RAIJINTEK STYX small micro ATX case - airflow schemes
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 4:20 am
I'm planning to switch my current case for the smaller one - and of course to make it as quiet as possible
-----
I've chosen RAIJINTEK STYX mATX case
(BIT-TECH review here https://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases ... x-review/1)
The other cases I was eyeing:
FRACTAL DEFINE MINI C - about 5cm/2" bigger (depth and height)
Thermaltake Core V21 - about twice the size of Raijintek STYX
Fractal Design Node 804 - about 50% bigger than Raijintek STYX
Corsair AIR 240 - about 50% bigger than Raijintek STYX
------
MOBO: GIGABYTE Z97M-D3H (microATX)
CPU: i5-4690K with Thermalright MACHO 120mm (rev A.)
RAM: 4x 8GB
VIDEO: ZOTAC GTX 750 passive
2x 256GB SSD
1x 3,5" in Scythe Quiet Drive enclosure
------
USAGE SCENARIO:
I'm a graphics designer and my workflow and type of work means that:
- most of the time: pretty light use of CPU @25% with short spikes @50-100% on all 4 cores
- occasionally CPU @100% on all 4 cores - when encoding a movie or something like this (and I don't mind increased fan noise in that rare cases)
- most of the time GPU is ideling with occasional activity spikes with Photoshop functions that supports GPU acceleration (very rarely, PS is all about CPU)
- I'm occasionally taking the computer to other locations (in a car) - that's why I want it to be fairly compact
- no gaming
- it's a hackintosh (macOS on a pc computer)
- I can control the speed of up to 3 fans (via software) and relate the speed of each fan to the CPU or SYSTEM or GPU temp
- it's running 24/7 because it syncs my work folder to Dropbox (and it takes a while with huge files)
- filtered intake would be a plus (because of 24/7) but I can live without it or with negative pressure scenario
------
POWER CONSUMPTION:
currently system (with 120W pico PSU) is using:
when idle: 35W in total
with CPU in stress (GPU in idle): 100W
Measured with kill-a-wat.
------
POSSIBLE Q&A
Why not SWITCH to the mini ITX form factor?
----------------------------
I don't want to (I can't) switch to mini ITX because I desperately need 4 memory slots - and mini ITX has only 2.
Plus I'm not planning to change any components because I have 3 IDENTICAL systems that makes software maintenance much easier (the same system image for all 3 workstations)
WHY NOT STICK WITH PICO PSU?
-------------------------------
I don't like external PSU brick - it's a hassle when I have to move the case.
And it has it's limitations - I can't max out CPU & GPU with 120W pico PSU as the max power consumption will be around 160W. Currently it's not a problem but it can be in a future.
CAN YOU REVERSE fan direction on PSU?
-----------------------------------
Yes, I can - warranty is over
CAN YOU DITCH discrete graphic card?
-----------------------------------
Yes, but I don't want to - currently there is no real difference in ADOBE CC suite, but they are adding more and more GPU accelerated functions with each release, and this video card has Display Port that (allegedly) supports 60Hz on hi-res display that I'm planning to buy.
Airflow path schemes
==========================
It's not visible, but there is a opening on the top of the case
- it's for 2x 120mm fans
- covered by mesh (speakers like metal mesh)
- equipped with dust filter
__________________________________________________
#1
is the "default" setup - without the fans in top opening
but I would remove [3] or [4]
pluses
- only 2 fans needed
minuses
- not sure if fanless video card [8] would get any airflow
__________________________________________________
#2
seems the most logical for me - but you have to add fans in position [5] and [6] to keep positive pressure and prevent dust build up (not that important to me, but nice to have) and the [7] opening should be closed to prevent intake air from escaping (and the [7] arrow should point in opposite direction)
pluses
- positive pressure
- filtered intake
minuses
- you have to add 2x 120mm fans (4 in total)
__________________________________________________
#3
with the duct isolating PSU -> CPU airflow, and hoping that PASSIVE video card will be adequately cooled by convection only
pluses
- only 2 fans
- additional opening in the case bottom will be used to suck more air when CPU fan ramps up
minuses
- not sure if GPU will be adequately cooled by convection only
__________________________________________________
#4
with the additional fan in [5]
pluses
- [5] fan can be started only if GPU temp ramps up
- can prevent hot air from rising using a duct like in #3
minuses
- additional fan (3 in total)
__________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
__________________________________________________
I would scratch #2 because of number of fans
I'm not sure about #1 - maybe with other large openings sealed [7] and [2] GPU will get enough airflow
It's a negative pressure case without filtered intakes - but I don't mind.
