Hardware advice required

[thebs]

I have not seen those before, they sounds like an excellent invention, making the cleaning even easier than filters that are build in to some cases which require you to flip the case on it's head in order to get that filter out.

More and more OEMs are starting to include them, or offer them as an add-on, with their products. I'm seeing more and more of a "standard dimension" to the side vent for this reason (around 4x8", 100x200mm), and it wouldn't surprise me if it becomes a defacto-standard vent size that is always flush to be compatible.

If (when) I do get around to build mini-ITX system, I will definately get filters like that. A bit strange that they do not mention on the page that they are magnetic. Or then the next thickness of my glasses is a guide dog.

Beyond your web browser's title bar ("Magnetic Dust Filter Gaming," which may not be displayed if your browser lacks a window title bar), the "How it Works" page also includes a description ...

'DEMCiflex Computer and Electronic Dust Filters fits over the air intakes of your electronic or computer equipment by way of a built-in magnetic frame. It was designed to fit on the outside of the case and needs no screws, tools or special skills. The design allows everybody to use it no matter what their skill level. No need to open the case or undo anything at all.'

I have not seen (or heard) a running mini-ITX system yet, so I made assumptions.

NP, it happens. I try to limit my suggestions to only things I have not only personally (sometimes even professionally) used, but have lots of experience with, including testing against other solutions ... including comparisons at Gaming Meetups, Linux InstallFests, etc...

Sometimes I go and test things new to me myself rather than searhing the web for info, and this is one thing I do want to try out. Thinking that the next system I build for myself could be the one.

It can get expensive rather quickly, trying out lots of different units.

E.g., I have a pair of Lian Li Q-series Mini-ITX cases I've had to stop using because the hard drives get too hot as they are too close to the GPU and not well ventilated. Since then I've always gone with cases that "stand" the GPU vertical, like a cube (from the front). As I mentioned, anything bigger (like a tower) and it defeats the purpose of going Mini-ITX (might as well go MicroATX).

Right, I did not count in the much smaller volume of the case. Didn't think it all the way through I guess.
Allright allright, I'm sold already
Thanks for the tips, appreciated.

Dimitri at HardwareCanucks ("Blame Canada!", mandatory American shout-out to our "Hat") is one of the best sources for a great number case reviews. He also some "roll up" videos where he introduces a half-dozen or so of various cases, as well as their annual lists, from which you can hit their full reviews when one (or more) piques your interest(s). I only wish I knew about them years ago!

Here's their video playlist for their case reviews.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLknCNmc8uMa4w2kK5ybqLWss2tS3I2VNo

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One of the more interesting MicroATX designs, which approaches Mini-ITX (and smaller than some Mini-ITX towers), is the Kickstarter Cerberus' 7x12x14" (170x300x350mm) MicroATX case. It can support either a SFX PSU or full ATX PSU (the latter removing other mounting options) and includes magnetic filters as standard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mhKJ1gtKi0

[bfradette]

have you taken a look at pcpartpicker website?

It takes limited time bundles into account, as well as rebates, and provides you with a checklist style build sheet, and even has pretty darn reliable compatibility matching.

I've built everything from cheap home browsing pc's to couple thousand dollar server replacements on there, and the only compatibility failure I ever had was one single motherboard ethernet port not liking esxi (virtualization OS). Which is more my fault than theirs...

[thebs]

have you taken a look at pcpartpicker website?
It takes limited time bundles into account, as well as rebates, and provides you with a checklist style build sheet, and even has pretty darn reliable compatibility matching.
I've built everything from cheap home browsing pc's to couple thousand dollar server replacements on there, and the only compatibility failure I ever had was one single motherboard ethernet port not liking esxi (virtualization OS). Which is more my fault than theirs...

Self-assembly is all I do for desktops, and PCPartPicker is helpful for initially catching potential issues, before I verify the final combination independently. I usually purchase the board+CPU+max memory for 4 years, then upgrade the GPU mid-life (around 18-30 months). When it's out-of-spec for the latest, I recycle the unit to a family, friend or yank the GPU and make it a non-gaming solution (e.g., server).

But ... um, on your later point about using PCPartPicker for servers ...

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I wouldn't use it for servers, at least not Enterprise Servers where you're going to run a platform that is very picky about hardware.

E.g., VMware ESXi is their HyperVisor bundled with a "host-helper" Linux OS, usually based off of an older, but stable, Enterprise Linux release that has even more limited subset of hardware certification/testing than the Enterprise Linux it was based off of (which is already less than Upstream kernel.org Linux).

In fact, I've been going with a lot of off-lease workstations (including workstation-class notebooks) and servers from Tier-1 OEMs. Proven platforms that are still extremely competitive, but dirt-cheap (like 1/4th the price of new when timed with coupons/sales), especially since compute, I/O and other performance in the PC architecture has drastically "slowed down" since 2010, after 2005-2010 being an explosion of capability.

Heck, my main server farm is still some 35W TDP Opteron 4000-series 6-8 core units with Infiniband interconnect. They'll push the bits around and the whole farm still only uses 400W total at full compute, full I/O, right down to the Infiniband switch. I just love the efficiency of Infiniband over Ethernet's high overhead.