• Itching to build a small but powerful PC, need some help choosing components
    10 replies, posted
For some time now, I've had thoughts and even had plans several times about building a small PC with a bit of power in it. [B]Why? [/B]Becuase I want a smaller PC and I love building PC's as a hobby. See this as a personal challenge. :wink: [B]Budget?[/B] Preferably as low as possible, but preferred max budget lays around 800€ [B]Old parts?[/B] My current PC have some up-to-day parts that I could salvage, like i5-2500k with corsair "liquid" cooling (Old version, should buy new if anything) and 8GB of RAM. I would however try to go with new items. [B]Region? [/B]Sweden, but I'm not exactly looking for a shopping list for a certain site. But if you find parts on a swedish website to use as a reference, it's a plus.
it will make things a lot simpler to know at least one store you can use, prices vary greatly between countries and check if any stores will be selling the Bitfenix Prodigy, it's likely your best choice for a mITX case once it's released
Good point, here are a few stores that I usually buy from and stores I know of. They are in swedish, but I've linked directly to the computer parts of the sites. Webhallen: [url]http://www.webhallen.com/se-sv/hardvara/datorkomponenter/[/url] Komplett: [url]http://www.komplett.se/k/kd.aspx?bn=10000[/url] Inet: (Choose "Butik"): [url]http://www.inet.se/kategori/31/datorkomponenter[/url] CDON (Yes, they have stuff for PC's): [url]http://cdon.se/hemelektronik/datorkomponenter/[/url] Dustinhome: [url]http://www.dustinhome.se/page/4003/datorkomponenter/[/url] [editline]13th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=reapaninja;36312525]...check if any stores will be selling the Bitfenix Prodigy, it's likely your best choice for a mITX case once it's released...[/QUOTE] I've read about that case. I shall consider it, thanks :smile:
What is the exact specs of your current build? And really make up with yourself whether you really need a smaller computer, because performance won't be better, heat will be more of a problem and so on.
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;36317572]What is the exact specs of your current build? And really make up with yourself whether you really need a smaller computer, because performance won't be better, heat will be more of a problem and so on.[/QUOTE] I don't expect much of a boost from my current build, the performance is not my main goal in this project. But my current build is a Z68 (I think) motherboard with i5-2500k, 8GB Corsair DDR3 RAM (1600MHz), 60GB SSD, AMD HD 6950 1GB, Corsair AX750. As a size factor, I've looked further into the Bitfenix Prodigy and I doubt that heat will be a problem. (Sweclockers review): [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjC3QPaokGE[/media] I haven't thought fully on the parts yet as I haven't had time to think of a build too much, but since the Bitfenix case can fit a full size graphics card along with Corsair H100 (If I ever wanted one), the only difference in size when it comes to the computer parts, it's the motherboard. I've been thinking of this one: [url]http://www.inet.se/produkt/1902231/asrock-z77e-itx[/url] So perhaps something along with this: Case: Bitfenix Prodigy black version (Becuase it has mesh in front, compared to the white version) CPU: Intel i7 (Ivy bridge version, haven't thought of the names yet) + Corsair liquid cooling RAM: 8GB/16GB RAM 1600MHz System drive: 120/128GB SSD (Brand unknown yet, prices go up and down all the time.) GPU: Either my 6950 1GB with new cooler (since it's kinda loud right now) or Nvidia GTX670 if money allows PSU: Not sure yet, maybe my AX750 if the size allows it (It's kinda big, but fully modular) Motherboard: ASRock Z77E-ITX [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] Maybe it would fit better to type in "Smaller" instead of "Small" in this case.. :v: [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] Perhaps something along with this: [img]http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7845/capturexj.jpg[/img] And then grab the GPU, PSU and a harddrive from my current PC. Not sure if I should hold on to that SSD though, feels like I could be fine without one at this point.
I may be wrong, but are big graphic cards just not really adequate to fit on a mITX motherboard? The biggest card that I couse see is a HD 7750 (or the graphic card that OP already has) for that kind of build. Though I also like the Bitfenix case, and I heard it was really one of the best mini cases to get.
