Nice to see some mini-itx cases actually attempting to be small. Not quite as small as Valve's case but that never seems to be coming to market in any shape or form. Shame you can't just buy the case without the mobo it seems.
Closest case to it design-wise, would be the Silverstone SG07/SG08. Very similar internal design (PSU location, 2x 2.5" drives and 1x 3.5" drive, slim optical drive), but rolled over 90 degrees to look like a shoebox instead of a mini-tower. =)
I noticed that too, and it makes me feel this is a bit over-priced. Right now you can pick up an SG08, quality 600W PSU, slot load slim DVD, and a nice mini-ITX Z77 gaming board for around $350 - 400. I might pay an extra 100 on that for a nicely integrated design, but a 200+ markup feels a bit too much.
Are there any photos that show something else nearby so that you can get a rough idea of its size? I'd like to see it so that I can figure out if this might be a mini-ITX candidate for a later upgrade. I have a Silverstone SG05, and these pictures (based on the m/b tray area) make the MSI case seem a lot bigger.
I like it. I've recently been looking at mini-ITX cases, but have found few cases which can hold a GTX 780/780 Ti. Seeing as I buy MSI products already (my GPU and notebook), I wouldn't hesitate to pick this up for my next build.
I'm still waiting for a mini-ITX case with enough space for a watercooling setup. The new Silverstone Raven RZV01 comes close, but one slim 240 radiator is probably not enough to silently cool a bigger processor and a GPU.
"I remember having one that boosted a Windows 3.1 machine from 200 MHz to 233 MHz if I remember correctly."
200mhz and still with Windows 3.1? 200mhz but bring us to what? 1997? 1998? sounds strange.
Last PC with a Turbo was my 486DX33, then the Pentium 120mhz was always running full speed, I don't think there was still a turbo (at least one we would use at all).
"Does anyone remember those old Turbo buttons PCs used to have? I remember having one that boosted a Windows 3.1 machine from 200 MHz to 233 MHz if I remember correctly."
Kids these days...
Originally pressing the button disabled turbo mode and slowed your computer down to the level of an 8086 or 80286 so you could play software (typically games) that were written assuming they'd only be run at a single clock speed and became unplayable on faster systems because they did floating point math in a loop for delays instead of using the clock to control pacing.
I actually remember using that programming trick (math loops for delays). Didn't like it, but we didn't have a pause or delay command (tied to the clock) for a while. Was wonderful when we could adjust it to some non-variable interval!
If I remember correctly de-turbo in its simplest form dropped the CPU speed down to the ISA bus speeds, which was 8 MHz for the 16-bit ISA found on 386 and 486, and 4.77MHz for the 8-bit ISA on 286 and older CPUs. Basically simple underclocking.
Later on (486 and early Pentium/i586) motherboard vendors implemented more creative ways to obtain the same result without actually lowering clockspeeds.
Actually their GX620 and slightly beyond series notebooks had a 'turbo' button. It was more of a gimmick, and at least for me, would cause bluescreens more than actually increasing performance.
This could be a great LAN gaming rig, especially with the integrated wireless. I just wish the P/S was a hair beefier since it's right on the lower-end of requirements for a GTX 780.
i5 4670K + GTX780 (both at stock clocks by the looks of it?) At worst, 350W in 3DMark *from the wall*, so about 300W actually being used by the PC. Oodles, even for pushing both CPU and GPU to their limits. =)
I run a 780 on a Bronze Silverstone SFF PSU and have no problems whatsoever, but I am not O/Cing my CPU. I also have to mechanical HDDs and one SSD in that rig and I can run Prime95+Furmark with no hint of anything arway.
its a shame about the branding (the dragon watermark on the side, and the big badge on the front) because it otherwise looks amazing
that being said, it looks like the badge might come off easily enough, but to find something big enough to cover that dragon on the side without making it look worse could be tricky
Way to expensive. You can build an entire low to mid-range ITX gaming rig for $600. With this you only get the case and mobo. Guess I don't get it, its a nice setup but not $600 nice.
Looks like you could get fully functioning computer in there for about $1100 that should do everything anyone could possibly need. Hmm, SSD probably $1200+ depending on component choices. Still, I think it's pretty cool full power desktops are fitting in smaller cases.
