Help finalizing mini-ITX GPU workstation components (mobo & heatsink in particular)

timple

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Nov 21, 2014
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I'm trying to finalize the components for a mini-ITX build. The main use will be numerics using the CPU and GPU but its very important that it be very light as I will travel will it a few times a year (its about 5-6kg now and I'm trying to get it down). While I'm pretty decided about the case, CPU and GPU I still am trying to finalize the choice of mobo, ram, heat sink, and maybe HD. I'm listing the components below as well as some possible alternatives I'm considering. Could anyone advice me on the choice of mobo & heatsink. In particular I'm worried that the heatsink might block the GPU or ram. Also does anything on the alternatives list seem better?

Code:
==============================================================
Component                           Weight (kg)     Cost Eur  
==============================================================
Sharkoon CA-I                       1.5             52        
Intel Core i7 4790K - 4 GHz         0.32            300
Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev B         0.41            40
GF GV-N970IXOC-4GD                  0.8             335       
Z97E-ITX/ac                         0.53            142       
Crucial 2x8 gb                      0.09            146       
    (BLS2CP8G3D1609DS1S00CEU)
Samsung/Seagate                     0.109           58
(ST1000LM024 Momentus Spinpoint M8) 
Corsair PSU CS450M                  2.2             71        
    (80 PLUS Gold ATX 450W (CP-9020075-EU))

--------------------------------------------------------------
                                    5.429            1104     

Alternatives:

Lian Li Mini-ITX Cube PC-Q03B       1.6             
Z97M-ITX/AC                         0.53            124       
WD green 2 tb                       0.73            71        
GIGABYTE Z97N-WIFI                  0.916           110
MSI Z97I AC Intel LGA1150 Z97       0.599           116
MSI Z97I Gaming AC                  0.5             144
Intel Core i7 4770K - 3.5 GHz       0.2             300       
Scythe SCSK-1100                    0.35            34

Btw some of the numbers might not add up as I've added/swapped some components but not updated the total weight/price.

EDIT: component list above has been changed to the following:

Code:
=================================================================
Component                           Weight (kg)     Cost Eur     
=================================================================
Sharkoon CA-I                       1.5             52           
Intel Core i7 4790K - 4 GHz         0.32            300
Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev B			    0.41			      40
GF GV-N970IXOC-4GD                  0.8             335          
Z97E-ITX/ac                         0.53            142          
Crucial 2x8 gb                      0.09            146          
    (BLS2CP8G3D1609DS1S00CEU)
Samsung/Seagate                     0.109           58
(ST1000LM024 Momentus Spinpoint M8)
Silverstone SST-ST45SF-G PSU		    1.4				      106
 

timple

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Nov 21, 2014
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Thanks that's great! I just gained 800g! I need to check into the PSU but that's exactly what I was hoping for. I actually don't know what an SFF CPU is (vs a normal one) but I'll check some reviews (I'd like something silent). Its also quite a bit pricier than the CS450M...know any cheap, light options or is that asking too much?

I also figured the weight was more from the cooler than the CPU (especially because the weight of the 4790k was reported as 100g more than the weight of the 4770k!) but I figured I'd rather overestimate.

This machine is mostly going to be accessed "remotely" -- i.e. via a crossover ethernet cable with me sitting right next to it so latency, etc.. is not much of an issue. Also most of the stuff I want to do won't be I/O bound so a cheaper 2.5" drive (which is also light) seemed like a better way to spend money than an SSD.

And thanks agian for the help!
 

timple

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Nov 21, 2014
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Thanks for the answer. Are you sure about this? At least initially I won't be overclocking these at all. Using various wattage estimate sites I always get an estimate of ~230 watts for this configuration with a suggestion to get a 330 watt supply. My current desktop has a 500W PSU supporting a 2600k i7 and a GTX 560 Ti and I never noticed a power problem. Checking out some benchmarks on anandtech it looks like the i7 2600k and 560 Ti max out at 128W and 317W. Doing the same for the i4790k and 970 I find ~125W and 300W under full load so you're right its cutting it a bit close.

