YABT: High performance desktop cube

[Stuxnet]

Hey guys - I'm looking to build a high performance rig that's quiet and small. Being able to run BF3 would be great, but it's primarily a workstation for development. It must be able to execute build scripts and large unit test suites VERY fast.

So, a 2600k with 16GB and an SSD+HDD is a given. Here's the tough part: it needs to be a mATX in a desktop cube that's quiet and runs cool. I don't have any experience in this area, so any help would be appreciated.

 

[SithSolo1]

Case:
LIAN LI PC-V351B

Power Supply Options:
SeaSonic X750
CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX750
CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX850

That should get you started, now just need to pin down the specifics of the other components. I'll leave that to more capable people.

 

[fffblackmage]

^Those PSUs would be great for SLI/CFX, but other than that, they're overkill.

OP, what resolution will you be gaming at, and what is your budget?

 

[Stuxnet]

OP, what resolution will you be gaming at, and what is your budget?

I game at 1080 and budget is pretty open (it's being purchased through my company anyway). I don't know if what I'm looking for is possible (conflicting specs: small, quiet, cool, beefed).

Thanks for your help

 

[TheAdvocate]

I have a Grandia (AVR sized case), but if you want a box, Shuttle XPCs are nice, and so is that Lian Li that is linked above. I think Thermaltake even makes a couple of decent box typy mATX cases.

If you want to put a big GPU in one though, you may want to look at the Silverstone SUGO series. The new ones can hold 12" GPUs. That's important if you want a beast GPU.

Here's one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163112

 

[SithSolo1]

According to Tom's Lian Li PC V351 Build there is 300mm of space from the back of the front fan to back panel. Thats 11.8" so I figure any card say 11.3 or smaller would be able to fit without too much fuss. There are a couple of 6970s and a few more GTX 580s that will fit. I assume the majority of lower end cards will fit as well.

SAMPLE BUILD*

Case - Lian Li PC V351 - $109
PSU - Seasonic X750 Gold - $146
CPU - i7 2600K - $315
Mobo - MSI Z68MA-ED55 - $148
Ram - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB DDR3-1600 1.5v (4x4GB) - $100
Video Card - MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II - $245
SSD - Intel 510 Series 120GB - $279
HDD - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB - $60
Optical Drive - LG WH12LS30 Blu-ray Burner -$74
OS - Windows 7 Professional 64-bit - $265
Various cables, fans, etc if needed - $50

Total** - $1791 Shipped

*This build is just something I threw together without knowing a budget and may or may not be what you want/need. Feel free to use it as is, modify it, or completely ignore it.

**All items priced at Newegg.com and are subject to change. Advise looking around as some parts may be found else where for less.

 

[Ken g6]

Better than the MSI:
Edit: Maybe not - feedback looks about equal.

Here's a cheaper mobo: ASRock Z68 PRO3-M ($110 with FS)

- I can't recommend the Intel SSDs over the Crucial M4 for $200 at this point, except possibly for write speed. See bench.

- This Hitachi is reportedly faster and quieter than the Samsung Spinpoint, for $5 more.

- Cool + GPU = AMD. How about a 6950 for $300? Or you can easily go lower.

- Take the power supply down a notch, although it saves only $10. Or even down to 550w. The gold PSUs are all a little expensive, but they'll run a little cooler.

Edit: Oh, a Cooler Master 212 Evo would probably be good if it will fit.

 

[TheAdvocate]

I prefer the TFIII cooler (regardless of whether its AMD or nVidia chip) over the TFII, however, again, with an HTPC case, be wary of how tall the card is versus the lid on the case.

reason being - The TFII power plugs are on the back of the card. The TFIII has them on the top. In a typical HTPC case, that top placement is bad. You lack the room with the case lid on to plug in those power connectors. It's a problem in my Grandia case and many others with my Asus card with the top side plugs. I had to bend the power cables at an extreme angle and the lid rubs hard against the cables when I close it. I should have bought a TFII card.

 

[Knavish]

A few comments on the PC-V351:

1. The Lian Li PC-V351's are cubes, but they're not what I'd call small. They are actually much wider than your typical full tower ATX case. I've got one at home and I like it, but it is slightly less convenient to fit beside (or on) a desk due to its width. I can pull out a tape measure if you're interested in any weird dimensions.

2. The two sides of the case are held on by 6-8 little machine screws. It looks nice, but it is a bit finicky to put together.

3. IMPORTANT: video cards with top-mounted power connectors may not fit in this case. I could not get the power connector into one GTX-460 because of the clearance between the top of the video card and the bottom of the drive cage mounted above.

4. Also, power supply depth can be a bit difficult for this case. The first power supply I tried was modular, and left very little clearance between where the cables plugged into the power supply and the 5.25 drive bays. I swapped this for a non-modular power supply that was about 0.5 inches less deep, and things worked much better.

 

[Ken g6]

: it needs to be a mATX in a desktop cube

The Lian Li PC-V351's are cubes, but they're not what I'd call small.

Hm, did you mean MicroATX (maybe a foot high) or Mini ATX (maybe half that size)?

 

[mfenn]

Hm, did you mean MicroATX (maybe a foot high) or Mini ATX (maybe half that size)?

You mean miniITX?

 

[mfenn]

OP, here's a build:

i7 2600K $315
ASRock Z68 Pro3-M $110
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB x2 $82
Twin Frozer II 6950 2GB $245 AR
Crucial M4 128GB $198
Hitachi 7K1000.D $65
Samsung DVD Burner $18
650TX $60 AP AR
Lian Li PC-V351B $90 AP
Total: $1183 AR AP

I left the cooler off because I'm not sure if a big tower like a Hyper 212+ would fit, maybe Knavish can help there.

 

[Stuxnet]

Bumping an old thread, but I ended up building this system. I went with the Lian Li 351 case and I really like it. The side panel screws are a PITA, but the case is quiet and looks really sharp sitting on my desk.

2600k
16GB Corsair Vengeance
WD Caviar Blue 750GB (quiet drive!)
ASRock Pro3-M Z68

Have this GPU on the way: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details

It's not going to be a trailblazer by any stretch, but it's a small, cool, quiet card.