A good mini-ITX rig

[Evilz]

Hello guys
 
I am planning to build a mini-ITX rig (Location - India, Budget - 1200-1400$). It'll primarily be used for 3D Designing(Catia) and Fluid Flow and Structural Simulation(Ansys). Well it'll obviously be used for gaming Dota 2(most of the times) but I plan to play GTA V, Asssasin Creed Rogue etc at 1440x900p (might play in full HD in future).
 
I finalized the following
 
Case : Cooloer Master Elite 130 (60USD)
 
Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI (160USD)
 
RAM : Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz 8GB(will upgrade with another 8GB in future) (80USD for now)
 
Cooler : Corsair H80i Water Cooler (110USD)
 
HDD : Seagate Barracuda 3TB (120USD)

 

SSD : Adata Premier Pro SP900 128GB SATA Internal Solid State Drive (80USD)

 

I am confused with the following suff

 

Processor : Intel i5-4690k or i7-4790k (280/400USD)

 

PSU : Corsair VS550 or CS600 (50/80USD)

 

Graphics : I was considering Quadro k620 (250USD) for design and simulation but I am worried about its gaming ability. I am open to some good suggestions within 300USD for a GPU capable of both Design/ Simulation and Gaming

 

I dont plan on using more than 1 Monitor now but I may in future and I want the system to last atleast for 4-5 years. I plan on using more than 1 operating system(probably 3-5) on multiple boots.

[hazza_ob]

for simulation, go with the i7 processor plus you can overlock it

[Imakuni]

You have to pick your priority. Superb gaming with good simulation or superb simulation with good gaming. Take your pick.

 

Regardless, I'd say that an 8 threaded machine is a must. Imo, you should get a Xeon with HT, instead of the i7.

[Uwillparish]

go with the x99 mini itx by asrock.

 

 

why? because fuck you thats why

 

kidding

[nhatduy1611]

a 280x is the best choice right now for $250 but the best card you can get for $300 is a 290x . The k620 gaming ability is very poor it can run dota 2 but no way in hell gta v or ac rouge

[Evilz]

You have to pick your priority. Superb gaming with good simulation or superb simulation with good gaming. Take your pick.

 

Regardless, I'd say that an 8 threaded machine is a must. Imo, you should get a Xeon with HT, instead of the i7.

 

Superb Simulation with Good Gaming

 

I'm Ok even if the games run at lower graphics setting. I'm not considering Xeon now.

Thank you

[Imakuni]

Superb Simulation with Good Gaming

 

I'm Ok even if the games run at lower graphics setting. I'm not considering Xeon now.

Thank you

Alright, here. It should be enough of a gaming machine, and a beast at rendering. Basically, this is a bit worse than a 750ti. You can probably afford this, but if you can't, we can lower that price. Also, if you can afford more, we can make it better as well.

 

Anyway, it has Windows included in the budget. Enjoy.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($241.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($99.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Apotop  256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($89.30 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: PNY Quadro K2200 4GB Video Card  ($420.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($42.70 @ Mwave) 

Power Supply: Corsair CSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($72.99 @ Amazon) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($92.00 @ B&H) 

Total: $1208.94

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-13 22:39 EDT-0400

[brob]

Superb Simulation with Good Gaming

 

I'm Ok even if the games run at lower graphics setting. I'm not considering Xeon now.

Thank you

 

If you don't want to consider Xeon E3, then i7 it must be.

[Fgtfv567]

I would go with the i7 for the CPU, VS550 for the PSU (come on, it's mini-ITX), and possibly a 970 for games and designing.

Pro Tips: Attach the HDD to the black and red arrows, as the H80i uses 2 fans and you will run into clearance issues if you don't. You only need 2 holes to install a HDD, not 4. If that doesn't work for whatever reason, attach it onto the side bracket. For the SSD, put it underneath or on top of the ODD bay (as demonstrated by the purple arrow, since you don't have a optical drive.

[Evilz]

 

Alright, here. It should be enough of a gaming machine, and a beast at rendering. Basically, this is a bit worse than a 750ti. You can probably afford this, but if you can't, we can lower that price. Also, if you can afford more, we can make it better as well.

 

Anyway, it has Windows included in the budget. Enjoy.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($241.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($99.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Apotop  256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($89.30 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: PNY Quadro K2200 4GB Video Card  ($420.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($42.70 @ Mwave) 

Power Supply: Corsair CSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($72.99 @ Amazon) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($92.00 @ B&H) 

Total: $1208.94

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-13 22:39 EDT-0400

 

 

Quadro K2200 costs around 600USD in my country(that's totally out of budget for me.)

