$1500 VR Build using GTX 1080.

[007ELmO]

Hi,

I have a Microcenter near me. I'm going to try to reserve or walk in on Friday (27th) when the GTX 1080 is released.

This build is just for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift for my living room.

Can you please help me keep the form factor kind of small, incorporate the GTX 1080, and keep the build around $1500? No overclocking. I have a nanoxia case with a GTX 980TI in it for my main machine and it's very quiet, I think it will be difficult to get a small case and keep the 1080 quiet?

It seems like if I use the midrange build and swap out the graphics card for a GTX 1080, it would work, but I need feedback on a smaller form factor and more RAM/better CPU/etc.

Thanks!
ELmO

 

[Ken g6]

How small is "small"? Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX? Any particular dimensions for the case?

Edit: When you say no overclocking, does that mean no RAM overclocking too? (I.e. no XMP?)

 

[cyclohexane]

Very difficult. The GPU alone will run you $700. If you already have a Vive AND an oculus, surely you can splurge a bit, no?

 

[Ken g6]

I don't think it's too hard. Here's a mini-ITX build with a 980Ti in place of the 1080.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Shuriken Rev. B 3 11.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: *ASRock H110M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: *Team Elite Plus 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Samsung 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: *Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: *Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB XTREME GAMING Video Card ($599.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 250D Mini ITX Tower Case ($74.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: *Rosewill 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($43.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: *Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($83.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1412.59
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-22 22:36 EDT-0400

I'm also not sure if the 1080 will be $600 or $700 to start. Or how long it will be $700 if it starts there.

 

[007ELmO]

Thank you!

By no OC'ing, I just meant I'm not one to OC much and I'd prefer the system to be quiet.

I can splurge but I'd prefer not to, since it's just a VR setup and VR is still on the brink of the unknown (i.e. perhaps it's like the Kinect, fun for a while, dusty after that).

In that mini-ITX build, can I swap out your 980TI for the 1080 and everything would still work fine?

Thanks!

 

[007ELmO]

Do you think MicroCenter will have the parts on hand to help me build a GTX 1080 on the fly there for relatively cheap?

What's the most key component I should ensure they have (guessing the case/mobo)?

MicroCenter has a walk-in maximum 2 GTX 1080s going on tomorrow. So I'll assume I can pick one up then.

 

[Beer4Me]

If you're not overclocking and you intend to stay on an ITX build, you could save yourself some coin and buy a non-K CPU.

 

[007ELmO]

Thank you!

 

[007ELmO]

So much for that. Showed up 10 minutes late to microcenter, all sold out. Effing nvidia...

 

[UsandThem]

So much for that. Showed up 10 minutes late to microcenter, all sold out. Effing nvidia...

Uh, that's common for any new just lauched tech (PS2, PS4, Wii). Every Ebay flipper and 'I must have it on launch day' person is trying to buy one.

It was probably for the best anyways, because partner cards will cheaper and faster anyways. Anandtech has just put out an article on a Zotac and EVGA version.

 

[007ELmO]

I don't know about that, they didn't have a line outside (according to microcenter). Meaning they didn't get enough stock. It's not like a gaming console release. The online advertisement said limit 2, but they said they didn't get enough stock so it was limit 1...

Yeah, it's probably for the best though.

The guy ahead of me (who also found out they're out of stock, 10 minutes after opening) was walking with a limp, but basically running to get ahead of me (you can spot PC nerds easily).

I wanted one for the Vive VR for guests coming over this weekend, NVidia knows why they're launching when....lol.

I do have a 980TI machine, so I'll just use that PC in the living room for the weekend - if Vive is not Kinectish (i.e. seemingly going to die in a couple years), I'll build a machine for it whenever the better cards come around.

 

[UsandThem]

I don't know about that, they didn't have a line outside. Meaning they didn't get enough stock. It's not like a gaming console release. Yeah, it's probably for the best though.

It's exactly like a console launch, or even a Tickle Me Elmo, or anything that has been over-hyped. It's all about how much $$$ someone will spend to get their new toy.

$1300 and someone will buy it:

http://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-GeForce...=UTF8&qid=1464362497&sr=1-3&keywords=Gtx+1080

 

[looper]

Very difficult. The GPU alone will run you $700. If you already have a Vive AND an oculus, surely you can splurge a bit, no?

WORD...You're spending @ 1/2 your $ on the vid card... I would wait a bit- 2/3 months and see how the video card scene plays out...

 

[007ELmO]

It's not exactly like a console launch. A console launch has hundreds of people in line.

Secondly, sites like nowinstock allow you to snag a 1080 FE for $700 fairly easily from newegg/etc. So price gouging doesn't exist.

I believe this to be a combination of stock shortage and old nerds taking off work, lol.

 

[007ELmO]

I don't think it's too hard. Here's a mini-ITX build with a 980Ti in place of the 1080.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Shuriken Rev. B 3 11.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: *ASRock H110M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: *Team Elite Plus 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Samsung 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: *Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: *Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB XTREME GAMING Video Card ($599.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 250D Mini ITX Tower Case ($74.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: *Rosewill 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($43.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: *Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($83.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1412.59
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-22 22:36 EDT-0400

I'm also not sure if the 1080 will be $600 or $700 to start. Or how long it will be $700 if it starts there.

Ken,

I picked up a 1080FE from NewEgg.

Based on that, what would your recommended changes be for a MINI ITX - using $1500 for the rest of the components?

Thanks!
ELmO

 

[looper]

Ken,

I picked up a 1080FE from NewEgg.
Based on that, what would your recommended changes be for a MINI ITX - using $1500 for the rest of the components?
Thanks!
ELmO

The Phanteks Evolv case is better, imo. Also, I would go with the EVGA GS650 power supply and Windows 10-64bit flash drive. I would seriously consider the 980Ti, as the price is beginning to drop a lot on those. I believe the price/performance ratio is in favor of the 980Ti over the 1080 now.

 

[007ELmO]

I have the 1080 now. I used the 980TI to test the Vive out, it worked well. I asked MicroCenter how much their 980TIs were and they said $600. Unless I'm reading charts wrong, the 1080 seems to well worth only $100 more? Especially with the "extra" VR technology that might be rendered useless once it comes to fruition - but it's able to onepass VR (which is typically a 2 pass rendering filter). The more FPS in VR the better, even at the lower resolution.

That being said, I will take your advice and pick up the other components (especially a gold PS).

Thanks!

 

[looper]

Enjoy!!