Passive cooled htpc-ish on the cheap

[yaboi88]

Hi,

First topic on the forum, sorry if I mess up.

I'm building a small HTPC-ish machine for daily use.
I'm running a browser, and sometimes a few VMs on it. I also use Parsec to stream games from my gaming PC.

Because of my use-case it doesnt need a VGA, or a lot of performance, so I went with:
I3-6100T with a (35W TDP) + ARTIC's alpine 12, which keeps a cool 60C under load.
I have a Mini-ITX board, and I'm happy to change to an M.2 drive to conserve space.

My problem is thus:
I want this system to stay quiet. And I want it to be small.
But all ITX cases either:
a) have a lot of extra space for a GPU
b) have no clearance for the Alpine 12's 69mm height
c) have a built in PSU that has terrible fans
d) has no room for an internal PSU
Or some combination of the above.

For example I was considering Hot-Rod-ing the InWin chopin, but I've read that the fans get really loud after a while.

I'm looking for a case, that can fit an ITX motherboard, an SFX/SFX-L or some standard, replaceable PSU, and has clearance for the cooler. All, while staying as small as possible.
Does such a case exist? I have not been able to find one.

I'm considering DIY-ing one at this point. As of now my machine is in a butchered ATX case, that I have cut apart with an angle grinder.
I'm also happy to hear suggestions on what PSU I should use if I do manage to get or make a case, I'm currently running a standard 600W psu with its fans barely turning.

[Streetguru]

46 minutes ago, yaboi88 said:

 

Outside of those new really small form factor cases you could always just go for the Elite 110
https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-110-KKN2-Midnight-Mini-ITX/dp/B00ID2FBU6/ref=asc_df_B00ID2FBU6/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309776868400&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6596227393114554691&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031291&hvtargid=pla-434174037990&psc=1

[yaboi88]

16 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

Outside of those new really small form factor cases you could always just go for the Elite 110
https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-110-KKN2-Midnight-Mini-ITX/dp/B00ID2FBU6/ref=asc_df_B00ID2FBU6/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309776868400&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6596227393114554691&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031291&hvtargid=pla-434174037990&psc=1

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm really looking for something smaller and slimmer. I'm looking for something I can pack around in a blackpack. Some sort of business machine case maybe?

[apebanan]

InWin Chopin BQ696 Mini ITX seems perfect, its ultra small and comes with a very small 150W PSU. 

https://www.inwin-style.com/en/gaming-chassis/Chopin

[yaboi88]

2 minutes ago, apebanan said:

InWin Chopin BQ696 Mini ITX seems perfect, its ultra small and comes with a very small 150W PSU. 

https://www.inwin-style.com/en/gaming-chassis/Chopin

I did mention this in the OP, it doesnt have the cooler clearance, and its special form factor psu has terrible fans. Thats why im looking for something with a standard PSU, so I can put in something like the SS NJ450-SXL.

I do like the size and the asthetic of it tho

[Streetguru]

31 minutes ago, yaboi88 said:

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm really looking for something smaller and slimmer. I'm looking for something I can pack around in a blackpack. Some sort of business machine case maybe?

Only other non specialty one is probably this with it's external PSU

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095P21ZS?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

[apebanan]

50 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

Only other non specialty one is probably this with it's external PSU

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095P21ZS?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

If you want such a nieche product, id rather just get an Intel NUC 

[yaboi88]

13 minutes ago, apebanan said:

If you want such a nieche product, id rather just get an Intel NUC 

I've been thinking about that also, but I'm really against speciality all in one boxes, I like my modularity.
I'm also running linux which may not have the necessary drivers for such a speciality product.

Do you think I'd be beter off just cutting a box out of plywood?

[apebanan]

1 minute ago, yaboi88 said:

I've been thinking about that also, but I'm really against speciality all in one boxes, I like my modularity.
I'm also running linux which may not have the necessary drivers for such a speciality product.

Do you think I'd be beter off just cutting a box out of plywood?

Sounds like a cool idea, but make it fire safe lmao 

[richie30]

The chopin will do what you need.. i ran mine for a while 24x7 about a metre from me and was never bothered by the noise it made even when sleeping. Just ensure you dust it regulary.

 

As for the heatsink being to large get a cryorig c7 or nh-l9 and you will be good to go

[Streetguru]

8 hours ago, yaboi88 said:

I've been thinking about that also, but I'm really against speciality all in one boxes, I like my modularity.
I'm also running linux which may not have the necessary drivers for such a speciality product.

Do you think I'd be beter off just cutting a box out of plywood?

The NUCs and ASrock AM4 NUC like thing have desktop sockets and other standard things
 

 

[TVwazhere]

Truthfully I dont think you're going to get very smaller cases with a CPU cooler thats 69mm tall. You might need to look into a Cryorig C7 or a Noctua L9i, or slicing open the Choppin (or equivalent sized case)