Nice... As mentioned on the other thread (reddit) I went HDPlex 250W, but did that as I went for the 7900 instead of a 7950X3D as it has a power cap which means the HDPlex doesnt need to be the 500W model.
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Join the Discussion - To hell with nVidia's definition of SFF ready. What should be the actual SFF standard?
Log Travel Case Mini-ITX SFF PCVR Gaming + AVI DIT Workstation
- Thread starter rohitbanerjee
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Apologies for the very late (a year late) update. Still struggling with components and layouts.
While on the path of designing and developing my custom SFF-PC, I have come across a strange and puzzling problem, for which I have been struggling to find a solution, and still scratching my head, wondering why no one has thought of this before.
My custom SFF-PC design requires the GPU and the Motherboard to be placed on the same plane, i.e. both of the top-sides and back-plates of the circuit boards, and most importantly the exhaust fans, face the same direction.
However, the orientation of the PCIe slot on the motherboard, and the PCIe "key" / "finger" of the GPU always face away from each other, and the notch is exactly opposite. This means the GPU would never be able to face the same direction as the motherboard, and the PCIe contacts would never be near to each other. Even the Dual Reverse Riser cable, further extends the GPU PCIe contact away from the motherboard's PCIe slot.
Wouldn't it be easier to orient the GPU in such a way, that the GPU PCIe "key" is actually facing the motherboard's PCIe slot? I know the entire IO shield gets blocked on the other side, but there isn't much IO needed from GPU anyway! Also, the miniDP ports can easily be extended all th way to the other side with extension cables, in fact with the full DP ports on the IO side of the motherboard.
I searched the entire internet (not really, just couple of days of focused keywords searches), but couldn't find any practical solutions for such a seemingly simple logical problem. The only possible way that I see it working, would be to "twist" my very expensively imported PCIe riser cable, which I do not wish to do, except as a last resort. I cannot fathom that no one else has thought of this before.
I write this long technically-inclined post, so as to invite opinions and insights from other technology enthusiasts like @robbee and @REVOCCASES. Please help!
While on the path of designing and developing my custom SFF-PC, I have come across a strange and puzzling problem, for which I have been struggling to find a solution, and still scratching my head, wondering why no one has thought of this before.
My custom SFF-PC design requires the GPU and the Motherboard to be placed on the same plane, i.e. both of the top-sides and back-plates of the circuit boards, and most importantly the exhaust fans, face the same direction.
However, the orientation of the PCIe slot on the motherboard, and the PCIe "key" / "finger" of the GPU always face away from each other, and the notch is exactly opposite. This means the GPU would never be able to face the same direction as the motherboard, and the PCIe contacts would never be near to each other. Even the Dual Reverse Riser cable, further extends the GPU PCIe contact away from the motherboard's PCIe slot.
Wouldn't it be easier to orient the GPU in such a way, that the GPU PCIe "key" is actually facing the motherboard's PCIe slot? I know the entire IO shield gets blocked on the other side, but there isn't much IO needed from GPU anyway! Also, the miniDP ports can easily be extended all th way to the other side with extension cables, in fact with the full DP ports on the IO side of the motherboard.
I searched the entire internet (not really, just couple of days of focused keywords searches), but couldn't find any practical solutions for such a seemingly simple logical problem. The only possible way that I see it working, would be to "twist" my very expensively imported PCIe riser cable, which I do not wish to do, except as a last resort. I cannot fathom that no one else has thought of this before.
I write this long technically-inclined post, so as to invite opinions and insights from other technology enthusiasts like @robbee and @REVOCCASES. Please help!
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I assume you are going for a console case layout?
If so, you need a long enough riser cable and route it either under the motherboard or under the GPU...
Examples:
If so, you need a long enough riser cable and route it either under the motherboard or under the GPU...
