Shrink it! (P182 to Sugo SG05 build log)

Hi,

since I am moving to a small room on campus in a few months, I decided to shrink my system. From a full ATX build in an Antec P182, I'm switching to the popular combination of Zotac GF-9300 ITX in a Silverstone Sugo SG05.


right: before - left: after

Specs (no change - removed - added):
Intel E7200
4GB Corsair DDR2
Zotac 8800GT (for now, single slot isn't too great for this)
- Gigabyte P35-DS3L
+ Zotac GF-9300 ITX
- SATA DVD (using external drive)
- Samsung 250GB
Samsung 320GB (not sure yet if this will be enough)




My current test setup. The casing in the lower left is the HDD cage from the Antec P182, too lazy to unscrew the drives for now

The system is idling at about 45° C CPU and 40° C GPU. For a stock E7200 without case, this is bad. The Intel stock fan isn't silent either. Before I put everything in the case, I need to decide on a decent cooler.
At the moment I am thinking about either the GeminII S without fan or the Scythe Shuriken. The GeminII is really tight in this case and I feel it would be overkill. Thermalright AXP-140 is a great heatsink, but overpriced.
At the moment Zotac+SG05 builds are popping up everywhere, with everyone taking a different approach on cooling. It's not easy to find a final answer

In case I would go for another HDD (320GB isn't that much), I am looking at the Samsung EcoGreen F2 with 1TB. It uses 500GB platters which makes it fast (for a 5400rpm drive), cool and quiet.

It's amazing how much space you save, but I'll miss the silence of the P182. It's still one of my favourite cases and definitely of a higher quality, compared to the SG05.

EDIT: more pictures

That's gotta be the first time I've seen the SG-05 next to a P180/P182 case. Damn, that SG-05 is a bit bigger than I expected.

Yes, it's about the same as most Shuttle systems. But if you consider that you get the same build in there, it's still impressive

Deep inside, we're all waiting for that simple yet clever, minimalistic looking ITX case from Antec, aren't we

I just put a Scythe Shuriken in my PVR and i'm quite happy with it. The system is currently in a spare cheap/poorly vented mid-tower but I plan on migrating it to something that has better cooling/is more HTPC like at some point, hence the lower profile HSF choice. Even in the current case tho, the Shuriken keeps the toastier P4 HT <45c while the system does what it does. And the fan is sufficiently quiet for living room duty.

If you do go with the Shuriken tho, i'd recommend a bolt thru kit. I've already got one in the mail. I just found that the pins inspired less confidence then usual and there seems to be quite a lot of tension - the board really started to bow after forcing the last pin into position.

kick said:

If you do go with the Shuriken tho, i'd recommend a bolt thru kit. I've already got one in the mail. I just found that the pins inspired less confidence then usual and there seems to be quite a lot of tension - the board really started to bow after forcing the last pin into position.

Click to expand...

Yes, I went with the Shuriken, sorry for not keeping this thread up to date.

Actually, I'm not happy with my temperatures at all. I idle around 50° C, load around 60° C. The push-pin system does bend the board a good bit and I already re-seated the cooler twice. Didn't help anything. Fan speed is set to 10 in BIOS, case fan is regulated to 5v.

Which bolt-through kit are you getting? I got the Thermalright one here, but you mount it from the top and you don't get to the screws properly.

EDIT: I added some pictures of how the build looks now. As you see, the heatsink overlaps the push-pins and holes, which is why you can't use the Thermalright kit. The screws are too long and you couldn't screw them in.

That looks awesome man, I love it!!