Conversion details for motherboard MSI Vortex G25.
Conversion details for motherboard MSI Vortex G25.
I have some queries, please don’t worry—I’m just starting out. I received an MSI Vortex G25 from my job as the workstation PC because it had a GeForce GTX 1070, an i7 processor, good cooling, and I upgraded the RAM, storage drives, and HDD for video editing. After I left, they advised me to keep the system running.
Here’s what I understand: the motherboard is MSI Z370 (a custom-built laptop version) with an i7 Coffee Lake chip, but I’m unsure about its exact form—Mini ATX, Mini ITX, or something else. I’m eager to remove the internal parts and fit everything into a regular desktop case. However, I have no idea what kind of case would work best or which components are needed for success.
I’ve gathered as much info as possible from the TOMS guide. The G25 came with Intel Core i5-8400, sits on a custom MSI Z370 board, and uses Silent Storm Cooling Pro 3. It features copper heat pipes leading to fins and two fans that draw air from the bottom and push it out the top. The design looks more like a laptop than a traditional desktop, but it handles heat well and doesn’t overheat much.
The graphics card is an MXM module, which is interesting since many OEMs prefer soldered chips. MSI offers higher-end versions with better performance and easier upgrades later, as long as the power rating stays around 150W. The downside is the extra cost compared to chip-down setups. The RAM is 16GB DDR4-2400, but it’s single-channel, which limits bandwidth for heavy tasks. Still, it’s easy to swap in more RAM if needed.
Storage is behind a smooth panel on the top right, hiding two of the four SO-DIMM slots plus two M.2 ports and a 2.5” HDD. One M.2 slot holds a 256GB SSD. The specs mention speeds up to 540MB/s sequential and 97K random IOPS. For faster drives, you can buy PCIe 3.0 x4 SSDs yourself.
Overall, the build feels a bit unconventional, but I’m keen to try it out. Any guidance would mean a lot. Thanks!