[Build Log] [ITX] "Hecate" [UPDATED]

[harrynowl]

I was going to do it on Comic Sans just to annoy you all, but I decided not to.

 

Purpose of the build: Be a somewhat portable but otherwise pretty solid ITX gaming rig. A lot of the games I play are either GPU bound or only make use of 2 cores (looking at you Total War).

 

Specs:

- CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 i5 4690K.

- GPU: MSI 7950 Twin Frozr 3

- RAM: 8GB G.Skill ARES 1866

- BOARD: ASUS Z97I-Plus

- CASE: Fractal Design Node 304 - White

- COOLER: Hyper 412S

- PSU: Corsair CX600M

- STORAGE: 64GB Crucial M4 & 2TB Seagate External

 

Rationale:

- CPU: So the Pentium is cheap, ticks my boxes and won't kick out a tonne of heat into a small case. Offers the performance I need at a price I liked. Rock on Intel for introducing a cheap overclockable processor that takes us back to the Conroe days.

 

- GPU: I have a 7950 (bios flashed to a 280 because can) and I like it. It offers the performance I need at a price I liked (and still do, at £180 new it was a bargain). I am considering painting the shroud white and leaving the black accent on as that'd look pretty awesome.

And how I'd like it to look painted:

 

That's about as good as my photoshop skills I get I'm afraid, but it's reasonably OK minus some visual anomalies. Seems like the painting would be popular with the comments so I'll probably do it

 

RAM: It's cheap, low profile and I already have it. Don't really know what to write on this.

 

Board: So I quite liked this board, a fan of the colour (not too keen on all the red/black going around lately) and I am familiar with ASUS products so I knew what to expect. I also got it for £66 which is around 45% off (ish).

Block of cheese for scale.

 

Case: I like the look of the node, and it was also the ITX case that required me to throw out the least amount of hardware, runners up were the EVGA Hadron and the Elite 130 but for both I'd need a new PSU and/or Cooler, and for the Hadron a graphics card swap also. I opted for the white mainly because I've never had a white case before, but also because it was £12 cheaper and shipped sooner.

 

Cooler: I got the Hyper 412S to replace my 120mm AIO water cooler as I was less than impressed (and a college friend offered me £60 for it (I got for £70 originally). It's a few £ more than a 212 EVO and slightly bigger with more spaced out fins, cooling is similar (within 1-2c) but with spaced out fins the air flow through the cooler is better for weaker fans or at lower RPMs.

 

PSU: I already owned one, good wattage & quality and it fits the case. Considering a short cable set if it's a bit messy inside the case when I get the build together. However I only need 1 SATA and the PCIe power cables so it won't be too bad.

 

Storage: I own both and I've had the M4 for quite a long time now. (Back when 64GB SSDs would run you £80). Nothing really to said other than no mechanical drive will be inside the case; thank god.

 

And that's it for now until the case arrives tomorrow *crosses fingers* or next week...

[harrynowl]

DAY 1: Planning

DAY 2: Ordering

DAY 3: Waiting

DAY 4: Delays

DAY 5: More waiting:

DAY 6: Case came

DAY 7: PENTIUM COMES

DAY 8: Pentium sold i5 bought

DAY 9: Conclusion & benchmarks i5 comes, see review.

[harrynowl]

The Build:

 

Starting to put things together, working with a Mini ITX case will get a mess. A lot of these parts were bought intending to use in a Fractal R4 so size wasn't really a concern.

 

Box:

 

Contents:

Wrapping:

Unveiled:

First look inside:

Removed drive cages for space:

Hooked up the fans:

Installing the PSU, some nice touches from fractal to make life easier:

Nice and snug:

I really wish they'd just pre-install the standoffs, there's only 1 way to install an ITX board, at least they include a little adaptor:

Getting the I/O shield in:

And the board nice and snug:

Starting with the front panel connections + power:

Making sure the GPU has enough room:

Keeping the cables together:

WiFi card connected:

SSD masterrace, no mounting required:

Push/pull would actually fit, but pointless with the 2 fans so close:

How it looks when things are connected:

And the microwave is complete again:

[harrynowl]

Not doing it as there is massive coilwhine on the card and I might need to replace it

 

GPU Painting:

 

Dismantled GPU and started the masking process.

 

Naked Tahiti Pro

Some masking: 

[harrynowl]

reserve

 

conclusion & benchmarks

[xrex64]

Wont that block of cheese melt in the case?

[Liam-McShane]

I hope you do paint the shroud, looks sexy.

[wtfxmitchell]

that twin frozer    :wub:

[harrynowl]

Wont that block of cheese melt in the case?

I don't intend to put it in there, but if I need a cheese toastie I might...

[xrex64]

I don't intend to put it in there, but if I need a cheese toastie I might...

Oh, that's disappointing. 

[Superarragon]

That white Twin Frozr cooler looks amazing!

[harrynowl]

Oh, that's disappointing. 

Sorry. Maybe in 5 years (with a different bit of cheese) I'll try it when the rig is to be replaced

[Jumper118]

waits for the main event, the pentium. 

[harrynowl]

waits for the main event, the pentium. 

Between that and the GPU painting, most exciting build I've ever done!

[Jumper118]

Between that and the GPU painting, most exciting build I've ever done!

personally i don't like white, but each to there own.

[harrynowl]

personally i don't like white, but each to there own.

It's a white case :c

 

And I don't like gaudy greens/red/yellows

[Jumper118]

It's a white case :c

 

And I don't like gaudy greens/red/yellows

i like grey and black best. highly boring but very nice.

[harrynowl]

i like grey and black best. highly boring but very nice.

I'm running the dark ltt theme right now (gray and black ftw), if I got the black case I probably wouldn't bother painting it.

[Jumper118]

I'm running the dark ltt theme right now (gray and black ftw), if I got the black case I probably wouldn't bother painting it.

same. every time i go on this forum on a new device it burns my eyes.

[harrynowl]

same. every time i go on this forum on a new device it burns my eyes.

I don't know if it's just me but the reply area is still white and the profile area with the pictures is also white, so I'll probably swap to the normal theme again

[Jumper118]

I don't know if it's just me but the reply area is still white and the profile area with the pictures is also white, so I'll probably swap to the normal theme again

its always been like that. you get use to it.

[harrynowl]

Updated with more photos

[Jumper118]

Updated with more photos

good cable management and ssd mounting 

[Prokart2000]

Updated with more photos

NICE RIG!

[purplepenguin202]

Nice build!  I love white color schemes so much.  

 

I think that the Neptune build in your signature should be watercooled...