Looking for feedback on a Small Form Factor build.

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PepitoTV

PepitoTV

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Oct 10, 2013
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I've helped a lot of people on these forums on building their own systems. I think I'm fairly well versed on computer parts to do so.

However, when you're looking for keeping things small I'm not that well versed...

Now, the issue is that I'd be flying more than once and I don't really feel like playing on my laptop as I wanted something a little better. Outside of the plane, said laptop is always plugged in so it just may be a desktop...

Well, the computer is for gaming. If I can play, then I can do everything else I need on the PC.

So, here's my build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X40 98.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($82.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $972.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-10 17:23 EST-0500)

I went to Ivy Bridge instead of Haswell because they run a little cooler. Also, I do think the modular PSU would help on the cable management in a tiny space.

I really like the NZXT Kraken coolers and I think the x40 should fit the case, also, I do prefer liquid coolers for this because they don't stress the motherboard that much while the computer is in movement.

I'm not sold on the case either, I'm open to suggestions...

Any comment is welcome, thank you!
 
Solution
T
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2il2n
how about something like this?
currently 1009 dollars without optical drive, 1024 with optical drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2ilaL)

I did not include an os since you did not include one...

EDIT:
I got a cheaper power supply, case, ram and cpu cooler for a nicer graphics card.
I changed the branding to EVGA because it has blower style cooling which will probably work better in this case. I added a red fan since red LEDs make everything better. (I mean cmon, looks are everything right?)

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thederpiest

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Sep 13, 2013
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bitfenix is hit or miss for me.
the prodigy seems to be their more popular case for this size, and imho is so big that it defeats the point of having a mini-itx pc

Also pepito, do you have a size that you woud like your computer to be? There is a significant size difference in different mini-itx cases.
 
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T

thederpiest

Honorable
Sep 13, 2013
61
0
10,660
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2il2n
how about something like this?
currently 1009 dollars without optical drive, 1024 with optical drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2ilaL)

I did not include an os since you did not include one...

EDIT:
I got a cheaper power supply, case, ram and cpu cooler for a nicer graphics card.
I changed the branding to EVGA because it has blower style cooling which will probably work better in this case. I added a red fan since red LEDs make everything better. (I mean cmon, looks are everything right?)

 
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Solution
PepitoTV

PepitoTV

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Oct 10, 2013
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Yeah, apparently the H80i should outperform the x40 but it does have smaller fans, which should make it more loud, am I correct? Or the x40 wouldn't even fit a SFF case?

Also, I'm not sold on the RAM, I'm just trying to think in the small case, which is why I picked the Crucial Ballistix Sport sticks which are low profile. I'll probably stick with a GTX 760 as I'm more a MMORPG type of gamer than FPS so the games I play aren't that demanding as the heavy hitters like Crysis 3 & Co.

As for the PSU, I was also thinking on the Seasonic fanless units but I'm not sure they will behave better or worse on a tight enclosure.

On the case, has the CM Elite 130 more features or goodies than the Node 304 aside from the price? How do they compare?

Also, I won't be getting an optical drive as I'm positive I'm not using it like, ever, and I got free Windows through my college so that's covered too :)

Thank you again for your time :)
 
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Rammy

Rammy

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Sep 3, 2012
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If you want to keep the size to a minimum and are sticking with a GTX760, the Hadron Air is definitely worth consideration.

As for the Elite 130 Vs Node. The Node has a pretty interesting bracket system (there's a quote), a better cooling solution, can take bigger CPU coolers, and doesn't have the PSU sticking out of the back. The Elite 130 is very well priced and has an ODD.

I'd skip a fanless PSU. In a smaller case like this where you move it around a lot, the environment you operate in is likely to change. A lot of high end PSUs have fans that only come on at high loads, and that's probably a better solution, and probably a better cost effective one.
 
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