- For years now, you've been able to buy
compact ITX motherboards
with support for all the latest features,
16-core processors,
64 gigabytes of memory, (packaging crumpling)
even things like high-quality onboard audio
and high-speed onboard networking.
But one thing that has always been the bane
of many ITX's existence has been the lack of expandability.
That's right my friends, that's it.
A single PCI express 16X slot at best,
means that if you want to run dedicated graphics,
you will not be throwing in any network cards,
(thumping)
high-speed PCI express SSDs, (thumping)
or storage controllers.
At least that used to be true.
In today's build, we are gonna be splitting
this single PCI express 16X slot into dual 8X slots
for two expansion cards on a mini ITX build.
And we're going to be doing it on a budget.
(banging)
This thing's not even expensive.
And it's brought to you by Seasonic.
Seasonic makes high-performance,
high-quality power supplies,
and all kinds of form factors
like their Focus Gold SGX, 650-watt power supply
we're gonna be using for this build today.
It's got a 10-year warranty and 80+ gold efficiency.
You can check it out at the link below
(techy music)
(whirring)
(beeping)
(loud techy music)
We're gonna blow through the rationale
for a lot of our hardware choices today,
because I think they're pretty self explanatory.
We went for a Ryzen 930 900 XT.
It's a 12-core processor that offers
not just great multi-threaded performance,
but also great single-threaded performance for gaming.
We've gone with 32 gigs of G Skill TridentZ memory.
We're not going RGB today because this isn't gonna be
as much of a flashy build.
It's gonna be more of like
a versatile high-performance rig.
And then for storage,
we've actually gone with a Sabrent four-terabyte N.2
This is only PCI express gen three,
even though technically we could use gen four,
but I was more into capacity for the game library today
than, you know, the absolute fastest benchmark scores.
So we're going to go ahead
and pop this little heat shield off here,
get our drive inserted,
take our thermal pad peel off.
Then the whole thing goes back in with the screws
we used to take it off.
It is truly remarkable how much they can pack
onto these mini boards these days.
We've got not one, but two RGB headers
supporting different standards, a 12-volt and addressable.
We've got four SEDA ports.
We've got both the older style USB 3.0 front panel header,
as well as the newer type C one.
We've got USB two, actually a couple of USB twos
front panel audio,
of course, that PCI express gen four, M.2 slot
and check this out, there's another gen three M.2 slot
hiding on the back.
One of the coolest things about this board
is that we don't even have to worry
about putting high-speed networking on,
unless we want to go 10 gig
because it's actually got two and a half gig networking
on board, along with a bunch of USB three onboard video,
as well as-
Ooh, that's a pretty limited onboard audio selection,
but frankly, most people these days
are probably using their HDMI audio out,
or in the case of what I would use this for,
a head-mounted display.
So I'm not gonna take too many points off for that.
It's also got AX, so wifi six onboard wireless networking.
Freaking nuts, look at it!
It's not enough to just have a motherboard that's capable
of splitting or bifurcating the PCI express slot, though.
You need to also have a case that's built
with that functionality in mind,
or there's not going to be anywhere to put the card.
(crinkling)
So this right here is the SM 580 from Sliger.
These guys are a very niche case manufacturer
that I actually used recently
(whirring)
for a personal rig update for my VR setup,
because they've got kind of a unique approach
to small form factor and modularity
that I really like.
So check this out.
This case is designed to be used a number of different ways.
You can either install a triple slot graphics card
on your, you know, standard ITX motherboard
using these three PCI slots at the back,
or as we're obviously going to be doing, you can-
(metal clinking)
There we go...
Ho ho, install a dual slot and a single slot
using this special riser cable that's available
as an option when you purchase it.
Now it does cost extras.
These are nice, high-quality shielded cables.
And this is generally considered to be
more of a server feature than a consumer feature.
But I think in the grand scheme of things,
to be able to achieve this kind of size
(plastic crumpling)
(thumping)
with dual expansion slots,
(crumpling)
it's pretty compelling.
Maybe the reason it impresses me so much,
even though it is like an $80 adder,
is that I know the alternative is way more expensive
because if the functionality is built into your motherboard,
all you need is this relatively simple cable, you see,
there's no actual chips on this PCB.
It's just the 16 lanes wired up to two 8X slots.
By contrast, if the motherboard didn't support bifurcation,
we'd be in a situation where you have to put some kind
(whirring)
of switch chip, like a PLX chip that would, yes,
allow each card to use all of the bandwidth individually,
if the other one wasn't doing anything,
but also would add a ton of cost,
not to mention more complexity.
(whirring)
Before we proceed with the build,
let's go ahead and install some of our optional accessories
like this carrying handle.
It's actually secured with this bracing on the inside.
Seems like it should hold up reasonably well.
And for installation of the pass-through power cable,
I'm gonna use this blank plate here
because while you can use one
that just kind of passes through the cable
and leaves this dangling outside the case,
if you have a tall graphics card,
(metal clinking)
I don't, I'm gonna be using
a founder's edition RTX 2080, super.
