Smallest case that supports optical drive and dual-slot low-profile GPU?
- Thread starter RichterSnipes
- Start date
That's frustrating. You'd think that a company would want to capitalize on a market that wants to build PCs roughly the size of game consoles that also have at least the amount of features that a game console has (AKA a decently powerful GPU and an optical disc drive). I understand that you'll never be able to get it down to the same size comparatively because you're talking about off-the-shelf parts vs. customized soldered parts, but you can still get smaller than what's currently available on the market...
... for the most part. The Cemo 1001 looks like it fulfills my criteria just fine!
Oh? What do you mean by that?
I would do the CAD, but I sure can't manufacture it.
Emko EM-142 (W186mm x L270mm x H114mm = 5.73L) supports slim 5.25" and maybe will fit normal height two slot card (with PCI-E riser), but very limited to 145mm length (gtx1050 and gtx1650 are available in this size), because ODD is 128mm long. Even this way 145+128=273 those 3 mm are over case limitation and also need space for SATA power cable. So here need some creativity all to fit. (Maybe with single slot Inno3D GTX1650 (GTX1050) will fit under the slim drive, but this is not sure)
Also for higher wattage power supply only option is ACDC + DCATX solution
Also for higher wattage power supply only option is ACDC + DCATX solution
Last edited:
No worries about that. I can live with my case for now, I'm probably not changing out any hardware for the foreseeable future. This thread was mainly for seeing if there's anything out there now that'll work with what I'm looking for. I appreciate the offer, though!
Not sure how I feel about describing it as "creative". I think the correct word is "impossible". Modern graphics cards don't come smaller than 145mm in length, and you're not gonna find a disc drive short enough to fit. And, like you said, that's before even considering clearance for the SATA power cable.
It seems that the dual slots are meant more for utility expansion cards and not for GPUs.
Morex 2799 (5.4L) slim 5.25", dual slot normal height and Pico PSU (AC adapter and internal DC ATX)
Also Jetway JC-110-B and Casetronic C137 (and C212 supports FlexATX)
Only negative is price ($150 for C137)
Also Jetway JC-110-B and Casetronic C137 (and C212 supports FlexATX)
Only negative is price ($150 for C137)
Last edited:
You're on a tear finding these cases! I've never heard of any of them or their manufacturers.
What's wild is how old these cases seem to be. Their USB ports are either 2.0 or nonexistent. The crazier part is that they actually support full-size GPUs! Well, ITX-size, that is. These cases would work wonders if you've got the right PSU setup! I wonder if there are any cases like this that are more recent, either with USB 3.0 ports or with a more modern/sleek design.
Is this what you're looking for?In case anyone needs a bit of a visual to see what I'm thinking of, here's a picture edit I made of the back of the ML09. The half with the PSU and drive caddy has been shrunk to about the size taken up by a Flex ATX PSU. I feel like making something like this would be very possible:
51.81US $ |1001 Htpc Itx Mini Case Usb3.0 3.5'' 3 All-aluminum Black - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com
This case is less common than it was a year ago and a lot harder to find. It seems to have vanished from the market, but I think you can still find some possibly on aliexpress or Taobao if you keep your eyes peeled. There's also the Cemo 9001 if you decide to forsake the optical drive which is basically the same case except a bit shorter and minus the optical drive.
Last edited:
Hey, I just noticed this thread.
The album on my thread looks live to me: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/i-think-i-found-a-little-gem-realan-e-i7.6175/
Let me know if you somehow cannot see the pics.
I'm very happy with the Realan e-i7 but for your usecase, you need to consider power supply and cpu cooler options to fit inside the case along with the ODD...
This case was posted on the last page. It's a curious case, for sure. It's definitely something that others should look into. I'm just not 100% sold on it as of now. I probably won't buy a new case in the near future, I'm looking to mess around with my PC as-is for awhile.Is this what you're looking for?
51.81US $ |1001 Htpc Itx Mini Case Usb3.0 3.5'' 3 All-aluminum Black - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
This case is less common than it was a year ago and a lot harder to find. It seems to have vanished from the market, but I think you can still find some possibly on aliexpress or Taobao if you keep your eyes peeled. There's also the Cemo 9001 if you decide to forsake the optical drive which is basically the same case except a bit shorter and minus the optical drive.
The album wasn't showing at the time I posted that. Seems to be working now.
My current CPU cooler is the Noctua NH-L9i. Would that be short enough to let the ODD (and its white shroud) fit? More importantly, would that compromise the cooling for the CPU enough to be an issue? If so, how are you even supposed to be able to use a disc drive with this thing?
L9i should fit just fine. AFAIR, it has a 60mm clearance with the ODD, which you install via a bracket the case comes with.
PSU-wise, you would likely have to use an external brick, especially if you use an ODD.
PSU-wise, you would likely have to use an external brick, especially if you use an ODD.
I have an ML09 inbound from Amazon today for a basic Ryzen 3600 build with a Nvidia 1030 GT. Depending how the cable routing goes and the specifics of how the case is constructed, I might be tempted to mod the case based on your mock up. It could be as simple as dremeling out the unwanted section and stitching it back together with pop rivets and strips of aluminum.
Similar threads
