Mini ITX PC

[McMacca]

Hi all,

Thinking about building a mini ITX computer as i am a little restricted in space where i currently am and would like to move the computer around sometimes.

What i have come up with so far is this

BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX Case
ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe Mobo
Intel Corei5 2500K
G.Skill Ripjaws
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 560 Ti

Here is a review on the case http://www.anandtech.com/print/5867 and they speak fairly well of it, the only thing that they mention is using a 140mm power supply. Is that physical dimensions, ie it cant be bigger thatn 140mm in length/width? And using this power supply calulator it reccomends 320W power supply. What brand would most likely have a small power supply that pushes at least 320W?

Also, what is the best small CPU cooler out at the moment?

Anything look wrong with the components listed? feel free to let me know if you know of something better!

[SaNE]

Case: From what I read when I was contemplating making a water cooled rig inside the Prodigy, the standard 140mm with modular cables will fit but you have to put the plugs you need in first, then slide the PSU in and it will only just fit (the modular cable will be touching the back of the area).
I would suggest also looking at the Silverstone mITX cases, they are built very well and are longer rather than taller.

GPU: look at the 660ti or if you need to save that little bit the AMD 7950 since the 660ti still needs to settle in price.
CPU: For the price difference you may as well get the 3570K.

In terms of the cooler you can use a normal CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Evo (would work better than a top down), it will however fit a NH-D14 if you feel so inclined.

[Dinwiddie]

320W psu ? I think more like 550W minimum and good quality brand name. Running a psu maxed out creates more heat
than when using a psu below capacity.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-560ti/specifications

The two cards mentioned above will have similar power requirements.

[SaNE]

320W psu ? I think more like 550W minimum and good quality brand name. Running a psu maxed out creates more heat
than when using a psu below capacity.

The 560ti uses <150w, the board plus CPU by itself uses 100~w.

Running the PSU closer to the rated wattage does create more heat but at the same time a 320w PSU is more efficient (if it's a decent one) than running that system from a 600~w at idle.

Idle more than game? Less headroom that can still sustain max TDP.
Gaming more than idleing? More headroom so you're around 50% of TDP for maximum efficiency.

[McMacca]

Just having a read through the Prodigy thread on OCAU and it seems that the Corsair HX-650 should be able to fit no worries, would that be an acceptable size power supply? The computer will be used 50/50 for gaming and internet surfing.

As for the graphics card, is the 660 much better than the 560? I will be wanting to play battlefield 3 and diablo 3 on max settings if possible, and all the new games coming out (a general statement i know XD) using my 1080p monitor. Would i best to get the 660 or will the 560 be able to hack it a while longer?

[McMacca]

Revised list

BitFenix Prodigy
Intel Core i5 3570K
ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe
Gigabyte GeForce 560 Ti
Corsair HX-650
G.Skill Ripjaws

[Dinwiddie]

The GTX560ti will hack it a bit longer, I certainly intend for mine to, but may have issues with BF3 maxed out @1920x1080.
Partly because of only 1GB VRAM. Some say they can do it, but others have issues.
Hang out for the 660 if you can, or go the 7870/7950 option now. This review compares the 560ti / 7870.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/547?vs=548

What SANE said is accurate, especially regarding going over the top with Watts and loosing efficiency. As he said it's a bit of a balancing act with gaming vs easy tasks, but Nvidia does recommend a 550W, It may be they are making allowances for people using cheap psu's that don't have adequate amps on the +12V rail or those who have a big stack of HDD's.
I have a Corsair HX520W on my old machine which runs a GTX260 (similar power requirements) atm, and it is still running strong five years on. The TX is pretty much the same just not as many modular connections.

With the MOBO. The price of a particular model is based on features more than quality, so choose according to the features you will use. ASUS, ASRock, Gigabyte, Intel are all good options.

[SaNE]

Just having a read through the Prodigy thread on OCAU and it seems that the Corsair HX-650 should be able to fit no worries, would that be an acceptable size power supply? The computer will be used 50/50 for gaming and internet surfing.

Yes very acceptable.

As for the graphics card, is the 660 much better than the 560?

30-40% better, there's no point getting last gen if you're building a new PC.

The GTX560ti will hack it a bit longer, I certainly intend for mine to, but may have issues with BF3 maxed out @1920x1080.
Partly because of only 1GB VRAM. Some say they can do it, but others have issues.

The 560ti will only hack it if you're running the game at low, the 570 struggles to play it acceptably with a generous overclock.

[Dinwiddie]

The 560ti will only hack it if you're running the game at low, the 570 struggles to play it acceptably with a generous overclock.

I was thinking a bit better than low. High even. I can run Crysis 2 on ultra with the extra texture pack
(I realise BF3 is more demanding), @ 35-40fps, but it will lock-up on occasion. At 1680x1050 it is stable with 45-55fps.
I was going to suggest possible High settings, but then I looked at the benchmarks in the link in my previous post and they reckon it does 37fps on Ultra. Not something I would have thought but for some posters on the Nvidia forums saying they could run on ultra.
The more believable posters at Nvidia reckon you need a 580 3GB for BF3 on Ultra settings. The fps would be pretty solid.

However, here's another benchmark that shows 36fps min on ultra with no HBAO/SSAO on a 560ti, and 44fps min with no AA.
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2011/11/10/battlefield-3-technical-analysis/6

btw -Many will reckon that 35-40fps is unplayable but I have no problem with games running at 35-40fps, as most look smooth except for occasional glitches to my ancient eyes and ossified brain. My expectations fortunately are also in line with my budget.

[SaNE]

Shows 680 comparison to 500 series - http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/0 ... b-review/9
Shows 600 series comparison with AMD equivalent - http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/0 ... b-review/5

They pretty much shows you need to have a 600 series card if you want to run BF3 @ max with a acceptable minimum fps.

[steve_rogers42]

stepping in, a 580 will roll bf3 on ultra@1080 easily so long as you have a decent processor to back it up.

If you want to know how well a 660ti rolls, well, lets just say it out performs the 580.

a 7950 is a decent card, but the nvidia offerings are pulling their weight more so, plus the benefit of only minimal differences between the 660ti and the 670 means the 670's should lower in price....

560ti's were good cards, but i wouldnt touch them now unless you already have one and want another..

the revised list looks the goods, and that anand article on the prodigy seems to have done it justice, if you want to look up a similar system i believe Origin computing in the states uses the prodigy in their lineup, and they are quite tidy units.