The first motive behind constructing a Mini-ITX PC, in my thoughts, has all the time been to outclass the present consoles whereas preserving the system equally small. Nevertheless, the finest graphics playing cards and CPUs today require massive coolers and transferring a number of air, so skimping out on thermals isn’t an important concept.
Enter Lian Li spinoff SsupD and its newest Meshroom S case, a flexible rectangular case (it technically helps ITX and full-sized ATX motherboards) with mesh on all sides, to ship correct cooling whereas preserving issues compact at 9.7 x 6.6 x 14.2 inches. Contained in the mesh-slathered shell is simply sufficient room for artistic and succesful ITX builds.
However the Meshroom S’ most tough problem could be its $160 worth. This features a PCIe 4.0 riser cable (or you will get the case for $120 with no cable). However the firm’s earlier (and in some methods fairly comparable) Meshlicious case sells for simply $99 and features a PCIe 3.0 riser cable that, for a lot of graphics playing cards and motherboards, will ship about the identical efficiency. Let’s dive into this compact however difficult case to see if it could beat one of many sturdy rivals on our Greatest Mini-ITX case record.
Specs of the Ssupd Meshroom S
| Kind | Mini ITX |
| Motherboard Help | Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 9.7 x 6.6 x 14.2 inches |
| Max GPU Size | 13.2-inches |
| CPU Cooler Peak | 3-inches |
| Exterior Bays | X |
| Inside Bays | 2x 3.5″ HDD or 7x 2.5″ SSD |
| Growth Slots | Small kind issue GPU: 3 |
| Full size GPU: 4 | |
| Entrance I/O | 2x USB Kind A 3.2 Gen 1 |
| 1x USB Kind C 3.2 Gen 2 | |
| Different | 1x rear energy change |
| 90 diploma HDMI cable | |
| Entrance Followers | None |
| Rear Followers | None |
| Prime Followers | None |
| Backside Followers | None |
| Weight | 8.1 kilos |
| Guarantee | 1 12 months |
Options of the Ssupd Meshroom S
My preliminary response to the Meshroom S was “Wow, it’s a mesh rectangle.” However as soon as all the panels have been eliminated, it’s clear there’s extra room inside than you would possibly suppose. That mentioned, it looks as if Ssupd lower some corners concerning the chassis’ structural integrity.
The Meshroom S by no means bent in the course of the construct course of, however I used to be further cautious as a result of it felt like that was a chance. Alternatively, the panels are stable and snap into the case’s body simply. The case actually solely feels versatile when it’s disassembled.
Regardless of its measurement, the Meshroom S has a good quantity of area for storage gadgets. However set up requires extra work than ordinary. If you wish to set up an SSD or two on the prime of the case, you’ll have to screw in an included bracket. Another choice is the underside of the case, however which means one of many drives have to be lined by the facility provide with a view to match two. Lastly, drives may be put in simply above your GPU, behind the motherboard tray. However given how cramped the instances is even with an ITX motherboard, I’d advocate utilizing M.2 drives.
For a case that encourages you to get artistic, SSUPD forgot about cable administration; there are barely any cable tie-down factors. I used to be capable of cable handle on this chassis nicely sufficient, however for those who plan on a customized water loop in right here, you might have to DIY some cable factors.
The Meshroom S’ design sports activities many similarities to the Meshlicious; the most important one being the help for various layouts.
The Meshroom S’ IO is fascinating, in that the facility button is positioned on the rear prime of the case, whereas the 2x USB 3.1 and 1x Kind-C Gen 2 ports are positioned on the prime entrance. The documentation the corporate despatched with the Meshroom S additionally states you may take away the highest IO for those who want the inner area, probably for a big radiator and followers within the entrance. However that will be a somewhat drastic choice as there is no such thing as a clean plate included. So eradicating the ports would go away you with a fairly large gap on the prime of your case.
Inside Format
The Ssupd Meshroom S stands at 9.7 x 6.5 x 14.2 inches (LWH), which is simply shorter than the NZXT H1 V2. As I discussed earlier, there fairly a little bit of area inside (for an ITX construct, not less than), which made the construct course of easy, so far as SFF builds go. Most issues simply screw into the body the place it seems to be like they need to go.
Cooling within the Meshroom S is simple for those who use this chassis with an ITX motherboard – emphasis on the ITX guess. Regardless of its measurement, the Meshroom S may also match ATX motherboards, however you’ll have to buy a 250mm riser cable, because the included one is simply too brief. And what I mentioned in regards to the case being pretty roomy would positively not maintain true for those who tried to suit a full-sized motherboard right here. Word additionally that whereas ATX energy provides as much as 170mm are supported, for those who you an ATX motherboard, you’ll must go for an SFX, just like the one I used for this construct.
