My Project: Intel DH57JG w/ i5-650 inside a Mini-Box M350 Case

/ July 16th, 2010/ Posted in Random / 9 Comments »
 

I am building a new media center PC with an Intel DH57JG w/ i5-650 inside a Mini-BoxM350. I will be updating with more specs, pics, and all the parts used.     

MB:                         Intel DH57JG Socket 1156/ Intel H57/ A&GbE/ Mini-ITX Motherboard, Retail
CPU:                       Intel Core i5 Processor i5-650 3.20GHz 4MB LGA1156 CPU, Retail
HD:                         2x Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500GB (WD5000BEVT) 5400rpm SATA2 8MB 2.5inch Drive
RAM:                     Kingston KHX1333C7D3K2/4G DDR3-1333 4GB(2x 2GB) Memory Kit
Case:                      Mini-Box.com M350 Universal Mini-ITX enclosure
Power:                   picoPSU-160-XT with short-circuit 12.5A 150W AC-DC adapter
Fan #1:                  Low Profile Intel LGA1156 Core i3/i5/i7 Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler
Fans #2:                Noiseblocker NB-BlackSilentFan XM2 40mmx10mm Ultra Quiet Fan (NB-BS4010XM2)
Internal USB:      1 xUSB 2.0 Cable – USB A Female to USB Motherboard 4 Pin Header F/F – 6″ (USBMBADAPT)
Case Mod:             1 xSolid Wall Polyethylene Grommet Edging with Adhesive – Black (GES-BK05)     

Photos:     

Front View

 

Open Top View

 

CPU Fan View

 

PSU Side View

 

Final Case Mod

 

Final Resting Point

 

Temp: 

Before Making Cuts into Case

  

After Making Cuts into Case

  

Info:     

I had to make some modifications to the case due to the i5 CPU and dual hard drive combination. I bought a metal cutter and bastard hand grinder and made the cuts into the case. Since cutting the hole in the top of the case the CPU fan is able to grab cold air. If the additional hard drive was not present this would not be an issue. I installed a small chipset fan in the front fan slot to allow cold air to get pulled in to cool the psu.


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9Comments

  1. jbialy
    2011/03/29 at 17:08:36

    Thanks for sharing your endeavors. Have you had any stability problems to date? I’m concerned about the power supply when the CPU/Video is under heavy load…

    • Jamie
      2011/04/02 at 16:44:01

      I havnt seen any stability problems and it was getting hot under heavy loads still no freeze ups. I recently moved it to another case and all is well with the temp.

  2. Kyle
    2011/01/08 at 16:24:47

    Did you have to modify/lengthen your cable from the front panel to reach to the back for the power switch and power LED?

    • Jamie
      2011/01/12 at 20:45:00

      Yes I had to splice and add some additional cable.

  3. David
    2010/12/18 at 18:29:22

    Intel DH57JG is based on H57 wich supports RAID but ZOTAC is based on H55, not supporting RAID.

    • Jamie
      2010/12/19 at 10:55:12

      Yeah that was another reason I went with the intel

  4. Geoff Ferrari
    2010/09/08 at 05:21:46

    Hi Jamie,

    I’m considering a project like yours. Any particular reason you chose the Intel motherboard rather than the Zotac H55? Does the Intel motherboard include wifi like the Zotac one?

    • Jamie
      2010/09/08 at 08:34:24

      I wanted something basic and solid and intel has good track record of that. If I was to build another one, I would possibly side step intel and go with zotac.

  5. Dave
    2010/08/30 at 09:51:29

    Good catch on the case mod. That is awesome that you got that much of a temperature drop out of that mod. Nice rig, might build one myself.

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