Asrock H81M has only 2 sata connectors won't I be limitting upgrade options.

TBH I like this build(except MoBo)

 

[Imakuni]

Quadro K2200 costs around 600USD in my country(that's totally out of budget for me.)

Asrock H81M has only 2 sata connectors won't I be limitting upgrade options.

TBH I like this build(except MoBo)

1. Sorry for the mobo. I forgot you would need extra SATA ports.
2. Next time, remember to tell us that you don't live in the US. Say where do you live, and possibly give a link to a trusted store (as well as budget within your currency).

[Evilz]

Hello guys

 

I am planning to build a mini-ITX rig (Location - India, Budget - 1200-1400$). It'll primarily be used for 3D Designing(Catia) and Fluid Flow and Structural Simulation(Ansys). Well it'll obviously be used for gaming Dota 2(most of the times) but I plan to play GTA V, Asssasin Creed Rogue etc at 1440x900p (might play in full HD in future).

 

I finalized the following

 

Case : Cooloer Master Elite 130 (60USD)

 

Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI (160USD)

 

RAM : Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz 8GB(will upgrade with another 8GB in future) (80USD for now)

 

Cooler : Corsair H80i Water Cooler (110USD)

 

HDD : Seagate Barracuda 3TB (120USD)

 

SSD : Adata Premier Pro SP900 128GB SATA Internal Solid State Drive (80USD)

 

I am confused with the following suff

 

Processor : Intel i5-4690k or i7-4790k (280/400USD)

 

PSU : Corsair VS550 or CS600 (50/80USD)

 

Graphics : I was considering Quadro k620 (250USD) for design and simulation but I am worried about its gaming ability. I am open to some good suggestions within 300USD for a GPU capable of both Design/ Simulation and Gaming

 

I dont plan on using more than 1 Monitor now but I may in future and I want the system to last atleast for 4-5 years. I plan on using more than 1 operating system(probably 3-5) on multiple boots.

 

I did mention

 

[OhhTee]

Get the i7 and save yourself the trouble with simulations. Some of the simulations I run take days with my i7, just imagine that with an i5.

Flow Simulation will be a pain in the ass.

 

Definitely upgrade to a 16 gb set if you can. Ram is a huge limiting factor in simulation. The laptop I use sometimes has an i7/8 gb of ram and it's not capable of running some simulations because the software refuses to run past a certain threshold of elements because of the RAM.

[CatzRuleZWorld]

If you can find an antek isk900 (i think that's it) that might be a better choice because you can fit an air cooler in there. just a suggestion

[TheHunter]

All good suggestions, thank you and keep them comming, but an important thing to note is that the OP has very limited budget, even Quadro K620 requires him to go a bit beyond his planned budget. We (OP and me) had quite a discussion, and I suggested that going for an i5 might save him some money to put into graphics so that he will have enough left for at least a K620 or comparably priced one. I feel that just the absence of hyperthreading wouldn't make that much of a difference, but if he has to step down to something like a K420, that would be worse compromise (would like to see any comments on that).

 

The suggestion about Xeon E3 was a good one. Though a thing not mentioned here not mentioned by the OP is that he intends to invest in a GPU later on, that would not be possible with a Xeon.Though if he can manage to get the GPU right away, Xeon would be a better deal, since there can't be much overclocking inside the small ITX form factor anyway, and the Xeon has a lower TDP as well, I guess.

 

Now moving to graphics card, I would recommend a professional card. K620 is based on GM107, which also powers GTX 745 (OEM).

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/2561/geforce-gtx-745-oem.html

Since the display is sub-HD (I guess it's 1600x900 or something like that, please clarify if you can) there would be significantly less stress on the GPU. I guess it should be able to handle most of the graphically demanding games at low-med settings at least, with no no issues for mainstream games at max settings.In case of gaming cards, it's a hit or miss, depending on which applications can leverage it's full potential. Some applications are able to use gaming cards effectively (I know many people use GeForce cards for Adobe softwares) while some softwares may not have some features enabled, or may not be able to leverage CUDA or OpenCL acceleration etc. unless you have professional graphics cards. Ideally if you had some friend who had a lot of hardware lying around (PC repair guy or something) you could install your softwares in a test machine and try some tests with different graphics cards.

 

If anyone is experienced with simulation softwares running on gaming cards, please share the experience.