And it should fit just fine,
Even with- (metal scraping)
Agh, see this, this potential clearance issue here.
Oh shoot.
I can't have the handle in
when I wanna take out the radiator bracket.
(thumping) Oy!
Hey, there it is.
So it's just the two screws on this side,
the corresponding two on the other side
and make sure you don't have your handle installed.
Now the orientation of this is apparently important.
You want the bumps here facing toward the front of the case.
So I gotta make sure I remember that.
I also need to give a little bit of thought
(thudding)
to how I want to orient my AIO.
That's right, my friends.
You can put a massive dual 140 millimeter AIO in this thing.
Wait, is this even gonna fit?
No, no, there's your problem.
You gotta take the top of this puppy completely off
in order to get the radiator in.
Lower the whole thing in as an assembly.
(metal clanking)
Ah!
(zipping) Cases like this,
it sort of raises the question for me.
Why even bother shipping it assembled?
(zipping)
Let's have a look here.
How are we supposed to get that block to that CPU?
(scoffing)
I don't know if this H159 is gonna fit.
We might have to go with something with thinner tubes.
(whooshing)
I think we're good, now.
I pulled this H115i Pro RGB out of the stock room
and I think...
This should fit fine.
Yup.
Let's go ahead and pop this power supply bracket, yeah.
(zipping)
We're going deeper and deeper and deeper
at every stage here.
Okay...
Maybe...
Through here?
(metal clinking)
No it's not gonna go like that,
It might have to go like that and be upside down.
Shoot, I was hoping to have the fans on the top
for easier dust removal from the radiator fins,
but it looks like I'm going to have to go
the other way around.
(thumping) Cause it doesn't...
Go in deep enough here from the mounts
for the side panels.
(ticking)
Now that I've got the fans loaded in here,
this is an unbelievable amount of air flow in this case,
like check this out.
Dual 140 millimeters that take up
the entire bottom of the chassis.
Then, that's gonna run across our motherboard,
across our graphics card, and we've got dual 140s
that are gonna pull it out the top.
I'm jazzed.
Let's get this motherboard installed.
(ticking)
Here it is.
This is like the big moment I just have to like,
not break it.
Wow, it's a really tight fit.
Eh!
(clicking)
Now it's comin' together.
Now that I'm done taking it apart the whole time.
Ah, power supply.
Oh yeah, right.
Sponsor of the video.
Can't forget that.
Yeah, we're done with the computer.
(host whining)
No way to turn it on.
(cardboard scraping)
In terms of orientation, we're gonna put our SGX 650 in
with the fan up.
So this is an SFX L-power supply,
which means you get that nice 120 millimeter fan
instead of a little tiny 92 mil.
And we're gonna pop it right there.
Just do a quick little test fit.
Oh yeah, that-
(metal scraping)
Ugh, that looks great.
So we're going to have just enough clearance
between this fan and our power supply
for our modular cables there.
I'm a little worried about this power run
going right next to the PCI express cables.
So I'm gonna, I don't know.
I might just leave it hangin' over here.
This is one thing they did not really account for.
Once I plug this 24-pin connector into my motherboard,
unless I've got a real short cable kit,
I don't know where I'm putting this.
I think I got it.
So I tucked it.
Do you know what I mean?
Give it the old tuck.
Strapped it right here.
And it looks like both my fans spin.
So I'm just gonna run this up to the graphics card
and we're in pretty good shape here.
It actually doesn't even look that bad.
So, David, what do you want to see in here?
We've got a secondary slot that we could use for...
maybe a... (tapping)
dual-input capture card, raid controller,
high-speed SSD?
Mmm, I already got a high-speed SSD-
- [David] Duo slot yeah.
- We're doin' the capture card aren't we?
Let's do the capture card.
Alright cool.
For those of you who don't know why you would want
a dual-input capture card, this thing is pretty cool.
It's called the Live Gamer Duo.
It's got 4K pass-through or 240 Hertz, 1080P pass-through.
(plastic crumpling)
So you can actually gain at a higher resolution
or higher frame rate than what you're broadcasting.
But what it allows you to do is have one
with pass-through, for your display.
So that's what you'd use for an external device,
like an Xbox or PlayStation or whatever the case may be,
another PC.
And then you've got a second one that's just an input.
No pass-through for your camera.
So you would have, instead of like a webcam,
(whirring)
you'd have like a mirror less or DSLR
or something like that, plugged into your capture card.
So you can do the whole thing with just one card.
(whirring)
Let's go ahead and throw our RTX 2080 Super up in this biz.
Oh yeah, remember when this
(plastic crinkling) used to be sexy?
You know, these are still going on eBay for like 600 bucks?
I mean, you can't buy a 3000 series.
So if you like actually need to play video games today,
I guess I can see why you might buy one of these but.
Come on guys, just wait a little bit.
Just wait a little bit.
Yeah don't enable the scalpers.
Let their inventory rot.
So check this out.
Because, at least in this configuration
with the bifurcated slot, the graphics card is not
right up against the motherboard tray.
