SFF Gaming PC

[ThatOneEdgyBoy]

Can anyone recommend me a SFF factor gaming pc with a console sized case? I would like it to be 900USD or less. I would like to know the parts I would need to build it.

[Mira Yurizaki]

If you're looking to build something, I recommend one of these cases, though they're still technically larger than most consoles.

• Silverstone FTZ-01/RVZ-01/RVZ-03
• Silverstone RVZ-02
• Fractal Node 202
• DanCase A4-SFX

These can fit a 12" long card, though some of them won't be able to fit 5" tall cards. You also may not be able to overclock the processor all that much due to the size of the cooler they can fit.

[Sorenson]

I would go with something like this. It is a little over 900, but I think it will serve you well. You could go with the Ryzen 5 3600 instead but from what i've seen the ryzen processors run hotter than the intel processors, so I don't think they are the best options for SFF builds. One thing I would consider is buying two extra 120mm fans which can be installed under the graphics card to give it better airflow. 

 

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Core i5-9600K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor	$219.00 @ Amazon
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-L9i 33.84 CFM CPU Cooler	$39.95 @ Amazon
Motherboard	ASRock Z390M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard	$129.99 @ Amazon
Memory	Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory	$67.99 @ Newegg
Storage	Intel 660p Series 512 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive	$59.99 @ Amazon
Video Card	MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB VENTUS XS OC Video Card	$264.99 @ Newegg
Case	Fractal Design Node 202 HTPC Case	$78.99 @ Amazon
Power Supply	Silverstone SFX 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply	$72.99 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$948.89
	Mail-in rebates	-$15.00
	Total	$933.89
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-08-24 13:42 EDT-0400

 

[VEXICUS]

I'll recommend something like this instead...

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor  ($195.89 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard  ($99.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($62.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: HP EX900 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($56.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: ASRock Radeon RX 5700 8 GB Video Card  ($329.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Fractal Design Node 202 HTPC Case  ($78.99 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: Corsair SF 450 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply  ($85.36 @ Newegg) 
Total: $910.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-08-24 14:45 EDT-0400

[brob]

7 hours ago, Sorenson said:

CPU Intel Core i5-9600K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor $219.00 @ Amazon CPU Cooler Noctua NH-L9i 33.84 CFM CPU Cooler $39.95 @ Amazon

 

The NH-L9i is not suitable for 95W TDP Coffee Lake / Refresh cpu, https://noctua.at/en/nh_l9i_tdp_guidelines.

 

BTW the 3600 is a 65 W TDP cpu.

[Kisai]

7 hours ago, ThatOneEdgyBoy said:

Can anyone recommend me a SFF factor gaming pc with a console sized case? I would like it to be 900USD or less. I would like to know the parts I would need to build it.

You can but I don't recommend it.

 

SFF designs are designed for HTPC and business "office" machines. They are not engineered properly to have a dedicated GPU, and typically can only use a low-profile GPU. Since the GPU PCB is smaller, the cooling solution is much louder.

[Sorenson]

1 hour ago, Kisai said:

You can but I don't recommend it.

 

SFF designs are designed for HTPC and business "office" machines. They are not engineered properly to have a dedicated GPU, and typically can only use a low-profile GPU. Since the GPU PCB is smaller, the cooling solution is much louder.

Every single one of my gaming PCs has been in a small form factor case and they are more than fine. Especially all of the cases @Mira Yurizaki suggested which support full length graphics cards.

[Sorenson]

1 hour ago, brob said:

 

The NH-L9i is not suitable for 95W TDP Coffee Lake / Refresh cpu, https://noctua.at/en/nh_l9i_tdp_guidelines.

 

BTW the 3600 is a 65 W TDP cpu.

You’re right, I thought the 9600k was a 65w part. But TDP isn’t the entire story. On my new build I was originally using a 3700x but it was way too hot on my h80iv2 (it would go over 90c and then shut down on stress tests). I replaced it with the 9700k which never goes above 65c on the H80i v2. The voltage on the ryzen chips is much higher, so from my experience and seeing  youtubers use them in SFF cases I wouldn’t recommend it even though it is a more capable cpu.

[Kisai]

2 hours ago, Sorenson said:

Every single one of my gaming PCs has been in a small form factor case and they are more than fine. Especially all of the cases @Mira Yurizaki suggested which support full length graphics cards.

I'm highly suspect when someone says "gaming" on a SFF. Either it's super-loud, or it has a super-short life from inadequate cooling.

 

The OP wants something in a "console" size, which means they are likely expecting console characteristics of a HTPC (Home Theater PC) rather than that of a desktop.

 

 

 

[Mira Yurizaki]

10 minutes ago, Kisai said:

I'm highly suspect when someone says "gaming" on a SFF. Either it's super-loud, or it has a super-short life from inadequate cooling.

I've had a build in an FTZ-01. It wasn't really that loud and the thermals were within what was expected. It handled a factory overclocked GTX 1080 just fine and I used a 65W i7.

 

The only thing I was worried about was the M.2 drive underneath the motherboard because that's where a lot of the video card's hot air went.

[Sorenson]

48 minutes ago, Kisai said:

I'm highly suspect when someone says "gaming" on a SFF. Either it's super-loud, or it has a super-short life from inadequate cooling.

 

The OP wants something in a "console" size, which means they are likely expecting console characteristics of a HTPC (Home Theater PC) rather than that of a desktop.

 

 

 

The cases that are being suggested aren't the size of an xbox. They are larger but they are still smaller than smaller desktop tower sizes. SFF is a term that refers to a case with a lower interior volume. Many of theses cases (like the Mcase N1, Evolv Shift, or Streacom DA2) are able to fit in water cooling for either the GPU, CPU, or in some cases both. The thermals on these cases are fine. They are not going to compare to Cases with 30 fans or full custom loop cooling, but you can definitely run high end hardware and even overclock it i these cases. I'm personally running an i7 9700k @ 4.9ghz and a 2070 super with the power limit maxed in MSI after burner and both are running at acceptable temperatures in the Evolv Shift. 

[A. Cole]

SFF gaming to match a console, Silverstones got your back here, you can have a look at there HTPC and mini itx cases
 

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor  ($133.00 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte B450 I AORUS PRO WIFI Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard  ($117.00 @ Amazon) 
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Crucial MX500 250 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive  ($49.95 @ Adorama) 
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB GAMING X Video Card  ($169.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Silverstone ML08 HTPC Case  ($104.73 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: Silverstone 500 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply  ($97.96 @ Amazon) 

 

Total: $732.62

[BoostedBill96]

On 8/24/2019 at 2:46 PM, VEXICUS said:

I'll recommend something like this instead...

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor  ($195.89 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard  ($99.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($62.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: HP EX900 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($56.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: ASRock Radeon RX 5700 8 GB Video Card  ($329.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Fractal Design Node 202 HTPC Case  ($78.99 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: Corsair SF 450 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply  ($85.36 @ Newegg) 
Total: $910.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-08-24 14:45 EDT-0400

So I'm actually trying to do this mobo and cpu combo right now and I can't get the bios updated. I keep trying to boot and it keep shutting off on me. Have you done this build before? And if so what did you do?

[VEXICUS]

1 hour ago, BoostedBill96 said:

So I'm actually trying to do this mobo and cpu combo right now and I can't get the bios updated. I keep trying to boot and it keep shutting off on me. Have you done this build before? And if so what did you do?

You'll have to ask AMD to send a bootkit. AMD will loan you a athlon CPU for you to update the BIOS.

 

Or else, ask any shopkeeper to update the BIOS.