Examples:
Prototype - REVOCCASES Project FLEXi5 - scalable 5L+ DIY friendly Console Case
Project FLEXi5 is a FLEX powered console case I designed for the DIY case maker community. It can be produced by services like e.g. SendCutSend and if you are familiar with CAD, is easily scalable in X/Y/Z to fit different sized components. So in other words, the smallest volume that makes sense...
smallformfactor.net
Prototype - REVOCCASES Project FL6iCON - minimalistic 6L Console Style Case
RCC-FL6iCON is a custom design I've made for & together with @Diamorif size comparison: basic features: FLEX PSU support ITX sized GPU with 92mm AIO / radiator GPU clearance: 268 x 125 x 55mm (max. overall clearance) CPU cooler: max. 48mm tall several 60mm (slim) case fan mounts cover...
smallformfactor.net
Weirdly enough, the picture of your post appears to be broken, except when being displayed in the quote.Apologies for the very late (a year late) update. Still struggling with components and layouts.
Edit: For those who cant see the image, here it is embedded directly:
cu, w0lf.
BTW: This may work with the blower-design GPUs, but with anything that works pass-thru, or the new 5000 gen, this is going to get awfully bad in terms of airflow.
I'd rather go with airflow from both sides and switch the orientation to "normal", ie. PCIe slots facing each other directly, similar to how its done with the SFFTime cases. If your thoughts behind this different orientation was to optimize GPU connections for your particular use case, you still could use something like 90 or 180 degrees Displayport + HDMI adapters.
Also, in terms of riser cable: There are server- and GPU mining-oriented ones, that allow for particular bendy connections. They look very similar to regularly shrouded cables instead of the more normal "flat cable" style of common PCIe riser cables. I bought one of these about a year ago, it was like 75 Euro including shipping via Amazon (arrived from China).
cu, w0lf.
You are spot-on the blower design aspect, I intend to de-shroud the GPU and use the copper backplate from @REVOCCASES's X3 design, and finned copper heatsink and dual noctua fans from @robbee's design. The GPU will not have any shroud going further, taking full advantage of the side air intake.
Plus, what's not shown in the picture, I intend to put 2x 5010 or 6025 fans on the top side of the motherboard (where "Made in China" is written on the motherboard in the picture), and 2x 5010 or 6025 fans at the bottom side of the GPU (the furthest edge of the GPU), as intake fans with the chassis side panels being perforated sheet metal. So, intake airway from both opposite sides, and exhaust on the side "tangent" to the intake.
I hope you don't mind putting a link to the product page of the bendy riser cables that you are referring to. I can at least start to visualise how to incorporate them in my design. I wish I could quickly finish my build, so that I can actually use it to edit my videos faster, and show the actual progress. Oh, the irony!
And apologies for not including your name @hrh_ginsterbusch, you have been extremely helpful from day one.
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Yup, I believe the correct term for the design I am aiming for, is "console case" layout. But instead of upright "portrait" mode orientation, my case would be in "landscape" mode. More on that below.I assume you are going for a console case layout?
If so, you need a long enough riser cable and route it either under the motherboard or under the GPU...
Examples:
Prototype - REVOCCASES Project FLEXi5 - scalable 5L+ DIY friendly Console Case
Project FLEXi5 is a FLEX powered console case I designed for the DIY case maker community. It can be produced by services like e.g. SendCutSend and if you are familiar with CAD, is easily scalable in X/Y/Z to fit different sized components. So in other words, the smallest volume that makes sense...smallformfactor.net
Prototype - REVOCCASES Project FL6iCON - minimalistic 6L Console Style Case
RCC-FL6iCON is a custom design I've made for & together with @Diamorif size comparison: basic features: FLEX PSU support ITX sized GPU with 92mm AIO / radiator GPU clearance: 268 x 125 x 55mm (max. overall clearance) CPU cooler: max. 48mm tall several 60mm (slim) case fan mounts cover...smallformfactor.net
Both the flexi5 and the fl6icon are a bit too big for my layout and design. However, the actual layout arrangement of the components in the fl6icon design, matches exactly with my own layout. My main design goal is to optimise the space, reduce the overall volume footprint, and at the same time, manage the heat issues with proper airflow. Weight and flexibility-to-strength ratio are also important factors, as I will be using my build to travel a lot. So, I find that the fl6icon is very much in-line, albeit some changes in the space optimisation areas, particularly around all the unused space below the PSU. Since I'm using the HDPlex 500W GaN AIO PSU, I can pretty much place the PSU on its side, further reducing the "depth" / "width" of the case.
