Zippy - My First Build

[alanmoser]

For the last 10 years I've only had mid-range windows laptops and my 2012 MacBook Air. I've been wanting to get into PC gaming and seeing the numbers my roommate's PC was putting up and lot of LTT, BitWit, Pauls Hardware, and JaysTwoCents I finally settled on all the parts.

 

When you initially connect it, you'll need to connect it via a DVI-D cable to update all your drivers, initial HDMI output to the TV and HDMI monitor was the only frustrations issue I came up against with the MSI video card. 

 

PC Part Picker List ~ $1500 USD after purchasing the Windows 10 Pro key.

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  
Motherboard: Asus Z170I PRO GAMING Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  
Storage: Intel 600p Series 256GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive 
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card  
Case: Fractal Design Core 500 Mini ITX Desktop Case
Power Supply: Silverstone 600W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply

 

I purchased everything on Amazon due to availability, except the case which I got from NCIXUS, due to availability.  I've seen some build logs where folks put full size ATX power supplies in this case, which it does support, but definitely recommend the SFX form factor as it leave plenty of room for cable management. 

 

I've set the radiator up into a push configurations to draw the cool air in over the radiator, and the case fan as the exhaust. The Silverstone power supply came with an included bracket to  to allow it to fit into the ATX positioned brackets on the case. If you don't use the bracket your power supply won't fit properly.  

 

I chose the Intel 600p M.2 drive as the boot drive for the sake of saving some space and having the ability to add more storage inside the case in the future.

There is no way to get to the back of motherboard after you have mounted it, so you'll have to make sure to install the M.2 and the CPU cooler brackets before installing it on the stand offs. 

 

Pictures are attached and initial benchmarks shown. More benchmarks to come for AAA titles as I buy and install them. 

 

Let me know what you guys think or if you have suggestions on what I could have done better. 

 

 

 

[laushik]

I have the MSI gtx 1070 gaming X and at 2560x1080p (ultrawide) which is very close to 1440p my score is 3300 with ever single setting maxed on unigne valley. I also have the 6700k. There might be something wrong with your card.

[Xanthe_2871]

23 hours ago, alanmoser said:

[OPP]

Awesome rig! Looks really cool!

[alanmoser]

I've added another 2TB HDD from a WD MyBook NAS that I found in one of my storage containers that wouldn't show up on the network, after a couple of days of trouble shootings. I ended up pulling it out of the enclosure and just connecting in via SATA next to my other HDD. More pics have been added to show the mount for the SFX-PSU (the silver plate is the adapter) and the HDD/SSD mounting points. If you try to use all 4 mounting points, it would be pretty tight between the SATA power and motherboard connectors. 

 

I've now got 2x 2TB HDD (file storage) and 1x 256 M.2 SSD (boot drive).

[belfouf]

in your place I'd have put the watercooling fans in push rather than pull, to enjoy static pressure and decrease necessary RPM / temp ratio

[alanmoser]

2 hours ago, belfouf said:

in your place I'd have put the watercooling fans in push rather than pull, to enjoy static pressure and decrease necessary RPM / temp ratio

I do in fact have them set to push air through the radiator.  However the margin of difference between push-pull is generally negligible. 

[belfouf]

7 minutes ago, alanmoser said:

I do in fact have them set to push air through the radiator.  However the margin of difference between push-pull is generally negligible. 

so they exhaust hot air inside the case ? 

yes indeed the difference between push & pull is only decibels, not temperature (and it depends a lot on the fans)