My mATX/LAN Box build

bubblescivic

New Member
So, after hearing a friend wet his pants about building a SFF (small form factor) mATX computer build, I've decided to embark on my own mATX adventure. It will be an mATX gaming computer that WILL be overclocked. My goal is to take all of the power of a full sized overclocked fast dual core and throw all of it into a cube case. I have all the parts I need except for my Lian-Li V350B case, which should be here tomorrow. Here's a start of what's to come.

I didn't expect the Zalman heatsink I chose to be so big... I hope it's not too tall to clear the PSU and the motherboard tray/rear panel.
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Donor motherboard from my old file server, Gigabyte G33M-DS2R motherboard.
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The E8400 CPU that i will be using, hopefully I can run 450x9 on this sucker 24/7 in the mATX box. That's my ultimate goal
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G.Skill F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ RAM DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 Micron D9GMH ICs
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2x74gb Western Digital Raptors,10,000rpm 16mb cache in RAID 0
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XFX GeForce 8800GS Alpha Dog Overclocked Edition 384mb
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check out the solid copper heatsink on this thing.
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SuperTalent Card Reader
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OCZ Powerstream 520w PSU, very reliable and will support everything I need until a new PSU comes in.
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The case it will all be going in.
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All in all this should be one SICKKK little mATX box, I'll keep you guys updated.
 
here's the heatsink mounted on the board... i've got to say, zalman has a GREAT mount other than the fact that you have to remove the board to remove the back/front plates for the heatsink. if this heatsink clears the case/psu, i doubt i will ever take it apart.


look how much further the board extends!
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north bridge and ram clearance... i was concerned before the test fit.
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nice dude, that's a fast processor. i personally like doing lots of video editing and video conversion as well as folding at home so more processors fits me better, thinking about adding another HD 4850.. man that thing is fast!! it really crushes my processor for folding. i mean its got over a tera-flop of processing power overclocked!! :D

oh my god i can't imagine trying to fit my video card in a case like that. the thing won't go into my first pci-e x16 slot because it conflicts with my storage drive... the drive sticks out about a half an inch too far and it gets in the way so i'd have to move it to get another card in...
 
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nice dude, that's a fast processor. i personally like doing lots of video editing and video conversion as well as folding at home so more processors fits me better, thinking about adding another HD 4850.. man that thing is fast!! it really crushes my processor for folding. i mean its got over a tera-flop of processing power overclocked!! :D

oh my god i can't imagine trying to fit my video card in a case like that. the thing won't go into my first pci-e x16 slot because it conflicts with my storage drive... the drive sticks out about a half an inch too far and it gets in the way so i'd have to move it to get another card in...

actually, the video card doesn't extend too far there's even clearance behind it because there's actually nothing but the rest of the motherboard for about 1.5" before you even hit the front fans.
 
Sweet man. Nice choice on the components (considering the form factor). Look like you've achieved all your goals for this rig. :D
 
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