OTOH I never had problems with my current desktop config which is also close to loading out my PSU. I actually already ordered the Silverstone but I have a few days to send it back. Any idea for a 500 or 550W SFF psu? Do such things even exist. While the Sharkoon can support an ATX power supply its apparently a bit cramped.

Btw I'm not gonna play games on this and most of my use cases will involve loading down the CPU _or_ the GPU but not both at the same time. Am I likely to run into trouble in that case?
 


Since Intel specifications has the i7-4790K at 88W stock, I think perhaps all your assertions should be taken with the same skepticism.

 

Jem Cakan

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Nov 28, 2014
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Did you miss the part on the graphs it says "Total System Power?" It's not the CPU, the entire system.....
 

Jem Cakan

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Shhhh, I'm slowly going back under my rock...
 

timple

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I'm confused. These links:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/21
http://www.anandtech.com/show/8568/the-geforce-gtx-970-review-feat-evga/15
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4135/nvidias-geforce-gtx-560-ti-upsetting-the-250-market/16

Indicate that under load I can expect e.g. (on my old desktop) 317 w for the 560 Ti + 128 W for the i7 2600k so ~ 450W. I can't find a similar benchmark for the 4790k but I presume its comparable while the gtx 970 hits 300W under load. So do I need to stress out about a 450W psu (and return the one I ordered) or can I just live with it assuming it might limit overclocking and the potential to run everything at full load all at once (which I don't think I'll do)?

I have a powermeter so I'll try plugging into my current desktop and see what the full system hits under the kind of load I expect (but any more info would still be appreciated).
 

Jem Cakan

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What I'm trying to state is that, in the future if you'd like to make good use of your equipment and overclock. You would need to buy a new psu. Thus save yourself the hassle, spend an extra £10 and get a stronger psu.
 

timple

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Hi Jem,

Thanks for the thought. First, this is definitely not about the money...I would be happy to get a bigger PSU but this whole build is intended to be light, small, powerful and silent in that order. In principle the Sharkoon supports ATX powersupplies but from one post I read that cramps up the interior, preventing airflow and making it too hot. So unfortunately that means I probably need an SFF PSU which is annoying cause it means an 80mm fan (hence silent is sort of gone). If you know a (silentish) SFF PSU at 500+ watts that you can recommend please let me know.

I didn't actually spec this out to overclock. I got the 4790k (instead of non-k) cause it goes up to 4.4 Ghz without OC while the 4790 is slower even without OC. Maybe at some point I might OC but given the space in the case, the fact that I can't really fit a serious CPU cooler in there, and that I need it to run stability at full CPU load for days on end I'm not sure it will happen.

I agree I would like the potential to OC so I would appreciate specific recommendations (maybe a smallish ATX PSU)?

Incidentally I've been running my old desktop on full CPU load (2700k) and the watt meter says 140 watts. This is the real kind of usage I will have (when I'm using the CPU instead of the GPU). I will later try switching to the GPU (this is numerical work) and see how high up it goes.
 

Jem Cakan

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If you are not a heavy gamer, editor etc. Then your pc components would not be at a full load, thus the 450w is decent/sufficient stay with it.

But the corsair cs450m psu you have chosen is 2.2kg, Try this 600w 1.4kg psu: http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=524&area=en .
 

timple

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Nov 21, 2014
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Sorry...I think I caused a lot of confusion. Between writing this post and now I've updated my component list because of feedback (in some other forums such as silentpcreview, etc...). I've updated the original post but the point is I long ago gave up on the corsair and went for an SFF from Silverstone because I found a post somewhere that my case, the Sharkoon ca-i, gets too cramped with a full sized ATX PSU even though it technically supports it.

The SX600-G looks really good. I don't know if I'll really need it and its a lot more expensive but it definitely would provide more room for growth. I'l already ordered the Silverstone SST-ST45SF-G but I might consider returning it and getting the 600-g instead. Any idea how they would compare noise-wise?