System Builder Marathon, Q2 2013: $1300 Enthusiast PC

Features
By Don Woligroski
published

Video Card, Power Supply, And Case

Video Card: Sparkle GeForce GTX 680

I knew I'd need to fit the fastest possible graphics card into our budget if I hoped to compete with Paul's ambition and Thomas' bankroll. And because there isn't room for a dual-card solution in my chassis of choice, I needed to go with a single dual-slot card.

Unfortunately, the GeForce GTX 770 wasn't available when the orders for this quarter's Marathon had to go in. But a 770 might not have worked anyway. Most of the third-party cards employ axial fans that recycle heat into the enclosure. That's not a great idea when it comes to a compact case.

The GeForce GTX 690, Titan, 780, and Radeon HD 7990 all suffer some combination of the same problem or prohibitive pricing. So, I was really only left with the GeForce GTX 680 and Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition.

Read Customer Reviews of Sparkle's GeForce GTX 680

At the end of the day, the GeForce card uses less power, its stock cooling system is quieter, and it effectively exhausts waste heat away from all of the other components we're trying to overclock. That's important stuff. Price is also a big consideration. When we made our purchase, Sparkle's card was selling for $420.

Power Supply: Corsair CX750M 750 W PSU

Read Customer Reviews of Corsair's CX750M

I consider a modular power supply necessary in a mini-ITX build, where space is already at a premium. Corsair's CX750M is admittedly overkill for this PC. But it offers all of the features we need at a reasonable $95 price. With that said, you could spend less on a lower-output PSU if you wanted to save some cash on your own build.

Case: Lian-Li PC-Q08B

Read Customer Reviews of Lian-Li's PC-Q08B

Lian-Li is known for its well-built, classically-styled enclosures. The PC-Q08B fits that description in a mini-ITX form factor, all while accommodating a full-sized graphics card.

Priced at an even $100, it's more expensive than many full ATX enclosures, so, once again, we're paying a premium for this system's diminutive dimensions.

Don Woligroski
91 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Madn3ss795
    I'm against using Corsair CX PSU in a mid-end build. You also admitted that 750w is overkill. 90$ can get you a SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze with much better components.

    Additionally, Samsung 840 120gb only costs 20$ more than the Adata XPG SX900 64.
    Reply
  • itzsnypah
    Anymore these days all SBM gives me is a good laugh. Maybe it's because I've gone more elitist as my component knowledge increases or mabye that SBM builders don't have free reign on what brands they can buy.

    Did you know that a 250gb Samsung 840 has been holding at ~$180 for months and that a 750w PSU in a mITX system makes you look unintelligent? Or that 2133 ram costs the same as 1866?

    I think it's time you guys start building machines you would actually own and not ones that tops the charts but are horridly flawed.
    Reply
  • tomate2
    its nice to see Toms trying something new like a mini itx build on the system builder marathon
    Reply
  • Someone Somewhere
    So, ways I think this is dumb:
    ■DDR3-1866. Save $20 and get -1600.
    ■WD Black as a storage drive. I'd consider it overpriced as a boot drive. Save $35.
    ■Geven the 770 and 680 are basically the same card (in fact the 770 may be slightly better), save $30 and get the 770.
    ■More than $1 per GB on an SSD. For $10 more you can get a 120GB 840.
    ■750W PSU. You're trolling me. That could run two of them.
    And yeah, title on page 3 refers to a non-existent Sapphire 680.
    Reply
  • vmem
    Awesome idea picking the mini ITX theme btw, we're long overdue for one :)

    just a thought, while we're on themes, maybe a pure number cruncher/work-horse for the next SBM? could be fun for the "all work and no play" folks out there :P
    Reply
  • agnickolov
    Personally I'd save money on the HDD with a cheaper 1TB for $60 and use the money for a larger 128GB SSD. Considering you can get one for as low as $90-$100, that would even balance the budget...
    Reply
  • cangelini
    10997565 said:
    So, ways I think this is dumb:
    * DDR3-1866. Save $20 and get -1600.
    * WD Black as a storage drive. I'd consider it overpriced as a boot drive. Save $35.
    * Geven the 770 and 680 are basically the same card (in fact the 770 may be slightly better), save $30 and get the 770.
    * More than $1 per GB on an SSD. For $10 more you can get a 120GB 840.
    * 750W PSU. You're trolling me. That could run two of them.

    And yeah, title on page 3 refers to a non-existent Sapphire 680.

    GTX 770 wasn't an option when Don placed his order--says so right on the same page three where you found the Sapphire typo ;-)

    Don will have to defend his other component choices (against you guys *and* Paul/Thomas).
    Reply
  • agnickolov
    A question on the Visual Studio benchmark - is it run from the SSD for this build? That would explain the significant performance delta at stock clocks...
    Reply
  • CaptainTom
    This build is a total joke. So much could be done better. A 680 really? That card has been a joke since the 670 and 7970 GHz, but now the 770 has made it completely irrelevant...
    Reply
  • Crashman
    10997500 said:
    Did you know that a 250gb Samsung 840 has been holding at ~$180 for months and that a 750w PSU in a mITX system makes you look unintelligent? Or that 2133 ram costs the same as 1866?
    Did you know that the $180 SSD would have blown his system even farther out of budget, that readers have spoken out against both DDR3-1866 AND DDR3-2133 as unimportant to real-world performance, or that power supply size is dictated by components and not case size? What were you saying about intelligence?
    10997861 said:
    This build is a total joke. So much could be done better. A 680 really? That card has been a joke since the 670 and 7970 GHz, but now the 770 has made it completely irrelevant...
    While I probably would have gone with a 7970 or 670 to save money, the 680 isn't really that bad by comparison. And the 770? I'm surprised you didn't read any of the previous comments. These systems were ordered in April. As an experienced commenter you knew these articles take weeks to prepare, but you opened up about parts that weren't available weeks ago anyway? For shame Captain, I expected so much more from you...

    To the both of you: I'm a little rough on Don for not pushing his RAM even though it doesn't make much performance difference, but only because he's a competitor. And his power supply might be over-rated, but he's probably just trying to dodge the complaints of other readers who demand excessive capacity. All in all he's only wasted what, 10% of his budget? I'm sure most of you would find some other way to waste 10% of your budgets.

    BTW, if you hate his power supply for being ridiculously over-capacity and somewhat middle-quality, you're going to have a love/hate relationship with mine :)
    Reply