Would also like a review though. I'd be concerned about a 270x running in there for long, I'd like to know for certain that it isn't gonna fry itself. If you guys could stress test a GTX750ti, and just keep testing faster and faster GPU's from there that'd be great. Really let us know how high end you can go on the GPU for a case like this.
Small shouldn't be expensive IMO. $599 for a barebones is pricey. We need elegant designs that favor function first and form second for low prices. The $500 mini-ITX all-in-one should be the goal as it makes consoles mostly obsolete overnight.
has anyone built one of these? I got one. I have just a little experience building systems and the cooler for this one seems like you have to remove the mobo put a spacer under the board (comes with but no reference in the instructions) and then screw the cooler in. Before I go to all the trouble of completely disassembling, I was wondering if anyone has experience with this case and the optional cooler (which came with my Canadian version). Just deducing from what I see, anybody know the actual instruction?
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theNiZer - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
I like it, but can it work with a cooking R290 indside - not much fan power in the case. Review please!Harag - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Corsair 250D Can fit a 290X with some excellent temps as well!Joraninho - Friday, March 7, 2014 - link
Yes, R9 290 fits, there's an additional sidefan available for that to optimize the cooling.rhx123 - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Nice to see some mini-itx cases actually attempting to be small. Not quite as small as Valve's case but that never seems to be coming to market in any shape or form.Shame you can't just buy the case without the mobo it seems.
flemeister - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Closest case to it design-wise, would be the Silverstone SG07/SG08. Very similar internal design (PSU location, 2x 2.5" drives and 1x 3.5" drive, slim optical drive), but rolled over 90 degrees to look like a shoebox instead of a mini-tower. =)Belegost - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
I noticed that too, and it makes me feel this is a bit over-priced. Right now you can pick up an SG08, quality 600W PSU, slot load slim DVD, and a nice mini-ITX Z77 gaming board for around $350 - 400. I might pay an extra 100 on that for a nicely integrated design, but a 200+ markup feels a bit too much.TheinsanegamerN - Friday, March 7, 2014 - link
Silverstone released a much closer design a couple of weeks agohttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
internal chassis is nearly identical to the steam machine, and has the same console shaped form factor. and is a wonderful case to boot.
HotTorch451 - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Am I correct in assuming that there is also 1 spot for a 3.5" HDD between the PS and the optical?flemeister - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
That's right. The video on this barebones unit by OC3D/TTL shows a WD Blue 3.5" drive installed: http://youtu.be/mueZtZTqQ0U?t=3m44sromrunning - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Are there any photos that show something else nearby so that you can get a rough idea of its size? I'd like to see it so that I can figure out if this might be a mini-ITX candidate for a later upgrade. I have a Silverstone SG05, and these pictures (based on the m/b tray area) make the MSI case seem a lot bigger.DanNeely - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Don't the standard PCI slot covers and mobo IO backpanel cutout do that?karmacoma - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
I like it. I've recently been looking at mini-ITX cases, but have found few cases which can hold a GTX 780/780 Ti. Seeing as I buy MSI products already (my GPU and notebook), I wouldn't hesitate to pick this up for my next build.martyrant - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
This would be a lot more killer if it supported watercooling...would love to see how a box like this with a CryoVenom 290 would do.Galatian - Friday, March 7, 2014 - link
This!I'm still waiting for a mini-ITX case with enough space for a watercooling setup. The new Silverstone Raven RZV01 comes close, but one slim 240 radiator is probably not enough to silently cool a bigger processor and a GPU.
larkhon - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
"I remember having one that boosted a Windows 3.1 machine from 200 MHz to 233 MHz if I remember correctly."200mhz and still with Windows 3.1? 200mhz but bring us to what? 1997? 1998? sounds strange.
Last PC with a Turbo was my 486DX33, then the Pentium 120mhz was always running full speed, I don't think there was still a turbo (at least one we would use at all).
DanNeely - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
"Does anyone remember those old Turbo buttons PCs used to have? I remember having one that boosted a Windows 3.1 machine from 200 MHz to 233 MHz if I remember correctly."Kids these days...
