Form Factor Gaming Pc:

Im going to try to build a form factor gaming pc in a micro atx case because I travel between countries a lot.

Hopefully this will all fit together! Just looking for the all clear before I order and build this little monster. (The only quirk is the power supply hopefully we can smash this bug and build!!!)

Case:

SILVERSTONE SST-SG01-B Black Aluminum MicroATX Desktop Computer Case - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163050
$119.99

Motherboard:

GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128078
60 $

CPU:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115043
270 $

CPU Cooler:

Scythe SCMNJ-1000 80mm Sleeve "NINJA MINI" CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185046
40 $

Graphics Card:

Radeon 4870x2
500 – 550 $

RAM:

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145184
66.50 $

Hard Drive:

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136218
90 $

Power Supply:

Main option:
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=650tx
know this will fit in the case

Will this fit in the case? People have complained about it being too long?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341005
$85, 720W modular

Or

ABS Tagan BZ Series BZ900 900W ATX12V / EPS12V Patent Piperock Modular Power Supply 115 - 230V ± 10% tolerance TUV, UL, CE, CB, FCC, Semko, Nemko, Demko, Fimko - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817814013
240 $ quality option. I love the full modularity of it and the design.

Or
ZALMAN ZM850-HP Continuous 850W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 Modular Heatpipe-Cooled SLI Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817379007
180 $ modular zalman

Thermal Compound:

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007
6 $

DVD Drive:

LG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 10X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache ATAPI / E-IDE Super Multi DVD Burner – OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136117
30 $

Monitor:

BenQ T241W Black 24" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with Height and Pivot Adjustments 250 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824014169
340 $


Wireless Card:

EDIMAX EW-7128G IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Card Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP, 802.1x, WPA, AES - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6833315041
24$

Total cost around 1700 $ including shipping w/o rebates

If I get the final go ahead I will order all the parts that are available now (everything except 4870x2) then order the x2 as soon as it comes out.

My main question is making sure before hand all these parts will fit in the case from some enthusiast on these forums who knows! (thanks guys)

Also as regards PSU money isn’t an object its more about its size / modularity / weight / efficiency. Ill be happy to pay the 240 bucks for the PSU if it fits and is great.

Hopefully this is final post before actual BUILD !!!

{/Rant}

Every PC out there has a "Form Factor" . That doesn't tell us what size it is, just that it conforms to one or other of the standards (or standard ranges). Mine happens to be a mid-tower form factor. People with lots of hard drives might prefer a full tower form factor. People building HTPCs often like a slim desktop form factor.

If what you mean is a "Shuttle Form Factor," then please say so. "I'm building a form factor PC!" just sounds really drone-ish.

{/EOR}

If your native language is not English, then I would like to apologize for all of the native [American] English speakers who have misused this expression so frequently that has become common enough to inspire a rant.

This is really tough, IMO. I understand you want a small case for easier travel, but it complicates things a lot. For example I wouldn't dare put a HD 4870X2 in a tiny case with only two 80mm fans. It might overheat and crash the system or even die.

Also, the PSUs that fit in there are hard to find.
The 650TX is probably enough for that setup. The GameXstream 700W would fit too, but I'm not sure it's actually more powerful than the 650TX.

The IDE cable on that burner is a bad thing. I'd get a SH-S203N SATA burner.

The G31 chipset has PCI-E 1 slots, I believe. Bad idea using one for 4870X2, I'm 99% sure it will bottleneck it. GA-EP43-DS3L would be better, for example, with PCI-E 2. But I don't think it fits in a microATX case.

I don't know if the cooler fits in that case.

No idea about wireless cards.

I don't like the Q9300, especially for overclocking (small cache, small multiplier). Q6600 can be faster, if you overclock both, and it's cheaper. Q9450 is faster too.

The rest of the parts look OK to me.

All these problems would go away nicely if you got a RC-690 case and a 750TX, but I don't think you'd enjoy traveling with that case...

Edit: Maybe the 4870X2 won't fit in that microATX case either. We'll have to see when the card is released.

Isn't this like the 5th thread you've done on the same exact subject?!

aevm thanks very much. Its hard to find people who are experts at pc building and are willing to help.

The only qualms i have about the 650tx is its non modular. But i guess this shouldnt be a problem if i put the cables to the side.

The reason i like the 9300 is it has a lower power consumption, less heat since its on a 45 nm die. The q9450 is nice but its over 70 $ more expensive than the q9300.

What do you mean the g31 pci-e 1 slots will bottleneck the 4870x2. i thought its a pcix16 connection.

The small case is essential or else it wont fit in my suitcase and be too heavy (: this sugo is only 7 pounds.

What do you think / recommend so i can finalise ...

Thanks for your help mr yoda!!!

