Small gaming setup

[cloudslayer]

Hi,

I'm planning to build a small gaming pc, that I want to connect to a full hd tv using hdmi (similar to a console setup).

The only purpose of the build is gaming, preferably at the native full hd resolution. (Diablo 3 @ full hd and with maximum quality would be awesome).

The case I chose is very small, which limits the length of the GPU, and also limits the maximum height of the CPU cooling unit. Furthermore, only micro-ATX, mini-ITX and smaller motherboards can fit.

The budget is somewhere around €1000. The links after the items are from the Belgian site where I want to buy them, which, sadly, is only available in Dutch.

Case: SilverStone SST-GD05B PC Case
http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=241

Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K, s1155
http://www.mycom.be/computer/componenten/processor/intel-core-i5-2500k-s1155.html

Motherboard: Asus P8H77-M,s1155
http://www.mycom.be/p8h77-m-s1155.html

GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD7850 OverClocked,2GB
http://www.mycom.be/computer/componenten/videokaart/radeon-hd7850-overclocked-2gb.html

PSU: Cooler Master GX 700WATT Lite
http://www.mycom.be/computer/componenten/voeding/cooler-master-gx-700watt-lite.html

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB - 3.5inch (I would have preferred a hybrid ssd-hdd disk, but those still seem excessively expensive)
http://www.mycom.be/computer/componenten/harde-schijf/western-digital-caviar-black-1tb-3-5inch.html

Memory: Corsair Vengeance DDR3,1866-8GB KIT
http://www.mycom.be/corsair-vengeance-ddr3-1866-8gb-kit.html

Some questions I have:

- What do you guys think of the general configuration?

- Would swapping out the processor for a cheaper one (such as the AMD FX-4170 Black Edition,sAM3+ (and in that case also swapping out the motherboard)) and choosing a better GPU work better? In that case which CPU/GPU?

- I believe the somewhat powerful components in conjunction with the very small box may cause heat problems. So I imagine some alternative cooling may be needed. What would you guys advise?

- Anyone have any thoughts on wireless mouse/keybords that can be used from a sofa?

- Did I forget anything?

Thanks for your time!

 

[FinneousPJ]

Are you sure that case fits a full size graphics card?

Anyway the build is good and well balanced, I wouldn't change the CPU/GPU.

The PSU doesn't seem to great and you don't need a 700W anyway.

The prices of SSD have come down a lot and you can get a 120GB for less than 100€ now.

I would just get normal 1600 MHz RAM.

If you're interested I'd recommend external water cooling.

 

[cloudslayer]

Thanks!

Are you sure that case fits a full size graphics card?

The silverstone site says: "Expansion Card Support graphic cards up to 11 inches."
Unless I'm mistaken, the selected card should fit.

The PSU doesn't seem to great and you don't need a 700W anyway.

What would you suggest instead? How much Watt would I realistically need?

The prices of SSD have come down a lot and you can get a 120GB for less than 100€ now.

True, but unless the SSD can be used to cache the data on the HDD as hybrid disks do, the advantage of the SSD is limited. Does such a system exist for windows? (It's been quite some time since I used it).

I would just get normal 1600 MHz RAM.

The very weird thing is that the 1866 MHz Ram costs €58, while the 1600 ones cost €64, both for 8GB.

If you're interested I'd recommend external water cooling.

Water cooling it is. Any suggestions for good ones? Would something like this one work:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CW-9060001-WW-Hydro-Series-Cooler/dp/B005QUQP8K/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1339952710&sr=1-3

 

[FinneousPJ]

Thanks!



The silverstone site says: "Expansion Card Support graphic cards up to 11 inches."
Unless I'm mistaken, the selected card should fit.

The PSU doesn't seem to great and you don't need a 700W anyway.

What would you suggest instead? How much Watt would I realistically need?

The prices of SSD have come down a lot and you can get a 120GB for less than 100€ now.

True, but unless the SSD can be used to cache the data on the HDD as hybrid disks do, the advantage of the SSD is limited. Does such a system exist for windows? (It's been quite some time since I used it).

