Is Apex MI-008 Power Supply Enough Power?

[mzmuda33]

Hi All,

I was looking over Octobers CustoMac Mini & CustoMac Mini Deluxe builds and have come up with a bit of hybrid. I'm wondering if the Apex MI-008 Case and it's power supply would be strong, big and cool enough?

- Core i5-6600K
- Thermaltake Slim X3 Low Profile
- Gigabyte GA-Z170N-Gaming 5
- Crucial Ballistix Sport LT (16GB)
- Samsung 850 EVO 250GB
- Apex MI-008

Notes:
- No Video Card. I'll only be using onboard video. But may add a low end card one day.
- No Optical Drive

My goal is to create a hackintosh that will work well as a Plex Media Server, run the OS nice and smooth for general purpose use. I want it to be as small and quiet as possible but still have some power.

Certainly open to any to suggestions to modify this build and make it perfect!

Thanks!

 

[Going Bald]

If you put your hardware in a PSU calculator like http://images10.newegg.com/BizIntell/tool/psucalc/index.html you can answer this for yourself. Just what you have listed is calculated at 282 Watts. I would say the 250W PSU in that case would be marginal with the i5. For a media server you do not need more than an i3 and 8GB of RAM would be plenty unless you are also going to use it for gaming.

 

[trs96]

Hi All,

I was looking over Octobers CustoMac Mini & CustoMac Mini Deluxe builds and have come up with a bit of hybrid. I'm wondering if the Apex MI-008 Case and it's power supply would be strong, big and cool enough?

- Core i5-6600K
- Thermaltake Slim X3 Low Profile
- Gigabyte GA-Z170N-Gaming 5
- Crucial Ballistix Sport LT (16GB)
- Samsung 850 EVO 250GB
- Apex MI-008

Certainly open to any to suggestions to modify this build and make it perfect!

Thanks!

The problem with that Apex case/PSU combo is that the PSU sits directly over the CPU cooler. Not an ideal design, especially if it will run 24/7. You could go with the CM Elite 130 case and then choose a more powerful, gold rated PSU. Seasonic makes some that are in the 350-400 watt range. Then you won't have to worry about the quality of the Apex PSU and a failure that could damage your other new components. I'm not sure who even makes the one that they include.

The PSU can be seen here, leaving almost no clearance over the CPU cooler. The stock Intel cooler is even difficult to use in one of the these, has to be lower profile. That's why the Thermaltake cooler is listed in the CustoMac Mini build.



If you want to use the Apex case/psu go with something underclocked like a Core I3 "T" version. Do not use an I5 "K" version.

 

[mzmuda33]

Thanks a lot that's very helpful.

Sounds like a different case and better PSU is what I need.

I realize that my setup is more power then I need for a media server but I also want to be able to easily beef it up if I choose to (be future proof with minimal component upgrades). I tend to buy hardware very infrequently... about every 4-5 years.

 

[trs96]

Thanks a lot that's very helpful.

Sounds like a different case and better PSU is what I need.

I realize that my setup is more power then I need for a media server but I also want to be able to easily beef it up if I choose to (be future proof with minimal component upgrades). I tend to buy hardware very infrequently... about every 4-5 years.

Lian Li makes some affordable ITX cases that are all Aluminum. Newegg has them at a 20 % off discount right now. You can get either Black or Silver and they take a standard ATX PSU up to 150 mm.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112518&cm_re=LIan_Li_ITX-_-11-112-518-_-Product

This would be much easier to keep cool and has room for a 2 slot mini-ITX graphics card if you want to add one later. Here's a gold rated PSU you could use with the Lian Li Case. It costs more but will save $$ in the long run. More efficient and should get you more than 5 years of service.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151117&cm_re=seasonic_gold-_-17-151-117-_-Product

 

[mzmuda33]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I looked very close at the case you suggested (and some other Lian Li cases, some are very nice) but think I will go with this one:

DIYPC HTPC-Cube: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811353044
I think it gives me the best feature to size balance I am looking for and supports full ATX PSU, large GPU cooling.

I'll probably also use to Corsair H60.

For the power supply I may end up sticking to the October suggested PSU: Corsair CS 550 Watt unless of course there is a good reason not to just spend a few extra bucks and get more power?'

So really in the end I'm pretty much sticking to Oct 2016 recommenced options but will not be using video card.

 

[Going Bald]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I looked very close at the case you suggested (and some other Lian Li cases, some are very nice) but think I will go with this one:

DIYPC HTPC-Cube: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811353044
I think it gives me the best feature to size balance I am looking for and supports full ATX PSU, large GPU cooling.

I'll probably also use to Corsair H60.

For the power supply I may end up sticking to the October suggested PSU: Corsair CS 550 Watt unless of course there is a good reason not to just spend a few extra bucks and get more power?'

So really in the end I'm pretty much sticking to Oct 2016 recommenced options but will not be using video card.

Contrary to popular belief liquid cooling is not quieter than air cooling CPUs. The fan and pump together make more/louder noise than a medium/low end CPU air cooler. Suggest for a media server in same room with your TV that you use a good air cooler coupled with Noctua fans. You will be much happier with the result.

 

[mzmuda33]

Contrary to popular belief liquid cooling is not quieter than air cooling CPUs. The fan and pump together make more/louder noise than a medium/low end CPU air cooler. Suggest for a media server in same room with your TV that you use a good air cooler coupled with Noctua fans. You will be much happier with the result.

Thanks. Any good suggestions or experience with quiet CPU fans?
What about the power supply? I would have thought that would have been the louder of the fans.

 

[trs96]

Thanks. Any good suggestions or experience with quiet GPU fans?
What about the power supply? I would have thought that would have been the louder of the fans.

I've bought the CS 450M model and i've never been able to even hear the fan. The stock Intel cooler and case fan is
much louder. If you're not using a graphics card the CS450M will be plenty of power even for an I5. Get a Noctua CPU cooler for around 50-60 dollars that fits in your build and one or two of their case fans and it will be extremely quiet.

 

[mzmuda33]

This seems to be a good fit for CPU cooling: Noctua NH-U9S - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAB984BD8411

Oddly enough I cannot find a CS450M in Canada. They are sold out everywere except amazon.ca where they are over $200CA

Think I will with CS550M for $99.99 CA.

Thanks for the Noctua suggestion. They have some solid reviews.