*sigh* BTX Case...?

[Snotrap]

Hey!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

I ordered an older Thinkcentre which I am hoping to upgrade. 

 

Problem. 

Its a DTX motherboard. And I cannot find a single DTX case anywhere. 

 

Anyone know where to get a DTX case? And I don’t have the budget to get a different motherboard either. 

[3 Lions]

You'll have to look on Ebay for a case to support that form factor. 

[Snotrap]

1 minute ago, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

You'll have to look on Ebay for a case to support that form factor. 

Looked around already. 

Its okay if I have to hack up the stock one. I’ll create a custom one out of wood or something for long term use. 

[3 Lions]

Just now, Snotrap said:

Looked around already. 

Its okay if I have to hack up the stock one. I’ll create a custom one out of wood or something for long term use. 

Or you could ask a custom case company to make you one that'll support it. The problem is that this form factor was phased out many years now, so case manufactures have stopped making cases to support it. 

[Snotrap]

2 minutes ago, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

Or you could ask a custom case company to make you one that'll support it. The problem is that this form factor was phased out many years now, so case manufactures have stopped making cases to support it. 

yeah. I actually take a woodwork class so I’ll just make one myself. 

[RollinLower]

DTX actually fits in any standard mATX or ATX case.

[Snotrap]

Just now, RollinLower said:

DTX actually fits in any standard mATX or ATX case.

Unfortunately it doesn’t match the ports on an ATX case. It’s flipped. 

[Snotrap]

5 minutes ago, RollinLower said:

DTX actually fits in any standard mATX or ATX case.

Nope. Sorry I was wrong. I read the wrong thing. So I can put my DTX board into a standard ATX case?

[RollinLower]

yep, also mATX. i think mATX might even look a little better because DTX is so small height-wise.

[Snotrap]

2 minutes ago, RollinLower said:

yep, also mATX. i think mATX might even look a little better because DTX is so small height-wise.

I messed up. 

Its BTX not DTX.  

[RollinLower]

4 minutes ago, Snotrap said:

I messed up. 

Its BTX not DTX.  

ouch, that changes things. basically, BTX is just mirrored ATX. this does mean that it won;t fit in any standard cases tough without some hefty mods.

 

i'll see if i can dig any cases up that support this.

[Snotrap]

2 minutes ago, RollinLower said:

ouch, that changes things. basically, BTX is just mirrored ATX. this does mean that it won;t fit in any standard cases tough without some hefty mods.

 

i'll see if i can dig any cases up that support this.

Thank you! 

[RollinLower]

25 minutes ago, Snotrap said:

Thank you! 

wow, BTX complicates things.

i found only one case that supports it so far:

http://www.evercase.co.uk/KM3389B.htm

 

seems like modding your current case would be the easiest route actually.

[Stefan Payne]

2 hours ago, Snotrap said:

Problem. 

Its a DTX motherboard. And I cannot find a single DTX case anywhere. 

DTX or BTX?
DTX is something from AMD that is something between µATX and ITX. not that common but you see it from time to time. Mostly in newer Shuttle mini Cube things.

 

With BTX:
tbh: I'd not bother and use it as is. With a "Full Size BTX", it should be possible to put a new PSU in there, if the Power Connectors are according to the ATX Specification. And often that is the case. 

And with that you could add a more modern Graphics card.

 

Beyond that, everything is wasted...

 

Also BTX Systems are highly proprietary.

In some Systems you need the fans you have.

And other stuff that is proprietary connected to the Board.

 

I have an older HP Machine with BTX Form factor and its not easy to put that thing in a new case...

[Snotrap]

7 hours ago, Stefan Payne said:

DTX or BTX?
DTX is something from AMD that is something between µATX and ITX. not that common but you see it from time to time. Mostly in newer Shuttle mini Cube things.

 

With BTX:
tbh: I'd not bother and use it as is. With a "Full Size BTX", it should be possible to put a new PSU in there, if the Power Connectors are according to the ATX Specification. And often that is the case. 

