mac124
17-09-10, 19:50
Just a mini build log of a small ITX based rig, in a MATX Cooler Master Elite 340 case.
The components are as follows: -
Motherboard: - Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 H55.
CPU: - Core i3 530.
Memory: - Patriot Sector 5 1600Mhz.
HDD: - WD Scorpio Black 250GB 2.5" in a Silverstone 3.5" to 2x 2.5" bay converter (theory behind this is i might one day get a case that only uses laptop drives ;))
PSU: - 400W SILVERPOWER SP-400P2C PSU (apparently Tagen make Silverpower psu's so hopefully it should be reasonable).
Optical: - Samsung SH-S223C, nothing special here.
And as mentioned before all the above will be housed in a Cooler Master Elite 340 case, i chose this case as it is one of the few MATX cases that has positions for 2 120mm fans and comes in at under £30.
The obligatory picture of the parts.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0665.jpg
Ok onto the build, I spent a couple of hours tonight doing the odd bits and bobs before i hack the motherboard tray about a bit, that £30 case has a removable mobo tray too :ohmy: :thumbup:, but more on that tomorrow.
First off i fitted the fans and optical drives and a spare fan controller i had laying about.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0666.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0667.jpg
Then i thought it might be a good idea to get the cpu / memory etc fitted into the motherboard, this was easier said than done as, as i expected, the heatsinks on the sector5 fouled on the fan, but a bit of sideways thinking and some deft work with some side cutters i got it on. Where there is a will there is a way. It might not be quite so easy to fit a gfx card though as the cooler all but covers the pcie slot, just as well i only intend using the onboard, for now.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0669.jpg
Thanks for looking and there will be more updates tomorrow, including taking a jigsaw to the mobo tray to allow access to the rear of the mobo :eek:
Ok as promised day 2 of the build.
I marked out the motherboard tray where i wanted to hack . . . er . . . remove a piece to allow access to the rear of the motherboard if needed.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0685.jpg
Unfortunately in my haste to get it together it seems i neglected to take an "after" picture :blushing:
Once the motherboard tray was modified i proceeded to put the various parts together and ended up with this.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0687.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0690.jpg
All in all not a bad build, the cooler was a bit of a sticking point but no more than i expected. The case is relatively easy to work with keeping the cabling neat is a little awkward but i have experienced worse.
Once its all up and running i'll run a couple of tests and post the results :).
The components are as follows: -
Motherboard: - Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 H55.
CPU: - Core i3 530.
Memory: - Patriot Sector 5 1600Mhz.
HDD: - WD Scorpio Black 250GB 2.5" in a Silverstone 3.5" to 2x 2.5" bay converter (theory behind this is i might one day get a case that only uses laptop drives ;))
PSU: - 400W SILVERPOWER SP-400P2C PSU (apparently Tagen make Silverpower psu's so hopefully it should be reasonable).
Optical: - Samsung SH-S223C, nothing special here.
And as mentioned before all the above will be housed in a Cooler Master Elite 340 case, i chose this case as it is one of the few MATX cases that has positions for 2 120mm fans and comes in at under £30.
The obligatory picture of the parts.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0665.jpg
Ok onto the build, I spent a couple of hours tonight doing the odd bits and bobs before i hack the motherboard tray about a bit, that £30 case has a removable mobo tray too :ohmy: :thumbup:, but more on that tomorrow.
First off i fitted the fans and optical drives and a spare fan controller i had laying about.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0666.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0667.jpg
Then i thought it might be a good idea to get the cpu / memory etc fitted into the motherboard, this was easier said than done as, as i expected, the heatsinks on the sector5 fouled on the fan, but a bit of sideways thinking and some deft work with some side cutters i got it on. Where there is a will there is a way. It might not be quite so easy to fit a gfx card though as the cooler all but covers the pcie slot, just as well i only intend using the onboard, for now.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0669.jpg
Thanks for looking and there will be more updates tomorrow, including taking a jigsaw to the mobo tray to allow access to the rear of the mobo :eek:
Ok as promised day 2 of the build.
I marked out the motherboard tray where i wanted to hack . . . er . . . remove a piece to allow access to the rear of the motherboard if needed.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0685.jpg
Unfortunately in my haste to get it together it seems i neglected to take an "after" picture :blushing:
Once the motherboard tray was modified i proceeded to put the various parts together and ended up with this.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0687.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/mac124/SFF%20build/IMG_0690.jpg
All in all not a bad build, the cooler was a bit of a sticking point but no more than i expected. The case is relatively easy to work with keeping the cabling neat is a little awkward but i have experienced worse.
Once its all up and running i'll run a couple of tests and post the results :).