neilhart
Moderator
- Joined
- May 25, 2010
- Messages
- 2,686
- Motherboard
- ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming - ITX/ac
- CPU
- i7-7700T
- Graphics
- GTX960
- Mac
- Mobile Phone
Edit: 11/18/2015 - I made a change to the thread title, removed Mini-ITX as this project is changing in nature... neil
This thread is intended to document my next project for those that would like to follow along and share my decision process along with the fabrication details as they occur.
At this point I have a desire to produce a small efficient machine that has external access to the drives. This would mean that I could change the boot device(s) without disassembling the machine.
Also, the itch includes using a Z170 Mini-ITX motherboard that has the usual things along with USB 3.1 and M.2 (4x PCIe Gen 3.0 with 32 Gbs). This itch appears to be satisfied by the ASUS Z170I Pro Gaming motherboard although the Maximus VIII Impact (TBA) will probably also fit the bill. I am waiting for these boards to become available in the US.
You can view the details here: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z170I-PRO-GAMING/
I am also waiting for the i7-6700T (35W) CPU. This low power unit should produce a very functional machine and keep the power budget down.
DDR4 memory… this will be my first experience with it.
A Samsung M2 device… whatever is currently best performing if not the SM951.
SATA Express? No experience with this tech so will need to take a look.
On board slot for WiFi/BT. This should be a given on the ITX motherboards.
A GPU. Well this is TBD but should be capable of running multiple displays and would be nice to be at 4K and a good refresh. More research needed. Will need to be compact to fit the case.
And so forth.
I am very pleased with the Mini-ITX tower that I designed early this year (see this project: ). I think that I will reuse many of those design concepts, adding a little to the width of the case to facilitate not having the bulge at the GPU harness connectors and to allow access the the bottom of the MB to facilitate M.2 device swaps.
I will also have to do some mach ups to see if the “t” version CPU can be cooled adequately without resorting to a CPU AIO water cooler.
And in the end this rig will have to run OS X well to be a success.
**** The above is my pipe dream. My main issue is the expense now that I have given it a little thought. There are always options. I may need to build and refine the case using parts that I already own and see where it goes.
All comments and suggestions are welcome.
Good modding,
neil
This thread is intended to document my next project for those that would like to follow along and share my decision process along with the fabrication details as they occur.
At this point I have a desire to produce a small efficient machine that has external access to the drives. This would mean that I could change the boot device(s) without disassembling the machine.
Also, the itch includes using a Z170 Mini-ITX motherboard that has the usual things along with USB 3.1 and M.2 (4x PCIe Gen 3.0 with 32 Gbs). This itch appears to be satisfied by the ASUS Z170I Pro Gaming motherboard although the Maximus VIII Impact (TBA) will probably also fit the bill. I am waiting for these boards to become available in the US.
You can view the details here: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z170I-PRO-GAMING/
I am also waiting for the i7-6700T (35W) CPU. This low power unit should produce a very functional machine and keep the power budget down.
DDR4 memory… this will be my first experience with it.
A Samsung M2 device… whatever is currently best performing if not the SM951.
SATA Express? No experience with this tech so will need to take a look.
On board slot for WiFi/BT. This should be a given on the ITX motherboards.
A GPU. Well this is TBD but should be capable of running multiple displays and would be nice to be at 4K and a good refresh. More research needed. Will need to be compact to fit the case.
And so forth.
I am very pleased with the Mini-ITX tower that I designed early this year (see this project: ). I think that I will reuse many of those design concepts, adding a little to the width of the case to facilitate not having the bulge at the GPU harness connectors and to allow access the the bottom of the MB to facilitate M.2 device swaps.
I will also have to do some mach ups to see if the “t” version CPU can be cooled adequately without resorting to a CPU AIO water cooler.
And in the end this rig will have to run OS X well to be a success.
**** The above is my pipe dream. My main issue is the expense now that I have given it a little thought. There are always options. I may need to build and refine the case using parts that I already own and see where it goes.
All comments and suggestions are welcome.
Good modding,
neil