Portable case recommendations?

[silentmemories]

(In the UK)

Hello,
I was wondering whether you guys could suggest me a case (for my previous build, I used a big Coolermaster case, but now I have a different set of requirements so it's no longer suitable).

I need a build that's:

• Easily transportable - case should be light, yet robust (basically I can leave it in a storage warehouse during the summer/winter)
• Sufficient hardware (Intel i5 quad core, decent sized graphics card – I've heard mATX is good for smaller builds, but what does it support)
• Portable/small

Thanks in advance.

-S

 

[llee]

Will you be reusing core components? Are there any form factors that are off-limits, like Mini-ITX?

 

[silentmemories]

Will you be reusing core components? Are there any form factors that are off-limits, like Mini-ITX?

Nope – completely new build, built according to the considerations listed out above.

I'd prefer to be able to game well, so an i5 quad core processor, and a decent graphics card (I do understand that the 'beast' graphics card are too big for a smaller case, but I don't want to use onboard graphics, as it's intended to be a very portable gaming rig).

Thanks.

 

[_Rick_]

You could probably even go mITX then.

http://compare.eu/cooltek-u2-silber-jb-u2-s-a1012615.html

That's a very nice and boxy case, which should fit everything you need for a LAN build - if you can do with using only the front-mounted HDD frame. With a 120mm tower cooler blowing back to front and an open air GPU at the bottom, cooling should be fine, and looks are pretty nice too. Maybe a bit too much of a compromise cooling wise.

The Bitfenix Prodigy is a more mainstream solution.

Unless you need more HDDs (but a 256GB SSD should be ideal for a portable build), more than 250W TDP on the GPU (i.e. more than a GTX 770/680 or an R9 280), more than 16GB RAM or a second PCIe card, then miniITX is all you need. (ASUS even started making ROG boards for the form factor: http://compare.eu/asus-maximus-vi-impact-90mb0ft0-m0eay5-a976156.html )

 

[Zap]

Silverstone SG05-450
(alternately SG05-Lite and purchase PSU separately to save money and gain extra warranty)

Case is about the smallest off-the-shelf which can fit a higher end graphics card (up to 10" if PCIe power plugs on top, 9.5" if PCIe power plugs on end). 450W PSU is good enough for a quad core Intel CPU + a graphics card which fits. Case can take a slim optical drive, one 2.5" drive and one 3.5" drive. Uses filtered 120mm intake fan. Made of steel, feels quite robust when cover is secured.

 

[silentmemories]

Silverstone SG05-450
(alternately SG05-Lite and purchase PSU separately to save money and gain extra warranty)

Case is about the smallest off-the-shelf which can fit a higher end graphics card (up to 10" if PCIe power plugs on top, 9.5" if PCIe power plugs on end). 450W PSU is good enough for a quad core Intel CPU + a graphics card which fits. Case can take a slim optical drive, one 2.5" drive and one 3.5" drive. Uses filtered 120mm intake fan. Made of steel, feels quite robust when cover is secured.

Wow that looks fantastic. I've thought about it and I'm not sure whether I'm going to wait 1 more year for the release of Steam Machines. I've got a gaming PC back at home that I custom built but when I'm away and around and about I would like to game (on a PC), but I don't mind if it's in the console form (as long as it has great graphics and has Steam).

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[silentmemories]

The cases that has been suggested so far are all box/printer-like. Are there any that are thin and upright that are still quite small?

I'd rather have a thin and tall as opposed to a smaller and more block-like.

 

[SimsReaper]

I haven't seen any small form factor cases that are tall and slim, similar in style to say a console. The reason for this is that they would require specialized hardware. The boxy shape of small form factor cases is directly due to the fact that the motherboard and the graphics card fit together in a "T" configuration. This can be worked around using proprietary design elements such as those that are being worked on for some of the Steam machine designs. But these will be OEM releases, as the build it yourself market requires the use of general form factors. Hope that makes sense, as I'm sure someone else could explain it better.

 

[silentmemories]

I haven't seen any small form factor cases that are tall and slim, similar in style to say a console. The reason for this is that they would require specialized hardware. The boxy shape of small form factor cases is directly due to the fact that the motherboard and the graphics card fit together in a "T" configuration. This can be worked around using proprietary design elements such as those that are being worked on for some of the Steam machine designs. But these will be OEM releases, as the build it yourself market requires the use of general form factors. Hope that makes sense, as I'm sure someone else could explain it better.