I'm leaning towards #3 or #4 - maybe even with PSU and CPU case exhaust grills cutted off for less restricted airflow
What do you think?
-----
I've chosen RAIJINTEK STYX mATX case
(BIT-TECH review here https://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases ... x-review/1)
The other cases I was eyeing:
FRACTAL DEFINE MINI C - about 5cm/2" bigger (depth and height)
Thermaltake Core V21 - about twice the size of Raijintek STYX
Fractal Design Node 804 - about 50% bigger than Raijintek STYX
Corsair AIR 240 - about 50% bigger than Raijintek STYX
------
MOBO: GIGABYTE Z97M-D3H (microATX)
CPU: i5-4690K with Thermalright MACHO 120mm (rev A.)
RAM: 4x 8GB
VIDEO: ZOTAC GTX 750 passive
2x 256GB SSD
1x 3,5" in Scythe Quiet Drive enclosure
------
USAGE SCENARIO:
I'm a graphics designer and my workflow and type of work means that:
- most of the time: pretty light use of CPU @25% with short spikes @50-100% on all 4 cores
- occasionally CPU @100% on all 4 cores - when encoding a movie or something like this (and I don't mind increased fan noise in that rare cases)
- most of the time GPU is ideling with occasional activity spikes with Photoshop functions that supports GPU acceleration (very rarely, PS is all about CPU)
- I'm occasionally taking the computer to other locations (in a car) - that's why I want it to be fairly compact
- no gaming
- it's a hackintosh (macOS on a pc computer)
- I can control the speed of up to 3 fans (via software) and relate the speed of each fan to the CPU or SYSTEM or GPU temp
- it's running 24/7 because it syncs my work folder to Dropbox (and it takes a while with huge files)
- filtered intake would be a plus (because of 24/7) but I can live without it or with negative pressure scenario
------
POWER CONSUMPTION:
currently system (with 120W pico PSU) is using:
when idle: 35W in total
with CPU in stress (GPU in idle): 100W
Measured with kill-a-wat.
------
POSSIBLE Q&A
Why not SWITCH to the mini ITX form factor?
----------------------------
I don't want to (I can't) switch to mini ITX because I desperately need 4 memory slots - and mini ITX has only 2.
Plus I'm not planning to change any components because I have 3 IDENTICAL systems that makes software maintenance much easier (the same system image for all 3 workstations)
WHY NOT STICK WITH PICO PSU?
-------------------------------
I don't like external PSU brick - it's a hassle when I have to move the case.
And it has it's limitations - I can't max out CPU & GPU with 120W pico PSU as the max power consumption will be around 160W. Currently it's not a problem but it can be in a future.
CAN YOU REVERSE fan direction on PSU?
-----------------------------------
Yes, I can - warranty is over
CAN YOU DITCH discrete graphic card?
-----------------------------------
Yes, but I don't want to - currently there is no real difference in ADOBE CC suite, but they are adding more and more GPU accelerated functions with each release, and this video card has Display Port that (allegedly) supports 60Hz on hi-res display that I'm planning to buy.
Airflow path schemes
==========================
It's not visible, but there is a opening on the top of the case
- it's for 2x 120mm fans
- covered by mesh (speakers like metal mesh)
- equipped with dust filter
__________________________________________________
#1
is the "default" setup - without the fans in top opening
but I would remove [3] or [4]
pluses
- only 2 fans needed
minuses
- not sure if fanless video card [8] would get any airflow
__________________________________________________
#2
seems the most logical for me - but you have to add fans in position [5] and [6] to keep positive pressure and prevent dust build up (not that important to me, but nice to have) and the [7] opening should be closed to prevent intake air from escaping (and the [7] arrow should point in opposite direction)
pluses
- positive pressure
- filtered intake
minuses
- you have to add 2x 120mm fans (4 in total)
__________________________________________________
#3
with the duct isolating PSU -> CPU airflow, and hoping that PASSIVE video card will be adequately cooled by convection only
pluses
- only 2 fans
- additional opening in the case bottom will be used to suck more air when CPU fan ramps up
minuses
- not sure if GPU will be adequately cooled by convection only
__________________________________________________
#4
with the additional fan in [5]
pluses
- [5] fan can be started only if GPU temp ramps up
- can prevent hot air from rising using a duct like in #3
minuses
- additional fan (3 in total)
__________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
__________________________________________________
I would scratch #2 because of number of fans
I'm not sure about #1 - maybe with other large openings sealed [7] and [2] GPU will get enough airflow
It's a negative pressure case without filtered intakes - but I don't mind.
I'm leaning towards #3 or #4 - maybe even with PSU and CPU case exhaust grills cutted off for less restricted airflow
What do you think?