Originally pressing the button disabled turbo mode and slowed your computer down to the level of an 8086 or 80286 so you could play software (typically games) that were written assuming they'd only be run at a single clock speed and became unplayable on faster systems because they did floating point math in a loop for delays instead of using the clock to control pacing.
cgalyon - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
I actually remember using that programming trick (math loops for delays). Didn't like it, but we didn't have a pause or delay command (tied to the clock) for a while. Was wonderful when we could adjust it to some non-variable interval!axelthor - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
If I remember correctly de-turbo in its simplest form dropped the CPU speed down to the ISA bus speeds, which was 8 MHz for the 16-bit ISA found on 386 and 486, and 4.77MHz for the 8-bit ISA on 286 and older CPUs. Basically simple underclocking.Later on (486 and early Pentium/i586) motherboard vendors implemented more creative ways to obtain the same result without actually lowering clockspeeds.
anactoraaron - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Actually their GX620 and slightly beyond series notebooks had a 'turbo' button. It was more of a gimmick, and at least for me, would cause bluescreens more than actually increasing performance.Arkive - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
This could be a great LAN gaming rig, especially with the integrated wireless. I just wish the P/S was a hair beefier since it's right on the lower-end of requirements for a GTX 780.flemeister - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
A bit low for the official requirements (that have to take into account ticking timebomb PSU's), but plenty in reality: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7474/analyzing-power...i5 4670K + GTX780 (both at stock clocks by the looks of it?) At worst, 350W in 3DMark *from the wall*, so about 300W actually being used by the PC. Oodles, even for pushing both CPU and GPU to their limits. =)
rhx123 - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
I run a 780 on a Bronze Silverstone SFF PSU and have no problems whatsoever, but I am not O/Cing my CPU. I also have to mechanical HDDs and one SSD in that rig and I can run Prime95+Furmark with no hint of anything arway.bunnyfubbles - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
its a shame about the branding (the dragon watermark on the side, and the big badge on the front) because it otherwise looks amazingthat being said, it looks like the badge might come off easily enough, but to find something big enough to cover that dragon on the side without making it look worse could be tricky
Because0789 - Thursday, March 6, 2014 - link
Pay that much of a premium for a case and they don't bother to paint the inside? Definitely makes me reconsider getting it.minijedimaster - Monday, March 10, 2014 - link
Way to expensive. You can build an entire low to mid-range ITX gaming rig for $600. With this you only get the case and mobo. Guess I don't get it, its a nice setup but not $600 nice.Hrel - Monday, March 10, 2014 - link
Looks like you could get fully functioning computer in there for about $1100 that should do everything anyone could possibly need. Hmm, SSD probably $1200+ depending on component choices. Still, I think it's pretty cool full power desktops are fitting in smaller cases.Would also like a review though. I'd be concerned about a 270x running in there for long, I'd like to know for certain that it isn't gonna fry itself. If you guys could stress test a GTX750ti, and just keep testing faster and faster GPU's from there that'd be great. Really let us know how high end you can go on the GPU for a case like this.
Dave Long - Tuesday, March 18, 2014 - link
Small shouldn't be expensive IMO. $599 for a barebones is pricey. We need elegant designs that favor function first and form second for low prices. The $500 mini-ITX all-in-one should be the goal as it makes consoles mostly obsolete overnight.mcbowler - Sunday, April 20, 2014 - link
The inspiration below, but they moved the bottom slot to the top for 2.5 inch drives.http://ncases.com/
JamesHoward - Monday, April 21, 2014 - link
MSI nightblade sure is good for a gamers, I think it will be enough to play latest game in highest graphic quality for nowhttp://etechnologytips.com/msi-gaming-nightblade/
Fran_KD - Saturday, May 3, 2014 - link
has anyone built one of these? I got one. I have just a little experience building systems and the cooler for this one seems like you have to remove the mobo put a spacer under the board (comes with but no reference in the instructions) and then screw the cooler in. Before I go to all the trouble of completely disassembling, I was wondering if anyone has experience with this case and the optional cooler (which came with my Canadian version). Just deducing from what I see, anybody know the actual instruction?