MINI ITX Build (first time PC builder)

[Will_Drunkenstein]

Budget (including currency): $2,500 monitor not included

Country: US

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Timberborn, a game that is very not optimized

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

This is my very first PC build, I wouldn't call having watched most of LTT videos experienced. Here's the link to all the selected components - https://pcpartpicker.com/list/jMjzrD - and I would appreciate it massively if the brains in this section can identify any problems. I do expect a lot of issues as it is my first build

Here's the link to the MINI ITX case: https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Mini-ITX-Triple-Slot-Tempered/dp/B09CF4YGJ8/ref=psdc_3012292011_t1_B09CZD759L?th=1

The NR200P MAX comes with a CPU cooler mounted up top, as well as an 850W SFX gold power supply

[Dr. Will0hlep]

50 minutes ago, Will_Drunkenstein said:

Budget (including currency): $2,500 monitor not included

Country: US

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Timberborn, a game that is very not optimized

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

This is my very first PC build, I wouldn't call having watched most of LTT videos experienced. Here's the link to all the selected components - https://pcpartpicker.com/list/jMjzrD - and I would appreciate it massively if the brains in this section can identify any problems. I do expect a lot of issues as it is my first build

Here's the link to the MINI ITX case: https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Mini-ITX-Triple-Slot-Tempered/dp/B09CF4YGJ8/ref=psdc_3012292011_t1_B09CZD759L?th=1

The NR200P MAX comes with a CPU cooler mounted up top, as well as an 850W SFX gold power supply

Before we get started on parts, my main concern would be the Mini-ITX part.

 

Building in smaller cases is more difficult (especially if your a first time builder) and more expensive. Are you sure I can't persuade you too go atleast micro-ATX?

[Dr. Will0hlep]

Things I think are issues

1) 11700KF is not a great value anymore (i'll suggest an alternative after the Mini-ITX discussion finishes) and the 3080 would make the system very GPU heavy, especially as Timberborn seems to be CPU heavy single-threaded game.

2) 980 Pro is a great drive but it's likely not worth the premium compared to a 970 EVO Plus
3) $450 for an AIO, PSU and Case is super expensive
4) The mounting kit included with the AIO is for the LGA1700 socket and isn't compatiable with the motherboards used by 11th gen CPUs. you'd need to get some extra mounting hardware.

[Will_Drunkenstein]

1 hour ago, will0hlep said:

Things I think are issues

1) 11700KF is not a great value anymore (i'll suggest an alternative after the Mini-ITX conclusion finishes) and the 3080 would make the system very GPU heavy, especially as Timberborn seems to be CPU heavy single-threaded game.

2) 980 Pro is a great drive but it's likely not worth the premium compared to a 970 EVO Plus
3) $450 for an AIO, PSU and Case is super expensive
4) The mounting kit included with the AIO is for the LGA1700 socket and isn't compatiable with the motherboards used by 11th gen CPUs. you'd need to get some extra mounting hardware.

The concern for this build is how it can be transported inside a suitcase. By the looks of it I have missed a lot of information when putting parts together

 

What would you recommend for a MINI ITX CPU-Motherboard combo? I lack the experience in this area, and this setup was put together around the motherboard

The motherboard manual specifies 2242/2260/2280 SSDs. I am slightly confused by the lines "From B560 chipset". If this limits the M.2 SSD to gen 3, then 970 EVO Plus would absolutely be better.

The mounting kit included is compatible with LGA 1200, so I think this specific 11th gen CPU is cleared

 

[Will_Drunkenstein]

1 hour ago, will0hlep said:

Things I think are issues

1) 11700KF is not a great value anymore (i'll suggest an alternative after the Mini-ITX conclusion finishes) and the 3080 would make the system very GPU heavy, especially as Timberborn seems to be CPU heavy single-threaded game.

2) 980 Pro is a great drive but it's likely not worth the premium compared to a 970 EVO Plus
3) $450 for an AIO, PSU and Case is super expensive
4) The mounting kit included with the AIO is for the LGA1700 socket and isn't compatiable with the motherboards used by 11th gen CPUs. you'd need to get some extra mounting hardware.

