Tiny case, tiny heatsink?

[dvno]

Hi all! I'm relatively new here, coming back to pc building after a 10+ year hiatus (anyone remember overclocking on old AMD chips?)

 

I'm considering a tiny build, most likely with the silverstone SG13b (principally because the Raijintek Metis mini itx case is no where to be found).

 

I'm also considering a xeon E3-1231 v3 with a TDP of 80 watts.  

 

I wasn't planning on water cooling as I am moving back and forth from the US and Europe over the next year and need a high performance PC that can travel without TSA issues.

 

Will the Noctua NH-L9i be sufficient? I would rather go with the NH-L9x65, but I've done some calculations and that will only leave 21 or so mm between the top of the fan and the bottom of an SFX power supply.  Any other suggestions would be super appreciated!

[Untouchable]

The L9i is probably your best bet. It'll cool the Xeon just fine.

[Electronics Wizardy]

The xeon E3 1231 V3 makes very little heat and even a stock cooler is more than enough and only gets to 80C at max load and about 50-60 when gaming. A basic cooler like a hyper tx3 mkae is run very cool at a max of 60 and about 45 when gaming.

[Deli]

NH-L9i is designed for 65W TDP CPU. I had it, and not particularly impressed by it's performance. Now using a NH-L9x65. Which is a little bit better but still marginal with i7 3770(non K). But at least I can enable the turbo except in a very hot summer day.

 

With the NH-L9i, I had to disable the turbo to keep the temp under control. Unless you don't mind the CPU running at 80*C+.

 

Another choice is Silverstone Argon AR06. 55mm height. It has the same cooling capacity as the Noctua NH-L9x65. But the build quality is not on par with Noctua. The cooling fan is more noisy as well.

[dvno]

Interesting recs!

 

The xeon E3 1231 V3 makes very little heat and even a stock cooler is more than enough and only gets to 80C at max load and about 50-60 when gaming. A basic cooler like a hyper tx3 mkae is run very cool at a max of 60 and about 45 when gaming.

 

I'd love to go for a bigger cooler, I'm like hitting myself over the head for sticking with such a small case: The SG13b only has like 85mm of clearance between the mobo and the psu for an SFX psu, so I think the hyper tx3 is gonna be too big :\

 

 

NH-L9i is designed for 65W TDP CPU. I had it, and not particularly impressed by it's performance. Now using a NH-L9x65. Which is a little bit better but still marginal with i7 3770(non K). But at least I can enable the turbo except in a very hot summer day.

 

With the NH-L9i, I had to disable the turbo to keep the temp under control. Unless you don't mind the CPU running at 80*C+.

 

Another choice is Silverstone Argon AR06. 55mm height. It has the same cooling capacity as the Noctua NH-L9x65. But the build quality is not on par with Noctua. The cooling fan is more noisy as well.

 

So, if I went with the x65 it would only leave like 21 mm between the top of the fan and the psu. Is that enough? I like the extra room (lol, 1cm being extra room on a mini build), that the AR06 offers.

 

Would it be possible to switch out the fan to improve performance, or would that just be too expensive?

[Deli]

Interesting recs!

 

 

I'd love to go for a bigger cooler, I'm like hitting myself over the head for sticking with such a small case: The SG13b only has like 85mm of clearance between the mobo and the psu for an SFX psu, so I think the hyper tx3 is gonna be too big :\

 

 

 

So, if I went with the x65 it would only leave like 21 mm between the top of the fan and the psu. Is that enough? I like the extra room (lol, 1cm being extra room on a mini build), that the AR06 offers.

 

Would it be possible to switch out the fan to improve performance, or would that just be too expensive?

The Noctua NF-A9x14 will fit the Silverstone Argon AR06(I tried it). 

 

However I think 21mm is enough space between the PSU and CPU fan, provide you have good air flow inside the case. Holding a Noctua cooler in your hand is like holding a jewelry. The build quality is second to none. The Silverstone one feels kind of cheap next to the Noctua.

 

My Lian li PC-Q09FN will have even less space above the CPU fan. I tried to open the top of the case to aid cooling. I only see 2*C difference in CPU temp.

[Electronics Wizardy]

Interesting recs!

 

 

I'd love to go for a bigger cooler, I'm like hitting myself over the head for sticking with such a small case: The SG13b only has like 85mm of clearance between the mobo and the psu for an SFX psu, so I think the hyper tx3 is gonna be too big :\

 

 

 

So, if I went with the x65 it would only leave like 21 mm between the top of the fan and the psu. Is that enough? I like the extra room (lol, 1cm being extra room on a mini build), that the AR06 offers.

 

Would it be possible to switch out the fan to improve performance, or would that just be too expensive?

If you want good cooling get a small liquid cooling loop(i know you can't), the xeon makes very little heat. That notuca is better than a stock and the stock cooler is more than enough.