Building a rig based on FT03 case

[Oeufcocque]

Hi guys,

I plan to upgrade my current PC (a HAF X PC with rather old components) for gaming.

Currently, I plan to build my rig BASED ON the Silverstone's FT03 case(love the case), so it will be micro-ATX or smaller.

 

I need help in choosing graphic and mobo, especially since I live in Indonesia, and have no intention to buy things from big online stores like amazon or such, which will require international shipping.

This is because the crazy taxing, horrible service, and unethical conduct in our country(sometimes they can literally take everything from within your package, and send you the empty box, and you can do nothing about it)

Therefore I am limited in options, and have a very different pricing compared to usual online store.

 

All the components pricing and availability will be based on THIS website, which is my local store.

 

I am considering to upgrade to 1440p monitor, though that will not be included in this rig. 

Therefore I need to make my rig to be powerful enough to run at 1080p (my current display), but is also capable for recieving further performance upgrade, via SLI or such. The build will be used for gaming, not editing.

 

Here are few things that I am already quite sure.

I can use my current

PSU(Silverstone 700W Strider series)

HDD(WD Blue 1TB)

CPU Cooler(Hyper 212X)

And will buy..

Case Silverstone SST-FT03S - Micro ATX $193.22

Memory Gskill DDR3 PC10666 8GB XH Dual Channel F3-10666CL7D-8GBXH / 7-7-7-21 $90.39

CPU Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4 Ghz - Cache 6MB [box] Socket LGA 1150 - Haswell Series $235.89

SSD Kingston SDD Now V300 SV300S37A/120G 120GB SATA3 $98.77 (thanks woodenmaker!)

 

VGA, I've not really decided yet, but for SLI in this case it must be COOL. I think geforce is a must, and MSI or better cooler is prefered

These are what I found:

Zotac Geforce GTX 760 2048MB DDR5 $254.06

Zotac Geforce GTX 770 2048MB DDR5 $355.82

MSI Geforce GTX 760 2GB DDR5 - Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Gaming $277.22

MSI Geforce GTX 760 2GB DDR5 - Hawk $297.39

MSI Geforce GTX 770 2048MB DDR5 - Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Gaming $398.15

MSI Geforce GTX 770 2048MB DDR5 - Lightning Edition [search] $453.59

Asus Geforce GTX 760 2GB DDR5 DirectCU II OC - GTX760-DC2OC-3GD5 $302.45

Asus Geforce GTX 770 2GB DDR5 DirectCU II OC - GTX770-DC2OC-2GD5 $471.77

 

GTX 780 is far more expensive with not so significant gain, so I exclude it for now

 

Mobo, the 2 mATX mobo available for me, which could go SLI, is

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M5 (LGA1150, Z87, DDR3, SATA3, USB3) $277.22

ASUS Maximus VI Gene (LGA1150, Intel Z87, DDR3) $287.26

 

PS: 

I plan to go for air cooling, since I am not comfortable with water cooling at all, and will avoid it for as far as I can.

I will consider water cooling as a final option, should air cooling be completely insufficient.

 

Thanks for reading the long ass post, and any feedback/recommendation is appreciated

[Retro Gaming]

For a monitor get an AOC 12367F 23' inch Monitor. It is a great monitor for gaming and has no borders, its all flat.

[Oeufcocque]

For a monitor get an AOC 12367F 23' inch Monitor. It is a great monitor for gaming and has no borders, its all flat.

 

I don't intend to buy a monitor for now, but damn, that's a really good looking monitor.. 

Thanks for your feedback.

[WoodenMarker]

I wouldn't recommend sli in such a cramped case and to just get a single 780/290 instead.

For the motherboard, just go with the cheapest z87 mobo you can find if you're not looking for anything special.

For the ssd, grab a kingston ssdnow v300 120GB.

[WoodenMarker]

+retro

I don't intend to buy a monitor for now, but damn, that's a really good looking monitor.. 

Thanks for your feedback.

You need to quote a post or tag a member or else they won't get a notification you replied to them.

[Oeufcocque]

I wouldn't recommend sli in such a cramped case and to just get a single 780/290 instead.

For the motherboard, just go with the cheapest z87 mobo you can find if you're not looking for anything special.

For the ssd, grab a kingston ssdnow v300 120GB.