Ah right, yeah, makes sense. I built one for myself, and yeah, the graphics card is perpendicular (along with the CPU) to the right side of the case.

Hm.

What case is the best in terms of portability? I move around every single year but I also want to keep my PC (monitors isn't a consideration here) with me.

I'd ideally like an Intel i7 with a top range nVidia graphics card. I just need one graphics card, and possibly a few storage bays (1 SSD, 1 hard drive).

 

[nitromullet]

I'd rather have a thin and tall as opposed to a smaller and more block-like.

Silverstone RVZ01

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163252

Layout is almost identical to the Steam Machine Valve sent out to beta testers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiT0aHxMf8s

If the look of that one isn't your thing, Silverstone will also be releasing a more subdued version based on the same layout called the Milo ML07.

RVZ01 on the left, ML07 on the right:

 

[Zeldak]

This would have been a solution, I believe. Whatever happened to it?

 

[silentmemories]

Silverstone RVZ01

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163252

Layout is almost identical to the Steam Machine Valve sent out to beta testers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiT0aHxMf8s

If the look of that one isn't your thing, Silverstone will also be releasing a more subdued version based on the same layout called the Milo ML07.

RVZ01 on the left, ML07 on the right:

Both cases look absolutely fantastic.

I have a worry though, for the first one, and that it is too thin to carry a good graphics card (R270(?) or the new nVidia cards).

How does it work on the graphics card accommodation front?

 

[nitromullet]

Both cases look absolutely fantastic.

I have a worry though, for the first one, and that it is too thin to carry a good graphics card (R270(?) or the new nVidia cards).

How does it work on the graphics card accommodation front?

...there's a reason I posted a link to a youtube video in my previous post...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiT0aHxMf8s

They can accommodate pretty much all modern single gpu graphics cards, but it's a pretty quirky design that requires the use of an SFX form factor PSU, and might not be everyone's cup of tea. There is loads more information and lots of pics here: http://www.overclock.net/t/1466816/silverstone-raven-rvz01-ml07-owners-club

 

[silentmemories]

...there's a reason I posted a link to a youtube video in my previous post...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiT0aHxMf8s

They can accommodate pretty much all modern single gpu graphics cards, but it's a pretty quirky design that requires the use of an SFX form factor PSU, and might not be everyone's cup of tea. There is loads more information and lots of pics here: http://www.overclock.net/t/1466816/silverstone-raven-rvz01-ml07-owners-club

Sorry, uh, I kinda missed that out on my first scroll.

Thanks for the forum link as well. Looks fantastic.

 

[RedJamaX]

I have the ML07 and it has 13" for the graphics card. I have plenty of room with my GTX 560Ti and even when I tested my new ATI R9 280X... Also, Silverstone now makes a 600 Watt SFX power supply (I'm using the 450W model), but basically, there are no limitations. Many Mfgs are making performance mini-ITX boards and both of those silverstone cases support water cooling.

Check out the review on youtube to see who the ITS board, PSU, and graphics cards are installed. Highly recommended. I suggest the RVZ01 more because it already has case fans installed... And with a decent graphics card, the case gets really hot when gaming without fans.

 

[Xibyth]

I'm going to be looking into the Corsair graphite 380T for my portable gaming build, throw an i5 and GTX 760 into that and boom. Perfect for transportation as well as the handle is reinforced. It's a little wider than the Bitfenix prodogy but much smaller

 

[GoStumpy]

I absolutely love the Lian-Li PC-TU200B case...

 

[QueBert]

I have the EVGA Hadron, it's not exactly skinny, but it's not really boxy either. Aside from the PSU which gets loud when it's hot in my room, I really love this case. It's very portable. Looks are subjective, but I've had about 40 different cases since I started building computers, and this might be my favorite.

 

[Skott]

I absolutely love the Lian-Li PC-TU200B case...

Its the PC Q08 with a handle. My biggest gripe with it is that they removed the upper exhaust fan placement. Better to get the Q08 and then buy a case gear grip harness. The SG05/6/7/8 are better and smaller though. You can get a case bag to put them in or use a gear grip harness to handle them for travel. If you got the money and hurry you can get a NCASE M1 V2 which is the ultimate itx case right now. NCASE still have a few extras left.