Gaming/Work/HTPC/Steambox PC-low TDP, high performance
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:38 am
Hi,
Need help on selecting parts for the mini-itx build which has to double as a work pc, gaming pc, steambox pc (will be hooked to 1080p monitor) and low TDP/temp as my ambient year temperature is between 26-34C (Malaysia). It also has to be a small pc, if not will look out of place next to the TV. The GPU may drive two 1080p monitors. One normal PC monitor, and one LED TV. This system will not be OC as it defeats the purpose of a low temp, small footprint pc. At one time I did consider the A10-6800K with no GPU, but it can't drive 1080p games.
I have narrowed down the parts to:
Intel i5-4570s -65W
CPU Cooler:? I think stock cooling is fine? But if watercool is worthwhile, I will consider it.
Asus Z87i-Deluxe-wifi/bt feature. I wanted a gigabyte sniper.m5, but they don't make a mini-itx version with build in wireless card.
MSI NV760 TF 2GD5//OC -60C full load 312 W. or the MSI Lightning 770 (327W) but I don't play Farcry 3 or FPS now (retired some 10 years ago) and the most intensive game I have is XCOM:EU. Most of my games are lego games or indie titles with 2 player capability via steam.
RAM:? 8 GB ram (or should I get 16 gb?)
PSU:?
Casing:? Need to be able to hold 1 SATA HD (2TB WD Black), 1 SSD (OCZ Synapse). Optical drive a must, though can be external.
I think a 550W PSU is enough? Though am not sure. As for casing, the biggest casing for this build is the Bit Fenix prodigy. Smallest casing is a Ncase, M1 but it ain't shipping yet, and I have no idea when it will ship anyway. I think between the Ncase and bitfenix prodigy, no "bling" case as it would look annoying next to the TV. Case has to be quiet too, as a noisy case is also useless. I have narrowed cases but not limited to:
Silverstone tj-08e
bitfenix prodigy
Silverstone sg10
lian-li pcq08b
lian li pcv-354
I was thinking of using the Lian Li PCQ-08 (as the smallest case) though I am not sure now with the Asus Z87i-motherboard as it has that separate PCB board on it. Here is a tomshardware build with a msi motherboard, As you see in the picture, the SATA ports of the MSI are limiting the water cool setup. Based on that, is is not possible to install the watercool fan inside the case, which is annoying. Asus z87i-deluxe, Asus ROG will not work with a watercool at the top. The Asus H87-plus works, but there is no built in wireless. The MSI board will not work also as the ports are all at the top. Gigabyte Z87and H87 too. The Asrock board, might work, though I am not sure.
Any ideas on the RAM, PSU, casing and CPU cooler? I doin't mind a H87 board. Not going to OC it anyway. The Prodigy is fine (simple answer, but is it possible to do it in a smaller case?). The handles/feet of the Prodigy are things I can do without. Makes the case shorter in the process. Is it possible to outsource the Dell X51 desktop case and PSU? Then everything can be fitted to something smaller.
Other criteria:
My budget is up to USD1.5k for this W7 build. I have a retail copy of W7 64bit and the SSD and HDD. So the price is for the other stuff (CPU, GPU, Case, RAM, Coolers, PSU, motherboard).
I have screwdrivers and a drill. Not enough tools. So not going custom build. Finding retail stuff.
This system will be stationary next to the TV in the bedroom hence a low TDP, low temp build.
Most demanding work software: Adobe Photoshop. If not the rest are MS Office.I do tend to open 30 tab browsing at once and go from tab to tab as my net is not that fast.
Need help on selecting parts for the mini-itx build which has to double as a work pc, gaming pc, steambox pc (will be hooked to 1080p monitor) and low TDP/temp as my ambient year temperature is between 26-34C (Malaysia). It also has to be a small pc, if not will look out of place next to the TV. The GPU may drive two 1080p monitors. One normal PC monitor, and one LED TV. This system will not be OC as it defeats the purpose of a low temp, small footprint pc. At one time I did consider the A10-6800K with no GPU, but it can't drive 1080p games.
I have narrowed down the parts to:
Intel i5-4570s -65W
CPU Cooler:? I think stock cooling is fine? But if watercool is worthwhile, I will consider it.
Asus Z87i-Deluxe-wifi/bt feature. I wanted a gigabyte sniper.m5, but they don't make a mini-itx version with build in wireless card.
MSI NV760 TF 2GD5//OC -60C full load 312 W. or the MSI Lightning 770 (327W) but I don't play Farcry 3 or FPS now (retired some 10 years ago) and the most intensive game I have is XCOM:EU. Most of my games are lego games or indie titles with 2 player capability via steam.
RAM:? 8 GB ram (or should I get 16 gb?)
PSU:?
Casing:? Need to be able to hold 1 SATA HD (2TB WD Black), 1 SSD (OCZ Synapse). Optical drive a must, though can be external.
I think a 550W PSU is enough? Though am not sure. As for casing, the biggest casing for this build is the Bit Fenix prodigy. Smallest casing is a Ncase, M1 but it ain't shipping yet, and I have no idea when it will ship anyway. I think between the Ncase and bitfenix prodigy, no "bling" case as it would look annoying next to the TV. Case has to be quiet too, as a noisy case is also useless. I have narrowed cases but not limited to:
Silverstone tj-08e
bitfenix prodigy
Silverstone sg10
lian-li pcq08b
lian li pcv-354
I was thinking of using the Lian Li PCQ-08 (as the smallest case) though I am not sure now with the Asus Z87i-motherboard as it has that separate PCB board on it. Here is a tomshardware build with a msi motherboard, As you see in the picture, the SATA ports of the MSI are limiting the water cool setup. Based on that, is is not possible to install the watercool fan inside the case, which is annoying. Asus z87i-deluxe, Asus ROG will not work with a watercool at the top. The Asus H87-plus works, but there is no built in wireless. The MSI board will not work also as the ports are all at the top. Gigabyte Z87and H87 too. The Asrock board, might work, though I am not sure.
Any ideas on the RAM, PSU, casing and CPU cooler? I doin't mind a H87 board. Not going to OC it anyway. The Prodigy is fine (simple answer, but is it possible to do it in a smaller case?). The handles/feet of the Prodigy are things I can do without. Makes the case shorter in the process. Is it possible to outsource the Dell X51 desktop case and PSU? Then everything can be fitted to something smaller.
Other criteria:
My budget is up to USD1.5k for this W7 build. I have a retail copy of W7 64bit and the SSD and HDD. So the price is for the other stuff (CPU, GPU, Case, RAM, Coolers, PSU, motherboard).
I have screwdrivers and a drill. Not enough tools. So not going custom build. Finding retail stuff.
This system will be stationary next to the TV in the bedroom hence a low TDP, low temp build.
Most demanding work software: Adobe Photoshop. If not the rest are MS Office.I do tend to open 30 tab browsing at once and go from tab to tab as my net is not that fast.