Mini-ITX Compact Case Overview
Case overview for HTPC mini-ITX (part 1)
Case overview for HTPC mini-ITX (part 2)
After some time, I return to my favorite mini-ITX platform with a review of compact cases. Of course, it cannot be more compact than 17x17cm, so consider the average dimensions as 25x25cm with thickness up to 10cm. Alas, but if you need a lot thinner - you are ready to nettop.
')
Traditionally, the review will contain five models, not all of which can be found in free retail.
Traditionally, small enclosures are great for creating thin clients, home PCs for internet surfing, and, in the case of ION, also for HTPC. There is no need to talk about expansion cards, and so do a large number of hard drives and optical drives. Standard kit - board + hard drive \ SSD drive \ CF-card.
One of the most important criteria, as always, is cooling and noise. Almost all the cases under consideration do without active cooling and, therefore, practically do not make noise. Is that gentle rustle of the heads of the hard drive and the uniform buzz of an external power supply will break the silence.
So - the list of buildings:
This case attracted me for a long time and was considered as the most compact container Zotac ION-ITX-A. Minimum frills, maximum ventilation. All the walls of the plastic case are covered with ventilation grilles for the free exchange of air with the external environment, which contributes to the “natural” ventilation of the viscera.
The manufacturer claims the possibility of fully passive cooling systems with heat less than 10W. In case the CPU cooler is installed - 65W. If this is not enough, there is the possibility of installing additional 40mm coolers on the sled for hard drives.
The case is industrial, therefore it is positioned as the basis for embedded systems. Of the main features - a usb-host closed by the front cover, which allows you to install a wi-fi \ bluetooth \ 3G module there, or just boot from the USB flash drive. On the front panel there is a special space for your logo ... or the Habr logo ... or a picture with a hypno lab ...
A removable slide for a 2.5 ”hard disk in an amount of 1pc is delivered with the case; if necessary, you can purchase one more slide. The power supply is not included. Optionally, VESA system mounts, wall mounts and rail mounts can be purchased.
You can order the case on the website (apparently the manufacturer) or on Ebay at a price of $ 40 .
Very similar to the M350 analogue from Morex, but already made of metal. Just a compact case with one compartment for a 2.5 ”hard drive, space for a mini-ITX motherboard and a power converter. Included is an external power supply for 60W (or 80W), and the case itself can be locked with a key. The power and reset buttons are hidden and pressed only with a pin.
You can purchase a case from us for about $ 100 .
This case is the basis for a full-fledged HTPC in the most compact form. The slot for the optical drive with slot loading, as well as the space for the expansion card, fit into this small case. For the board, you will probably have to use some kind of clever riser.
The main feature of the case is that in itself it is a large radiator of cooling. To implement this feature, you must purchase an additional set of copper heat pipes to connect the radiators on the motherboard to the case. The case itself, of course, is made of aluminum.
Included is no power supply, but there is an SD-card reader. A 140W power supply can be purchased separately, as well as an optical drive. The permissible heat dissipation of the system for operation in the passive mode is 25W. A list of compatible matplat can be found here .
The only thing that upsets, you can order this miracle only in Europe, for example in England . Moreover, international delivery, for unknown reasons, does not include Russia. However, if someone has friends in Belarus, the corps is delivered there. There is a case of $ 260 , exclusively for fans.
A more compact version of the cases from HFX, this time without an optical drive and an expansion slot. The rest of the case is almost complete analogue of the M2, with the same functionality.
It is slightly thinner than the previous case, and has the ability to install two 2.5 ”hard drives, or one 3.5”. The allowable heat dissipation of the system for work in the passive mode is 25W. A list of compatible motherboards can be found here .
You can order the case in the same place and under the same conditions. True, its price will be $ 215 . On such conditions, I would take the previous model.
Very interesting wall housing. It is interesting that as an option it is completed with a 7 ”touch screen with a resolution of 800x480 . Models w-100 and w-110 differ from each other by the presence of an infrared receiver and remote control in the kit.
