Powerfull but compact Gaming PC.

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Xoniva

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Sep 24, 2014
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Hello.
I'm looking to build a new gaming Pc, that is powerful enough to manage all of the games on highest, but also compact and small enough for me to carry somewhere when needed.
The current I do still have some breathing room when it comes to the budget, but obviously, the lower the price, the better.

The current build exist of:

GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming
CPU: Intel Core i5 4690K 3,5 GHz, 6MB
Motherboard: MSI Z97M GAMING
HDD: 1TB WD Blue 7200rpm 64MB
RAM: Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) CL9 1600Mhz VENGEANCE LP
PSU: Corsair CX 750M 80+ Bronze Modular
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2
Case: BitFenix Prodigy M, black
(I do also already own a SSD which ill install the windows and some frequently used programs on.)

Link to the shopping cart (sorry for it being Swedish, but you should understand.)


Now, I've got a couple of questions:
1. Should I swap the 970 for a 980? Or is the 970 is enough and the price difference is quite not worth it?
2. Is 8gb 1600Mhz fine? or should i get 18gb/higher speed?
3. Is the 750w PSU overkill?
4. I'm going for an air cooler for the CPU, should i swap it to a water cooler on roughly the same price class?
5. I've been looking around, and everything does seem to be able to fit into the case, and i still have enough room for possible future SLI. I would appreciate it if you guys could double check.

Also, if you have any input on the build, of things i should look out for or swap, please let me know.

Lastly, i do have a question about the airflow of the PC. Ive been thinking something like this:
Two exhaust fans in the bottom, and another exhaust at the side, to which the CPU cooler will blow into.

Airflow picture.


That should be all, thank you, and ill bee looking for you answers.
 
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MeteorsRaining

MeteorsRaining

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Jul 27, 2014
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Change the PSU, Corsair CS/ CX/ VS/ builder are low quality. Any 550W PSU (600W for 980) from XFX/ Antec/ EVGA/ SeaSonic would do. My recommendation would be this:
http://www.inet.se/produkt/6909991/evga-supernova-g1-650w-80-gold-modular

Now to your queries:

1. Yes 980 is better, equally good for value/money as 970, but both can smoke any given game on FHD/ 2k. I'd get 980 if budget allows.

2. 1600Mhz is fine for gaming.

3. Explained above. You'd be looking at 750W for SLI 970 or 850W for SLI 980.

4. That cooler is just fine, quiet and powerful.

5. Yes you can SLI w/o issues.

The cooling config seems fine, replace the 2 exhaust from bottom to top, top fans should not be intake, hot air rises, you wouldn't want it to come into the case, and would want the hot air from case to be exhausted.
 
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ohyes247

ohyes247

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Dec 18, 2012
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CX and VS are understandable but are you SERIOUSLY gonna call an 80+ Gold low quality? Thats hilarious.
 
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ohyes247

ohyes247

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http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/CS650M/4.html

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/CS650M/11.html

It isn't this "Low quality" you're talking of... Is it 80+ Platinum Perfection made? No, but is it some aluminum box with random cables from scrap yards and PCB's from 1970's IBM's thats thrown together in China? No, it isn't.
 
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Adroid

Adroid

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The CX series of Corsair PSUs are sub-par. Do yourself a favor and don't save a buck on a PSU. Look for a Seasonic/XFX, or EVGA G2 850w PSU.

I would personally get a Corsair H100i closed loop cooler if it fits in your case. It looks sweet and is more compact for a smaller design - provided your case can fit the radiator.

The GTX 970 is ALOT of horsepower for 1080p gaming. If you are doing higher res, you could consider stepping up to a 980. Check some reviews and charts. to figure out what is good for you. Both are capable of 1440p at medium/high settings (or better). Keep in mind graphics cards are the quickest component in your PC to go obsolete, and the 980 will be obsolete approximately the same time the 970 will. For this reason I have personally never spent more than the "mid" teir 330$ price range on a gaming graphics card, because I would rather save my 200$ for an upgrade in 3-4 years and have a faster system overall for the next 7.
 
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ohyes247

ohyes247

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I didn't recommend anything yet, Was just simply pointing out the fact that your statement was wrong and needed correction.
 
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dottorrent

dottorrent

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The GTX 970 is essentially a GTX 780. The extra Kroner isn't worth it at this point.

Sometimes, higher speed memory is the same price as 1600MHz. I would look for some higher speed memory.

Nope. Just fine.

That cooler is really tall. I would go for a water cooler.

The board supports SLI, but at a pinch.

