Hello: it's been a while since i've posted anything on facepunch at all, so I thought I'd post up a build I just finished- my first mini-itx system. It's pretty much the most compact thing I've ever built, lucky I have pencil-fingers.
I went with something a bit more powerful than an average Atom chip on this one too, and made use of some spare ram I had laying around. Here are the specs, anyway:
[b]
Zotac 9300
Intel E7400
2Gb DDR2 PC2-5300 Kingston
Compucase 8K07 + 120w psu
500gb Hitachi Desktar
Generic slimline drive
[/b]
The total came to ~£345, which I don't think is bad at all. It does everything pretty nicely, and can play most source games >80fps when on lower-mid settings. It's blazing fast in Windows, aswell.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=1.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
This is what it came in, a huge-fucking-box. I ordered it off Scan this time, which is a first. Never usually used anyone else other than overclockers, but whatever. Ordered 5pm yesterday, arrived at 11am today!
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The contents.
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Some of the largest bubble wrap I've ever seen in my entire life.
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The E7400.
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[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=9.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_9.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
The plastic clips to attach it to the motherboard came snapped on this one, so I ended up using the stock intel hsf. I'm going to probably send this one back. How fucking dare they break.
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[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=11.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_11.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
My 500Gb Hitachi Desktar, and some generic slimline (laptop) drive- staying in their package sleeping-bags.
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First look at the motherboard.
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First look at the generic stuff that comes with the motherboard.
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[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=15.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_15.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=19.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_19.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Here's a size-comparison of this little baby; that monitor is the Acer X243HQ (~24"). It is ludicrously small.
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They're right, those things are fucking deadly.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=23.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_23.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
The thermal compound, remover and purifier I shall be using.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=21.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_21.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=24.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_24.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=22.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_22.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=25.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_25.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=26.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_26.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=27.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_27.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Here are some more shots of the case.
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The interior, empty at the moment. It's actually got more room than I first expected.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=30.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_30.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Another size comparison. Didn't have a ruler laying around, but I guess everyone knows the size of a DVD/ game case.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=32.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_32.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Lold a bit when I saw '9.5a' on the +12, haha. I suppose it's to be expected, it is the 120w model.
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[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=37.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_37.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=36.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_36.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
You know there's no hope for recovering from nerdiness when your own mother buys you a 'cable-management kit' as a gift. This is the one time where the thought DOES [b]NOT[/b] COUNT. Either way, I made use of the cable ties in throughout the build, as airflow is such an issue at this form factor.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=38.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_38.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
The quite odd mounting-system of the 3.5" drive, although it worked.
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The rear of the slimline DVD+RW drive.
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This is where that adapter comes in. It basically converts the SATA data/ power connector from the slimline (laptop) drive to a 4-pin molex and SATA cable to be used on a normal mobo. Clever.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=44.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_44.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Urgh. These fucking screws were horrifically annoying to get in. I must of dropped them about 30 times just to line it up with the screw hole, and I have the thinest fingers on the planet. I'd advise the smallest phillips head with a magnetic tip, and a lot of patience.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=46.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_46.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Completed! Shazam- boots up first time.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=51.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_51.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
A poor quality shot of the front.
[URL=http://s871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/?action=view¤t=50.jpg][IMG]http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/onnet7/mITX%20Build%20Log/th_50.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Installing Windows 7 Beta 64-bit.
So yeah, hope you enjoyed that. It's basically for anyone who may be interested in starting a build, and getting some proper size-comparisons, aswell as moderately detailed shots of that particular case (Compucase 8K07), as I couldn't find any elsewhere.
And there we go, bro.
I see you like stickers.
He also likes battle field 2
If only there was a cheap and good looking mini-itx case with VESA mountings :sigh:
D'awww.
Be great as a media center solution.
Look at how cute it is, I just wanna pet it!
That is one small motherboard...
[QUOTE=ManningQB18;15931302]Look at how cute it is, I just wanna pet it!
That is one small motherboard...[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://mini-itx.com/reviews/pico-itx/images/pico-itx-0009L.jpg[/IMG]
The one in the OP is 17 x 17 cm.
This one is 10 x 7.2 cm
more info here:
[url]http://mini-itx.com/reviews/pico-itx/[/url]
[QUOTE=ManningQB18;15931302]Look at how cute it is, I just wanna pet it!
That is one small motherboard...[/QUOTE]
I must say, it did make my heart melt a little bit. It's a baby-motherboard.
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