3rd... Its god damn hard to figure out a good micro atx build with high specs

CASE: Thermaltake VF1000BWS $129 (if you travel alot, any case with a handle on gets my vote. Fragbox too if you got the dough)

MOBO: ASUS P5E-VM HDMI Micro ATX $129 (if you are going to house a Quad and 4870x2 why the heck would you under cut on the motherboard??)

CPU: Q9300 is good, depends if you only do games E8400 is just as good for less, (less heat too possibly)

COOLER: Thermalright XP-90 or 120 (again, dont under cut a heatsink if you have a good CPU. in small case airflow is essential, TR's coolers not only designed to cool your CPU but the fan actually reaches to part of the RAM for additional cooling, pretty cool-pun intended)

GPU: 4870 instead?? (this really has to do with the amount of space given. 4870x2 is a dual slot i assume so likely it's gonna cover up a PCI or PCI-E, in addition, i think x2 is a bit of an overkill for this build as well...

PSU: stay with a Modular if possible (i would pick Corsair 620w mod, but on a bit of expensive side, though a great quality PSU pays off in the long run)

WIRELESS: I have 2x Encore Electronic PCI Wireless cards from N@w@gg (i know you never heard of them probably) and they run a MIMO config (signal interference free) with Wireless N, smoothest experience i have ever had w/ Wireless setup. N goes up to 300mbps btw. i got them for $29 each (on sale)

my 2cents

gl

The 620HX is modular. It's 3.4" Height x 5.9" Width x 5.9" Depth (i.e. 0.4" longer than the 650TX). Still not sure it fits, but I'm guessing it does.

Yeah, HD 4870 would be less problematic when it comes to heat and size.

The PCI-E 1.1 slots, when running at x16, have the same bandwidth as PCI-E 2.0 slots at x8. For a HD 4870 it's enough. For a HD 4870x2 it probably isn't. I'm guessing it isn't because I've seen benchmarks showing HD 4850 Crossfire getting bottlenecked in PCI-E 2.0 slots running at x8. We'll know for sure when the 4870x2 is released and reviewed.

For some reason they took the sugo case off newegg lol...

Whats the minimum power rating for a 4870x2? Im guessing at least 650 W?

The asus motherboard seems to be exactly the same except for double the price of the gigabyte mobo which has 5 star reviews. I have no idea.

PSU 620 w mod enough for 4870x2 ?

You think that cpu fan will fit?

Thanks

Does the asus micro atx board have pci-e 2.0 slots ? or is it exactly the same. who knew building a PC could be such a headache and i havnt even ordered the parts yet lol

Thanks for everyone helping. i know this is hard

2.0 i dont know but better chipset i think. if this is the only pc that you will be owning for the next few years, then sure. get the 4870x2 otherwise save your $$$ and just get the 4870 for space/heat/energy/cost sakes.

FugBen, I think the case that would be right for you is the SILVERSTONE SG04B-H. I didn't know it existed till just now. I have the SG03B and it is a great SFF (small form factor). Giving the SG04B-H a quick once over it looks a lot like my SG03 but they added a handle to the top. So there you go - bubble wrap it leaving the handle exposed or find a gym bag/backpack that will do the same and send it through the airport xray and carry it on as a carry-on. Dont check it and that way you can be sure it arrives in one piece.
Now this case can be tricky if its like my SG03. I went with silverstone's PSU and fanless CPU cooler(NT06-Lite). It sits right under the PSU bottom fan so air is pulled over the cooler by the PSU fan and out the back of the PSU. I also have two 120mm fans up front. I would recommend some silent ones like Scythe S-flex or Noctua fans. I dont have a large GFX card but the SG04 lists it will hold dual 10.5 inch cards so it should hold a 9800GX2. Hard drives mount in the bottom so you will need 90 degree angle sata cables on the HD side. In any case - you should check out the SG04 on newegg.

occdavid do u know where i can buy it?
Btw i just saw a new sugo case on newegg and it specifically says in the specifications can fit "12 inch cards"

the 720 w OCZ modular PSU for 50 bucks seems like a bargain...
Im going to order all the stuff with free shipping and rebates now.

The force be in this case if it works LOL

The newegg item number for the Silverstone SG04b-H is N82E16811163115
Just search that number on newegg.
I think the case you are talking about that fits 12 inch cards is the SG02F. I'm just not a big fan of 80mm fans (no pun intended).
You should read up as much as you can on the Silverstone site about the cases and what they can hold. www.silverstonetek.com
Also, like I said I have the NT06-lite cpu cooler. I see now they have a new version with more heatpipes. NT06-E (E = Evolution).

I just ordered all the parts total exc rebates 950 $.
I decided to go with a 4850 and see how that goes.
(exc monitor)