Question Help upgrading PC (itx build)

[ma3wa]

Hi!

So im thinking of replacing my motherboard, cpu and memory in my current chassi (because one is probably not working properly).

Specs:
Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Chassi: Cooler Master HAF 912 Plus
PSU: OCZ ModXStream PRO 500W
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K @ 3.30GHz, Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8,00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 665MHz (9-9-9-24) (2x2 GB dual + 4 GB)
Motherboard: MSI P67A-C45 (MS-7673) (SOCKET 0)
Graphics: MSI GeForce GTX 770 (2047MB)
Storage:1863GB Seagate ST2000DL003-9VT166 ATA Device (SATA )

I have had plans for building a smaller itx computer (never built a pc before). I also have an m2 SSD laying around which i would like to install.
I though maybe i could ease into it by buying an itx motherboard (+ new cpu and memory) and installing it into my current chassi. Then later i could buy an itx chassi and replace the other components.

This is the mobo im planning on getting: https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITXac/#Specification
Not sure on which memory (probably corsair vengeance) or which ryzen cpu.

So here are my questions:

Will i be able to keep my gpu and fit it into the above motherboard? The mobo seems to fit my chassi: View: https://www.reddit.com/r/coolermaster/comments/4t7nu7/does_the_haf_912_plus_support_mini_itx_mbs/?ref=share&ref_source=embed&utm_content=title&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_name=521ad74c6fcf44f0915da2c9e54c53d4&utm_source=embedly&utm_term=4t7nu7

Just double checking that my Samsung 960 EVO intern M.2 SSD (250 GB) fits and will work well with this mobo?

How "hard" would this be, most cable work is already done but im guessing it wont just look the same when it comes to connectors/cables?

 

[tennis2]

I'd suggest a B550 board and a Ryzen 5000 series (5600X) CPU if you can afford it.

If you go Ryzen 5000 CPU, get a 2x8GB DDR4-3600 kit of RAM. CAS16 is best, CAS 18 may be slightly less costly. 2x16GB would give plenty of breathing room for future increased RAM requirements. If you end up with a Ryzen 3000 CPU, DDR4-3200 is as high as you need to go.

I think you'd be able to get 3 out of the 4 standoffs in your case for mITX (missing the bottom mounting hole near the HDD cage). That should be fine.

The 960 Evo will work, although I'd strongly encourage 500GB minimum. Games are enormous these days.

Cabling will (essentially) be exactly the same as the board you took out. 24 pin power to mobo, and 8 pin to CPU. The GPU will sit in the same position inside the case.

 

[Eximo]

Well, current bang for the buck is with the Intel 11400 / 11400F and the cheapest board you can find, since it doesn't offer overclocking. Ryzen 5600X is a great choice, but it may be a little expensive to get all the features (which you would want if this is your last upgrade for a long while, getting PCIe 4.0 will require the more expensive 500 series boards from AMD or Intel.)

Both AMD and Intel current offerings are end of socket. Intel and AMD will be moving to DDR5 for the next generation with Intel already having announced their next socket as LGA1700. AMD will presumably also increase the pin count and call it AM5.

 

[Eximo]

3200Mhz is fine for Intel and Ryzen 3000 series.

Yes, I would suggest a CPU cooler for the Intel chip, doesn't have to be super fancy. Just a 90mm or 120mm rifle cooler with a few heat pipes will do. The CPU will consume a lot more power than the included cooler is rated for in short bursts. Larger the cooler longer it will do so. But for most tasks the entire CPU won't be tasked.

Gammaxx 400 is only 300 Kroner. Various Arctic products sub 300, Cooler Master Hyper TX3.

Even a few premium offerings sneaking in down there. Cryorig M9i at 350.

 

[Eximo]

C7 would be my pick as well. An argument could also be made for the Noctua NH-L9i but it is a bit more expensive.

 

[helper800]

I think im going for the the ASUS ROG STRIX B560-I with the Intel Core i5 11400F and Noctua NH-L9i chromax.black. They seem to be running a 20 % off sale if you buy both 500 series mobo + 11:gen intel cpu. Im even considering the i5-11600K. Btw what is the difference between the F and non F, and addition of K? Could i get more out of the fan if opting for any of these?

The F has no iGPU the normal 11400 has an iGPU. The 11600k is overclockable and is a bit more powerful. The 11600kf is something to consider because its supposed to be cheaper than the 11600k.

 

[--SID--]

Replace the PSU too. That OCZ is an outdated, low quality PSU with bad voltage regulation for nowadays hardware.

11600KF is not worth it and the performance of the L9i is hardly enough for a 11600KF.

 

[avg9956]

True
Just skimming through the thread, I can't find the age of your PSU.
How old is your current PSU?
When you choose a new PSU, you're basically trusting your entire PC's lifeline to that of the PSU. Whichever new one you choose, don't cheap out on it.
It is usually the case that "you get what you pay for"

 

[helper800]

The Fractal Design Ion SFX-L 650 watt will serve you well at the price you need. It is manufactured by Seasonic one of the defacto best PSU manufacturers is the world.

 

[tennis2]

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-11400 2.6 GHz 6-Core Processor (kr1990.00 @ CDON SE)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Shuriken 2 41.3 CFM CPU Cooler (kr391.83 @ Amazon Sweden)
Motherboard: ASRock H570M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1200 Motherboard (kr1557.00 @ Proshop)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory (kr871.00 @ Amazon Sweden)
Power Supply: Fractal Design Ion SFX-L 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply (kr1197.00 @ Proshop)
Total: kr6006.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-05-06 17:52 CEST+0200

Still within your stated 6000Kr budget
(Couldn't find the Strix B560-I on PCPP)

 

[avg9956]

If I'm reading the thread right, OP wants to build a ITX/SFF build and upgrade his existing mid tower build.

Just my supplemental thoughts:
For the ITX/SFF build:

Just saw this review which said the fractal PSU "could be quieter", maybe i would be better off with corsair, evga or bequiet?

I find it hard to fathom for Small form factor builds to use anything above 300W or do overclock (unless you aim to do that, but its quite odd as it is usually done on mid tower builds or larger). PSU Fan will only start spinning when it hits certain load levels as mentioned above. Also consider airflow of the smaller case. Due to how small your available space is already in the case, a component that overheats can easily heat the rest if there is poor or no airflow. It depends on the SFF case' design but generally as long as there's good air flow to cool all your components, you can rest be assured that your SFF build will last significantly.

if i decide on an even smaller case than node 202 or get one after several years. Also 600-650W may be needed if i get a better gpu after several years?

Also keep in mind the horizontal GPU Clearance too. The smaller the case gets (if you're going for small form factor builds), the less likely it is to fit "better GPUs" as you ascribed which may have 3 fans. Smaller case can stop you from getting a better GPU if it does not fit. Small cases were never meant to be power house PC builds. If going for better GPUs is your goal after several years, I would rather focus on upgrading your existing mid tower build. Better GPUs tend to be more powerful too and produce more heat output, doubtful if the thermals would be manageable at smaller chassis with said better GPUs.

ATX cases usually have 11 to 13 inches of horizontal clearance for GPUs

As for ITX/SFF case since they can vary wildly by design and I don't personally use them or plan to, you would have to check the specifications of those smaller cases from the manufacturer website.

However if you're not going for the ITX/SFF build right away, it would be more logical to focus on your mid tower build. Your current chassis as stated in your 1st post is HAF 912 Plus, which is a mid tower. Cable management is generally easier as well on larger cases as there is more room to work with.

Would i need to redo all the cable management if I get the new PSU?

You will need to do cable management if you change chassis and/or change PSUs, so yes.

 

[tennis2]

but the Crucial Ballistix Black DDR4 3600MHz are only about 80 kr extra right now on proshop so might aswell get these 3600 Mhz over vengeance....[and other stated upgrades]

You have the luxury to electively extend your stated kr6000 budget, we do not.

Would i need to redo all the cable management if i get the new PSU? And does it fit inside my current atx case, without much fiddling around?

You'll need to remove the current PSU and its associated cables from your current case and run the new PSU cables in. SFX PSUs typically come with an ATX adapter bracket, so you're good there. You're pretty much replacing everything here, so your case is going to end up stripped down to the bare case before you put the new mobo in.

if there will be alot of extra work i might just get the node 202 case right away

Your current case is going to have to be stripped empty before starting this build anyway. Just getting the Node 202 now would be the best choice IMO. Keeping the current case just doubles your build efforts by requiring a second disassembly/reassembly step when you get the Node 202. (Smartly) buying a new PSU right away has removed that reasoning to postpone the case purchase, so the only reason you have left is the cost of the new case, which is relatively inexpensive compared to the other hardware you're buying.

 

[tennis2]

I find it hard to fathom for Small form factor builds to use anything above 300W or do overclock (unless you aim to do that, but its quite odd as it is usually done on mid tower builds or larger).

Small cases were never meant to be power house PC builds.

Ehhhh, these are outdated misconceptions. While yes, you can [efficiently] cool much more power-hungry hardware in a larger case that affords more/larger fans, the "average" gaming PC can be handled just fine inside a mITX case. It will generally cost you more for the benefit of size reduction of course.

Also consider airflow of the smaller case. Due to how small your available space is already in the case, a component that overheats can easily heat the rest if there is poor or no airflow. It depends on the SFF case' design but generally as long as there's good air flow to cool all your components, you can rest be assured that your SFF build will last significantly.

Also keep in mind the horizontal GPU Clearance too. The smaller the case gets (if you're going for small form factor builds), the less likely it is to fit "better GPUs" as you ascribed which may have 3 fans. Smaller case can stop you from getting a better GPU if it does not fit.

As for ITX/SFF case since they can vary wildly by design and I don't personally use them or plan to, you would have to check the specifications of those smaller cases from the manufacturer website.

Yes, mITX builds require careful planning. In this situation, the only carryover is going to be storage(?) and GPU. So those are the only components that need verification.

If going for better GPUs is your goal after several years, I would rather focus on upgrading your existing mid tower build. Better GPUs tend to be more powerful too and produce more heat output, doubtful if the thermals would be manageable at smaller chassis with said better GPUs.

ATX cases usually have 11 to 13 inches of horizontal clearance for GPUs

However if you're not going for the ITX/SFF build right away, it would be more logical to focus on your mid tower build.

This sounds counterproductive to the OPs stated goals and probably more implanting YOUR personal preference.

 

[Eximo]

HDCP 2.2 is certainly supported by Intel's last several generations, they created it after all.

You can be sure the latest is baked into HD 730.

 

[tennis2]

AFAIK, you use one or the other (GTX770 or IGP). You can't get the GTX770 gaming prowess with the IGP connectivity. The machine will use whatever graphics engine is connected to a display cable (not both at the same time).

 

[tennis2]

Would it be a hassle to switch between the two hdmi outputs on the gpu and on the mobo (GTX770 or iGPU). I was thinking of using the gtx 770 when gaming, on the pc monitor (or on the TV at 1080p w.o. hdr) and using the igpu when watching movies/media to the 4K TV, like a htpc.

Here's how I know you can do it. You'd have both the mobo and GPU connected to the TV via separate cables. When you boot the PC, you can enter the BIOS and select the "default graphics adapter" you want to use for that instance. Selecting IGP should disable the GTX770 and vice versa.

 

[Eximo]

No, that is correct, but you aren't using one to improve the other. And running an IGP does have an impact on the CPU. It will be heating up that section of the CPU and consuming system memory for the video buffer.

It is often recommended to use a discrete GPU for all display outputs when possible, but you don't have to.

 

[ma3wa]

Thank you, that sounds good What would the benefits of the newer B550 boards be compared to B450? The ASRock is quite alot cheaper (more money for ram/cpu) and has 7.1 out and latest audio (Realtek ALC1220/better dac) which i want. Im open for either intel or amd thought. I just want as much performance per budget at possible and something that is built to last (people said amd could be better here).

 

[ma3wa]

Well, current bang for the buck is with the Intel 11400 / 11400F and the cheapest board you can find, since it doesn't offer overclocking. Ryzen 5600X is a great choice, but it may be a little expensive to get all the features (which you would want if this is your last upgrade for a long while, getting PCIe 4.0 will require the more expensive 500 series boards from AMD or Intel.)

Both AMD and Intel current offerings are end of socket. Intel and AMD will be moving to DDR5 for the next generation with Intel already having announced their next socket as LGA1700. AMD will presumably also increase the pin count and call it AM5.

Good info, im now considering the ASUS ROG STRIX B560-I aswell. Guess this would be more futureproof since i can buy a second SSD (2x M2), it has newer version connections (USB/HDMI etc) and PCIe 4.0 like you wrote.

