LS3 - The 6.2L Mini ITX Gaming Machine

[lolpwnd31]

9 hours ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

probably laptop hardware in a desktop chassies something like a Atom 550 or something or a laptop I3 or I5

yeah probably

[byalexandr]

 

 

Okay, slightly big update!

 

I've done quite a bit of thinking the last few days. I just got a new 18" bending brake, so I thought I'd practice a bit on some spare sheet metal before I do the actual thing. I remembered my old SG05 mod that I didn't complete since I didn't have a bending brake at the time, the link to which is at the bottom of the post.

 

Anyway, I bent up the modified front section that I had before, and tried out the fit. After that, I started thinking that I could literally make the same chassis while still just using one part of my SG05, only this would make it a LOT easier to do and the end result would be stronger. Now I know that you all like my design and the fact that it's scratch built, as do I, but it's really a challenge to do something this complex as I'm still fairly new to sheet metal work (although I am experienced in general metal work). By using the 'base' or 'tray' from the SG05, I can cut down the time it will take to make it, save on (very high) chance of mistakes, and have the frame a lot stronger since Silverstone has implemented special techniques for rigidity, stuff that I or a professional can't really do by hand.

 

So, I can essentially make the same 5.5L chassis, but by redoing this prototype front piece (that top bend didn't come out right) as well as redoing the rear piece (so it's like my current design) and shortening the 'base' plate at the bottom, I can achieve a much stronger and much easier to build chassis that is still roughly 5.5L in size, perhaps a touch bigger (but I haven't done the math yet):

 

But anyhow, that is my thought for now. I really think the actual feasibility and nicer end product greatly outweighs the fact that my original design would be scratch built, but I need your guys' opinions. It would pretty much be scratch built still, but the fact that it uses that very bottom plate in the above photo technically makes it an SG05 (philosophically). I know it's kind of hard to understand without the context of the old build, but take a look at it if you'd like to try and make sense of all of this. Sorry about that

That's all for now, let me know what you think in a reply below. I'll answer any questions you might have but for now I'm going to start working on the SG05 since I am already thinking this is the way to go. Thanks in advance, 

 

@byalexandr

[byalexandr]

After some math, the volume will be bumped up to 6.16L. Still much smaller than anything I've seen, even the Dan Case A4. I think this is the route to go guys, let me know!

 

Edit: And since it's ~6.2L I can name it after the LS3 Corvette engine

[Bananasplit_00]

1 hour ago, byalexandr said:

After some math, the volume will be bumped up to 6.16L. Still much smaller than anything I've seen, even the Dan Case A4. I think this is the route to go guys, let me know!

 

Edit: And since it's ~6.2L I can name it after the LS3 Corvette engine

nah i dont think you should, 5.5L has a nice ring to it IMO, and its more of a bragging right too  

[byalexandr]

1 hour ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

nah i dont think you should, 5.5L has a nice ring to it IMO, and its more of a bragging right too  

Well, to give you an idea of how much faster this method is going:

 

I've already almost finished the front portion of the case  Even doing it by hand like I am, it will only take several hours worth of work instead of several days. That's a lot of time for a student like me lol

 

And to be quite honest I like the ring of 6.2L, since I'm a car guy it just seems like a familiar number. I'm actually thinking of naming this ''LS3'' now  I think 6.2L is still sort of a bragging right, nothing else comes close to this in size. Even if it doesn't count I think it's pretty unique for an SG05, now that I can say for sure, no one has ever done this to an SG05 or perhaps any case similar to it.

 

But also, expect some more updates as I'm on Spring Break right now  so I should have it done (or at least the frame) before the end of this week.

 

I sort of made your quote part of the update but meh...

 

Thanks in advance, @byalexandr

 

[byalexandr]

 

Big update!

 

I have been working very hard today, and I have finally finished the frame of LS3 (or at least the structure itself, paint will come later, I promise).

 

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you LS3:

 

 

I'll start off by saying I didn't really show the process that goes into this, or where I do it. So I'll start with that:

 

This is where I work, just in my garage, with my dad's tools (that I convince him to buy ):

 

 

Not much, it's actually a bit bigger than this but I only showed the bench I usually work at.

 

This is the 'flat metal' blank that I start from, this one has a bit of progress already but all of the things I have done started from a single sheet of steel:

 

 

And to make it all three dimensional and what not, I use my (still pretty new) 18" bend brake. Basically you clamp your piece in between those two plates at the bottom, and then pull up the two handles to make a bend (a lot more difficult than it seems):

 

 

Anyway, as I was saying in previous updates, I decided on using my SG05 to build the case. I would like to point out that this is literally the only part I used from the SG05 along with some crossmembers that I modified, so whether or not it's scratch built is still up to you all. I started out with this motherboard tray:

 

 

And it ended up like this after I cut it shorter and made some mounting points and what not:

 

 

Then I made all of the other panels by hand, and they ended up looking like this (although there are a couple of different things now, but they are mostly the same):

 

 

And now you can start to see how the frame is laid out:

 

 

I then shortened the crossmembers from the original case, and then used 1/8" rivets to put it all together. The end frame is extremely strong and pretty rigid, and looks hella clean (I think):

 

 

I then stuffed the parts in, as you saw in the first photo, and then I booted up the PC to make sure everything was fine (quite stressful), and to my relief it worked out great, the PC is running well:

 

 

And to make more sense of how the hell everything fits in there, here's a rear side view to kind of explain and just to add more pictures:

 

 

Now I will be putting stuff next to it to give you a size comparison, but I think you can already tell it's pretty damn small. The frame itself only weighs a couple of pounds, and with all the hardware in it I can still carry it around with one hand, only 5-10 lbs. in weight.