Apparently from the outside it looks like this - a person comes to a block with a touch screen hanging on the wall, there with a few fingers moves to select the desired video in a special media shell, after which the video is launched on the standing (hanging) side of the LCD TV. In general, the concept has the right to life and looks quite futuristic. If you do not want to hang on the wall, the set includes an elegant white foot-stand.
Inside there is a 3.5 ”hard drive compartment, a slot optical drive (did not find it in the photos), a power converter and a card reader.
In my opinion, the model is interesting only in a set with a touch screen. They are even going to bring it to Russia, since in some online stores its appearance has already been announced. However, I could not find the prices for them.
At the request of the suffering - a comparison of sizes. The sizeasy service is a bit buggy, but that's all I found.
In principle, the best solution for the combination of price and quality, of course, will be the M350. The truth is still to see how it will withstand the temperature mode of the boards on the ION-e ... If it is worthy, then this is my choice.
Magic cases from HFX can be considered only as a birthday present from friends who do not know what to give you. Very much biting prices. No less magical W100 with a touch screen you want to at least touch, and then already focus on the market price. If the price of the body with the screen will be within $ 200 - why not?
In principle, with the corps on this, I probably finish, because nothing significant new and interesting has not yet happened. I could not choose for myself something that suits me 100%. In the near future, the purchase of a TV is in store and Philips 8404 with the NetTV feature is being considered as one of the options. Maybe then HTPC will not be needed at all ...
Thanks for attention. =)
Case overview for HTPC mini-ITX (part 2)
After some time, I return to my favorite mini-ITX platform with a review of compact cases. Of course, it cannot be more compact than 17x17cm, so consider the average dimensions as 25x25cm with thickness up to 10cm. Alas, but if you need a lot thinner - you are ready to nettop.
')
Traditionally, the review will contain five models, not all of which can be found in free retail.
Traditionally, small enclosures are great for creating thin clients, home PCs for internet surfing, and, in the case of ION, also for HTPC. There is no need to talk about expansion cards, and so do a large number of hard drives and optical drives. Standard kit - board + hard drive \ SSD drive \ CF-card.
One of the most important criteria, as always, is cooling and noise. Almost all the cases under consideration do without active cooling and, therefore, practically do not make noise. Is that gentle rustle of the heads of the hard drive and the uniform buzz of an external power supply will break the silence.
So - the list of buildings:
- M350 Universal Mini-ITX
- Morex Cubid 5689B
- HFX® micro - M2
- HFX® Micro - S1
- EZCool W-100 \ 110
M350 Universal Mini-ITX
This case attracted me for a long time and was considered as the most compact container Zotac ION-ITX-A. Minimum frills, maximum ventilation. All the walls of the plastic case are covered with ventilation grilles for the free exchange of air with the external environment, which contributes to the “natural” ventilation of the viscera.
The manufacturer claims the possibility of fully passive cooling systems with heat less than 10W. In case the CPU cooler is installed - 65W. If this is not enough, there is the possibility of installing additional 40mm coolers on the sled for hard drives.
The case is industrial, therefore it is positioned as the basis for embedded systems. Of the main features - a usb-host closed by the front cover, which allows you to install a wi-fi \ bluetooth \ 3G module there, or just boot from the USB flash drive. On the front panel there is a special space for your logo ... or the Habr logo ... or a picture with a hypno lab ...
A removable slide for a 2.5 ”hard disk in an amount of 1pc is delivered with the case; if necessary, you can purchase one more slide. The power supply is not included. Optionally, VESA system mounts, wall mounts and rail mounts can be purchased.
You can order the case on the website (apparently the manufacturer) or on Ebay at a price of $ 40 .
Morex Cubid 5689B
Very similar to the M350 analogue from Morex, but already made of metal. Just a compact case with one compartment for a 2.5 ”hard drive, space for a mini-ITX motherboard and a power converter. Included is an external power supply for 60W (or 80W), and the case itself can be locked with a key. The power and reset buttons are hidden and pressed only with a pin.
You can purchase a case from us for about $ 100 .
HFX® micro - M2
This case is the basis for a full-fledged HTPC in the most compact form. The slot for the optical drive with slot loading, as well as the space for the expansion card, fit into this small case. For the board, you will probably have to use some kind of clever riser.