And with that you could add a more modern Graphics card.

 

Beyond that, everything is wasted...

 

Also BTX Systems are highly proprietary.

In some Systems you need the fans you have.

And other stuff that is proprietary connected to the Board.

 

I have an older HP Machine with BTX Form factor and its not easy to put that thing in a new case...

HP are notorious for being mostly proprietary.

It is 100% BTX, it's just a mirror of ATX, I can just mod a case or make one.

 

As for the PSU, Is it true that I should just be able to swap it out and put a full size GPU in it? (Yes I have access to an angle grinder)   

[Snotrap]

9 hours ago, RollinLower said:

wow, BTX complicates things.

i found only one case that supports it so far:

http://www.evercase.co.uk/KM3389B.htm

 

seems like modding your current case would be the easiest route actually.

Not really the best looking

I was thinking before knowing it was BTX of getting a Thermaltake H17 without the window because minimalist.

Might get a super cheap ATX and experiment with it then might get a second hand H17 and do it if it turns out well.

[Snotrap]

"The BTX Power Supply Unit is the same as a standard 24pin ATX PSU. Its physical size may vary depending on the size of the chassis." http://www.evercase.co.uk/BTXTechnology.htm

 

In theory I should be able to swap the PSU without a problem?

[Stefan Payne]

14 minutes ago, Snotrap said:

As for the PSU, Is it true that I should just be able to swap it out and put a full size GPU in it? (Yes I have access to an angle grinder)   

I don't know.

I need to see your PC to tell.

 

BTX are notorious for being Small Form Factor.

But if you're lucky you have a normal µBTX one with a Standard ATX PSU...

[Snotrap]

4 minutes ago, Stefan Payne said:

I don't know.

I need to see your PC to tell.

 

BTX are notorious for being Small Form Factor.

But if you're lucky you have a normal µBTX one with a Standard ATX PSU...

Worst case scenario wouldn't I be able to just put proprietary connectors onto a new PSU?

[Stefan Payne]

12 minutes ago, Snotrap said:

Might get a super cheap ATX and experiment with it then might get a second hand H17 and do it if it turns out well.

Won't work.

The Problem with BTX is that the CPU Heatsink is screwed to the case. 

You need to mod that. Then you need to swap the I/O part and the Slots out.

 

In short. Its a mess. Putting an ATX Board in an AT Case is easy.

Putting a BTX Board in an ATX Case is almost impossible.

 

As I said earlier, I have a (µ)BTX PC and for that you have to rebuild the back of the case entirely...

 

There were some cases in the past, when BTX was introduced that allowed for swapping BTX to ATX. One of those is this:
http://www.thermaltake.by/?set=6&gallery=20&item=174

 

Don't know if you find it in other Languages/Regions...

[Snotrap]

2 minutes ago, Stefan Payne said:

Won't work.

The Problem with BTX is that the CPU Heatsink is screwed to the case. 

You need to mod that. Then you need to swap the I/O part and the Slots out.

 

In short. Its a mess. Putting an ATX Board in an AT Case is easy.

Putting a BTX Board in an ATX Case is almost impossible.

 

As I said earlier, I have a (µ)BTX PC and for that you have to rebuild the back of the case entirely...

 

There were some cases in the past, when BTX was introduced that allowed for swapping BTX to ATX. One of those is this:
http://www.thermaltake.by/?set=6&gallery=20&item=174

 

Don't know if you find it in other Languages/Regions...

Ok thanks for the information. My current plan is to make a new, wooden case and just slap the existing case in all cut up.

My current question though is would I be able to install a normal PSU into it? Or mod proprietary connectors onto a more powerful PSU?

[Stefan Payne]

2 minutes ago, Snotrap said:

Worst case scenario wouldn't I be able to just put proprietary connectors onto a new PSU?

Ähm...

