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650W Seasonic X-series for mini-ITX ?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:14 am
by Rebellious
These are 80 Plus Gold, but will 650W run too inefficiently with a low-power miniITX?

The mini-ITX is an i5, idles at 18W at the wall with a PicoPSU and maxes out at 65-80W. I'm thinking that this PSU may use more power than the PC.

Re: 650W Seasonic X-series for mini-ITX ?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:06 am
by flemeister

Re: 650W Seasonic X-series for mini-ITX ?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:18 am
by Rebellious
Thank you, that's close to what I thought, 40% of the power is wasted at idle, 30% at full load.

So, is it worth using an ATX PSU with mini-ITX systems? Better question is, what are the alternatives?

Re: 650W Seasonic X-series for mini-ITX ?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:24 am
by xan_user
what is the reason for the new PSU, whats wrong with the pico?

Re: 650W Seasonic X-series for mini-ITX ?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:05 am
by Rebellious
xan_user wrote:what is the reason for the new PSU, whats wrong with the pico?
I already have a couple of 650W Seasonic-X, I thought I'd use them in a floor-rolling ATX case.

mini-ITX cases are cute but they HAVE to be on your desk, whereas ATX-case-on-the-foor is more ergonomic (even though it would be mostly empty). Makes sense?

Re: 650W Seasonic X-series for mini-ITX ?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:53 pm
by flemeister
Why not use the pico-PSU in the ATX case? Just zip-tie the power brick where the ATX PSU would otherwise have gone. :)

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article947-page3.html

Why do mini-ITX cases have to be on a desk anyway? It's just a matter of desk design IMO. For example, at my local bank I see them using Dell slim mini-towers on small shelves under the desks (not big enough to fit an ATX mid-tower). Could also bolt a small enough mini-ITX case to the back of a monitor.

Re: 650W Seasonic X-series for mini-ITX ?

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:47 am
by Rebellious
flemeister wrote:Why not use the pico-PSU in the ATX case? Just zip-tie the power brick where the ATX PSU would otherwise have gone. :)

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article947-page3.html

Why do mini-ITX cases have to be on a desk anyway? It's just a matter of desk design IMO. For example, at my local bank I see them using Dell slim mini-towers on small shelves under the desks (not big enough to fit an ATX mid-tower). Could also bolt a small enough mini-ITX case to the back of a monitor.
Yeah it's an interesting problem. Custom furniture is the ultimate solution, but then the furniture becomes part of the system/design/cost.

MIni-ITX on the floor will get kicked, scuffed by vacuum cleaners, too low for access, etc. On the desk, it seems in-your-face however small, and brings the mess of wires on your desk as well.

A floor-rolling ATX is convenient, rolls out for service & house cleaning, ideal height, but I can see that ATX cases & PSUs are basically outdated formats.

floor-rolling = viewtopic.php?f=14&t=66864