The main feature of the case is that in itself it is a large radiator of cooling. To implement this feature, you must purchase an additional set of copper heat pipes to connect the radiators on the motherboard to the case. The case itself, of course, is made of aluminum.
Included is no power supply, but there is an SD-card reader. A 140W power supply can be purchased separately, as well as an optical drive. The permissible heat dissipation of the system for operation in the passive mode is 25W. A list of compatible matplat can be found here .
The only thing that upsets, you can order this miracle only in Europe, for example in England . Moreover, international delivery, for unknown reasons, does not include Russia. However, if someone has friends in Belarus, the corps is delivered there. There is a case of $ 260 , exclusively for fans.
HFX® Micro - S1
A more compact version of the cases from HFX, this time without an optical drive and an expansion slot. The rest of the case is almost complete analogue of the M2, with the same functionality.
It is slightly thinner than the previous case, and has the ability to install two 2.5 ”hard drives, or one 3.5”. The allowable heat dissipation of the system for work in the passive mode is 25W. A list of compatible motherboards can be found here .
You can order the case in the same place and under the same conditions. True, its price will be $ 215 . On such conditions, I would take the previous model.
EZCool W-100 \ 110
Very interesting wall housing. It is interesting that as an option it is completed with a 7 ”touch screen with a resolution of 800x480 . Models w-100 and w-110 differ from each other by the presence of an infrared receiver and remote control in the kit.
Apparently from the outside it looks like this - a person comes to a block with a touch screen hanging on the wall, there with a few fingers moves to select the desired video in a special media shell, after which the video is launched on the standing (hanging) side of the LCD TV. In general, the concept has the right to life and looks quite futuristic. If you do not want to hang on the wall, the set includes an elegant white foot-stand.
Inside there is a 3.5 ”hard drive compartment, a slot optical drive (did not find it in the photos), a power converter and a card reader.
In my opinion, the model is interesting only in a set with a touch screen. They are even going to bring it to Russia, since in some online stores its appearance has already been announced. However, I could not find the prices for them.
Summary table
| Characteristics / Models |  M350 Universal Mini-ITX |  Morex Cubid 5689B |  HFX micro - M2 |  HFX Micro - S1 |  EZCool W-100 \ 110 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $ 40 | $ 100 | 260 $ | $ 215 | ? |
| Material | Plastic | Steel | Aluminum | Aluminum | Steel, Plastic |
| Compartments | 1x 2.5 "+ 1x 2.5" optional | 1x 2.5 " | 1x 2.5 ", 1x slot-5.25” | 1x 3.5 "or 2x 2.5" | 1x 3.5 ", 1x slot-5.25” |
| BP | no ext | 60W Ext | not | not | 60W Ext |
| Expansion slots | - | - | 1x | - | - |
| Dimensions | 192 x 210 x 62 | 235 x 185 x 58 | 240 x 230 x 86 | 240 x 230 x 75 | 196 x 325 x 66 |
| Volume | 2.5l | 2.64l | 4.7l | ? | ? |
| Weight | 1.2kg | ? | 4.6kg | 2.8kg | ? |
| Additionally | hidden usb host, VESA optional | VESA | IR receiver, SD card reader, heat pipes optional | heat pipes optional | 7 "touch screen, IR receiver and remote, card reader, mount kit and blue LED;) |
At the request of the suffering - a comparison of sizes. The sizeasy service is a bit buggy, but that's all I found.
In principle, the best solution for the combination of price and quality, of course, will be the M350. The truth is still to see how it will withstand the temperature mode of the boards on the ION-e ... If it is worthy, then this is my choice.
Magic cases from HFX can be considered only as a birthday present from friends who do not know what to give you. Very much biting prices. No less magical W100 with a touch screen you want to at least touch, and then already focus on the market price. If the price of the body with the screen will be within $ 200 - why not?
In principle, with the corps on this, I probably finish, because nothing significant new and interesting has not yet happened. I could not choose for myself something that suits me 100%. In the near future, the purchase of a TV is in store and Philips 8404 with the NetTV feature is being considered as one of the options. Maybe then HTPC will not be needed at all ...
Thanks for attention. =)
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/69566/
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