S4 MINI Classic (S4M-C)

[DocH]

Thanks for the response guys. I suppose I should ask a few more questions and opinions while I'm here

The HDPlex 300W HiFi comes with the power cable to mount and connect to the external power brick right?

And I tried digging through a few... dozen.. pages on this thread but what does everyone do for cabling to components? Make their own or buy some short stuff? Any recommendations on that part would be groovy

You can use the cables that come with the hdplex 300w. They are muticolored though but they work with some pushing. Most people custom make them or pay for it to get done. I linked a shop above with someone that does cables specifically for the hd plex and s4 mini. You could also get a psu from gury on this site and he custom makes the psu with whatever you want.

 

[Al Hoff]

You can use the cables that come with the hdplex 300w. They are muticolored though but they work with some pushing. Most people custom make them or pay for it to get done. I linked a shop above with someone that does cables specifically for the hd plex and s4 mini. You could also get a psu from gury on this sit and he custom makes the psu with whatever you want.

I don't see the link! But I am interested in that. And I am looking at gurys stuff as I type this. Thank you for the help!

 

[DocH]

I don't see the link! But I am interested in that. And I am looking at gurys stuff as I type this. Thank you for the help!

cables
http://avaentum.com/beta/

you can also contact him via reddit at /u/royalba94

gury
https://smallformfactor.net/forum/t...bto-psus-are-now-available-direct-order.1983/

 

[royalba94]

cables
http://avaentum.com/beta/

you can also contact him via reddit at /u/royalba94

gury
https://smallformfactor.net/forum/t...bto-psus-are-now-available-direct-order.1983/

I'm on this forum too

Haven't posted much/at all yet but I'm working hard to get the website all functional and then I'll be able to be a bit more active as well as finally getting around to posting about some ideas for a SFF Watercooling case I have as well so yeah.

All in due time. I'd love to help anyone out with their custom cables needs and once I have the website finished up I'll be offering an introductory discount for SFF and Reddit users

Thanks for the reference @DocH!

 

[Blueskull]

Hi. Does S4 mini support 15mm thick hard drives? I plan to put my hardware from my current Elite 110 to an S4 mini, and I'm using 2 hard drives that are both 15mm thick.

 

[CubanLegend]

Hi. Does S4 mini support 15mm thick hard drives? I plan to put my hardware from my current Elite 110 to an S4 mini, and I'm using 2 hard drives that are both 15mm thick.

15mm thick 2.5in HDDs will fit. They might touch or push the rear of your GPU's rear PCB but you'll be okay.

I have a 15mm 2.5in 5TB Seagate on the back of my 1080mini, its running fine, no overheating at all, it runs just fine.

 

[Blueskull]

Thank you. I'm trying to fit my U2 SSD and 4TB Seagate in the case.

 

[W1NN1NG]

I'm on this forum too

Haven't posted much/at all yet but I'm working hard to get the website all functional and then I'll be able to be a bit more active as well as finally getting around to posting about some ideas for a SFF Watercooling case I have as well so yeah.

All in due time. I'd love to help anyone out with their custom cables needs and once I have the website finished up I'll be offering an introductory discount for SFF and Reddit users

Thanks for the reference @DocH!

If let's say I sent you a guinque psu would you be able to sleeve the cables off of that since they're soldered directly to the board?

 

[royalba94]

If let's say I sent you a guinque psu would you be able to sleeve the cables off of that since they're soldered directly to the board?

Sure, I could do that. I might have to use a bit of heatshrink on the soldered ends of the cables but other than that it'd be like usual

Feel free to shoot me a PM and we can work out the details there. Thanks for your interest!

Edit: spelling

 

[iFreilicht]

15mm thick 2.5in HDDs will fit. They might touch or push the rear of your GPU's rear PCB but you'll be okay.

Um, that's not good. The sticker on HDDs is not enough to reliably prevent through-hole pins on the GPUs PCB from making contact with the metal casing on the HDD, which could potentially damage GPU, HDD and PSU beyond repair at the same time. If you really want to do this, @Blueskull, make sure you get some well-insulating tape between GPU and HDD that can't be pierced easily.

If CubanLegend is correct, this would also mean that a 15mm HDD would NOT fit if your GPU had a backplate.

Additionally, I raised concerns about HDDs overheating under the GPU when Josh first posted about the case here on the forum, and I remember him pointing out that he designed the case with SSDs in mind, not HDDs.
HDDs will fail quicker when running in hotter environments, most spec sheets I've seen specify a maximum operating temperature of 50°C, while the back of a GPU can easily reach 80°C under load. Which exact HDDs do you use? If you're lucky they might be designed with high operating temperatures in mind.

 

[Blueskull]

Which exact HDDs do you use? If you're lucky they might be designed with high operating temperatures in mind.

I don't essentially have to keep the HDD in the box. I have a Linux server box for NAS, so I can kick the HDD out of my box if I wish. The other drive that must fit the case is an Intel 750 U2, and I believe that's a 15mm drive.

BTW, my R9 nano doesn't have a back plate, and I don't remember any R9 nano cards having one.

As for the insulation, I will use Mylar or Kapton tape to get the job done. If clearance allows, I may add a thin layer of some foam to absorb mechanical vibration to prevent through hole parts from rubbing and piercing the insulation tape layer.

 

[iFreilicht]

The other drive that must fit the case is an Intel 750 U2, and I believe that's a 15mm drive.

That is correct. Intel does specify 55°C maximum temperature, so I'd keep an eye on that.

As for the insulation, I will use Mylar or Kapton tape to get the job done.

Perfect.

