System Builder Marathon Q2 2015: $1600 Mini Performance PC

[Crashman]

We’ve seen how far I can push a six-core Haswell-E in our full-sized performance build, but can the same performance level fit into a mini cube?

System Builder Marathon Q2 2015: $1600 Mini Performance PC : Read more

 

[UltimateDeep]

Baby PC able to out-overclock the Papa PC, gosh, this shouldn't be happening but it did anyway!

 

[MasterDell]

PSU used is not Haswell Certified.

 

[eldragon0]

Great write up, but the 5820k has 6 cores ( OC section says four physical cores)

 

[RazberyBandit]

Tricky tricky tricky tricky!

Relate to a younger generation? A reader would have to be at least 35-years old (and into Hip-Hop) to have gotten that reference...

You Be Illin' =)

 

[Crashman]

Tricky tricky tricky tricky!

Relate to a younger generation? A reader would have to be at least 35-years old (and into Hip-Hop) to have gotten that reference...

You Be Illin' =)

I'm just fighting for your right to party. No need to take this on all by yourself, any more.

 

[CaedenV]

@Razbery and Crashman
Nice

 

[Aspiring techie]

Sweet. The mini itx form factor doesn't limit performance at this price level. I guess you learn something new every day

 

[daveys93]

"High-resolution performance might have been better still had that machine contained a pair of R9 290X cards rather than a pair of GTX 270s."

Typo? I think you mean 970s.

 

[atheus]

Again you sacrifice cooling performance to pick up an optical drive. Are you being paid off by big optic...oil?

Admit it, you just chose that motherboard because it lets you plug this bad boy in:

 

[Nythious]

It's about time people start realizing that smaller cases restrict the impact of ambient temperatures because the total air volume is recycled faster than larger cases.

 

[rolli59]

Nice work getting that together, looking at all those cables from the none modular PSU!

 

[envy14tpe]

Give it up for the miniITX. I'm impressed. I had no idea it could still cool well.

EDIT> I may be building one next time as I only want a 1 GPU system.

 

[Onus]

BAM! Outstanding. Once again, the tiny board is fit for purpose.
I'm not even going to ding the PSU; I've read the review.
I'm actually rather impressed by that case. I just ordered a Rosewill Neutron for a mITX machine, but that one looks reasonable. How sturdy is it? Does it feel durable, especially if you're in and out of it a lot?

 

[Math Geek]

i will be looking into building a mini machine in the near future and am VERY pleased to see that i can still put some high end parts into such a small build and it'll work nicely. or you could just pick me as the winner for this little beast and save me the trouble *wink* *wink*

 

[clonazepam]

After spending a full day on this build, I was relieved when I finally turned it on and found that the power LED was connected at the right polarity.

Single best sentence in the article. I felt it.

 

[James Mason]

Ehh, I think a Cooler Master Elite 130 or Haf Stacker would have been a better (and potentially cheaper) choice for the case.

 

[dstarr3]

That case is a mess. It looks fine on the outside, but holy crap, that PSU mount is janky.

 

[Crashman]

BAM! Outstanding. Once again, the tiny board is fit for purpose.
I'm not even going to ding the PSU; I've read the review.
I'm actually rather impressed by that case. I just ordered a Rosewill Neutron for a mITX machine, but that one looks reasonable. How sturdy is it? Does it feel durable, especially if you're in and out of it a lot?

It was supposed to read that the steel frame is supported by the aluminum shell. The aluminum parts are pretty solid

 

[TechyInAZ]

PSU used is not Haswell Certified.

LOL that doesn't matter. If the PSU was within tiers 1, 2, or 3 then it's fine.

Great build. Man, Haswell-E packed inside a shoebox is amazing.

 

[Firion87]

Great components Tom's! But I own the Raijintek Metis (same case) and without serious modifications I can't see those temperatures to be real. First off I'm using a i5 4460 with a gtx 960 Strix (way less power usage). Using a fully modular psu with custom cables make a lot of space inside this case. Second: this case goes either with a SFX PSU or you need to modify the PSU support to drop it lower if you want to use a full size GPU. Lastly I recomand using a MB with m-sata or other port to get a SSD inside, and a 2,5"hdd on the bottom so you can remove the upper HDD cage, getting more fresh air into that case. Another idea is to contact the manufacturer to punch bigger holes in the side of the case to mount an extra 12mm fan on the side or on the top of the case and it would be perfect!

 

[atheus]

Great components Tom's! But I own the Raijintek Metis (same case) and without serious modifications I can't see those temperatures to be real. First off I'm using a i5 4460 with a gtx 960 Strix (way less power usage). Using a fully modular psu with custom cables make a lot of space inside this case. Second: this case goes either with a SFX PSU or you need to modify the PSU support to drop it lower if you want to use a full size GPU. Lastly I recomand using a MB with m-sata or other port to get a SSD inside, and a 2,5"hdd on the bottom so you can remove the upper HDD cage, getting more fresh air into that case. Another idea is to contact the manufacturer to punch bigger holes in the side of the case to mount an extra 12mm fan on the side or on the top of the case and it would be perfect!

If you read a little closer you'll see that he used a GPU with the reference cooler on it (a.k.a. blower style) because in such a small case, blowing the majority of the heat from the GPU straight out the back of the case makes a big difference in the heat buildup inside the case. You mentioned you are using a STRIX which is a great cooler, but with the fans blowing the heat into such a small case, you'll have a hard time keeping everything cool. Check your systin. I'll bet it's pretty high.

 

[Firion87]

atheus, I've seen that he used the stock cooled GPU. My components are not overheating at all (I'm having pc parts a lot weaker than those in the test). The point I wanted to get is that most readers consider this case crammed which doesn't have to be the case if you choose wisely the components (imposible within the giving budget but to save the reputation of this tiny case).

 

[surphninja]

Best build article I've read in a while.

Love the switch to the small form factor. With so many people moving their pc's from the desk to the living room, I think we're going to see a lot more preference for this. Not to mention, most people don't use the majority of expansion slots available to them.

 

[surphninja]

Still think the DVD drive is unnecessary. Is it not possible to put that stuff on a usb stick instead?