The entrance of the Meshroom S can home as much as a 280mm radiator, however that requires the set up of one other bracket. Radiators as much as 240mm may be put in behind the motherboard tray, however watch out there as a result of there isn’t a lot room for the followers to absorb air there. Within the occasion you resolve to make use of an air cooler, a 120mm fan may be mounted on the prime of the case for exhaust, however it can’t be thicker than 15mm.
Since DIY liquid cooling has develop into more and more in style, SSUPD wished to make the Meshroom S prepared for these PETG tubes and water blocks. Nevertheless, until you’ve got the palms of a surgeon and the brains of a carpenter, I don’t see any practicality in working a customized loop on this case. Issues will get extraordinarily tight and one of many radiators should be mounted behind the motherboard tray for those who plan on cooling your graphics card.
Like most ITX instances, massive CPU tower coolers aren’t welcome. The Meshroom S solely helps coolers as much as 74mm (2.91 inches), so it’d be clever to go together with an AIO. Graphics playing cards however are welcome in all sizes, as this chassis can match playing cards as much as 13.2 inches lengthy and 4 slots thick.
Testing {Hardware}
Our new ITX case testing {hardware} makes use of an Intel twelfth Gen “Alder Lake” 12600K, cooled by an NZXT Kraken 120 all-in-one liquid cooler. Our graphics card is an EVGA RTX 3050 XC.
Acoustic Outcomes for the Ssupd Meshroom S
Our acoustic check consists of three eventualities: We run the CPU at full load, the CPU and GPU at full load, and an optimized mode. The CPU full load check runs the CPU and case followers at their most pace. For the CPU and GPU full load acoustic check, we additionally stress the EVGA RTX 3050 XC and set the followers at 75% pace, as a result of in gaming the followers by no means run at 100% and are far too loud after they do.
For the optimized mode, we run the GPU fan pace at 30% and run the CPU and included case followers on the lowest pace that they may spin.
It ought to be famous that as a result of this chassis doesn’t embody any followers, we’re solely working the CPU fan (and the followers on the graphics card) for these exams. Once more, you possibly can mount a fan on the prime for exhaust. However since each uncovered aspect of the case is mesh, warmth accumulating inside (particularly with this modest {hardware}) shouldn’t be a serious subject.
Since that is the primary Mini-ITX case we’ve examined on this platform, we don’t have charts since there’s nothing to check it to. Keep tuned for extra compact case critiques quickly.
For a case that’s all mesh, the acoustics outcomes have been what I anticipated: nothing too quiet, nor too loud. Issues have been silent at 34dB at optimized idle, 41dB with the CPU fan working at full pace, and 45dB with the CPU fan maxed and the GPU at 75%.
Thermal Outcomes for the SSUPD Meshroom S
For the thermal exams, all case and CPU fan speeds are set to 100%. The Core i5-12600K is about at a 4.3GHz clock at 1.12v on all efficiency cores, to make sure constant energy consumption throughout check eventualities.
In thermal testing, the CPU stayed good and chill at 53 levels Celsius and the GPU hit 67 levels Celsius. Once more, it’s possible you’ll wish to set up an exhaust fan for those who’re utilizing a high-end GPU and CPU, however for essentially the most half all of the mesh ought to go a great distance towards preserving your parts from getting too toasty.
Backside Line
The Ssupd Meshroom S is a cute ITX chassis, however it feels prefer it suffers from a Napoleon Complicated, attempting to do an excessive amount of. I’m all for versatility in a case, however the quantity of labor it takes to make the Meshroom S remotely totally different from a mesh ITX case is off-putting.
And the corporate hasn’t solved the primary subject with its earlier case: The Meshroom S comes with an L-shaped HDMI cable, mandatory as a result of when utilizing a full-sized graphics card, the video ports are on the backside, and never very removed from the desk or flooring. So that you’ll both want to make use of that HDMI cable to hook up with your monitor or, in case you have a setup that requires a DisplayPort for VRR, you’ll must supply your personal angled cable, including to the already pretty excessive price.
That mentioned, the thermal efficiency is outstanding, and putting in our pretty modest and compact {hardware} was easy because of the detachable panels. However don’t anticipate the construct course of to be simple if making an attempt to put in bigger, extra highly effective parts.
For $160, I’d anticipated a riser cable for an ATX motherboard, or not less than one fan within the field. The corporate’s personal Meshlicious case, whereas not fairly as versatile, sells for simply $99 with a PCIe 3.0 riser cable. And for many, that cable affords sufficient bandwidth, until you’re utilizing one thing like AMD’s RX 6400 or 6500XT and their x4 interface, which will get mighty constricting at 3.0 speeds.
If the $160 launch worth holds, most could be higher off spending that form of cash on a Cooler Grasp NR200 or a Lian Li O11 Mini, each of that are totally different instances than the Meshroom S, however higher total until you’re useless set on getting as a lot mesh as potential in your PC constructing life.