 

[Nasp]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before.

Does anyone know what CPU cooler allows you to install just the heatsink and then either a slim 120mm fan on the bracket or a regular sized 120mm fan on the bracket? That is, the heatsink without fan attached, but then a 120mm fan on the bracket just above the heatsink and if not touching the heatsink, then very close.

Can the S4 only take at is maximum height a 40mm CPU cooler?

 

[Kmpkt]

The actual maximum is probably somewhere between 43 and 45mm, although once you're too high you run into acoustical problems and performance loss due to side panel proximity. I think 48mm is the absolute highest you can have before the fan touches panel.

As far as which cooler lets you do what you're mentioning with the slim 120mm fan, I'd choose from the Noctua L9i, Silverstone AR05 or the Thermolab/Cooltek LP53 myself. You're not getting a normal sized (25mm thick) 120mm fan into the S4 if that's what you meant.

 

[|||]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before.

Does anyone know what CPU cooler allows you to install just the heatsink and then either a slim 120mm fan on the bracket or a regular sized 120mm fan on the bracket? That is, the heatsink without fan attached, but then a 120mm fan on the bracket just above the heatsink.

Can the S4 only take at is maximum height a 40mm CPU cooler?

Any heat sink at or below 30mm should work below a 15mm slim 120mm fan attached to the bracket. However, @dondan ran some tests in the A4 with a 120mm fan over a heatsink, and it performed worse than 92mm and 100mm fans, even with the 120mm shrouded.

 

[CubanLegend]

Um, that's not good. The sticker on HDDs is not enough to reliably prevent through-hole pins on the GPUs PCB from making contact with the metal casing on the HDD, which could potentially damage GPU, HDD and PSU beyond repair at the same time. If you really want to do this, @Blueskull, make sure you get some well-insulating tape between GPU and HDD that can't be pierced easily.

If CubanLegend is correct, this would also mean that a 15mm HDD would NOT fit if your GPU had a backplate.

Additionally, I raised concerns about HDDs overheating under the GPU when Josh first posted about the case here on the forum, and I remember him pointing out that he designed the case with SSDs in mind, not HDDs.
HDDs will fail quicker when running in hotter environments, most spec sheets I've seen specify a maximum operating temperature of 50°C, while the back of a GPU can easily reach 80°C under load. Which exact HDDs do you use? If you're lucky they might be designed with high operating temperatures in mind.

@Blueskull
when not under load my 2 HDDs (one is a 2tb Seagate Firecuda SSHD, the other a seagate 5tb 15mm HDD) are idle at 21c, they only go up to 30 and 35c respectively when playing the MOST GPU intensive games, as reported by HWinfo64. So as long as there's a decent airgap between the back of the GPU and the 2.5in drive, or at least the proper insulating tape, your temps should be fine. And the 15mm HDD may push the GPU down just slightly once you close up and screw down the sidepanel, but you'll be okay when it comes to room in the S4 Mini, so if you have 1x 15mm drive, I recommend you put it on the slot nearest to the END of the GPU. If the GPU was in a tower it would eventually sag ever so slightly, so it being slightly pushed down shouldnt cause any damage considering the S4 Mini PCI-Ex ribbon has some play in it.

I don't essentially have to keep the HDD in the box. I have a Linux server box for NAS, so I can kick the HDD out of my box if I wish. The other drive that must fit the case is an Intel 750 U2, and I believe that's a 15mm drive.

BTW, my R9 nano doesn't have a back plate, and I don't remember any R9 nano cards having one.

As for the insulation, I will use Mylar or Kapton tape to get the job done. If clearance allows, I may add a thin layer of some foam to absorb mechanical vibration to prevent through hole parts from rubbing and piercing the insulation tape layer.

I second the layer of thin foam.

 

[Nasp]

Any heat sink at or below 30mm should work below a 15mm slim 120mm fan attached to the bracket. However, @dondan ran some tests in the A4 with a 120mm fan over a heatsink, and it performed worse than 92mm and 100mm fans, even with the 120mm shrouded.

Did Dondan test in the S4? That's interesting that a large fan was worse. Did the hot air become trapped?

Here's my crazy idea and it's mostly because I'm trying to use parts on hand. I plan to use my Cryorig C7, but just the heatsink. Then I'll attach a 140mm slim fan to the bracket - the fan has 120mm mounting holes. Will that work? I think I remember seeing someone use a 140mm slim in the S4. Temps aren't too important since I'll be using an Intel non-k CPU.

 

[Vittra]

The hub on a 120mm fan is probably too large for such a small heatsink. You end up with too significant a dead zone, which affects static pressure relative to the smaller fans.

It's the same concept that has allowed 120mm fans to perform better than 140mm fans in many scenarios - radiators especially.

 

[DocH]

Hey everyone here is a little tease to my upcoming S4 mini build. Got to do a couple more mods and work before the full show. But I wanted to share something.


The interesting thing is that is a zotac GTX 1080 mini. No modifications to card at all and it fits just fine a little snug. The other interesting thing is I did a fan mount for two 80mm fans to go against the heatsink.

I will update everyone with thermals once I get some time for testing.

 

[CubanLegend]

Hey everyone here is a little tease to my upcoming S4 mini build. Got to do a couple more mods and work before the full show. But I wanted to share something.


The interesting thing is that is a zotac GTX 1080 mini. No modifications to card at all and it fits just fine a little snug. The other interesting thing is I did a fan mount for two 80mm fans to go against the heatsink.

I will update everyone with thermals once I get some time for testing.

Youre running the Thermolab ITX-30 instead of the LP53? Interesting.