Using this PSU, what's the most powerful mITX build I could make?

Burpo

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2013
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http://www.atlastsolutions.com/ulti...ore-i7-skylake-8gb-ddr4-120gb-ssd-asus-z170i/

C3LH_Z170i_Rear__69144.1446131033.1280.1280.jpg


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132641

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01AASS99U/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used
 
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Feb 25, 2011
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Basically. With 120w to work with (even if you assume it's only good for 100w) you should still be able to cram any desktop i7 and a motherboard in there, and still have room for an SSD and some RAM.

Forget about dGPUs though.
 

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
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Forget about dGPUs though.

Assuming that PSU has a enough amps on the 12v rail (and the case he is using has enough ventilation), a Skylake Core i3 + GT 730 GDDR5 would make the power budget (assuming the case has room for a low profile card).

(Core i3-6320 (51W) + PNY GT 730 GDDR5 (38W) = 89W total)

Otherwise Godavari A10 APU (95W).


EDIT: The power supply the OP linked uses the following 60W AC adpater --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816321024
 
Last edited:
Feb 25, 2011
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Assuming that PSU has a enough amps on the 12v rail (and the case he is using has enough ventilation), a Skylake Core i3 + GT 730 GDDR5 would make the power budget (assuming the case has room for a low profile card).

(Core i3-6320 (51W) + PNY GT 730 GDDR5 (38W) = 89W total)

Otherwise Godavari A10 APU (95W).


EDIT: The power supply the OP linked uses the following 60W AC adpater --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816321024

You can swap the PSUs around - I have a 120w unit for the "150w" picoPSU my Thin-Mini-ITX rig, and I've seen power bricks up to 200w.

Your total draw is just limited by whichever is lower.

You're right in the sense that a low power GPU and a low power CPU (my slim rig uses a 45w i5-4670T) might fit inside that 120w power budget. But realistically, it would be... tough. (I'm also assuming some slack for USB devices, a substandard PSU that doesn't supply its rated power, a higher-draw SSD, maybe some LEDs, etc. You can really pilfer watts 3-5w at a time if you're not careful.)

APUs count as (very good) IGPs as far as I'm concerned - not dGPUs.
 
Aug 11, 2008
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I am not a fan of apus in general, but if you want to do some light gaming, this strikes me as an ideal case for one. Maybe a lower power one like the A8-7600. Otherwise, maybe something like an i3.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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Basically. With 120w to work with (even if you assume it's only good for 100w) you should still be able to cram any desktop i7 and a motherboard in there, and still have room for an SSD and some RAM.

Forget about dGPUs though.
I think you are out of your mind. even at idle a pc like that would be using 60-70 watts or more and under full load could easily go over 100 watts.
 

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
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I am not a fan of apus in general, but if you want to do some light gaming, this strikes me as an ideal case for one.

Assuming he was going to use the 60W adapter....

Carrizo @ 35W with DDR3 2133 would have been sweet I'm sure.

But so far we haven't seen any Mini-ITX boards with this one (for whatever reason).
 

know of fence

Senior member
May 28, 2009
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So I got a free mITX computer from someone with this PSU and I want to have some fun with it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816321020

What's the most powerful gaming machine I could build using that PSU?

FWIW, it came with this inside:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/E350M1/

Can't quite make out the cable on the picture, does it go from 20 pin to a 20+4 pin [::::::::::][::] connector?

I remember pentium 4 used the extra +4 12 V connectors first, but most motherboards today have 24+4 connecors.

Though apparently these are still compatible if you leave some unplugged.
http://www.smps.us/20-to-24pin-atx.html
 

therealnickdanger

Senior member
Oct 26, 2005
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The adapter I am using is a regulated 12V/12A (144W) adapter, but I don't expect power usage to go that high, obviously.

It has a 20+4 pin layout and is fully ATX compatible in that regard.

The case that I will end up using is somewhat irrelevant at this stage, I just want to focus on the power envelope. From most reviews, it would seem that something like the Broadwell+Iris Pro would work perfectly fine under load. Either the 5775c or 5675c. Even the AMD 7800...

power-consumption-5775c.jpg


Also,
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-core-i7-5775c-i5-5675c-broadwell,4169-4.html

Lots to consider, I think.
 
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NTMBK

Lifer
Nov 14, 2011
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What does the chassis look like? How well ventilated is it, and what sort of CPU cooler could you fit in there?
 