That looks like an old Core 2 Duo, maybe Dual Duo (aka Quad).

With that, Gaming makes little sense today. And the most you can use it for is some 1080p videos and stuff like that. Maybe surfing the Internets...

 

However you might need a new graphics cards andyway.

And here is the next problem: You need a half height card!

A so called "Low Profile" Model. They are available and the best you can get right now is a 1050ti 

One of three to be precise.

https://geizhals.de/zotac-geforce-gtx-1050-ti-low-profile-zt-p10510e-10l-a1589782.html

https://geizhals.de/msi-geforce-gtx-1050-ti-4gt-lp-v809-2404r-a1542809.html

https://geizhals.de/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1050-ti-oc-lp-4g-gv-n105toc-4gl-a1562105.html

 

Personally I'd get the Gigabyte because of the Display Connectors.

 

[Snotrap]

1 minute ago, Stefan Payne said:

Ähm...

That looks like an old Core 2 Duo, maybe Dual Duo (aka Quad).

With that, Gaming makes little sense today. And the most you can use it for is some 1080p videos and stuff like that. Maybe surfing the Internets...

 

However you might need a new graphics cards andyway.

And here is the next problem: You need a half height card!

A so called "Low Profile" Model. They are available and the best you can get right now is a 1050ti 

One of three to be precise.

https://geizhals.de/zotac-geforce-gtx-1050-ti-low-profile-zt-p10510e-10l-a1589782.html

https://geizhals.de/msi-geforce-gtx-1050-ti-4gt-lp-v809-2404r-a1542809.html

https://geizhals.de/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1050-ti-oc-lp-4g-gv-n105toc-4gl-a1562105.html

 

Personally I'd get the Gigabyte because of the Display Connectors.

 

It's okay I have that all covered! There's another post I made about GPUs.

 

Current plans:

X3363

10GB of DDR3 RAM

GT 1030/750TI

 

Should I just be able to swap a normal PSU over though?

[Stefan Payne]

7 minutes ago, Snotrap said:

It's okay I have that all covered! There's another post I made about GPUs.

 

Current plans:

X3363

10GB of DDR3 RAM

GT 1030/750TI

 

Should I just be able to swap a normal PSU over though?

No, that's a proprietary PSU.

As for the GPU, you need one of those I've posted. There are also 1030 versions available.

In that case you need one of those:
https://skinflint.co.uk/?cat=gra16_512&asd=on&v=e&hloc=uk&filter=update&sort=t&xf=351_low+profile+Blende~9810_7+942+-+GT+1030+(GDDR5)

And you might also need some tools like a Philips PH1 (or maybe PH0)  and a Pair of Pliers or something to loosen the things on the DVI Port and swap out the Bracket.

 

As for the RAM: 10GIB??

 

As for the CPU:
That's an LGA771 model, wich only works with modifications on certain Boards.

And requires some knowledge about what you are doin...

 

In short:

Just put in a low profile Graphics Card.

[Snotrap]

2 minutes ago, Stefan Payne said:

No, that's a proprietary PSU.

As for the GPU, you need one of those I've posted. There are also 1030 versions available.

In that case you need one of those:
https://skinflint.co.uk/?cat=gra16_512&asd=on&v=e&hloc=uk&filter=update&sort=t&xf=351_low+profile+Blende~9810_7+942+-+GT+1030+(GDDR5)

And you might also need some tools like a Philips PH1 (or maybe PH0)  and a Pair of Pliers or something to loosen the things on the DVI Port and swap out the Bracket.

 

As for the RAM: 10GIB??

 

As for the CPU:
That's an LGA771 model, wich only works with modifications on certain Boards.

And requires some knowledge about what you are doin...

 

In short:

Just put in a low profile Graphics Card.

I know I can 110% put in a quad core X3363.

10GB of ram because I will order 2x4gb sticks and keep the 2gb in.

 

I have been trying to find answers for the PSU and it looks like it has most of the connectors. 24-pin etc