Compact Workstation PC Build (Mid 2018)

Info & chat about quiet prebuilt, small form factor and barebones systems, people's experiences with vendors thereof, etc.

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Derek Semeraro
Posts: 124
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2017 6:49 am

Compact Workstation PC Build (Mid 2018)

Post by Derek Semeraro » Sun May 13, 2018 3:01 am

This build list is a possible starting point to consider for someone who wants to build a workstation (for video/photo/3d model editing) that is powerful, compact and with low noise. A case like the Loque Ghost S1 is preferable, but they are very expensive and none are currently in stock. For good thermals, it's good to stay under 150w for the video card and the CPU in this build should probably not be overclocked, but even a stock Ryzen 7 will offer excellent performance. Three storage drives, including two SSD's are recommended for fast workflow, as two drives can be accessing files at once.

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Case: Fractal Design Node 202
Power Supply: Corsair SF600
CPU: Ryzen 7 2700
Cooler: Noctua L9i
Motherboard: AsRock AB350 ITX
Video Card: Asus GTX 1070 (3 fans)
RAM: 16 GB (3000 MHz) x2
M.2 SSD: 500 GB (WD Blue)
2.5" SSD: 500 GB Crucial MX500
2.5" Hard Drive: WD Blue 2 TB (5400 RPM)

Budget Alternatives: This would be an expensive build due to the current limitations of the compact DIY PC market, but cost can definitely be reduced. Ryzen 5 2600, though this may be the last part you want to spend less on. GTX 1050 Ti can be fine for Photoshop or Premiere Pro, but a 1060 may be a good choice for more graphically demanding workstation programs like Da Vinci Resolve. A Quadro video card may be needed if you need the drivers it offers, but otherwise, they're five times more expensive for the performance they offer. Cryorig C7 cooler. 1x 16 GB stick to start (instead of 2). The version of the Node 202 that's bundled with a 450w power supply (if SFX power supplies are too expensive). For the hard drive, whatever offers the most GB for the price is fine, but 5400 RPM and 2.5" are good for form factor and silence.

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