If you want something that is really compact and still take a full sized board, take a look at this build -

Asus Z97-A - http://www.inet.se/produkt/1902646/asus-z97-a-atx
Western Digital 2TB Green - http://www.inet.se/produkt/1902646/asus-z97-a-atx
Kingston Hyper-X Beast 8GB 1866MHz - http://www.inet.se/produkt/5308848/hyperx-8gb-2x4gb-cl9-1866mhz-xmp-beast-series
Intel Core i5-4690K - http://www.inet.se/produkt/5311087/intel-core-i5-4690k-3-5-ghz-6mb
Corsair H90 140mm AIO Liquid Cooler - http://www.inet.se/produkt/5322303/corsair-hydro-h90
Asus Strix GTX 970 - http://www.inet.se/produkt/5411279/asus-strix-gtx-970-dc2-oc
EVGA Supernova G2 750w - http://www.inet.se/produkt/6909975/evga-supernova-g2-750w-80-gold-modular
Corsair Air 540 ATX Cube chassis - http://www.inet.se/produkt/6911720/corsair-carbide-air-540-cube-vit
 
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MeteorsRaining

MeteorsRaining

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Correction: My statement was correct.
 
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ohyes247

ohyes247

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No, it's not, accept it.

 
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ohyes247

ohyes247

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If you could give proof from a reliable source and something other than someone on a forum thread saying this or that happened, Then I will admit my faults, But I stand by what I say, No the CS isnt gonna compete with top of the line units. But I would definitely pick it over what im using now or the CX PSU's
 
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Adroid

Adroid

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Corsair CS and CX series PSUs are teir 3 per this list:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html

That list is developed from people that know alot more about PSUs that I do. I have read quite a few articles showing the corsair CS/CX series to be sub par, specifically on the capacitor and build quality. I have also read numerous forum posts that "oh my CX power supply failed" in some cases did and did not damage other system components.

If you are going to build an expensive high-end gaming PC do yourself a favor and don't try to save 20-30$ on a crappy PSU, and pay for in the longrun.

Meanwhile please stop arguing that the CS series is a good PSU - you clearly have not done your research.
 
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ohyes247

ohyes247

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Never said they were GOOD and on par with a RM or Nova PSU.. I simply said there better than B series and CX series. You clearly haven't paid attention in English.
 
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ohyes247

ohyes247

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About as proper as yours if not more and how is that inaccurate? You gotta be joking, seriously.

Oh its 80+ Gold and has better components yet its still just as bad as the CX? That's hilarious.

 
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Adroid

Adroid

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As funny as it may be, gold doesn't mean better quality components, it means better efficiency. A PSU can in fact be high efficiency and low quality. The two are mutually exclusive.
 
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ohyes247

ohyes247

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Honestly your CX750M is plenty, Itll run the system fine for a while (3 or 4 years) don't worry about everyone saying its horrible, the Maxwell GPU's and Intel CPU's are very very power efficient and would honestly probably run on a very good 450W PSU. As long as you dont overclock much (you can overclock just dont do anything that requires more voltage) and youll be fine. I mean everyone says the EVGA 500B is low quality, yet Ive been running it on a FX-8320 and R9 270X (Both oc'd) for over year now just fine. I wouldnt worry about it, there I helped, didn't argue.
 
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jetsmack

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I would just ditch those PSU and get an EVGA Supernova

1. If you have a lot of money lying around, then swap the 970 for 980, but it does not justify the extra $200. (If its higher than 1080p, then i would highly suggest swapping it for 980)
2. 8gb 1600Mhz is fine, again, higher speed or memory does not justify to cost when u only get 0.1-1 fps extra.
3. I wouldnt say overkill if you plan to do SLI in the future, but is it overkill now? Well, i would say yes, because those MAXWELL is just power efficient (Except for the gigabyte ones, power hungry GPUs)
4. If you are not overclocking, its fine. But dont an equivalent AIO liquid cooler, get a corsair H80I or even H60, but that would be extra money.
5. YOu could easily SLI/Crossfire on that case, but the space on the cards is meh, they will just have to breath harder. Corsair 350D is a good case mATX to do dual GPUs if you wanted an info.
 
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X

Xoniva

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Sep 24, 2014
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Thank you guys for the help. Ive been thinking and ive decided that going for such a compact gaming rig will hinder me slightly in terms of what PSU&GPU i can use(leangth), and it will be worse for future SLI and airflow.
That why i have made a new ATX build, you can find the thread here, I would appreciate one last checkup on the build.
 
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