I would just get normal 1600 MHz RAM.

The very weird thing is that the 1866 MHz Ram costs €58, while the 1600 ones cost €64, both for 8GB.

If you're interested I'd recommend external water cooling.

Water cooling it is. Any suggestions for good ones? Would something like this one work:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CW-9060001-WW-Hydro-Series-Cooler/dp/B005QUQP8K/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1339952710&sr=1-3

Well, if they say it fits I guess it fits, the case just looks so tiny.

500W would do great.

You could just install your OS and games on the SSD :lol: But Intel chipsets do support caching if you want that, I wouldn't recommend it though.

I meant custom water cooling to include your GPU, otherwise the use is limited. The idea would be to draw the heat away from your tiny case so you can dissipate it from an external radiator.

 

[dudewitbow]

You will only need a psu like this at most i would think as far as price goes, as the 7850 isnt power demanding. if you dont think 500w is enough then pay the little more for the 600w version both of which was cheaper than your original choice by a bit.

 

[Falx]

This is a hybrid (HDD-SSD) yet affordable storage solution: http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=161405

It is the Seagate Momentus XT SATA-3 (6GB/s) version.
Storage is 750GB and it has an intelligent SSD caching system, that will also improve OS boot times with an algorithm that remembers important boot files.

Check out some reviews (and make sure you read those of the SATA-3 6GB version, it is the newest one and way faster than the previous one).

 

[cloudslayer]

This zercom site is extremely interesting. A huge selection of hardware and a lot cheaper than the original site (and I happen to know someone who needs to go near there next week so he could pick it up)... Which ironically made me go over everything again and ending up with a more expensive and, I believe significantly more powerful, system.

Quite a few things have been changed.

Case: Silverstone Grandia GD04
http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=41210
- A bit better-looking than the original one, but the same size limitations

PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W
http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=119884
- Modular, which seems to be a must for a case as small as this, and cheaper than the original one

CPU: Intel Core i5 3570K Boxed
http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=188602
- Newer generation. Thanks to the new site cheaper than originally but more powerful.

CPU Cooler: Scythe Shuriken Rev. B
http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=35831
- No watercooling yet. I found someone on a forum using the original 2500k using this cooler in the Silversone box. I'll try this first and see which temperatures can be achieved.

Motherboard: Asus P8H77-M
http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=182603
- No change here

Memory: Corsair XMS3 CMX8GX3M2A1600C9
http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=44763
- Cheaper than the original

GPU: Asus GTX670-DC2-2GD5 | 90-C1CS30-S0UAY0BZ
http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=191052
- This one is ridiculously more powerful than the original (and much more expensive), but apparently takes about the same power as my original choice, and it's relatively cool. A very tight fit (10.7", max 11") but it should fit.

HDD: Not sure yet. Likely the WD Caviar Black (possibly adding a small SSD as boot disc or as cache using SRT) or possibly the hybrid suggested by Falx. I'm currently leaning to the SRT solution as it's easier (no caring about where stuff is installed) while at the same time a larger cache than in the momentus can be used.

What do you guys think?

 

[FinneousPJ]

I don't think the H77 chipset can overclock.

 

[Falx]

Indeed it can't. So then there is no use in going for a 3570K. the K version is unlocked so you can overclock, and you pay for that. If you want to be able to overclock, you need a P77 chipset. Else search for a similar CPU without it being unlocked (no K in product number)

 

[cloudslayer]

I believe OC'ing will not be feasible anyway as increasing the heat is probably the last thing this setup needs

What processor would you suggest then? A regular "i5 3570" does not appear to exist (or at least not where I intend to buy).

A core i5 2500 would apparently be possible ( http://zercom.eu/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=109294 ), but that's the generation before the 3570k.

Would going back to that one be worth the savings (as the difference between both is €18), or are there better options?

 

[Falx]

If you can't find a similar locked version, then nevermind. Ivy bridge is the way to go, i would no longer give my money to a sandy bridge cpu.