Quiet gaming mATX - First build ever, advice needed
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 9:57 am
Hi everybody,
this is my first time ever building a computer and I could sure use some advice. I have learned everything I know about building over the past two weeks, reading reviews on the site and posts on the forum, so it goes without saying I have a few gaps in my knowledge, especially about the actual "building". :)
Unfortunately, since I am from Italy, NewEgg does not ship to my country (not that it would be an actually feasible option, between oversea shipping time and customs fees...); also the local Amazon has only a few components in stock, reliying mostly on Amazon Marketplace Sellers (an experience I would rather avoid). Prices are in euros for obvious reasons. :D
Anyway, here goes:
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini (about 90-100 €)
PSU: ???
Mobo: ASUS P8Z77-M PRO (124 €)
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K (207 €)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz 8GB (2x4GB) CL9 Low Profile (53 €)
GPU: Asus GTX 670 DirectCUII 2GB (361€)
CPU Cooler: ???
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 128GB (137€)
WiFi: ???
The only products directly available on Amazon.it are the Mobo, CPU, GPU and RAM. Case and SSD are still available through Amazon Marketplace or different shops that I trust.
What I want to achieve is a small, quietish gaming rig on a FullHD (or eventually max WQHD) monitor, but giving precendence to quietness over footprint. That is why I would rather buy a Define Mini than a SilverStone TJ08-E, even though the first is more comparable to a small ATX mid tower than to the Temjin. I also like the style of the Define much more, especially the front panel design and its door (which I will probably never open since I mostly don't use an optical drive anymore), not to mention that the TJ08-E is also about 20€ more expensive.
CPU and RAM are pretty straightforward. I do not plan to overclock (never done it before) right now but it is always nice to have a choice. I got low profile RAM to avoid conflicts with CPU coolers, 8GB should be enough for gaming, its latency and frequency should be pretty standard. The motherboard seems alright, mostly getting it for advanced fan controls over the competition, but I do appreciate more USB3 and also the eSATA ports. I have also considered the MSI Z77MA-G45 because I can buy it at about 88€, but it has less features.
I am not really willing to spend more on the GPU than with the 670: I don't do "hardcore" gaming, I just want to be able to play, say, Skyrim on High/Ultra settings without a big fps drop. The only other option I have thought of is wherether it could have any sense to go for a GTX 660 SLI (with MSI Twin Frozr II OC that should fit, at least lenghtwise), buying one of them now and the other at due time.
What I really could use some help with, unless I already made some mistake, are the power supply unit and the cpu cooler. For the first one I have no idea about how much power is needed for the system (keeping the eventual overclock in mind), and while I thought that I could not go wrong with the Seasonic Platinum Fanless 520W the comments I read about its whine/buzziness scared me I little. The only thing I am sure is that I want a modular ATX one.
The cpu cooler seems to be another irksome matter: I thought that the Noctua NH-D14 was a good choice but it seems its fan clips would be dangerously close to the PCB of the graphic card. I have also read that the Termalright HR-02 Macho will fit but that it will protrude slightly into the foam covering the side fan hole. Speaking of which I ask: is it safe to run a non-reference gpu such as the Asus GTX 670 withouth a side fan? Are there better options? And should I replace the stock fans of the case with better ones?
Lastly I'm having some problems finding a good PCIe wireless card. Some of them are just not good (like dropping the signal all the time or having absymal speed) and some of them don't even have drivers updated for Windows 8. Should I just go for a USB adapter?
----------------------------------
Wow, just now I realize that it is pretty much a wall of text. Sorry for the lenght and for the less-than-correct English I probably wrote!
Please tell me if I have forgot anything. Thanks in advance! :D
this is my first time ever building a computer and I could sure use some advice. I have learned everything I know about building over the past two weeks, reading reviews on the site and posts on the forum, so it goes without saying I have a few gaps in my knowledge, especially about the actual "building". :)
Unfortunately, since I am from Italy, NewEgg does not ship to my country (not that it would be an actually feasible option, between oversea shipping time and customs fees...); also the local Amazon has only a few components in stock, reliying mostly on Amazon Marketplace Sellers (an experience I would rather avoid). Prices are in euros for obvious reasons. :D
Anyway, here goes:
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini (about 90-100 €)
PSU: ???
Mobo: ASUS P8Z77-M PRO (124 €)
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K (207 €)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz 8GB (2x4GB) CL9 Low Profile (53 €)
GPU: Asus GTX 670 DirectCUII 2GB (361€)
CPU Cooler: ???
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 128GB (137€)
WiFi: ???
The only products directly available on Amazon.it are the Mobo, CPU, GPU and RAM. Case and SSD are still available through Amazon Marketplace or different shops that I trust.
What I want to achieve is a small, quietish gaming rig on a FullHD (or eventually max WQHD) monitor, but giving precendence to quietness over footprint. That is why I would rather buy a Define Mini than a SilverStone TJ08-E, even though the first is more comparable to a small ATX mid tower than to the Temjin. I also like the style of the Define much more, especially the front panel design and its door (which I will probably never open since I mostly don't use an optical drive anymore), not to mention that the TJ08-E is also about 20€ more expensive.
CPU and RAM are pretty straightforward. I do not plan to overclock (never done it before) right now but it is always nice to have a choice. I got low profile RAM to avoid conflicts with CPU coolers, 8GB should be enough for gaming, its latency and frequency should be pretty standard. The motherboard seems alright, mostly getting it for advanced fan controls over the competition, but I do appreciate more USB3 and also the eSATA ports. I have also considered the MSI Z77MA-G45 because I can buy it at about 88€, but it has less features.
I am not really willing to spend more on the GPU than with the 670: I don't do "hardcore" gaming, I just want to be able to play, say, Skyrim on High/Ultra settings without a big fps drop. The only other option I have thought of is wherether it could have any sense to go for a GTX 660 SLI (with MSI Twin Frozr II OC that should fit, at least lenghtwise), buying one of them now and the other at due time.
What I really could use some help with, unless I already made some mistake, are the power supply unit and the cpu cooler. For the first one I have no idea about how much power is needed for the system (keeping the eventual overclock in mind), and while I thought that I could not go wrong with the Seasonic Platinum Fanless 520W the comments I read about its whine/buzziness scared me I little. The only thing I am sure is that I want a modular ATX one.
The cpu cooler seems to be another irksome matter: I thought that the Noctua NH-D14 was a good choice but it seems its fan clips would be dangerously close to the PCB of the graphic card. I have also read that the Termalright HR-02 Macho will fit but that it will protrude slightly into the foam covering the side fan hole. Speaking of which I ask: is it safe to run a non-reference gpu such as the Asus GTX 670 withouth a side fan? Are there better options? And should I replace the stock fans of the case with better ones?
Lastly I'm having some problems finding a good PCIe wireless card. Some of them are just not good (like dropping the signal all the time or having absymal speed) and some of them don't even have drivers updated for Windows 8. Should I just go for a USB adapter?
----------------------------------
Wow, just now I realize that it is pretty much a wall of text. Sorry for the lenght and for the less-than-correct English I probably wrote!
Please tell me if I have forgot anything. Thanks in advance! :D