TipToe MacMini z370n wifi i5-8400

[TipToe]

TipToe MacMini:
Core i5-8400 - Gigabyte z370n wifi - 16GB RAM - IGPU

Components

Gigabyte Z370n wifi Motherboard
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076VD4XV4/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

Intel Core i5-8400 Coffee Lake
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0759FGJ3Q/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

Noctua Low-profile quiet CPU cooler for Intel 115x NH-L9I
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009VCAJ7W/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

Realan H80 mini-itx case + 150w PSU + 120w notebook adapter
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...-without-power-supply/109426_32719449939.html

SAMSUNG 8GB DDR4 PC4-19200, 2400MHZ, 288 PIN DIMM, 1.2V, CL 15 desktop RAM MEMORY MODULE M378A1K43CB2-CRC[
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072Q1G1XH/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

Samsung 860 EVO 250GB M.2 SATA Internal SSD (MZ-N6E250BW)[
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07864V6CK/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

BCM94352Z Fru 04X6020 AC BT4.0 867Mbps For lenovo
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Bra...-lenovo-B40-B50-E40-Y50-YAGA/32788352973.html



Already Owned

LG 24UD58-B 24-Inch 4K UHD IPS Monitor with FreeSync
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LPNKFK0/?tag=tonymacx86com-20



Comments

My MacBook Pro 13" 2014 is getting old. I'm professional photographer, so i need fast system to work with. For the first i decided to buy new MacBook Pro 15 2017. It's pretty expensive, but it does not have a card reader, USB ports. My current laptop completely suits me out of the house, but it is not productive enough for daily work with photos. So i decided to build HackMini on new i5-8400 CofFee Lake. It has 6 cores, IGPU and TDP only 65W (actually about 50w in peak based on the system report)


Installation Notes

If you plan to build the same system, I'll give all you need

You need to replace your WiFi module to the compatible with macOS!

Efi.zip - complete EFI folder with all kexts and config.plist (IGPU
Bios.zip - bios settings for success installation. Unzip it and copy in root directory of your hard driver or ssd. Use "save and exit -- load profile" in your bios to load profile from this file.




Benchmarks
General system benchmarks from Geekbench 4

Have a nice Hack! )

 

[valherru]

Very nice work man, thank you for sharing it! I am going to build exactly the same system (funny that after digging around for a few days and concluded with this configuration you posted it Would you please share some pics from inside of the box? The only difference from my planned config is that I would prefer Realan H60 over H80 you used so I am wondering how much space left above the Noctua fan. And one more thing, could you try to connect three displays if it works please?

 

[TipToe]

Very nice work man, thank you for sharing it! I am going to build exactly the same system (funny that after digging around for a few days and concluded with this configuration you posted it Would you please share some pics from inside of the box? The only difference from my planned config is that I would prefer Realan H60 over H80 you used so I am wondering how much space left above the Noctua fan. And one more thing, could you try to connect three displays if it works please?

Thx! )

Some measurements for you (Realan H-80 case)

Total Height -80mm
Height from the bottom of the case to the cooler top point -52mm
Heigh from the top of the cooler to the hard disk shelf with 2.5 hdd installed -16mm
Heigh from the top of the cooler (no hdd shelf installed) to the top cover - 28mm

So, if you don't planning to use any SATA devices, you can make it with Realan h-60. 2 ports m.2 enough.

My opinion for the CPU with TDP 65 H60 isn't enough for the proper cooling.

Temperature measurements and fan rpm

Internet, youtube and some minor activity - about 40°c 1200rpm almost noiseless
Lightroom photo editing - about 50° 1600-1800rpm slightly noisily
5 minutes full load (CPUburn app) - max 73° 2200-2400rpm. Silent then my macbook pro 13" 2014 with full load.

Any case it's up to you! )

Have a nice build! )

 

[TipToe]

PS:

I haven't DP cable, so i can't connect 3 display at once. But 2 displays works fine over HDMI1 and HDMI2

my main answer to you :"awaiting moderator approval, and is invisible to normal visitors." Don't know why.

 

[TipToe]

Overlocked my RAM. Full auto in bios

 

[valherru]

Awesome, thank you so much for all the details and measurements! The temperatures looks good for such a small case considering you don't use any extra fans so it is quite prominising for even something a bit smaller. After all, the H60 case is just $25 so I will take my chances

 

[TipToe]

Awesome, thank you so much for all the details and measurements! The temperatures looks good for such a small case considering you don't use any extra fans so it is quite prominising for even something a bit smaller. After all, the H60 case is just $25 so I will take my chances

You're welcome!

I tried extra fans, but no success at all. I can't find 5010 or 6010 PWM fans. Without PWM fans a very noisy. And i can't say they help to change temperature down.

 

[valherru]

I tried extra fans, but no success at all. I can't find 5010 or 6010 PWM fans. Without PWM fans a very noisy. And i can't say they help to change temperature down.

Have you checked the ones from Noctua? e.g. https://noctua.at/en/nf-a6x25-flx if it will be possible to fit there. It is very quiet and with U.L.N.A. you can barely hear it.

 

[TipToe]

It's only 10mm thickness is suitable. Maybe I should use glue ))

 

[bg2431]

@TipToe

Very nice build. Thank you for sharing. I have same exact components except CPU is i7-8700, 32GB RAM and different case: In-Win IW-BP655.FH300TB3 Mini-ITX SFF. Can I use your EFI folder as a straight paste after post-install or a CPU code should be updated to i7-8700? Looking for the least invasive use of your EFI in my build. Thank you!