SFF for competitive games

[phastasmn]

Budget (including currency): Around €2k, aiming for the most cost-effective options while fulfilling requirements.

Country: EU

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: coding, competitive and indie games, occasionally AAA

Other details: Planning to purchase one of the latest QD-OLED 240Hz 4k monitors for this build.

 

Here's what I got so far:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9NBqyg

 

Reasoning:

I really wanted to go for a SFF for the aesthetics/space savings/practicality (I have a height-adjustable desk) reasons.

I find the A4-H2O good-looking and perfect size. I've never had a water cooler, so my main concern is that I will be able to hear pump noises even at idle. However, I was unable to find a case that's both available and matches this one in terms of attractiveness, so I'm willing to bite the bullet and experiment with an AIO. The particular cooler model I got here is pretty random - I'm not sure what to look for, other than compatibility with the case.

 

Next comes the CPU - based on my brief research it looks like it's impossible to go for anything but 7800X3D. This + 32GB of RAM should cover my productivity needs.

 

Then the motherboard - picked the cheapest compatible option, I wish I could go even cheaper dropping features like Wi-Fi.

 

The PSU is considered a gold standard for SFF.

Both memory and SSD are classic options, I may change these last moment based on price (though you have to be careful not to get too tall RAM sticks for this case).   Finally, the GPU. I don't need one for productivity so it's purely for gaming. The main goal is to reduce latency, which roughly equates to increasing FPS. A 4090 is way too expensive, while 4060 poor value. I narrowed my search to 4070, 4070Ti and 4080 in the SUPER versions as well as AMD counterparts. Where I live I could get a 4080S for about 65% more than a 4070S. Benchmarks suggest that the performance gains are around 34%. Assuming GPU adds 10ms latency, I could spend a whole bunch more to shave off about 2.5ms. I'm not really convinced. For slightly less than a 4070S I can get 7900GRE, but it's performance seems to be roughly equal, while eating more power and missing some features, so I'd stick with nvidia here. A concern with 4070S is that it only has 12GB of VRAM. Here the 4070TiS solves this problem, but it probably isn't a great value by itself.   Ultimately, I'm leaning towards the 4070S for its cost-effectiveness, with the option to upgrade in the future if necessary. However, considering the high baseline cost of GPUs, investing in a 4080S may provide longer-term value, despite the initial expense. Also feels a bit weird getting a mid-range GPU for 4k 240Hz   Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think!   EDIT: Highlighted some parts in case someone finds the wall of text too long

[brob]

1 hour ago, phastasmn said:

Here's what I got so far:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9NBqyg

Are you sure that the AIO will fit?

 

Get an ATX 3.0 compliant PSU with native support for the 12VHPWR connector used by the GPU. Among the various advantages, it reduces the cable count within the case.

 

Did you consider using an EU based version of pcpartpicker like de.pcpartpicker.com?

 

Consider using a memory kit with EXPO profiles instead of XMP. G.Skill Flare X5 are the EXPO equivalent of Ripjaws S5.

 

 

[phastasmn]

Thanks for helping!

 

I applied all of your suggestions:

https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/BT7wXk

[FunkyBushMonkey]

With any 12VHPWR connection verify the rated wattage of that cable to supply power to your GPU. Each brand and PSU may come with a different wattage such as 300W, 450W, and 600W(Which should just be all of them). 

 

Playing at 4K 240hz for competitive is interesting and the graphics card you are buying can't support that resolution unless possibly through DSC. This won't be a noticable different to many people but to some who love visuals. 

 

I would like to clarify I'm not saying the graphics cards can't push that resolution because in many games it can and some quite past that and some much less. It is because of the connections on the GPU board. 

 

HDMI 2.1 and Display port 1.4a

[phastasmn]

43 minutes ago, FunkyBushMonkey said:

With any 12VHPWR connection verify the rated wattage of that cable to supply power to your GPU. Each brand and PSU may come with a different wattage such as 300W, 450W, and 600W(Which should just be all of them). 

Any of these works for the GPU I selected. And from brief research it's 450W or 600W for the PSU I selected.

44 minutes ago, FunkyBushMonkey said:

Playing at 4K 240hz for competitive is interesting

I wanted to get just one monitor for both work (where I prefer to have 4k) and gaming (where I want OLED + 240Hz).

46 minutes ago, FunkyBushMonkey said:

unless possibly through DSC

AFAIK in order to avoid DSC I'd need DP2.0 which neither current GPUs nor monitors support.

[FunkyBushMonkey]

2 hours ago, phastasmn said:

AFAIK in order to avoid DSC I'd need DP2.0 which neither current GPUs nor monitors support.

AMD 7000 Series GPUs include displayport 2.1, which I know you weren't looking at because of Nvidia features and power consumption.

 

You can remedy power with Overclock and Undervolting but people can not be comfortable with that. 

 

Features are preference. 

 

Displays should be coming out later this year that support 2.1... but Nvidia 50 Series should also be coming near September. 

 

Chasing latency is never ending, and the releases this year will determine what GPU costs will be long term

[phastasmn]

17 hours ago, FunkyBushMonkey said:

AMD 7000 Series GPUs include displayport 2.1

Only UHBR13.5 which is irrelevant for 4k240. Also very unlikely the displays will support UHBR20.