Help picking a mATX case and other parts for a socket 2011 v3 build

[PCzac]

1. Budget & Location
$900ish USA

 

2. Aim

Video game art content creation.

Playing games.

 

3. Monitors
2 1080p monitors, may add a 3rd 1600p display in the next year

4. Peripherals
Do not need peripherals.

5. Why are you upgrading?
Need more processing power, It's a gaming bottleneck and slows down baking and rendering. Still on a core2quad.

 

Current build

Cored2Quad Q9450 3.2 ghz - 8gb DDR2 Ram - GTX 760 - 256gb Crucial MX100 - 2x 1TB HDD

I will be using the GTX 760, 256gb Crucial MX100, and 2x 1TB HDD.

I do not want to reuse my PSU so I can put my old GTX 9800 in that build and still have it around to keep or sell.

 

Goals

Small, quiet, looks good, cool temps, not wasting money.

I'm also hoping to get some holiday sales. 

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor  ($300.00) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: EVGA Micro Micro ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard  ($229.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($214.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB ACX Video Card  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Case: Fractal Design Node 804 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ Micro Center) 

Total: $949.95

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-22 18:02 EST-0500

 

Undecided Parts

CPU Cooler: I heard that the 5820k really needs a 240 radiator if you want to run with a high overclock. It will depend on the case selection, too. 

Memory: Don't care too much, prefer 16 gig 4x4. Would like it to kinda match the motherboard if it's within $15 of the cheapest option

Motherboard: GA-X99M-Gaming 5 or EVGA X99 Micro, they are both around the same price, the GA-X99M-Gaming 5 isn't available anywhere yet. 

Case: I want looks, small, quiet, and cool. I like the Fractal design, but not sure about cube vs mini tower. I've been looking at the TJ08, too. 

Power Supply: Want some room to upgrade to a bigger GPU in the future. I'd prefer a gold rated on to cut down on heat, and am kinda interested in the ones that have silent fan off modes at low usage.  

[thekeemo]

please go to x79 and get a better GPU

[Trik'Stari]

Anything but Fractal. My suggestion would be (if you plan to water cool) a Phanteks Enthoo mini XL.

 

If not, air 240 perhaps?

[SnowGhost1212]

Corsair 350D!!!!

[PCzac]

please go to x79 and get a better GPU

 

Why? This isn't primarily for gaming. 

[thekeemo]

Why? This isn't primarily for gaming. 

x79 isnt for gaming also gpu is much better for things like rendering

[PCzac]

Corsair 350D!!!!

 

Definitely looks like a good option, only $10 more than the Node 804.

[PCzac]

x79 isnt for gaming also gpu is much better for things like rendering

 

Most applications that I personally use, don't use GPU rendering. And the ones do use it, render so fast getting a new GPU will only save 30 seconds here and there. 

 

And what x79 processor would I get?

[thekeemo]

Most applications that I personally use, don't use GPU rendering. And the ones do use it, render so fast getting a new GPU will only save 30 seconds here and there. 

well your chice I guess

[SnowGhost1212]

Definitely looks like a good option, only $10 more than the Node 804.

 

Yeah it's a great case. High quality, great value. And looks stunning!

[PCzac]

I tried to do a mATX x79 build with a 6 core i7.

 

For some reason there was only 1 motherboard option, so it'd actually be more expensive.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4930K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor  ($459.99 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($69.99 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Gene Micro ATX LGA2011 Motherboard  ($250.98 @ NCIX US) 

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory  ($156.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB ACX Video Card  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Case: Fractal Design Node 804 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ Micro Center) 

Total: $1072.93

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-22 18:17 EST-0500

[PCzac]

What about the Corsair Air 240?

 

Size in volume

397 x 260 x 320 = 33 liters Corsair Air 240

344 x 307 x 389 = 41 liters Node 804

450 x 210 x 440 = 41.5 liters Corsair 350D

[PCzac]

Decided to look at the cases in volume.

 

Corsair 350D - 41.5 liters  

Node 804 - 41 liters

Fractal Define Mini - 40 litters 

Corsair Air 240 - 33 liters

BitFenix Phenom M - 31 liters 

Silverstone  TJ08b - 30 liters

Silverstone SG09B - 23 liters

Silverstone GD05 - 21.5 liters

 

The Corsair Air 240, Phenom M, and Silverstone TJ08b seem to be in the sweet spot of size and compromise, now I need to figure out which one has the better cooling and fits my needs, or see if there's any other cases. Phenom M seems objectively worse than the TJ08b in design, except in looks.