Also, all the IO, including the front panel IO, will be on the back side, where all the rest of the IO ports are, so that the panel which has the momentary switch becomes the top side, and the IO side becomes the bottom of the case, with legs. And the top side won't have the momentary switch. Why? To eliminiate, or at least reduce the dust ingress. Although, I may compromise on the exact positioning of the IO, based on physical tests in real-life use.
So, my main question to you is, can your design be modified to decrease that unused space? I am starting up with FreeCAD (hopefully I can do that soon), to mock up my designs, and then share it. There are some other crazy ideas (like articulating armatures for pen display that folds away with the case) that I have withe case design that I want to test out too. but my primary concern is the space optmisation and optimised airflow.
Now regarding the routing of the riser cable under the motherboard. That is a new design challenge I created for my own self. Talk about glutton for punishment! I wish to explore the possibility to electrically insulate, but thermally conduct any run-off heat from the backplate of the mother board and the GPU, and have that side of the case panel act as a giant heatsink. I couldn't find anything online to see if others have explored this idea or not, but routing the riser cable underneath the boards defeat that design challenge. I know, I'm crazy!
But I think another person did something similar to the general effect that I'm talking about, but his design is not flexible to mistakes or tolerances, since it is milled / machined (and lot more expensive). But his entire case is a giant heatsink. Here's the video:
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Quick update. In hindsight, I need to read through each and every post in SFF.net. While perusing through @REVOCCASES's posts, I came across an interesting tip given to @hrh_ginsterbusch about a company ADT-Link, on custom riser cables. Just out of curiosity, when I browsed through this website, I found the correct term for the riser cable I was looking for, a PCIe riser "Jumper Cable".
Now I know what to look for, thanks @REVOCCASES
Now I know what to look for, thanks @REVOCCASES
But you said, you wanted to have both - GPU and CPU fans face in the same direction?
In the video, he just used a PCB riser card. It's the same layout like NFC S4 Mini and many others.... with GPU fan facing downwards...
n3rdware Launches the Yocto SFF Chassis – SFF.Network | SFF.Network
Production - RCC-SMALL1 / a brickless 4L case with LP dual slot GPU support and lots of space for SSDs | SFF.Network
Log - brickless 2.7L MoDT build - Lzmod RLY-V2, RTX A2000 8GB & Erying 13500H DDR5 | SFF.Network
Correct, this guy's design has the GPU facing the opposite side, not as per my design. I only gave his reference for the case being a giant heatsink. Since he is not using a riser cable underneath anything, but using a riser card instead, he doesn't need to worry about melting a riser cable at all.
I could actually use your RCC-SMALL1 design, with few custom modifications, now only if ADT-Link could provide me with a custom reversed cable.
OR, heavily customise MoDT, can you please provide me with more details on both those builds?
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Mostly build specs, like internal volume, with and without spacers, corner brackets, standoffs, etc., external overall volume, with and without legs / stubs, etc., dimensions, aluminium alloy used, sheet thickness, rigidity, flexibility, weight, anodising method.
I tried accessing your website, but it keeps stating it's under renovation from last year.
I really don't want to be troubled to fabricate my own case, if it can be easily be made by someone else. Unfortunately, my design is a bit specific on the details, hence I have been looking into building it myself.
Maybe I can either draw on paper and share it here, or mock something up quickly on FreeCAD and share it.
I already sold the LzMod case, but you can find it on Taobao/AliExpress
Edit... if you want a really small & powerful travel rig, I'd consider the new Minisforum
The M4 Mac Mini is dead to me - Minisforum at CES 2025 - YouTube
Its this thing: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0D5H9CG4M?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I found out about it via a r/sffpc post where somebody mentioned this in the comments.
Gotta dig up on my Telegram 'saved' and bookmarks if there is more, including the before-mentioned post.
cu, w0lf.