While getting one is definitely ideal(with all that problem in dual GPU config), at 1440p or 4K display they will not be powerful enough, which is how i plan to upgrade in the future.

 

I understood about the risk for overheating, but after reading around a little bit, I saw several build with SLI in this case, one of them is prebuild scan 3xs with 

1GB Asus GTX 560Ti (DirectCU II), 900MHz GPU, 384 Cores, 4200MHz GDDR5, 

and the other is dual GTX 660

Both of them running air cooling.

These are the temperatures for the Asus SLI, can't find the other one

So I thought I can give this a shot, but need help to find coolest GPU to go

 

You need to quote a post or tag a member or else they won't get a notification you replied to them.

Noted, thanks

[WoodenMarker]

While getting one is definitely ideal(with all that problem in dual GPU config), at 1440p or 4K display they will not be powerful enough, which is how i plan to upgrade in the future.

 

I understood about the risk for overheating, but after reading around a little bit, I saw several build with SLI in this case, one of them is prebuild scan 3xs with 

1GB Asus GTX 560Ti (DirectCU II), 900MHz GPU, 384 Cores, 4200MHz GDDR5, 

and the other is dual GTX 660

Both of them running air cooling.

These are the temperatures for the Asus SLI, can't find the other one

So I thought I can give this a shot, but need help to find coolest GPU to go

If you're planning for 1440p or 4K, I'd suggest just get a single 780/290 and just upgrade to a better single graphics card when you need to. 

[Oeufcocque]

Edited, cut a lot of stuff to make the post shorter

[Oeufcocque]

If you're planning for 1440p or 4K, I'd suggest just get a single 780/290 and just upgrade to a better single graphics card when you need to. 

 

Not cost efficient enough , newer card that could run 1440p or 4K alone will probably be insanely priced (if it's any pricier than titan, then I will not consider it), and my older card will be useless, reselling compenents here is hard 

 

If there really isn't a way to SLI with this case, I will probably go with your advice, and try going mITX with FT03 MINI.

[WoodenMarker]

Not cost efficient enough , newer card that could run 1440p or 4K alone will probably be insanely priced (if it's any pricier than titan, then I will not consider it), and my older card will be useless, reselling compenents here is hard 

If there really isn't a way to SLI with this case, I will probably go with your advice, and try going mITX with FT03 MINI.

There really isn't anything atm that is reasonably priced for 4K gaming imo. As for 1440p, a single 780/290 should do decently at moderate settings.

Sli is possible but just not recommended. I think there will be an appropriately priced single gpu solution when 4K is a bit more mainstream and/or actually practical for gaming.

[Oeufcocque]

There really isn't anything atm that is reasonably priced for 4K gaming imo. As for 1440p, a single 780/290 should do decently at moderate settings.

Sli is possible but just not recommended. I think there will be an appropriately priced single gpu solution when 4K is a bit more mainstream and/or actually practical for gaming.

Yeah, 4K is probably a stretch.

I will not change my monitor yet, because of both space restriction and price. 1440p is $600+ and 4k is $3500+(not even available in my country for now).

 

If I stick to my current monitor(1080p) even 1 R290 is overkill, GTX760/770 will probably be good enough. And I could get a mediocore motherboard(H87 or less perhaps?), and a non K processor.

 

But for a somewhat "future proof" build, I plan to make the build capable of SLI-ing in about 2-4 years, change my monitor to (hopefully) 4K, and get (hopefully) another 4+ years of excellent performance, assuming the parts are durable enough. I intend to spend my money efficiently for good level of performance, so please bear with me 

 

As for a 4k capable card with reasonable price that may come in the future, I think by the time it arrives, my whole system will be obsolete, and an overhaul will be necessary 

[WoodenMarker]

Yeah, 4K is probably a stretch.

I will not change my monitor yet, because of both space restriction and price. 1440p is $600+ and 4k is $3500+(not even available in my country for now).

 

If I stick to my current monitor(1080p) even 1 R290 is overkill, GTX760/770 will probably be good enough. And I could get a mediocore motherboard(H87 or less perhaps?), and a non K processor.

 

But for a somewhat "future proof" build, I plan to make the build capable of SLI-ing in about 2-4 years, change my monitor to (hopefully) 4K, and get (hopefully) another 4+ years of excellent performance, assuming the parts are durable enough. I intend to spend my money efficiently for good level of performance, so please bear with me 

As for a 4k capable card with reasonable price that may come in the future, I think by the time it arrives, my whole system will be obsolete, and an overhaul will be necessary 

In about 2-4 years, Anything less than a 780/290 cli/cf will probably just look like a bad idea for 4K.

