[Case Gallery] MicroATX Gamer

[Jonsta]

To view this case mod, go here.



Specs:
AMD Athlon X2 4000+
Asus M2N-MX SE Motherboard
HIS ATi HD3870 Video Card
250GB Hard Drive
Logitech Z-2300 speakers (not pictured)
Zboard and G5(not pictured) Combo
17" Acer LCD Screen
2GB of Kingston PC6400
X-Sonic 1007 uATX Case

Mods:
Took out a chunk of the 2.5" HDD enclosure to fit the video card.
Also took the case badges off and placed them inside the 5 1/4" door.

I designed this case as a sort of "Wolf In Sheeps Clothing" computer. The case is very plain, and small. Next to a 17" monitor, it's less than spectacular. However, with some casemodding (read: hacksawwing) I was able to fit an HD3870 and two gigs of RAM in there! All running sweetly off of a 300W MicroATX power supply!

 

[sheps999]

Nice one. Do you get any overheating problems?

 

[davejr1969]

Northern lights #13 likes bling...

Just a little cable management,and I'll raise my vote... Add some bling(alittle) and I'll raise again.. But basiclly a nice computer..

 

[InnocentCriminal]

Ever thought of neatening it up, as in cable management?

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

I commend you on your hack saw exploits!! Ive tried hacksawing my case but gave up on it cuz of the noise and slow progress! ( 10 minutes and still 3mm!)

7/10! for the mod!

 

[sneekypeet]

That is a SLEEPER for sure....just make sure that PSU doesnt end up putting the PC to sleep!

Recommended from ATI supprot is a 20Amp 12V rail supplying power to the HD3870!
Good luck, as I have some crap Bestec 350 that boots all my setups...lol. Altho under heavy gaming the PSU does get Warm!

 

[btarunr]

Nice setup though the power supply is a concern. Which CPU is that again? Is that a Windsor or Brisbane?

 

[Jonsta]

It's definitely a Brisbane. I'm considering a future upgrade to the Black edition CPU.

I'm also going to be getting a 480W power supply (the largest I can get, considering it's a microATX PSU).

 

[btarunr]

Yup. the Brisbane 5000+ with the 480W PSU would be awesome. You can use the same cooler with some fresh thermal compound. Contact Solaris17, he's an expert in getting the most out of a Brisbane/Windsor (OC'ing).

 

[Jonsta]

I was thinking of getting a custom Zalman or something for the AM2 socket. The only problem would be the size of the case! I need to find a low profile (possibly silent) cooling solution for an AM2. The only problem is, the guys that sell the power supply don't ship to Australia!

EDIT: Just found a 420W for 16.95! I'm going to check their shipping.
EDIT#2: No dice. They only do local to US.
EDIT#3: OutletPC doesn't ship here either.
EDIT#4: *breathing heavily* Alright, I'll have it in eight days.

 

[btarunr]

The Zalman CNPS 9500 AM2 will fit in your case.

 

[Jonsta]

This one? I can pop over and get it tomorrow.

I thought this would be a better idea though, considering it's low-profile.

 

[btarunr]

The second one looks good though I have a gut feeling it would eat into the memory banks' area. If it forces you to dislocate the module you have on DIMM_0, DIMM_1 to DIMM_2, DIMM_3, you'll lose out on dual-channel mode for memory. The width bugs me.

The CNPS 9500 will do good. I've seen it go well with some of the most crammed setups.

 

[Silverel]

See, I like this concept better than the last one. Stick a fan on the rear "vent" you have there, exhaust is good. Might do well to use those might hacksaw skillz and make a vent in front of the 3870's intake. It's nice that it exhausts out the back, but sucking in warm air makes for a bit of a downer. You don't need uber-powerful fans, just find some quiet ~25db/30cfm fans. Do what you can about those wires, there's not much room, but you might be able to get away with e-taping them..

Nice hack-job.

 

[btarunr]

^The "uber-powerful" fans are because this guy plans to buy a X2 Black Edition soon and get into an OC'ing spree. A cooler better than the AMD Stock cooler will come handy then.

 

[Jonsta]

^The "uber-powerful" fans are because this guy plans to buy a X2 Black Edition soon and get into an OC'ing spree. A cooler better than the AMD Stock cooler will come handy then.

Next pay-day, I'll get a Zalman 9500 as well as the X2 Black. By then I'll have the 420W power supply already installed. I only have two memory slots, by the way, so the other Zalman won't eat into it.

I think the 9500 is good though, because the cpu fan would line right up with that back vent, and blow hot air out of the case.

I have a spare 3.5mm bay behind the "multimedia" cover. Any idea what I can put in there to intake cool air? I was considering the Titan Dragon fan, but it's an exhaust fan.

 

[GTX]

Dude do you have problems with money or what why didn't you buy at least those cheap 40$ Colorsits why do got this piece of crap 1/10 sorry but its a piece of shit

 

[GTX]

I voted 1/10 because:

youve got the 3870 its Too OK but about the case sh*t

 

[Exavier]

GTX says: disregard this, I know not much

I like it, Jonsta, I really do. Makes you reconsider buying expensive parts when you could go low cal for not much less..

 

[ShadowFold]

Haha I have Micro-ATX right now with my 4200+ and HD 3850 7/10

 

[pbmaster]

GTX voted 1/10 because: you're a faggot

 

[3991vhtes]

Nice setup

I voted 7/10

 

[PoohBear2005]

dude check out my specs

well this is my lil bros now i felt limited with a micro atx because i would have to buy an expensive ass card
i will soon upgrade the cpu to a amd Phenom

 

[Necrofire]

I give it an 8/10.
I myself have my machine in a mini-tower.

3 hard drives, and 3 120mm fans, instead of 2 and 2 at most.

 

[Jonsta]

Dude do you have problems with money or what why didn't you buy at least those cheap 40$ Colorsits why do got this piece of crap 1/10 sorry but its a piece of shit

So, even though the rest of the components are quite good, and it's an excellent computer, and it works well, and its clean, and light, and useful, you vote a 1 because you dont like the case? You're probably the kind of guy that cant walk past a jewellry shop because there's shiny things inside. You probably drive (or will drive, if you're not a prepubescent nerd) a shitty little shopping cart car with a massive wing and a loud exhaust that doesn't actually go any faster, it just "LOOKS GOOD" (read: crap). When you can make a computer better than this for less than a thousand dollars, then come and spew your neanderthallic dribble at me. Until then, kindly go and eat a big bowl of brown, and delete your System32 folder. We don't need people like you here.

On a lighter note, thanks for all the people that voted *normally* on this case. In a little while I'll be getting the new power supply, and next pay-day I'll be upgrading the screen, the CPU, and the cooler, as well as performing a little cable management. I hope the upgrade sits a little better with you guys. Thanks for the encouragement.