 

So what's next?

 

Well, for starters, I need to get the frame painted and cleaned up a bit more, and then after that I will be making the outer housing and what not. I will be updating on that in a couple of days.

 

You guys are more than welcome to ask any questions, I'll answer them to the best of my abilities. That all for now I think, thanks in advance, @byalexandr

[Dark_Fuzzy]

Did you use a pcie extender cable to mount the gpu? If so iv'e been looking for a good one.

[byalexandr]

Just now, Dark_Fuzzy said:

Did you use a pcie extender cable to mount the gpu? If so iv'e been looking for a good one.

No, it's in the PCI-E slot on the motherboard, no risers or cables.

[Dark_Fuzzy]

Oh ok just looked a little strange to me. Nice build by the way.

[byalexandr]

Just now, Dark_Fuzzy said:

Oh ok just looked a little strange to me. Nice build by the way.

Thanks! That's just how expansion slots are, I followed official schematics.

[handymanshandle]

Can definitely tell that it's an mITX case, it's so small and rather cramped. What's the thermal difference between yours and a regular case?   

[TheRandomness]

2 hours ago, wcreek said:

Can definitely tell that it's an mITX case, it's so small and rather cramped. What's the thermal difference between yours and a regular case?   

His is homemade and smaller.

[MEC-777]

Excellent work and craftsmanship!  

 

11/10  

[byalexandr]

7 hours ago, wcreek said:

Can definitely tell that it's an mITX case, it's so small and rather cramped. What's the thermal difference between yours and a regular case?   

Nothing much, GPU has it's own intake and exhaust ports, CPU still gets air from the 120mm fan. My GPU idles at 40C and doesn't go over 70C, and I'm still testing the CPU, but I will be getting an aftermarket low profile cooler anyways.

 

5 hours ago, TheRandomness said:

His is homemade and smaller.

That too

 

25 minutes ago, MEC-777 said:

Excellent work and craftsmanship!  

 

11/10  

Thanks a ton!

[A Guy Eating Cereal]

Amazing build dude  

[MEC-777]

4 minutes ago, byalexandr said:

Nothing much, GPU has it's own intake and exhaust ports, CPU still gets air from the 120mm fan. My GPU idles at 40C and doesn't go over 70C, and I'm still testing the CPU, but I will be getting an aftermarket low profile cooler anyways.

 

If I may suggest a low profile CPU cooler; Cryorig C7

[byalexandr]

5 minutes ago, A Guy Eating Cereal said:

Amazing build dude  

Thanks!

 

1 minute ago, MEC-777 said:

If I may suggest a low profile CPU cooler; Cryorig C7

Unfortunately it won't fit on my board, there are some caps and stuff in the way. I would go for that cooler, but I will have to stick with an NH-L9i.

[MEC-777]

11 minutes ago, byalexandr said:

 

 

Unfortunately it won't fit on my board, there are some caps and stuff in the way. I would go for that cooler, but I will have to stick with an NH-L9i.

Are you sure it won't work? Reason I ask is because it looks like the C7 base is stepped just like the stock Intel heatsink is.

 

 

 

 

But yeah, on your motherboard I can see there's a set of caps and chokes right up close to the socket. I'm surprised they made it that way. 

 

 

The C7 just might still fit though...

[byalexandr]

20 minutes ago, MEC-777 said:

Are you sure it won't work? Reason I ask is because it looks like the C7 base is stepped just like the stock Intel heatsink is.

 

 

 

 

But yeah, on your motherboard I can see there's a set of caps and chokes right up close to the socket. I'm surprised they made it that way. 

 

 

The C7 just might still fit though...

People have tried, they can tell you it won't fit. I thought it would too but people with the same board have told me otherwise.

[SuperShires]

10 hours ago, byalexandr said:

-snip-

damn thats impressive, hows the temps for the cpu? do you plan on using an AIO or something or is it not that bad?

[byalexandr]

17 minutes ago, SuperShires said:

damn thats impressive, hows the temps for the cpu? do you plan on using an AIO or something or is it not that bad?

Just did some testing in BF4, everything seems to be as it was in my SG13, so CPU temps are fine. I will be upgrading the cooler anyways, but for now I'm pretty impressed by how little heat the i3 produces. My GPU is still more than fine.

[afyeung]

Amazing job dude. Bravo! Any ventilation beneath the case for the GPU? Curious how those temps are.

[derick90]

12 minutes ago, afyeung said:

Amazing job dude. Bravo! Any ventilation beneath the case for the GPU? Curious how those temps are.

6 hours ago, byalexandr said:

GPU has it's own intake and exhaust ports, CPU still gets air from the 120mm fan.

 

 

[afyeung]

1 hour ago, derick90 said:

 

 

Lol. Didn't see that. Thanks!

[byalexandr]

2 hours ago, afyeung said:

Amazing job dude. Bravo! Any ventilation beneath the case for the GPU? Curious how those temps are.

Thanks haha The GPU has it's own intake and exhausts. It will be propped up above whatever it sits on by the case feet and take in airflow from all around. I was more concerned for the CPU, but that seems to be fine as well, I will be upgrading the cooler anyways.