You might actually be able to get away
with a Founder's Edition card
and you could certainly do like a double
or triple card here.
There's enough air flow coming over this.
I think it would be okay.
This is frickin' sick.
Now I feel bad having a 2080 Super in here.
Should I change it out?
- [David] Yeah. - Should I put a 3080 in here?
- [David] Yeah yeah!
(ticking)
Found one.
This is like actually a blast,
getting all of this to go together.
In goes the 12-pin connector.
Let's just throw a little cable tiey-tie across here,
keep this out of our fan blades.
And now, the final piece.
(plastic clicking)
(gasping)
Holy crap, why is this not fitting in here?
See, I love small form factor cases.
I hate getting stuff to fit in them.
I can't even move it back far enough to not interfere.
(blooping)
(serious music)
I have an idea.
(banging)
(clicking)
Oh...
(laughing)
It's in!
Well, it doesn't actually affect anything.
Like it's not...
It's not even...
It doesn't do anything.
It's just, and it's not even aesthetic.
You can't even see it.
Here we go boys!
(clicking)
Oh, I see it.
(clicking)
I see it.
- [David] Oh my gosh.
- Is it in?
This is dense.
That's right, that's how confident I am.
I'm using a thermal pad.
(David gasping)
It's like a good one though.
This is really not my finest cable management work.
But...
There's nothing in any of the fans.
Shoot.
(clicking)
These won't close.
I need to hammer the radiator some more.
I don't even think I can get the front panel all the way on
with how the radiator's right behind the plate behind it.
I mean, David, can we just say it's like PS5-inspired now?
- [David] Heck yeah!
- I mean off camera, I would definitely feel
like I have to fix this, but like...
Can we test it?
- [David] Yeah!
- Okay, so you'll have to use...
you'll have to use an AIO that doesn't have like a really,
really square profile, but let's give it a shot.
(clicking) Come on.
3900 XT, 32 gigs of ram detected, everything detected.
Very nice.
What do you think?
XMP? Just gonna- (snapping)
work for me. - [David] Oh yeah.
DDR4 3200 CL14.
Shoot, I kind of wish I had a 4K monitor.
This is 1440P we're going to run the game
at Ultra Nightmare, but like.
I'm not expecting 3080 to even break a sweat.
I'm starting my min-max average values timer.
Let's jump in game here.
I wanna see what my max temps look like on CPU and GPU.
(gasping)
Should I go get a 4K monitor?
- [David] Yeah.
I might have to.
This is running at 220 FPS, it's too maternal.
Holy crap.
You know what I just noticed David?
- [David] What's that?
- I noticed something I didn't notice.
It's not even loud.
- [David] Wow.
- GPU maximum 75.
CPU maximum 73.
(jazzy music)
♪ I can do anything just to kiss you ♪
This thing's awesome!
(whirring) All we can do now
is try and push it harder. (blooping)
(clicking)
Let's step the game up to 4K.
Actually, this is a really great visualization
of how many more pixels 4k is compared to 1440p.
Boop!
Pa-pow!
Aw, I wanted to land on him.
That sucked.
This is amazing.
We are gaming at 4K
(tapping)
120 FPS.
Rock solid here.
All right, I mean, if this doesn't drive up our temps,
then I don't know what's gonna do it.
Let's alt tab out and have a look here.
CPU max 77.
So we did hit it a bit harder there.
And GPU...
75.
(thumping)
That's it?
We're maxing out our turbo and the GPU fans
are running at 1800 RPM.
It's still quiet!
Oh wow, it's heavy.
I was like-
And look how portable with this great handle-
I'm, d'ugh!
It's a lot of hardware in there.
Look at that it's all fanned.
Only fans.
(whirring)
♪ I can do anything ♪
(clicking) (whistling)
♪ Just to kiss you ♪
(chiming)
That's great, I was expecting to have clearance problems
with the GPU pulling air through the side panel
and then not really having anywhere to put it,
but these bottom fans make it, like,
I can really feel the heat moving away.
Like here's hot.
Here's not.
And fortunately the radiator's still getting access
to a decent amount of not like super heated air
from, hem hem.
The other side.
(metal clinking)
Power supply fans definitely working.
It's still quiet though.
So not only does this mini ITX case have better cooling
than most of the other cases I've seen in this size class,
it manages to have an expansion card in it.
I mean, I think this thing's a big win,
but I'll let you guys be the judge of that.
Just like I'll let you guys be the judge
of my segues to our sponsors.
Seasonic is the beating heart of our system.
And you guys can check them out
at the link in the video description.
No matter what your PC building project is,
whether it's a small form factor machine like this one,
or a gigantic RTX 3090 equipped monster.
Seasonic has got the product for you.
They've got units going up to 80+ titanium efficiency
and warranties that are so long, your power supply
is probably going to live longer than your dog.
So check them out again at the link
in the video description.
(upbeat music) Thanks for watching.
And we will see you again on the next video.
If you guys enjoyed this video
and you love RTX 3000 content,
maybe check out
(snapping)
our 8K gaming experience with the RTX 3090.
It's crazy!