Feb 25, 2011
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I think you are out of your mind. even at idle a pc like that would be using 60-70 watts or more and under full load could easily go over 100 watts.
Not if you don't overclock them. The CPUs idle at the same wattages as the rest of the lineup, and the newest ones are only 65-84w. If the rest of your system is only eating ~20w or less you're fine.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
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Not if you don't overclock them. The CPUs idle at the same wattages as the rest of the lineup, and the newest ones are only 65-84w. If the rest of your system is only eating ~20w or less you're fine.

no you are flat out wrong. a modern i7 system would go over 100 watts under full load. if just playing a game on my IGP I hit 140 watts at the wall even at stock speeds.
 

MrTeal

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2003
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I would be interesting to know more about how AMD had their demo set up where an i7-4790k with the new little Polaris card were pulling 98W from the wall playing SW:Battlefront.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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no you are flat out wrong. a modern i7 system would go over 100 watts under full load. if just playing a game on my IGP I hit 140 watts at the wall even at stock speeds.

I don't think that they're so wrong. My SKL G4400 + H110 Asus mobo, under full CPU load, with 24" LCD monitor, draws 59-61W.
 
Feb 25, 2011
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no you are flat out wrong. a modern i7 system would go over 100 watts under full load. if just playing a game on my IGP I hit 140 watts at the wall even at stock speeds.

140w from the wall is probably only ~115-120w (at most) of actual component power draw. PSU inefficiency is a thing. An 80% efficient 120w PSU will draw 150w to deliver that 120w. (Varies depending on the PSU, obvs.)

Here's a review of the 4770 that put power use at under 100w under load with a 150w PicoPSU.

"flat out wrong."

Try running the Intel Power Gadget - it'll tell you how much power your CPU is using (vs. the rest of your components.) I've run it on my 3770 machine at work, so I know that the CPU itself idles at <10w and hits ~70w at full tilt, so I'd be curious where the rest of your juice is going.
 
Feb 25, 2011
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I just proved he was wrong by saying what I got for power usage on my i7.

Is that the same i7 rig in your sig? The one that's overlocked, has a GPU and Sound card sitting idle using X watts each, 1.6v RAM, and a 750w power supply that's way outside its efficiency sweet spot? How many hard drives and LEDs you got in that thing?
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
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140w from the wall is probably only ~115-120w (at most) of actual component power draw. PSU inefficiency is a thing. An 80% efficient 120w PSU will draw 150w to deliver that 120w. (Varies depending on the PSU, obvs.)

Here's a review of the 4770 that put power use at under 100w under load with a 150w PicoPSU.

"flat out wrong."

Try running the Intel Power Gadget - it'll tell you how much power your CPU is using (vs. the rest of your components.) I've run it on my 3770 machine at work, so I know that the CPU itself idles at <10w and hits ~70w at full tilt, so I'd be curious where the rest of your juice is going.

Is that the same i7 rig in your sig? The one that's overlocked, has a GPU and Sound card sitting idle using X watts each, 1.6v RAM, and a 750w power supply that's way outside its efficiency sweet spot? How many hard drives and LEDs you got in that thing?
you need to brush up on your reading comprehension. I said when under full gaming load on the IGP and I said at STOCK speeds. and I am not an idiot so of course I know 140 watts at the wall is less actual watts but the POINT was that it goes WELL over 100 actual watts.
 

therealnickdanger

Senior member
Oct 26, 2005
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you need to brush up on your reading comprehension. I said when under full gaming load on the IGP and I said at STOCK speeds. and I am not an idiot so of course I know 140 watts at the wall is less actual watts but the POINT was that it goes WELL over 100 actual watts.

Look man, you're completely wrong. A modern i7 (Broadwell/Skylake), non-OC, no dGPU, one SSD, and two sticks of RAM can barely hit 100W under load. I already posted benchmarks above to prove it. Just drop it.
 

toyota

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
12,957
1
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Look man, you're completely wrong. A modern i7 (Broadwell/Skylake), non-OC, no dGPU, one SSD, and two sticks of RAM can barely hit 100W under load. I already posted benchmarks above to prove it. Just drop it.
sorry but YOU don't make the decisions around here. I saw around 140 watts at the wall when gaming on the IGP so I will post that info if I choose to. if you don't want to hear that then don't post a thread in public forum where others can share their thoughts and experience. :rolleyes: