Mini-ITX Gaming PC Build

[lucreinink]

I want to build a Mini-ITX Gaming PC. I've got a build in my mind but I have some questions. These are the components I would like to use: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2DhAe (I've already got a hard disk)

I would like to know if this case will be able to keep the 290 cool enough (with the 2 fans installed). Linus built a PC in this with a Titan (and only one fan in it) and the Titan never got above 80 degrees. Also I would like to know which will be better, the MSI custom cooler 290 or the reference one (for blowing all the hot air out of the back, keeping the inside of the case nice and cool). As you can see on this picture: http://i.imgur.com/IS3xj0O.jpg the graphics card gets lots of fresh air. So, do you think this will be good enough for the 290?

Also, if you have any improvements on the parts I picked, feel free to let me know

 

[larkspur]

Max graphics card length for that case is 280mm (about 11"). [strike]The GTX 290 you selected is 10.87" so it should probably fit. BUT, why would you spend $570 on a three-generation old card? The 290 isn't even DirectX 11 compatible. You really don't want that card at that price...[/strike] Edit: yeah its the R9 290 my bad... Either way, on a tiny case I suggest the 'blower' style cooler. And I think you should get something like this GTX 780 to minimize cooling issues with the R9 290: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130917

 

[Rammy]

You have a couple of obvious issues to get out of the way straight away.

Overclockable (k-series) processor in a non-overclockable motherboard (B85 chipset). Either downgrade the processor or upgrade the motherboard to a Z87.

While you can fit an R9 290 in a Minicube (with around 4mm to spare) I'm not sure that it's a good idea. The reference designs are known to be pretty noisey, and you don't really have the airflow to vent the heat from a standard axial design. The length of the card is going to trap a lot of the heat.

@ Larkspur, wrong 290

 

[larkspur]

And if you want to overclock that 4670k you need to get a z87 motherboard.

 

[larkspur]

I would like to know if this case will be able to keep the 290 cool enough

LOL, sorry my bad, yeah, the R9 290, gotcha, thought you meant the old Nvidia dual-gpu gtx 295! Oh goodness I need some coffee! Either way, I like the 780 better as you won't have as many issues cooling it. Good luck!

 

[Rammy]

I concur, in a case like that if you want to go high end then you kinda have to step away from the standard value-for-money comparisons. The Titan cooler is the best blower cooler there is, and the GTX780 operates at lower temps to start with, it makes a lot of sense.

 

[lucreinink]

I really don't want a Nvidia (not because I hate them, I just want the 290, I'm not a fanboy). Also, where I'm from, the MSI 290 is 40 bucks more than the cheapest one, so it's not that expensive. About the 4670K, the non K version is 5 bucks less, so I took the 4670k one. I don't want to overclock, but for 5 bucks😛. I don't really care about noise, because I game with a good headset. But do you guys really think the MSI one (or reference) would get too hot?

@Rammy this MSI isn't reference, its the TWIN FROZR IV

 

[Rammy]

The 290 is a great card, but in a super compact build it makes a lot less sense, especially given the current pricing. I'm not saying you can't use one at all in a build like this, but given the behaviour of the card (throttling), you might experience issues even if you set it to performance mode. In this mode, the reference cards are known to be pretty loud, which is what I was referring to.
It's certainly not ideal, you are better off picking a case with a different orientation/better cooling or rethinking the graphics card. If the Minicube was cheaper, I'd say it'd be more viable, but at that price you have a huge selection of ITX cases to chose from.

As for the processor, the 4670 is the worst value i5 you can buy. If you want to overclock, you go with the k-series, otherwise you skip the 4670 and go for a better value i5, there is very little difference in performance.
The 3330/3350P/3470 in socket 1155 and 4430/4440, and to a lesser degree the 4570 all present better options.

In your original build, you also should perhaps reconsider both the CPU cooler and the PSU. The cooler is predominantly superfluous on a non overclocking build. Given most cases support a tower cooler of some description, you are better off with something of that nature if you did decide you wanted to add one later.
The PSU is ok-ish, but it's not very good value for money, and given you are talking about using an R9 290, I'd perhaps consider a little more capacity. For $100 you could have an XFX XXX-650, Antec HCG-620M, Rosewill Capstone 650-M (though that one is a bit long), Seasonic M12 II 620, SSR-650, all of which I'd rather have than the Corsair.

EDIT - Yeah I know it's one of the custom cooler models, but a blower style makes more sense in a case like that where you don't have a realistic way to clear any of the heat. It's possible the MSI card would work absolutely fine, but given the throttling issues they can present when they reach the higher temps, I'd have serious reservations about putting them in a case with very little ventilation.

 

[lucreinink]

Allright, so the 290 in the cubitek mini cube isn't really an option. How about this: http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-q18/ with all fans installed? By the way, if any of you know a (similar sized, and preferably light as well) case, I'd love to see it.

 

[Rammy]

I think if you want to go as small as possible, the Nvidia option makes a lot more sense. If you are 100% set on the R9 290, then it's certainly doable, but I'd suggest doing it in a case with better airflow, and ideally some vents around the card itself to get rid of any potential heat buildup.

The Lian Li is better, in that it has some decent airflow, but it still has the same issue that you'll get a lot of heat trapped around the graphics card, as there are no vents in that area.
A good option might be the Fractal Design Node 304. It's a little different in proportions to the Minicube, but it's got pretty decent airflow, and it's by no means huge.

 

[lucreinink]

All right, so the Lian Li would be an option. Do you think the Silverstone SG07 would be any good? I've heard it has a lot of airflow. If that case would be good enough, should I go with the reference cooler or the MSI one (or another custom one)?

 

[Rammy]

The SG07 and SG08 are both viable options, they are the same chassis with a different face so they have the same dimensions and advantages/disadvantages. They don't have the airflow of the Node, as they only have a single fan. It's a very big fan for an ITX case but it's used by design as an intake, pushing air onto the motherboard+CPU, I guess you could flip it around. The fully vented side panels on these, the Node and the Elite 120/130 are definitely better if you want to stick in a hot graphics card.

In any of them it's likely a blower style is going to be the better option from a cooling perspective, but you shouldn't have any issues using an axial design, as long as there is plenty of venting for the heat to find it's way out.
At $585 the MSI card is too expensive, there is no way around that. In fact, for the time being, the R9 290 is too expensive full stop. Remember these cards launched at $400 (even the 290X was only $550) and at some point in the not too distant future they should fall down to those levels again. It's quite likely you'll see cards like the MSI for at least $100 less.
Right now, you can get a reference GTX780 for comfortably under $500, which is far better in a tight space and for $500-510 you can have your pick of quality overclocked GTX780s.

My advice to you would be to either seriously consider the Nvidia options, or hold off on buying a graphics card until supply has a chance to catch up with demand.

 

[lucreinink]

Thanks. I think it's going to be the SG07 then, with the cooler blowing hot air out. Where I'm from the cheapest R9 290 is 350 euros. The MSI one is 398 euros, so around 50 bucks more (which isn't THAT much). The Sapphire R9 290 4GB GDDR5 OC TRI-X (http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1227&lid=1&pid=2091&leg=0) is 380 euros, while the cheapest 780 here is 435 euros, so the 780 is more expensive. The SG07 fits 12.2 inch cards, so maybe i'll go with the Sapphire one? What would be better, Sapphire (with very little room to spare), the MSI, or reference R9 290?

 

[Rammy]

Ah all of your links were to US sites so I assumed we were dealing in dollars, it's a slightly different story in Europe. I'm in the UK and I dunno if it's due to pricing laws or if we've just had a better supply balance, but our prices didn't skyrocket like the US ones did.

As far as I can tell the models currently available seem to be the Asus, Gigabyte the MSI and the Sapphire, there is a Powercolour one too. They should all be reasonably competitive in performance, so it's really just a case of cost and practicality. Depending on which case you pick the Asus or MSI are quite a bit smaller, 2 fan designs, 287mm and 276mm respectively, so they might be better options. If the Sapphire is the cheapest of the bunch and it'll fit in whatever case you do go for, then I'd go for that. 380Euros seems like a pretty decent price.

 

[lucreinink]

I'm from the Netherlands, the ones we have here are the Sapphire (TRI-X), Gigabyte WF3, and the MSI (more coming, but not yet available). These all fit, so I should probably go with the Sapphire TRI-X. The Sapphire is also the cheapest one. I hear the ASUS Direct CUII also are very good, so if it's available I'll definitely take a look.

Thank you very much for all your help If you like I could let you know how the build went and tell you the temps, if you're interested of course. (Next week someone is coming to buy my current PC, and I'm pretty sure I will be able to sell it. That means I'll have the parts in 1 and a half week or so)