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Mid range micro-atx Quiet-ish Build

H

hotdogchef

Member
I typically just buy from the mid-range system builders guide, but there are some specifics I was trying to get this time. l am replacing my aging PC (see specs below). I will use it as a "normal PC" for gaming and using my TV as a monitor through HDMI for gaming with controllers as well as steaming video. The main concern of mine is noise, the build I have now I very aged and noisy, mainly due to the video card I believe (an ATI EAH4850). I would also like micro-ATX for a smaller form, but an not entirely set on having this. The case I was considering was this:
Fractal Design Define Mini Black Micro ATX Silent PC Computer Case w/ USB 3.0 support and 2 x 120mm Fractal Design Silent Fans
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352011.

I just want something updated a bit that is quiet for playing newer games, I'm not worried about maxing out the graphics in the games. I'm also definitely getting an approximately 250GB SDD. Might I be better just reusing the case and upgrading CPU, RAM, MB, and videocard and still have a relatively quiet machine? or possibly getting a standard ATX sized quiet case?
Thanks for taking a look,
Brad Rose

My current machine is this:
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor HH80562PH0568M
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115018
ARCTIC Freezer 7 Pro Rev. 2, CPU Cooler - Intel & AMD, Multi-Directional Mount, 92mm PWM Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134
SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151171
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996599
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146785
PC Power and Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703005
ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-Bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121253



1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming (using mid settings), general tasks, using TV as monitor with HDMI

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
1000-1200

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
N/A

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
Intel processor is all I am partial to

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Power supply (but not set on this if there is better efficiency available)
PC Power and Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703005

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
default speeds

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1280x1024 for monitor and whatever is common for TV through HDMI cable.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
In the next few days, maybe week or tow at most .

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
No
 
Your PSU is a pretty old design, so I probably wouldn't bother reusing it.

As for the case, the CM690 is a good case with 120mm fans, so there's no reason you can't reuse that and still keep the machine quiet. There's nothing wrong with the Define Mini, it's a really good case, but it's also not required for quiet machine.

In all honesty, you could take the midrange build, adding the 240GB SSD and HSF, but reusing your case and DVD burner. All modern GPUs are quiet when idling or playing less intense games, but if you want something that is quieter than the GTX 770 when stressed, check out theASUS GTX 760.
 
hotdogchef said:
8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1280x1024 for monitor and whatever is common for TV through HDMI cable.
Click to expand...
There are two sizes that are common for TV through HDMI: 720P and 1080P. There's also 4K, which isn't common but may be eventually. Which size(s) do you have?

[thread=2192841]Mfenn's generic build[/thread] would work for you, but it can be tweaked a bit because you want mATX and don't want to overclock.

Here's a nice mATX H87 board for $80. You could also get a non-overclocking CPU, but the K CPU would have more resale value if you care about that and only costs ~$10-$20 more.

If you tell us that your TV is only 720P, or is 4K, we can adjust the video card then.
 
hotdogchef said:
Might I be better just reusing the case and upgrading CPU, RAM, MB, and videocard and still have a relatively quiet machine?
Click to expand...
On one hand, yes. The CM690 was a pretty good case. On the other, just getting a new case allows you to have a whole spare PC to give away, sell, or re-use for something else. Oh, and you get integrated USB 3.0 ports with most new cases. If you want MicroATX, too, you might as well go all-new. The relative cost difference is not that much.

1. MSI's TF (TwinFrozr IV) GTX 770 would be a good upgrade from my pick of a 760, for roughly $80 more. I went with the 760 due to your statement of not caring much about maxing graphics, and taking it to mean that having to lower some details in a couple years won't be a big deal (plus, you could get a faster video card long before the CPU becomes obsolete).

2. For this set of parts, I don't need the regular passive caveats, because I've put it into action: the Macho 120, with its fan as the rear exhaust for the case, hooked to the CPU header, and the included fans as intakes (the bottom one should work with the XFX PSU, if you want to go with that config), hooked to the fan controller, set near minimum, are all but impossible to force above whisper quiet levels, with an i5-4570 and MSI GTX 760, with no throttling or too high temps. A 4670 should end up the same. It might all need to be a bit faster/louder with a GTX 760, but it still would be fairly quiet. As long as you do decent cable management, I don't think it's possible to screw it up.

3. Buy the SSD and PSU ASAP, if you're not getting a bigger SSD. Both are deals that will go away soon (the SSD tomorrow, and the PSU the day after!), they're both good models to get at their regular prices, and the PSU's rebate gift card code can then be used on any components without deals going for it at Newegg (such as the case), after you've ordered it. You may change other components based on other recommendations, but those two are seriously good deals, that I don't think anyone will argue with. Amazon's sales tend to disappear around the same time Newegg's do, so don't wait on the SSD, unless you're considering getting a bigger one.

4. A Xeon E3-1230V3 would be a reasonable upgrade for the CPU, if you want to hedge your bets against games using >4 threads, over time.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($207.97 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Macho-120 73.6 CFM CPU Cooler ($43.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate 600 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($109.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1009.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-22 18:02 EST-0500)
 
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hotdogchef said:
Does anyone know if the video card will fit the case?
Click to expand...
You mean the CM690? I'm not too sure, as I can't quickly find the length limits, but it probably can.

The Define Mini? Yes. Even if you got a card with rear-facing power connectors, the top drive cage could be removed for more room (you could also remove it for slightly better cooling, since you don't seem to need many drives). Example shown here.
 
Last edited:
One other thing... if you want a little more cooling, pull the top HDD cage out and install another Fractal 120mm case fan... hook them all up to the included fan controller. My HTPC I've set at about 40%, my desktop at 60%... and I don't mess with them... temps are not an issue anymore. 🙂

The Define Mini is kind of expensive for what you get... but it's first class all the way and I'm very happy with mine.
 
^ My rec is/was to get a good cooler with a 120mm fan, and just swap that one to the front (or bottom), and use the cooler's included PWM fan for exhaust, dynamically controlled via CPU fan header. Then, when CPU warms up from the GPU's hot air recycling inside (non-blower cooler), that fan speeds up a little to compensate, making sure that air gets exhausted more rapidly, and all is well. The 'new' front fan on the fan controller, plus the regular top-front fan, should provide enough cooling at a pretty low setting to not have to be dynamically controlled to stay sufficiently quiet, with a GTX 760 or 770, in pretty much any home or office environment.
 
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