[Oeufcocque]

In about 2-4 years, Anything less than a 780/290 cli/cf will probably just look like a bad idea for 4K.

 

 

Yeah, in fact I tried to find some R9 290, and the price is actually pretty close to GTX770, so I am considering to get that that

As usual heat is a concern, and while the review in guru3d said that it caps at 95 degree, the mATX and case form factor might affect the end result.

 

HIS Radeon HD R9 290 4GB DDR 5    $433.43

Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4G GDDR5     $458.66

Power Color Radeon R9 290 3GB DDR5 384 Bit     $417.32

XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB DDR5 512 Bit - R9-290A-ENFC     $414.34

Digital Alliance Radeon R9 290 4GB DDR5 256BIT     $421.39

MSI Radeon HD R9-290 4GB DDR5 - R9 290 Gaming 4G (Bundling Voucher Game Battlefield 4)     $488.87 (not really sure what the voucher is)

 

Luckily, most, if not all of them has blower/reference fan, which helps a lot in that case

 

Still pretty confused about the appropriate brands and stuff, but XFX seems nice.

[WoodenMarker]

Yeah, in fact I tried to find some R9 290, and the price is actually pretty close to GTX770, so I am considering to get that that

As usual heat is a concern, and while the review in guru3d said that it caps at 95 degree, the mATX and case form factor might affect the end result.

 

HIS Radeon HD R9 290 4GB DDR 5    $433.43

Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4G GDDR5     $458.66

Power Color Radeon R9 290 3GB DDR5 384 Bit     $417.32

XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB DDR5 512 Bit - R9-290A-ENFC     $414.34

Digital Alliance Radeon R9 290 4GB DDR5 256BIT     $421.39

MSI Radeon HD R9-290 4GB DDR5 - R9 290 Gaming 4G (Bundling Voucher Game Battlefield 4)     $488.87 (not really sure what the voucher is)

 

Luckily, most, if not all of them has blower/reference fan, which helps a lot in that case

Still pretty confused about the appropriate brands and stuff, but XFX seems nice

You'd probably still want an aftermarket cooler and not blower for the case unless you don't mind a louder cooler.

[Oeufcocque]

You'd probably still want an aftermarket cooler and not blower for the case unless you don't mind a louder cooler.

Do you mean the case is ventilated enough?

Is the noise difference very significant?(I don't mind a little noise for better temperature)

Can you recommend a brand from that list?

 

I have little to no experience in building a rig, so your feedback helped immensely 

[WoodenMarker]

Do you mean the case is ventilated enough?

Is the noise difference very significant?(I don't mind a little noise for better temperature)

Can you recommend a brand from that list?

I have little to no experience in building a rig, so your feedback helped immensely

Open air coolers just generally cool better than blower coolers. Keeping your graphics card will cooled will do more for your performance than slightly better chilling inside the case for the other parts.

Brand doesn't really matter.

[Oeufcocque]

Open air coolers just generally cool better than blower coolers. Keeping your graphics card will cooled will do more for your performance than slightly better chilling inside the case for the other parts.

Brand doesn't really matter.

 

I am slightly concerned for when I decide to add the 2nd card, but it seems that I can choose the blower GPU for my 2nd card, should temperature ever become a problem.

 

Apparently the only open air card available for me now is the XFX brand, which is the cheapest too 

EDIT: apparently all the available cards are blower type, including XFX. 

 

 

 

I am still confused about the motherboard, crossfire capable boards are plenty, but I read some bad performance hit with PCIe x4 as the 2nd slot, so I am considering these

 

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M5 $277.22

ASUS Maximus VI Gene $287.26

 

Gigabyte has a 16x and 8x, while asus has 2 16x slots, which one is a better choice for that price?

[WoodenMarker]

I am slightly concerned for when I decide to add the 2nd card, but it seems that I can choose the blower GPU for my 2nd card, should temperature ever become a problem.

Apparently the only open air card available for me now is the XFX brand, which is the cheapest too 

EDIT: apparently all the available cards are blower type, including XFX. 

