The console that Does it all | S4M, GTX 1080, brickless

JarrettP

Cable Smoosher
Original poster
New User
Oct 27, 2017
8
21
Here it is. An all internally powered S4M with a GTX 1080 in it. It wasn't easy, and to be honest I thought i was going to end up frying my parts with the custom power setup, but it all works! In fact, it works well!

In order to go brickless, I had to rethink how to power a PC that was this hungry. We've all heard of using the MeanWell power supplies with a PicoPSU, but those power supplies just don't fit in the S4M with all of this hardware in it. What I decided to do was to split the power load across two power supplies. Bel Power makes some dense and efficient power supplies, with more than enough power to supply either the GPU or the Motherboard, but not both. So that's what I did. The Bel 225W PSU powers the 1080 directly, and the 180W PSU is connected to a PicoPSU to power the motherboard. It's a tight fit, but with the 180W next to the GPU, and the 225W in front of the MoBo where an HDPLEX would go, everything fits. Barely.

The end result of 7 hours of planning, cutting, soldering, and crimping cable is that I don't need to bring a power brick with me to LAN parties, just a plain old power cable.

The parts list below covers all of the big purchases, but I used more than what's listed. About 25ft of 18awg wire, Molex crimping tools and connectors, a soldering iron and solder, heat shrink, liquid electrical tape, and other miscellaneous tools and trinkets round out the complete list of parts used to complete this build.

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/gHc3tg
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/gHc3tg/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($179.00 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock - Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($187.92 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($238.11 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung - 960 Pro 1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($615.18 @ B&H)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Mini Video Card (Purchased For $775.00)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit ($139.65 @ OutletPC)
Other: Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10 ($24.99)
Other: Thermolab LP53 CPU Cooler ($59.90)
Other: Skyreach 4 Mini Chassis ($199.00)
Other: Xbox Controller ($59.99)
Other: Meanwell + G-Unique PSU guide
Other: S4M 3D Bezel (Walnut) ($55.00)
Other: S4M Feet ($25.00)
Other: Power Switch (Brushed Stainless/White LED) ($32.00)
Other: Gelid CA-PWM-02 PWM Fan Adapter Sleeved Cable Cord for VGA Cards Cooler Fan ($7.99)
Other: 2x USB 2.0 A Type Female to USB 2.0 header Adapter (For Steam Controller and Xbox Controller adapters) ($3.99)
Other: SWITCH TOGGLE DPST 6A 125V ($8.04)
Other: 4 x 50x10mm 7.5CFM 12VDC Fan ($41.48)
Other: 180W Pico PSU ($17.79)
Other: Bel Power ABC180-1012L (CPU PSU) ($109.21)
Other: Bel Power ABC225-1012L (GPU PSU) ($109.21)
Other: C6 Power receptacle ($2.23)
Other: C5 Power cord ($3.91)
Other: GPU Power MOSFET ($46.00) [big shoutout to @aquelito]
Other: Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut ($14.99)
Other: Acrylic Conformal Coating ($14.51)
Other: 2 x Noctua NF-A9x14 (GPU Fan) ($31.90)
Other: Noctua NF-A9x14 (CPU Fan) ($15.95)
Other: Wifi Antenna ($5.99)
Total: $3023.93





 

lac29

Average Stuffer
Apr 1, 2017
67
40
Jesus ... that's really nice. The brick is actually the main reason why I decided to go with an alternative to the S4.
 

BrotherStein

Cable-Tie Ninja
Nov 11, 2017
168
136
We've all heard of using the MeanWell power supplies with a PicoPSU, but those power supplies just don't fit in the S4M with all of this hardware in it.

Did you look at the UHP-200-12/24. I think your 1080 would be too long, but I saw this post a couple weeks ago. Perfect fit along the front.
 

aquelito

King of Cable Management
Piccolo PC
Feb 16, 2016
952
1,123
Glad you finally found the time to use the load switch and finish your build !!
Great work.

How's your PicoPSU ? I had issues with my G-Unique / Meanwell combo (certainly motherboard related) and I was indeed looking for a viable 200W 12V alternative.
 

JarrettP

Cable Smoosher
Original poster
New User
Oct 27, 2017
8
21
Glad you finally found the time to use the load switch and finish your build !!
Great work.

How's your PicoPSU ? I had issues with my G-Unique / Meanwell combo (certainly motherboard related) and I was indeed looking for a viable 200W 12V alternative.
I can't say I've been without issues. I've tripped the overheat shutoff on the AC-DC unit a couple times since it's so close to the GPU, but that's mostly my fault. Moving the fans around seems to have fixed that.

As far as power delivery goes, no problems at all. I had an 8700k in it before the i5, and the ABC180 + PicoPSU combo could power that just fine. I'd highly recommend both units.
 

slimjim

Cable-Tie Ninja
Jul 5, 2017
198
131
is it possible to connect them so that the gpu psu can benefit from some of the extra in the main psu? like offload it somehow? Not an EE here, sorry if this question is dumb
 

Feingeist

Chassis Packer
Mar 4, 2018
15
13
Very nice solution, I am really impressed. Also the very nice walnut bezel:thumb:
The S4M moves up on my wish list.
Greetings from Germany
Bert
 
Last edited:

Thehack

Spatial Philosopher
Creator
Mar 6, 2016
2,800
3,650
J-hackcompany.com
is it possible to connect them so that the gpu psu can benefit from some of the extra in the main psu? like offload it somehow? Not an EE here, sorry if this question is dumb

You can't. If one PSU is 12.01V and the other 12.00V, it'll flow to the PSU and produce heat and wear.

There are ways to do it properly but it's much easier to keep to separate or have a single powerful one.