Small "Uber Case" recommendation?

[gaikokujinkyofusho]

I was listening to the extremetech podcasts and they were quite
impressed with the Antec Mini P180 (http://www.antec.com/us/
productDetails.php?ProdID=81800) so i looked at it on the Antec
website and it seems almost perfect except... its still a bit large
for my needs. I am trying to find something like the Mini P180 but
maybe 12" or so tall (or less), i could easily do with just 3 drive
bays instead of the P180's 8 (am planning on getting a NAS).

Can anyone recommend something with similar specs to the Mini P180 but
just a bit smaller? Some of the most important things are size, sound,
and dust filters (I am currently doing devlopment work in Afghanistan
and the dust here is insane so anything to mitigate the dust and
reduce my monthly canned air budget would help).

Any suggestions would really be appreciated!

Cheers

-Gaiko


PS Yes i am in Afghanistan but I go back to the US a few times a year
so I would be able to bring a case back.

 

[Dave]

I was listening to the extremetech podcasts and they were quite
impressed with the Antec Mini P180 (http://www.antec.com/us/
productDetails.php?ProdID=81800) so i looked at it on the Antec
website and it seems almost perfect except... its still a bit large
for my needs. I am trying to find something like the Mini P180 but
maybe 12" or so tall (or less), i could easily do with just 3 drive
bays instead of the P180's 8 (am planning on getting a NAS).

Can anyone recommend something with similar specs to the Mini P180 but
just a bit smaller? Some of the most important things are size, sound,
and dust filters (I am currently doing devlopment work in Afghanistan
and the dust here is insane so anything to mitigate the dust and
reduce my monthly canned air budget would help).

Any suggestions would really be appreciated!

Cheers

Well there's the antec nsk1380. I don't think you are going to find the
case you are really looking for so I'd advise you to stick with the P180.
The problem is size and sound. Smaller interior space will need more
airflow to prevent hotspots. That means more fans and more noise. Or you
can just say screwit and deal with a hot running system. The nsk1380 is
hot, I've built with it before.

FWIW if I was going to afghanistan, and I was offered a position there...I'd
do one of three things. Either go the Panasonic toughbook route or the
cheapest Asus eeepc I could find. First is kind of set up for Afghanistan,
ha ha. Second is so cheap if it gets destroyed who cares?
Third if I had to build a system I'd be looking for a case NO SMALLER than
mid-tower, and it would need very specific cooling requirements. First is
NO AIR FILTERS. Second is 80 or 120mm intake fan mount down low in front.
My reasoning is that in Afghanistan, talking with people who have been
there, you are GOING to get dust in the system, even with air filters. Air
filters restrict airflow which means more fans are needed which means more
dust pulled in, right through the filters. But you can cool a system OK
with just the power supply fan and one intake fan, IF there is enough room
in the case to circulate air. By doing with a minimum number of cooling
fans you will reduce the air intake, and the dust.
Hey, you are going to have to blow that thing out frequently anyway. Might
as well make your job easier by giving yourself room to work. Think larger,
not smaller. IMHO -Dave

 

[Paul]

Well there's the antec nsk1380. I don't think you are going to find the
case you are really looking for so I'd advise you to stick with the
P180. The problem is size and sound. Smaller interior space will need
more airflow to prevent hotspots. That means more fans and more noise.
Or you can just say screwit and deal with a hot running system. The
nsk1380 is hot, I've built with it before.

FWIW if I was going to afghanistan, and I was offered a position
there...I'd do one of three things. Either go the Panasonic toughbook
route or the cheapest Asus eeepc I could find. First is kind of set up
for Afghanistan, ha ha. Second is so cheap if it gets destroyed who cares?
Third if I had to build a system I'd be looking for a case NO SMALLER
than mid-tower, and it would need very specific cooling requirements.
First is NO AIR FILTERS. Second is 80 or 120mm intake fan mount down
low in front. My reasoning is that in Afghanistan, talking with people
who have been there, you are GOING to get dust in the system, even with
air filters. Air filters restrict airflow which means more fans are
needed which means more dust pulled in, right through the filters. But
you can cool a system OK with just the power supply fan and one intake
fan, IF there is enough room in the case to circulate air. By doing
with a minimum number of cooling fans you will reduce the air intake,
and the dust.
Hey, you are going to have to blow that thing out frequently anyway.
Might as well make your job easier by giving yourself room to work.
Think larger, not smaller. IMHO -Dave

Another solution might be a passive cooled system, as then there wouldn't
be quite as much air moving through the case. (Just some convection air.)
But considering the possibility of an elevated room operating temp,
that might not be the best idea either. At least, you can look at
the reviews.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article302-page1.html

To me, one problem with that concept, is cooling for the hard drive.
If they had "zoned" the case, maybe they could have provided a
better environment for the hard drive.

Some modern motherboard Northbridge chips, dissipate 20W. And
in that case, you almost need a heatpipe solution for the
Northbridge. But because the Northbridge can be positioned
in different locations on the motherboard, it might be hard
to come up with a good mechanical solution.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article301-page1.html

This is an end user experience with the TNN500AF. This
one seems to have a Northbridge cooler. The PSU failed
and needed to be replaced. The TNN500AF case is expensive,
and you'd hope the power supply would be well tested and
would hold up better. Considering it has to run with
nothing other than conduction cooling.

http://home.att.net/~Tom.Horsley/zooty/zooty.html

(Product info - includes Flash install movie)
http://www.zalman.co.kr/ENG/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=116

The case has holes that will allow a small amount of
convection. It also looks like maybe fans can be fitted,
but at the risk of pulling in dust.

Paul