I apologize for this influx of questions. Clearly I am a noob in terms of PC designs. The MINI ITX form factor might be a bad idea, but I can really use a small PC, and I really like the flexibility and appearance of this case

[Queen Chrysalis]

This will play every game significantly faster than the parts list you posted:

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-13600K 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor  ($319.91 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($39.90 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: ASRock Z690M-ITX/ax Mini ITX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($149.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($65.97 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Sabrent Rocket 4.0 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($79.99 @ B&H) 
Storage: Kingston NV2 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($109.99 @ B&H) 
Video Card: PowerColor Hellhound Radeon RX 7900 XT 20 GB Video Card  ($899.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Phanteks Eclipse P200A DRGB Mini ITX Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: Enermax Revolution D.F. 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($114.99 @ Walmart) 
Total: $1870.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-01-17 14:43 EST-0500

 

• The 13600k is a lot faster than the 11700k at everything and uses about the same amount of power.
• You need an aftermarket cooler for CPUs like this, this one has 6 heatpipes and 2 separate 120mm radiators, so it'll be able to run very quietly.
• The 980 Pro is kind of overpriced.  The Sabrent Rocket is about the same (gen 4 w/ dram cache), and the NV2 is also very fast (gen 4 w/o dram cache) but is dirt cheap for a gen 4 drive. You can get both of those drives for less than the 2TB 980 Pro and have all the speed with an extra 1TB of space
• This motherboard is pretty good for an ITX board, it has 2 m.2 ports and 5 USB ports, a backflash button, and a type C header.
• This case has much better airflow and has the GPU against the bottom of the case, which is open mesh (the GPU will draw cold air from outside the case), so the GPU will stay very cool for a ITX layout.  It also includes intake fans for the rest of the system and has a nice open intake.
• The 7900xt is way way faster than the 3080 and is on a newer architecture.  If you need an nvidia GPU, the 4070ti is way faster than the 3080 you picked, has more VRAM, and is cheaper: Zotac GAMING Trinity GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB Video Card (ZT-D40710D-10P) - PCPartPicker , Gigabyte EAGLE GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB Video Card (GV-N407TEAGLE-12GD) - PCPartPicker
• You need a power supply, 850w should be more than enough for this config, and the Enermax revolution D.F. is a very high quality unit.
• Don't buy windows that way, get a key from a reseller online for $15.

[Dr. Will0hlep]

6 minutes ago, Queen Chrysalis said:

This will play every game significantly faster than the parts list you posted:

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-13600K 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor  ($319.91 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler  ($39.90 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: ASRock Z690M-ITX/ax Mini ITX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($149.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($65.97 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Sabrent Rocket 4.0 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($79.99 @ B&H) 
Storage: Kingston NV2 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($109.99 @ B&H) 
Video Card: PowerColor Hellhound Radeon RX 7900 XT 20 GB Video Card  ($899.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Phanteks Eclipse P200A DRGB Mini ITX Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 
Power Supply: Enermax Revolution D.F. 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($114.99 @ Walmart) 
Total: $1870.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-01-17 14:43 EST-0500

 

• The 13600k is a lot faster than the 11700k at everything and uses about the same amount of power.
• You need an aftermarket cooler for CPUs like this, this one has 6 heatpipes and 2 separate 120mm radiators, so it'll be able to run very quietly.
• The 980 Pro is kind of overpriced.  The Sabrent Rocket is about the same (gen 4 w/ dram cache), and the NV2 is also very fast (gen 4 w/o dram cache) but is dirt cheap for a gen 4 drive. You can get both of those drives for less than the 2TB 980 Pro and have all the speed with an extra 1TB of space
• This motherboard is pretty good for an ITX board, it has 2 m.2 ports and 5 USB ports, a backflash button, and a type C header.
• This case has much better airflow and has the GPU against the bottom of the case, which is open mesh (the GPU will draw cold air from outside the case), so the GPU will stay very cool for a ITX layout.  It also includes intake fans for the rest of the system and has a nice open intake.
• The 7900xt is way way faster than the 3080 and is on a newer architecture.  If you need an nvidia GPU, the 4070ti is cheaper than the 3080 you picked, has more VRAM, and is cheaper: Zotac GAMING Trinity GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB Video Card (ZT-D40710D-10P) - PCPartPicker
• You need a power supply, 850w should be more than enough for this config, and the Enermax revolution D.F. is a very high quality unit.
• Don't buy windows that way, get a key from a reseller online for $15.

 

I was in the middle of specing a system, but this is better than what I was coming up with. GG WP

 

On the subject of Windows keys, try to avoid OEM keys as they can't be moved to new machines when you come to replace your PC.

[Queen Chrysalis]

EDIT: ignore this post, I can't read @will0hlep

[Dr. Will0hlep]

2 minutes ago, Queen Chrysalis said:

You'd have to get 9 new motherboards to make it worth it, and that's if the swap doesn't work with the OEM key (sometimes it does).

The "Don't go for an OEM key" was in refence to his orginal list where he had selected an OEM key and was meant to be a suggestion to be followed along side your advice to buy a key cheap from a reseller online (although I admit it's often hard to do both)