Compact Gaming PC

[lamdnhan]

Howdy,

I've been using a Dell XPS14 L421x for school and light games. But it struggles running newer, demanding games.

 

I'm planning to build my gaming/workstation pc this summer. My goal is a compact, relatively low power on idling.

 

Which one is better? GTX 770 full size and GTX 960 ITX. Should I wait for a bit longer and get a GTX 970?

 

Also, is core i5-4460 fit my need? or should I opt for a different one that support overclock?

 

======

Key elements:

- Wireless ac (integrated), [i have small room, and ethernet is not an option]

- Smaller = better

- Minimize cost, since I have to buy a monitor

- No led light - stealth mode enabled

 

Updated build:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FcXp4D

Budget: ~$1000

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core OEM/Tray Processor  ($218.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120M 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($39.99 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: ASRock Z97E-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($116.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($58.89 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($108.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.49 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($315.04 @ Amazon) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($32.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.00 @ Newegg) 

Total: $978.36

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-21 14:52 EDT-0400

[Fgtfv567]

You're welcome, if you have an extra 100 bucks lying around

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($226.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($57.24 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: ASRock Z97E-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($116.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($55.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($99.79 @ OutletPC) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.30 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  ($329.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Micro Center) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($87.79 @ OutletPC) 

Total: $1099.05

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-21 01:30 EDT-0400

 

Edit: You could probably knock off about a hundred if you don't buy Windows...

[Equilibrium_FOOL]

Stretch your budget some more and get a 970.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1241 V3 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($264.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus H97I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($100.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($108.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card  ($239.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 380T Mini ITX Tower Case  ($114.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1010.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-21 01:31 EDT-0400

[Happypap55]

Considering it's a MicroATX build, I wouldn't OC the CPU very much more than it already achieves in turbo. I managed to put in a nice mobo, better CPU, and better GPU in a nice case w/ a more than sufficent PSU for under your budget.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($226.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: Asus Z97M-PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($123.99 @ NCIX US) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($24.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($24.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($99.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.49 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card  ($295.00 @ Newegg) 

Case: BitFenix Prodigy M Atomic Orange MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($43.00 @ Newegg) 

Total: $981.43

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-21 01:47 EDT-0400

[lamdnhan]

Thanks to Fgtfv567 and Equilibrium,

It looks like GTX 970 is a better choice. But isn't Xenon a but overkill for my need?

I don't really need Windows license (will be running Linux) and I have some keys laying around.

Micro ATX is not an option since it lack of wireless card and only 1 PCIe slot

For storage. I'll be better with 250+GB ssd, and may not need HDD since I have a spare 1TB from older system.

[No Nrg]

You'd be better served dropping the MSI Nightblade and using that money for other parts. It restricts you too much in part selection.

 

The motherboard I selected has AC WiFI built in. Anything compact in the Mini-ITX or Micro ATX spec will only be able to support one video card for the most part. You need ATX and a larger case if you want to go SLI in the future

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($226.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($67.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card  ($339.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $991.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-21 10:50 EDT-0400

 

If re-using old hard drive

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($226.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card  ($339.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $970.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-21 10:53 EDT-0400

[No Nrg]

Thanks to Fgtfv567 and Equilibrium,

It looks like GTX 970 is a better choice. But isn't Xenon a but overkill for my need?

I don't really need Windows license (will be running Linux) and I have some keys laying around.

Micro ATX is not an option since it lack of wireless card and only 1 PCIe slot

For storage. I'll be better with 250+GB ssd, and may not need HDD since I have a spare 1TB from older system.

Here's an example of what you would do if you wanted the ability to SLI and still have a fairly compact system. Power supply is higher watt to support future upgrade

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($226.99 @ SuperBiiz)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($28.89 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: Asus Z97-E ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($113.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($64.75 @ OutletPC)

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($99.99 @ Amazon)

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card  ($339.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($64.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($69.98 @ Newegg)

Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($29.98 @ OutletPC)

Total: $1039.54

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-21 11:04 EDT-0400

[lamdnhan]

I'm considering replace the Nightblade with something better, still looking for a case that I like.

 

Here're my questions:

 

- I don't have immediate need for GPU. Should I wait for better price and use intel HD/old gpu instead?

- Is all-in-one water cooling cpu worth it? The Cooler Master Seidon 120M for example.

 

and no, I don't plan to do SLI anytime soon.

[lamdnhan]

Just updated my build.

 

Is there anyway to reduce the cost? I can live with less powerful GPU since I don't play game much. Probably some power efficient card.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FcXp4D