I am still confused about the motherboard, crossfire capable boards are plenty, but I read some bad performance hit with PCIe x4 as the 2nd slot, so I am considering these

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M5 $277.22

ASUS Maximus VI Gene $287.26

Gigabyte has a 16x and 8x, while asus has 2 16x slots, which one is a better choice for that price?

Pci-e 3.0 x4 = pci-e 2.0 x8.

You're fine with either.

I do suggest just staying single graphics card for this type of case. 

Other people may have sli'ed in the case but they aren't using 290's or 780's.

[brob]

 

But for a somewhat "future proof" build, I plan to make the build capable of SLI-ing in about 2-4 years, change my monitor to (hopefully) 4K, and get (hopefully) another 4+ years of excellent performance, assuming the parts are durable enough. I intend to spend my money efficiently for good level of performance, so please bear with me 

 

In 2 - 4 years it will make much more sense to sell the gpu you buy now, even if it's a GTX 780, and use that money with what you would spend to buy a second one to get the then current high performance card.

[Oeufcocque]

Pci-e 3.0 x4 = pci-e 2.0 x8.

You're fine with either.

I do suggest just staying single graphics card for this type of case. 

Other people may have sli'ed in the case but they aren't using 290's or 780's.

Oh, didn't know that. Thanks!

 

I still plan to get 1 card 1st, and that card will determine whether the airflow is good enough / compareable to the bigger case.

Should the first card get good result, I may get the 2nd card, and if not, then I have wasted 100$ on getting that motherboard.

Not a bad bet I think 

 

The form factor is still worrying, but the design may solve it's problem.

1 more question though, is newer / better card tend to go noticeably hotter than the older? 

 

 

In 2 - 4 years it will make much more sense to sell the gpu you buy now, even if it's a GTX 780, and use that money with what you would spend to buy a second one to get the then current high performance card.

 

As I said though, selling/trading gpu here is damn hard. While enthusiast community exist, it's not big enough to easily find people who want to buy old GPU.

Therefore, either I sell it for around 1/3 of the initial price to attract some buyer, or just give it away, which is kinda wasteful.

Not to mention that newer flagship's release price may be higher than the older flagship's release price.

 

 

 

Still, I will definitely consider going single card, since SLI can't cover 2-3 years old difference, as compared in here

There are some other things to consider, like power consumption and how the heat may affect lifespan.

 

If I can't find a good source to justify going crossfire/SLI,

I may go for FT03 Mini, get a cheap z87 mini itx board, and just go for 760/770, suitable for my current screen resolution.

Small PSU is hard to find though.

[WoodenMarker]

As I said though, selling/trading gpu here is damn hard. While enthusiast community exist, it's not big enough to easily find people who want to buy old GPU.

Therefore, either I sell it for around 1/3 of the initial price to attract some buyer, or just give it away, which is kinda wasteful.

Not to mention that newer flagship's release price may be higher than the older flagship's release price.

Ahem--We should hopefully have Classifieds up in the forum by the time you'd want to sell.

[Oeufcocque]

Ahem--We should hopefully have Classifieds up in the forum by the time you'd want to sell.

 

What is Classifieds?

[WoodenMarker]

What is Classifieds?

Buy/Sell/Trade section. We're trying to get that up and working but it's currently not allowed since we don't have everything figured out yet. 

If and by the time it's up, the forum should be full of people some of which could be quite interested in buying the card from you.

[Oeufcocque]

Buy/Sell/Trade section. We're trying to get that up and working but it's currently not allowed since we don't have everything figured out yet. 

If and by the time it's up, the forum should be full of people some of which could be quite interested in buying the card from you.

Cool!

Another reason to go for 1 card

[Oeufcocque]

Buy/Sell/Trade section. We're trying to get that up and working but it's currently not allowed since we don't have everything figured out yet. 

If and by the time it's up, the forum should be full of people some of which could be quite interested in buying the card from you.

Sorry, need to quote to notify you my new question.

 

For now, I am putting my HDD into several partitions, and my master drive uses up 80gb out of 130 partition size.

While you recommend the SSD Now 120GB, I am wondering if the size will not be exactly 120gb? (like the usual HDD)

After uninstalling few stuff and moving some of the steam games into the SSD, I will need about 100gb of space in the ssd, which is bad if the SSD is actually smaller than the listed size.

 

One more thing, will kingston hyperX 120GB worth the upgrade for ~15$?