The components:
- - AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 6000+ 3.0 GHz 125W
- ASUS M2NPV-VM Micro ATX motherboard
- Silverstone TJ08 Micro ATX mini tower case
- SeaSonic M12 ATX 500W modular power supply
- A-DATA 2GB DDR2 800 dual channel kit ADQVE1A16K
- Scythe Ninja SCNJ-1100P CPU heatsink
- Passive video card, NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT, ASUS EN8600GT SILENT
- HITACHI Travelstar 5K160 160GB SATA 2.5" hard drive
- TOSHIBA MK1637GSX 160GB SATA 3.0GB/s 2.5" hard drive
- 2 SAMSUNG DVD burners SATA SH-S203N
- OS: dual boot Ubuntu Linux/Windows 2000 Professional. The 2nd disk is a backup. Disk #1 is copied/cloned daily onto disk #2, so that disk #2 is a live, working, bootable clone of disk #1.
Photo 1: Front end
Photo 2: Rear end
Photo 3: Wide open bored-out 120mm fan openings, that makes a big difference. To shed 150+ Watts of heat silently, you're at the threshold of what is technically possible.
Photo 4:Removable mobo tray. Without this feature, this project would have been impossible. Some of the plugs and fan headers are inaccessible once the Ninja is installed. But you can unlatch the mobo tray and tilt it back, that gives you easy access, it's magic.
Photo 5: The Ninja must be installed first, then the mobo assembly slides into the case, the PSU must be installed last. But I discovered that the TJ08 design has a couple of air leaks that had to be remedied. More on that later.
Photo 6: Almost finished. No these are not fan sandwiches.
Photo 7: I gutted stock fans and used just the frame. Rear exhaust setup increased airflow through the CPU heatsink. Front intake fan setup reduces the volume of compressible air in the case. Space without a purpose is a waste.
Photo 8: A closeup. There really was no need for ducting, this case is so small that it is by itself a duct.
Photo 9: Love the removable mobo tray. Fans etc. are serviceable, can be installed/removed without removing the mobo
Photo 10: The TJ08 has a gap between the fans and case, causing an air leak at the point of highest pressure, also causes noise and air re-circulation. Fixed by installing silicone gaskets backwards -- on purpose. Part is VANTEC VDK-120 120MM Fan Vibration Dampener Kit. Photo is front intake assembly.
Photo 11: Fixed rear exhaust assembly before installation
Photo 12: Front air-leak fixed
Photo 13: Intake fan was directly behind the I/O panel at the bottom of the front cover (USB, 1394, 3.5mm audio jacks) causing turbulence & noise. This fix also makes the case effectively smaller, and brings fan closer to where it's needed.
Photo 14: Rear air-leak fixed
Photo 15: Testing with Arctic Cooling AF12025 PWM fans. Intake/exhaust fans have a "turbo" effect. You can see it in the RPM difference, and through the stroboscopic effect noticeable when you look across both fans.
Photo 16: The only real mod -- 3 Pin Fan Power Y Cable, Model POW-ADT-3PY (NewEgg). Fans working in tandem, connected "in series" to the CPU_FAN header, CHA_FAN 1 & 2 are unused.
Photo 17: Hard disk sandwich
Photo 18: Component is semi-elastic rubber, very versatile part, can hold a single 3.5" HD or two 2.5". (KINGWIN HDS-201 2.5" & 3.5" Hard Drive Stand. NewEgg Item #: N82E16817990008)
Photo 19: Suspension setup in 3.5" bay, using 1.8 mm Stretch Magic. This stuff can also be used to soft-mount fans, instead of rubber screws, 3 strategic knots does the job.
Photo 20: Suspension setup, view through the front bay opening.
Photo 21: Hard disk assembly suspended
Photo 22: Hard disk suspension, front view
Photo 23: With the card reader installed, the suspended hard disk assembly is "locked-in" with approx. 1cm gap all around.
Photo 24: The Ninja fits well on the M2NPV-VM without any interference. I still prefer the AMD toggle/clamp system because you can apply the right pressure without having to lean on the mobo, and once installed the locking assembly is rigid whereas the Ninja is basically spring-loaded.