SFF Case, help me decide.

[hotdun]

I'll be using a mini-ITX MB (4790K), Zotac GTX 970 and custom water cooling for both CPU/GPU. I'm looking to maximize cooling and keep noise as low as possible. Anyone have experience with these models?

1. Jonsbo UMX1 (13.6" x 6.3" x 11.8")

2. Jonsbo UMX3 (17.5" x 7.87" x 16.6")

3. Inwin 901 (14.4" x 7.4" x 14.1")

 

[master_shake_]

they all look the same to me.

 

[hotdun]

they all look the same to me.

Extremely helpful thanks. Like I said, maximize cooling, low noise, etc.... Although the cases share a very similar style, their size differs. Anyone with any experience, you're feedback is appreciated.


P.S. - you could have at least randomly picked one and cast a vote!

 

[master_shake_]

sorry...

i picked the inwin.

saw a review of it on hardware canucks.

i think they liked it.

 

[PliotronX]

They indeed look identical at first blush but upon inspection, I see a gap in the side panel of the In-win. This defeats any filtration efforts and can leak noise. UMX3 gets my vote.

edit- Gah, noticed something that might influence a choice. The In-win is a solid-top while the UMX3 has a placement for a fan. This can totally defeat any noise dampening efforts as the noise has a direct path to your ear while the case sits on the ground. Ultimately it's up to you. If the UMX1 has a solid-top, I'd lean that direction.

 

[lehtv]

If you're going to be doing a custom loop for CPU and GPU, then really the only things that matter towards cool & quiet are:
- case's compatibility with liquid cooling components, especially the amount of radiator space available
- what liquid cooling component's you will be using and what fans you will be using

I'm not sure you'll be able to achieve good results with liquid cooling in any of those cases (without extensive modding), since they all have very limited radiator space. ideally, you would want 240mm of radiator for the GPU, and at least 120mm for the CPU (but 240mm wouldn't hurt either as the 4790K isn't a cool running CPU, unless delidded).

UMX1 - 1 x 120 mm top, 1 x 80 mm rear. Nope, forget about it.

UMX3 - 1 x 140 mm top, 1 x 120 mm rear. A bit better - but since they are so close to each other, I highly doubt you'll be able to fit radiators+fans in both without overlap unless the rear radiator is mounted externally which requires modding

InWin 901 - According to specs, supports one 120mm radiator at the back, but not at the bottom 120mm slot. That won't do either.

Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX would have plenty more space for radiators (e.g. 240mm front, 240mm top), but it's not quite so compact.

Maybe you should go with air cooling? Pick a quiet HSF for the CPU and mod your graphics card with a third party cooler. There are some AIO liquid mods for graphics cards that might work.

 

[sam_816]

See if u can find nebula by xigmatek. Their aquilla is also good. I m using Aquila with my mini itx setup.

 

[lehtv]

See if u can find nebula by xigmatek. Their aquilla is also good. I m using Aquila with my mini itx setup.

Nebula has one 120mm rear fan slot, and that's it. Not compatible with CPU+GPU custom loop liquid cooling. It's also not compatible with over 200mm long graphics cards which rules out the Zotac GTX 970 (any of them).

Aquila might work, but that's a bigger microATX case. Definitely not worthy of the term 'SFF' - at 41,6 liters (external) it's bigger than many ATX towers. To be fair, the same applies to Phanteks Evolv ITX which is verging on ATX dimensions at 34,1 liters.

 

[czglory]

are these your only options? I would look into Thermaltake core V1 or Suppressor as well.

 

[lehtv]

I own the Core V21, it's a little bit cheapity cheap. I assume some of the same cons apply to Core V1:
- The window is poor quality
- access to the CPU cooler backplate requires you to remove the PSU
- Power LED is way too bright

 

[czglory]

they do sound cheap when you hit them with your hand, but I don't consider that too much of a negative. They have excellent airflow and compatibility for their size, and the suppressor is silent. I dont know about the led light in the new version.

 

[bonehead123]

I would look at BitFenix....

I had a prodigy 2 years ago and ran it with similar setup as you are planning, with air cooling nottaproblemo. Cant remember if it had room for rads or not though, probably at the top I think

And FWIW, I would stay away from iWin....their QA/QC is not very good, and compared to alot of other similar cases, they just aren't built that well.

I do like the style of the Jonsbos's though, reminds me of the old MacPro/G5....

 

[czglory]

check out lian-li PC-Q10 as well looks similar to the ncase m1 fits good components.