mini itx build, what do you think?

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Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

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Feb 18, 2013
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I'm planning on making the build in the bottom of my signature as soon as I have the budget for it. I wanted a new build that I could take to lan parties or leave here at my house.

Next build: "Noisy Cricket" (total MIB reference)
CPU:I7-3770k
Mobo:Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe
RAM:G.Skill Ripjaws 2133 9-11-11 8GB x 2
GPU:EVGA GTX TITAN
PSU:SeaStone SS-660XP
Case:Bitfenix Prodigy (black) with 2/3 bolt on window mod
Storage: 128GB Samsung 840 pro, 2TB WD Black
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i Push/Pull with Noctua NF-F12 instead of stock fans
After crunching the numbers, the price for this build comes to approximately $2.3k, definitely an enthusiast build. I still have to spend approximately 1.3k to finish the build since I already have the titan

This is going to be a gaming build with a small overclock if temperatures allow it. So, what do you guys think?
 
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mfenn

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Jan 17, 2010
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That's certainly a high end rig. Is it an upgrade to your existing one ("Space Heater"), ie. are you reusing parts?
 
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Sleepingforest

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Nov 18, 2012
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I think you can actually fit a Noctua D14 on there, but this is the one time I think you're better off water cooling it since puts less weight on the motherboard. An H50 with a better fan (the Scythe Gentle Typhoons come to mind) should be fine for a moderate overclock and fit well in the limited space. Also: if you're looking for portability, I'd go all solid state and go for 512GB (you can get the Samsung 840 500GB for only $280 right now). SSDs are also much more flexible in small spaces since they can be taped down anywhere. This allows you to remove the HDD bays too.

That GPU is really overpriced for gaming. A GHz 7970 can match it in some games and doesn't lose by huge amounts in others. It also costs half as much. On the other hand, if you already own one, you might as well put it here, where the space matters. Finally, you probably don't need a PSU that capable. 550W should be enough.
 
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Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

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Feb 18, 2013
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The only parts I'm going to reuse are the GTX Titan and the blu ray optical drive that I already have in my space heater so yeah this little machine is pretty much a new build. As far as the SSD goes, I don't care to pay for the bigger ones, I'm only planning on using the SSD for the OS installation and for compiling large projects (like custom android builds).

As far as the power supply goes, I like to leave myself with some wattage headroom since I tend to run the computers for long periods of time so capacitor aging enters into it. I would rather pay a small premium to make sure that the PSU lasts instead of running low on wattage after a couple years which happened to me on my very first build.

As far as the cooler goes, I was going back and forth on corsair's H series coolers and a lower profile noctua cooler. The D14 I have now, though I love it, is just too big for what I want to deal with in a small form factor build. The thing I've heard about the H coolers is while they're pretty good for closed loop, they get pretty loud and annoying so even though I'm naming this machine the noisy cricket, I wanted something a little quieter but then again, maybe fitting the moniker wouldn't be too bad :)
 
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Sleepingforest

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Nov 18, 2012
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Maybe consider a custom loop? Half the problem of the H series is weak and low quality radiators. The other half is a not-so-great fan. It'll be way more expensive, but I think it would be fun (which is the whole point, right?)

On power supplies: if you want quality, might as well go balls out. The $126AR Seasonic 660W Platinum is basically the perfect power supply (and cheaper than the AX750.) I mean, 0.23% regulation in JonnyGURU's hotbox? That's basically God-tier.
 
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Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

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Feb 18, 2013
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I did consider it, the only problem is the radiator will compromise the space for the optical drive. My computer is my blu ray player (I have an LG Blu Ray rewriter) so the optical drive is a must have. I did some research after you suggested an H50 and figured I could do a push-pull config with noctua fans (my favorite) on the intake in the front which should improve the radiator's performance considerably while keeping the price down a bit.
 
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snoylekim

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Sep 30, 2012
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Put together a similar build to serve as a renderer/media server using the same board, E3-1245v2 processor , and similar SSD/HD/BR Drive setup about a month ago . Solid board .. check the clearance between the Graphics Card and Audio header..you might need an extension cable . If you're going to run Win 8 , and to anyone running a Xeon..update the BIOS first .. will make the experience much easier .
This rig has been running 24x7 for the last 25 days with a few 6-8 hour rendering runs that pegged the processor cores at 90-95% continuously - no issues and thermals OK .. Can't speak to overclocking ..
 
Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

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Feb 18, 2013
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Definitely not going to run windows 8, some of my projects require a manual memory mapping solution and I really don't want to rewrite the whole damn thing to work on windows 8
 
Ken g6

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
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Anybody mention yet that OCZ doesn't make the best SSDs? With your budget I'd have no qualms about going with a Samsung 840 Pro 128GB instead.
 
Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

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Feb 18, 2013
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I was weighing in between the vector and the 840 pro, I still haven't quite decided which one I'm going to put in yet
 
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Sleepingforest

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Nov 18, 2012
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I don't know, if you had some glue, a Dremel, and Plexiglas, you could do it yourslef for a few bucks.
 
Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

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Feb 18, 2013
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Yeah I probably could, I just have to find someone with a dremel tool since I don't have one anymore
 
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mfenn

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Jan 17, 2010
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Sleepingforest said:
Maybe consider a custom loop? Half the problem of the H series is weak and low quality radiators. The other half is a not-so-great fan. It'll be way more expensive, but I think it would be fun (which is the whole point, right?)

On power supplies: if you want quality, might as well go balls out. The $126AR Seasonic 660W Platinum is basically the perfect power supply (and cheaper than the AX750.) I mean, 0.23% regulation in JonnyGURU's hotbox? That's basically God-tier.
Click to expand...

It's actually $90 AR AP today. That is a ridiculously good deal.

EDIT: ninja'd. (OK, not really since it was an hour and a half, but it makes me feel better.)
 
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mfenn

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Ken g6 said:
840 Pro review: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6328/samsung-ssd-840-pro-256gb-review
Vector review: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6363/ocz-vector-review-256gb

Personally, I'd go with the 840 Pro as the more reliable brand and the fastest drive at everything but some writes.
Click to expand...

Agree. I'd get the Samsung because they do actual testing an validation on their drives.

OCZ just gets the prototypes back from the factory, checks to see if it will boot Windows, then orders a hundred thousand. And people wonder why their drives have firmware bugs. OK, it's really not that bad, but the point is that they don't do nearly as much testing and validation as Samsung, Intel, and Crucial do.
 
Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

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Feb 18, 2013
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I made a theoretical air flow diagram for this build:
2frLH


And I'm modeling my case after this mod:
2fs2Y
 
Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

Member
Feb 18, 2013
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They do sell a windowed panel but I'm going to do this mod myself so I can leave some of the perforations there to aid in GPU cooling
 
Deltaechoe

Deltaechoe

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Feb 18, 2013
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Updated the build a bit, someone let me know if there is a reason to not use those Cougar case fans
 
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Sleepingforest

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Nov 18, 2012
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I'd get Corsair SP120 High Performance ($25 for a pair or so) or Silverstone AP121s instead. They have higher static pressure, which is helpful for radiators.
 
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