Right now im thinking ASUS ROG STRIX B560-I for $223, Intel Core i5 11400F $195 (good price now for being in sweden) and DDR4 CL16. Since this mobo supports RAM OC (+active cooling) would it be better going for Crucial, Corsair och HyperX for this combination and is it worth getting 3600 Mhz over 3200?
$418 + RAM

But if prices would drop on the older ryzen so they would give more value over the 5600X maybe this:
ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac $130, AMD Ryzen 7 3700X $331 (probably only worth if i can get it for $95 less) and DDR4 CL16. With this amd build i would get a better cooler thought.
$461 + RAM

Since long lifetime/stability is important for me im guessing i would have to invest in a CPU cooler, especially on the intel one. However can i get by a year or two on the stock one? I wont be doing any heavy gaming.

Lastly im interested in HTPC like chassis, ive been eying the Fractal Design Node 202 for a while. Its cheap and i really like the look. However heat may be a problem. A bonus would also be if i could get the pc noise down. Which of the above would be prefered in this case? (no pun intended

 

[ma3wa]

I'd suggest a B550 board and a Ryzen 5000 series (5600X) CPU if you can afford it.

If you go Ryzen 5000 CPU, get a 2x8GB DDR4-3600 kit of RAM. CAS16 is best, CAS 18 may be slightly less costly. 2x16GB would give plenty of breathing room for future increased RAM requirements. If you end up with a Ryzen 3000 CPU, DDR4-3200 is as high as you need to go.

I think you'd be able to get 3 out of the 4 standoffs in your case for mITX (missing the bottom mounting hole near the HDD cage). That should be fine.

The 960 Evo will work, although I'd strongly encourage 500GB minimum. Games are enormous these days.

Cabling will (essentially) be exactly the same as the board you took out. 24 pin power to mobo, and 8 pin to CPU. The GPU will sit in the same position inside the case.

In case of the motherboard fitting in my current case, would it be any different if i go with the ASUS ROG STRIX B560-I (with Intel Core i5 11400F). Whats your thoughts on this?

 

[tennis2]

In case of the motherboard fitting in my current case, would it be any different if i go with the ASUS ROG STRIX B560-I (with Intel Core i5 11400F). Whats your thoughts on this?

All mITX boards have the same mounting points, it's a standard (for good reason)

What is your build budget (in Kr)?

I would agree that Intel 11th gen i5 is going to give you the best bang for your buck at this price point. The Ryzen 5600X is just too expensive.

Buying a cooler should be HEAVILY influenced by what mITX case you intend to purchase since clearance/height may be a limitation you'll need to work with.

 

[ma3wa]

3200Mhz is fine for Intel and Ryzen 3000 series.

Yes, I would suggest a CPU cooler for the Intel chip, doesn't have to be super fancy. Just a 90mm or 120mm rifle cooler with a few heat pipes will do. The CPU will consume a lot more power than the included cooler is rated for in short bursts. Larger the cooler longer it will do so. But for most tasks the entire CPU won't be tasked.

Gammaxx 400 is only 300 Kroner. Various Arctic products sub 300, Cooler Master Hyper TX3.

Even a few premium offerings sneaking in down there. Cryorig M9i at 350.

Ill try to go for a better cooler then. Problem is the node 202 chassi has a max cpu cooler height of 56mm so my options are less but the Cryorig C7 seems to fit for 379 kr. Is there any better alternatives?

 

[ma3wa]

All mITX boards have the same mounting points, it's a standard (for good reason)

What is your build budget (in Kr)?

I would agree that Intel 11th gen i5 is going to give you the best bang for your buck at this price point. The Ryzen 5600X is just too expensive.

Buying a cooler should be HEAVILY influenced by what mITX case you intend to purchase since clearance/height may be a limitation you'll need to work with.

5000-6000 kr but the lower is prefered. Things i would like from the chassi: as compact as possible (portability would be nice for future work), dust filters (easy cleaning/maintenance) and non-"gaming", clean design. The node 202 is about 800 kr which is good value too, and i will probably buy some extra fans later aswell

 

[helper800]

C7 would be my pick as well. An argument could also be made for the Noctua NH-L9i but it is a bit more expensive.

Agreed, but isn't the noctua a bit better as well? I think I remember the noctua beating the c7. Either way the OP has decent options even for an 11400/f.

 

[Eximo]

Agreed, but isn't the noctua a bit better as well? I think I remember the noctua beating the c7. Either way the OP has decent options even for an 11400/f.

Yes, reflected in the price mostly. Probably a bit quieter too. Without the height for something like the L9-x65 it won't make a huge difference to a locked processor.