I just registered, so I think it's appropriate my first post is here.
Why SFF? Because I've always liked to stuff big hardware in small places
Computer hardware!
No, seriously. My first case in the US was an NZXT ADAMAS, which was in 2007. At 40lts, it was a small case back then, it got even smaller (comparatively) afterwards. It was a tank with full 2-3mm aluminum build, leaving even smaller useable space in it.
My first build in that case was with an ABIT P35 Pro (if anyone remembers ABIT, good old days, sigh), a Q6600 and an ATI 3850. A year or so later, I decided to OC the Q6600 more (was topping at 3.5GHz), so I upped to an EVGA board with digital VRM, and broke 4.0GHz on the Q6600 on air (Noctua U12 cooler), which was really something if anyone recalls.
Then, in 2009, I started folding at home, and things started to get crazy. I opened a third 120mm fan opening on the side door, and I stuffed two GTX295's (for the novice, each GTX295 is a dual-GPU card) in that small enclosure to increase my folding output:
Then, bigadv came (where you can get a ton of folding output with multi-socket CPUs) so I decided to put a dual-socket Supermicro SSI-CEB motherboard in there with two OC'ed AMD engineering samples (16-core each). Mind you, the case was only designed for ATX boards, so it took a little modding:
I wasn't quite satisfied, so I had to try and put in a 4P board in there to more than double my output, and I did
:
It still looked pretty good from outside, lol:
Then, in early 2012, I was having some financial troubles, so I sold this rig in all its 4P glory. Had to survive on my work laptop for more than a year (painful times), then in 2013 summer, I built an ITX rig in a Fractal Node 304. As you see, "stuffing big stuff in small spaces" motto was still there:
Then my folding craze came back, I wasn't happy with Node 304 build quality, and I had some money to spend on computers. So, in summer 2014, I got a Jonsbo UMX2 (37lts) to try and build a very unassuming, stealthy and handsome dual-GPU folding rig in there with all AIO coolers. And I did:
http://forums.evga.com/theGryphon-builds-a-Gryphon-build-m2186127.aspx
Unfortunately, it had to go too
.
I've been going through some major work and life changes, and I needed something truly portable. I didn't wanna give up from computing power, so I ended up getting a Dell M6800 (i7-4900MQ, 16GB, K4100M, 3 SSDs). At 4.3 lts, that's quite an SFF
and don't worry, I didn't pay retail
I'll always be a system building geek, with special interest in "stuffing big stuff in small spaces", and that's what SFF is about for me. I grew interest in case designs, thanks to the [H] subforum, and the creative minds there. I'm not in a position to lead a project right now but I can certainly share my ideas as they materialize, as I've been trying to do.
Kudos again to all those who are putting out some incredible projects and bring them to life!