quiet modest sized build

[zedpol]

Hi everyone. I've been doing a lot of reading as I haven't done a build since 2008. The goals behind this build are as follows
1) quiet
2)no larger than a mid tower, smaller is better.
3) understated looking. (no windows, no flashy lights, i just want a nice elegant black box tucked in the corner)

Usage scenario:
single monitor 1920x1080 gaming. I will never be doing SLI, I would consider overclocking someday if the future in lieu of upgrading.

Here is what I am thinking so far but i'm not married to any of this.

99 -Fractal Design Define Mini Black Micro ATXhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352011
139 - Rosewill SilentNight-500 500W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=17-182-169
239 -Intel Core i5-4670K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116899
some quiet nvidia 760 gtx
need help with coolers/fans that will be quiet
8-16gb of ram. What do you all think?


1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

-Gaming, small video clips and light image editing for presentations. Word processing, excel and web browsing.

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

1000-1200. Not including monitor

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

USA

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.

Not a fanboy of anything but was thinking of trying the g-sync thing so my only preference is nvidia based graphics card that is quiet.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Samsung 830 256gb hard drive
keyboard
mouse
dvd drive

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
yes for the foreseeable future

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1920x1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
now and i don't need any software

 

[Charlie98]

The Define Mini is an awesome choice for a quite, discrete case... I'm using one as my HTPC case and it excels at that. It is steel, so it's heavy... just so you are aware.

As far as overclocking... why wait?

 

[zedpol]

As far as overclocking... why wait?

Didn't seem like it was going to get me much for my current usage case scenario and didn't want added heat that i would need to cool which could make the computer louder.

appreciate the case advice.

-z

 

[Charlie98]

Didn't seem like it was going to get me much for my current usage case scenario and didn't want added heat that i would need to cool which could make the computer louder.

need help with coolers/fans that will be quiet

I put an extra Fractal 120mm case fan in both of my Minis (so 2x 120mm intake, 1x 120mm exhaust) and a Cooler Master 212+ on my OC'ed 2500K (4.1GHz) and heat and noise are not a problem unless I'm just trying to punish it by running LinX or something. If you are going to install anything besides the Intel cooler it will be capable of handling a mild OC without problems.

Using the included Fractal fan controller I control all 3 case fans... set it and forget it at about 60%... without any issues.

As far as the rest of your build, check Mfenn's $1000 gamer build sticky, swap the cases, drop the SSD and OS from the list.... and you should be pretty solid.

Question: Do you live near a MicroCenter?

 

[zedpol]

no microcenter near me. I have a couple of giftcards at amazon and I figured i would do the rest of my shopping at newegg.

 

[Cerb]

The Define Mini is an awesome choice for a quite, discrete case... I'm using one as my HTPC case and it excels at that. It is steel, so it's heavy... just so you are aware.

More like, "it's a Define, so it's heavy." My case is all steel, too, and not too heavy at all .

Video card: right now, the MSI GTX 760 Gaming model, with the Twin Frozr IV (the top of the cooler is red), else Asus' DirectCU II model.

 

[mfenn]

I don't think that shelling out for a fully passive PSU makes sense unless that's literally the last fan in your PC. Adding a very quiet PSU fan to the CPU, GPU, and case fans won't make a bit of difference in perceived noise level.

What kind of gamer are you? Is maximum gaming performance or low noise more important? Is it OK for the PC to be loud(er) when gaming, but quiet when idle/web surfing?

 

[zedpol]

What kind of gamer are you? Is maximum gaming performance or low noise more important? Is it OK for the PC to be loud(er) when gaming, but quiet when idle/web surfing?

I'm ok with some fan noise when gaming as long as most non-gaming usage is quiet. I appreciate everyone's advice so far. I find it refreshing to get sensible advice instead of buying the absolute best of everything even if I don't need it.

Any thoughts on which PSU to go for if not the above?

Thanks,
Z

 

[lehtv]

CPU - 4670K $235 @ Amazon
Cooler - Arctic i30 $40
Mobo - Asrock Z87M Extreme4 $123
RAM - Team Vulcan 2x4GB DDR3-2400 $70
GPU - EVGA GTX 770 SC w/ ACX $330 AR (or Asus 770 $360 AR if you're willing to pay a premium for a small improvement in load noise & temp)
SSD - Reuse $0
HDD - Seagate 1TB $60 AP or Toshiba 2TB $80 AP
PSU - Seasonic 760W Platinum $100 AR AP, buy it now or not at all, the promo lasts for another couple of hours. If you can't buy it now, go with Seasonic G550 for $86 @ Amazon
Case - Define Mini $75 AP @ NCIX

= $1033 AR AP (EVGA 770, 1TB, Seasonic 760W)

Optionally if you want to be freakishly careful about your PC's sound profile: Akasa PWM splitter $10 + 4x Noctua NF-P12 PWM (300-1300RPM; 2 in front, 1 in rear, 1 for CPU) $25 = about $120 shipped. Of course, this is horrible bang for buck

 

[zedpol]

thanks everyone. I really appreciate the advice and everyone's time. I ordered everything pretty close to what lehtv posted except I got the MSI 760 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127750 instead of the 770.

-z

 

[Charlie98]

More like, "it's a Define, so it's heavy." My case is all steel, too, and not too heavy at all .
.

When I bought my first Mini at MC, I picked up the box and almost dropped it... I just wasn't expecting it to be so heavy especially compared to the much larger HAF922 it was replacing. In this case (pun intended...) weight is good!

 

[mfenn]

I find it refreshing to get sensible advice instead of buying the absolute best of everything even if I don't need it.

You came to the right place then! Most people here would have really given you crap if you had a build that picked the most expensive part in every category. Bang for the bucks rules here.

Let us know how your build goes!

 

[zedpol]

Well. I'm typing this on the new machine. Meet all my goals so thank you.

It is quiet, modest sized, and understated looking. Did i mention it is crazy fast? Huge upgrade from my 2009 built wolfdale with a 5770. I'm still impressed with how quiet it is. Very nice computer, thank you all. Build was easy, no issues

 

[mfenn]

Awesome, glad it turned out well!