While it seems like you would be able to fit your 6950 in there if you remove all the bays, I [I]really[/I] don't recommend doing this build. Maybe make a cheaper one with less capable components, but throwing that much money after it and at the same time rendering your other build useless.. I don't think you should do it. And don't get Corsair watercooling, as far as I remember, it's really not worth it. That applies to the Vengeance RAM as well.
[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;36323212]While it seems like you would be able to fit your 6950 in there if you remove all the bays, I [I]really[/I] don't recommend doing this build. Maybe make a cheaper one with less capable components, but throwing that much money after it and at the same time rendering your other build useless.. I don't think you should do it. And don't get Corsair watercooling, as far as I remember, it's really not worth it. That applies to the Vengeance RAM as well.[/QUOTE] The Vengeance RAM is like really really cheap for 8GB, so I don't get why it wouldn't be worth it. And for fitting the 6950, you still have like 2-3 bays left, along with being able to fit SSD's in 2-4 other places. It's even more than I have in my current case. :v: I think I could scale down on the CPU and buy another power supply instead, so I still could use my old PC like a server or something. I've also used Corsair "water" cooling for years and I just love it. I could choose a single-fan model instead though, not that important. [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] I could save off 500sek from just choosing a H77 motherboard instead. Maybe that's an option for me who haven't overclocked my CPU's since years back.
this case looks better. May not be as cool but if you aim for a small PC you probably also want it to look good. [url]http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&prod=58[/url]
[QUOTE=ShinyChrome;36322324]I don't expect much of a boost from my current build, the performance is not my main goal in this project. But my current build is a Z68 (I think) motherboard with i5-2500k, 8GB Corsair DDR3 RAM (1600MHz), 60GB SSD, AMD HD 6950 1GB, Corsair AX750.[...][/QUOTE] you would be fine buying a P67/Z68/Z77 mITX mobo and the Prodigy, maybe stick one or two gentle typhoons on the h50/h70/whichever AIO loop you already have nothing in this build is really worth upgrading at all, you're not going to see any improvement worth the money and everything else will fit so you might as well reuse it all the only cooler I know of off the top of my head for a 6950 are the Arctic Cooling ones which will take up three slots once installed and so won't fit into the Prodigy, so if the noise is a problem the only solution I can see is to sell the 6950 and buy a quieter card like the Asus or Gigabyte 670s [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=ADT;36323128]I may be wrong, but are big graphic cards just not really adequate to fit on a mITX motherboard? The biggest card that I couse see is a HD 7750 (or the graphic card that OP already has) for that kind of build. Though I also like the Bitfenix case, and I heard it was really one of the best mini cases to get.[/QUOTE] once the top HDD bay is removed the Prodigy will fit a 6990 with no problems [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=GoDong-DK;36323212]And don't get Corsair watercooling, as far as I remember, it's really not worth it.[/QUOTE] a small build like this is the one case an AIO closed loop is worth it, the space saved and keeping weight attached more securely to the case helps keep the build small and portable
[QUOTE=reapaninja;36323991]you would be fine buying a P67/Z68/Z77 mITX mobo and the Prodigy, maybe stick one or two gentle typhoons on the h50/h70/whichever AIO loop you already have nothing in this build is really worth upgrading at all, you're not going to see any improvement worth the money and everything else will fit so you might as well reuse it all the only cooler I know of off the top of my head for a 6950 are the Arctic Cooling ones which will take up three slots once installed and so won't fit into the Prodigy, so if the noise is a problem the only solution I can see is to sell the 6950 and buy a quieter card like the Asus or Gigabyte 670s[/QUOTE] It's not a bad idea, I could literally keep everything except case and motherboard, then sell that off (or save for future use). The big risk of having 2 computers is that 1 might just be there gathering dust. [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=maxolina;36323901]this case looks better. May not be as cool but if you aim for a small PC you probably also want it to look good. [url]http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&prod=58[/url][/QUOTE] I like Fractal Design too, but I liked the horisontal approach that the Prodigy case has. I'll put that on my list too though. Thanks :smile:
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