Advice Wanted - mATX Build for Gaming, and eventually SLI

the Negotiator · Feb 4, 2014

Hello I am planning to build my own PC for gaming and was wondering if you guys could help me out?

Budget Range: $1000-$2000 (willing to go a little over budget)
System Usage : Gaming
Are you buying a monitor: No
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Location: Charlotte, NC
Parts Preferences: Intel, Asus
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: Yes
Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080. Eventually will run resolutions for 3 monitors for gaming

Why Are You Upgrading: I need to build a machine for Elder Scrolls Online and eventually Star Citizen. I was thinking i5 but I'm planning to play Star Citizen in 2015 and they've already suggested i7. I'm mostly worried about cooling once I eventually go SLI down the road.

I can't decide between the Corsair 350d case and the Fractal Design ARC Mini R2 but I really want to build with the Mini R2. I like the ARC Mini R2 more but most of the builds I find seem to use the 350d. I'm willing to spend between $1-$2k for now as I likely won't buy the second GPU until much later this year. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Outlander_04 · Feb 4, 2014

I'd build something like this
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2NuoY

I havent included a cooler because I think you need to choose a case first . A watercooler with a 240 mm long radiator ...........
Both the cases you have mentioned are great . Another to consider is the Silverstone TJ 08e

Id also consider not SLIing at all . Instead use a single Radeon R9 290X . You could still add a second one if and when you need it .

the Negotiator · Feb 4, 2014

Outlander_04 :

I definitely want to build with Fractal Design ARC Mini R2. I think its a nicer looking case, but the Corsair is so popular, I figured it was for a reason. Can you suggest cooling solutions using the ARC Mini R2? I will look into the 290X, I'm not that familiar with radeon cards, I've always used Nvidia. Any particular reason you suggest the 770 over the 780?

Thanks!

Outlander_04 · Feb 5, 2014

There is plenty of cooling available in either so go for your favorite case

The radeons are every bit as good as nVidias cards .
You can google for benchmarks and compare then to the nVidia options

Use this
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm
to work out what size psu you need .

A corsair H100 in the top of the Arc mini?

the Negotiator · Feb 5, 2014

The corsair h100 looks simple enough to install. Will I need any additional cooling in the front?

Outlander_04 · Feb 5, 2014

With two powerful graphics cards you need all the airflow and cooling you can get

You probably want the H100i . I havent used one of these water coolers . You'd have to check for compatibility with the case and clearance to the mb . Possibly searching for images on google will lead you to Arc mini set ups like this

the Negotiator · Feb 5, 2014

Thanks guys, I took your advice and came up with this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus GRYPHON Z87 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Dominator Platinum 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($128.98 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($309.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($87.97 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($489.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Arc Mini R2 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($98.65 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair 860W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM (64-bit) ($99.98 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1980.52
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-05 11:05 EST-0500)

Phatstat · Feb 1, 2015

I have the Arc mini R2 and love it. The tinted side window is really cool. I chose a Cooler Master aio water cooler as Frostytech tests verify that they are the best stock coolers temperature wise.
http://www.frostytech.com/top5_liquid_heatsinks.cfm
Also a neat side note after reading one of their reviews on the Nepton 140xl which I bought thinking I could install in the rear but couldn't; it has holes for 120mm fans too so I mounted as front intake with 95cfm CM 120mm fans as push/pull. I also am possibly planning on SLI depending on needs as I'm looking to purchase a 34 inch Ultra wide 1440p later this year depending on what companies release ( looking for high refresh IPS and G sync). In such a case, I'd probably go with a Delta Electronics insanely high cfm front intake fan next to the water cooler. I chose to put this cooler up front so as to have rear and top exhaust fans ( I just use the Fractal stock 120 and 140mm ones). Lastly I think the square water block CM coolers are supposed to get better results. With the Arc Mini R2, you can also place 2.5" SSDs on the backplate behind the mobo. I chose to do this and remove the HDD cage for better airflow.

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Advice Wanted - mATX Build for Gaming, and eventually SLI

the Negotiator

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the Negotiator

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Outlander_04

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the Negotiator

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the Negotiator

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