choosing to use a different material for 3D printing. The SLS printed material I used from Shapeways made the part too expensive to print and not worth the extra cost, so I will go with FDM printing, using ABS or a vinyl/carbon blend.
Update to the design here. Removed the bottom side, but kept the square bracket supporting the integrated standoffs. This works much better than the diagonal "tabs" from last time. The bottom is again supported by an acrylic sheet, but with pegs pushing through holes in the bottom to tighten the connection.
The rear mounting tab has also been made shorter, while the total height of the case is increased by 3mm for a total height of 67mm in order to support the newer AMD Wraith Stealth coolers (after removing the logo fan shroud).
Top and bottom panels would be cut separately from the front, back and sides, so that anyone can customize the top and bottom differently from the main colors. I want to support clear acrylic tops in addition to solid colors.
The rear mounting tab has also been made shorter, while the total height of the case is increased by 3mm for a total height of 67mm in order to support the newer AMD Wraith Stealth coolers (after removing the logo fan shroud).
Top and bottom panels would be cut separately from the front, back and sides, so that anyone can customize the top and bottom differently from the main colors. I want to support clear acrylic tops in addition to solid colors.
I'm bumping this up back after a couple of months because I think it would be nice to revisit the project, but it will be geared for mini ITX builds only, no thin mini ITX + additional card since that was way too niche.
It might not have been among the cheapest and now there are more options like GEEEK's A1 case, but I still liked how my design turned out. I'd like to use existing parts and leftover panels from unfinished cases for a cheap Hackintosh build. Compared to the last two posts, I am cutting back on 3D printed material to save time and costs.
It might not have been among the cheapest and now there are more options like GEEEK's A1 case, but I still liked how my design turned out. I'd like to use existing parts and leftover panels from unfinished cases for a cheap Hackintosh build. Compared to the last two posts, I am cutting back on 3D printed material to save time and costs.
I'd be interested for a Hackintosh build as well however would want to fit in an RX560-RX580 GPU since they are supported OOB.
I'm currently using a Deskmini 110 and looking at the Deskmini 310 but those tiny boxes are tricky to get 100% stable.
I'm currently using a Deskmini 110 and looking at the Deskmini 310 but those tiny boxes are tricky to get 100% stable.
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They don't make 580 cards short enough for a mini ITX sized case unfortunately, so you're limited to the 560s (or Sapphire 570 ITX).
To make the case large enough to fit such a dedicated GPU the case would need to be enlarged to about twice its size, then it would take on a sandwich layout like several other 3-4 liter cases out there.
To make the case large enough to fit such a dedicated GPU the case would need to be enlarged to about twice its size, then it would take on a sandwich layout like several other 3-4 liter cases out there.
Lovely design! Agree with you on your decision to not design a solely thin-itx case. The industry doesn't have basic standards set really. Component layout like CPU socket orientation, memory placement, and many others tend to differ a lot between brands/models.
I was going to suggest that you made an option for GPU orientation to have the I/O facing TOP, to eliminate dead space and aid cooling for a DC-DC unit. But then I saw that you already had thought of thatReally like the clean design and that it looks to be quite modular.
How does the material react/handle drilling holes, cutting shapes or adding threaded holes? Have no experience working with plastics, except some dodgy solder iron injection molding for standoffs.
I was going to suggest that you made an option for GPU orientation to have the I/O facing TOP, to eliminate dead space and aid cooling for a DC-DC unit. But then I saw that you already had thought of that
Really like the clean design and that it looks to be quite modular.How does the material react/handle drilling holes, cutting shapes or adding threaded holes? Have no experience working with plastics, except some dodgy solder iron injection molding for standoffs.
Hello! I'm interested in this case if it's still available/can be made on-demand. I just hacked together a rebuild of my router PC into a cheap miniITX case I got from Amazon and I overlooked the fact that it didn't have an expansion slot for my dual port 2.5 GbE PCI-E card... I had to mod the case (albeit a bit too much) to make an opening/my own "expansion slot" for the aforementioned network card. @CC Ricers I'm on the SFF.network discord server. I pinged you there with more info regarding my request. Thanks in advance!
I already replied to you on Discord, but the answer here is, I have leftover panels for this case, but they require the 3D-printed parts to be made to complete it. If I can find old STLs or re-make them from the source design files it should be possible.
I still think this is one of my favorite designs I made and wouldn't mind making a few more- thin mini ITX with single slot card is pretty niche though. A regular APU build with a regular ITX board would be a far more common layout, and we seem to be in a golden age of APU mini PCs. With that in mind....
This quote is now almost 5 years old and becoming very irrelevant. Phoenix APUs in current-gen Ryzen chips are closely approaching RX 570/GTX 1060 performance. Therefore, a hypothical future run of these cases would support APU-only builds by default. There are tons of ITX board-only cases out there, but again, I really like the aesthetics of this one!
I know we've started a DM on Discord, but thanks again for taking on my request. I'll recommend the crap out of your work.
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