Downsizing my case, is everything compatible?

[Dubesta11]

I plan to get a much smaller case for college, since ATX is really not needed. Most expansion cards can be purchased as USB and I will not go over 1080p so another 970 is pointless. So here is the potential build:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  (Purchased For $160.00) 

CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 3 113.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler  (Purchased For $60.00) 

Motherboard: MSI Z87I AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($139.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  (Purchased For $40.00) 

Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $150.00) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $55.00) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card  (Purchased For $270.00) 

Case: Fractal Design Node 304 (White) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: Corsair RM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (Purchased For $80.00) 

Total: $1038.98

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-11 18:53 EDT-0400

 

Potential problems: 

 

1. Power supply too long to support a full sized GPU? (I measured it and compared it to pictures of larger power supplies and it looks like it would fit...)

2. Cooler might not fit?  (160mm vs the 165mm support, might be too large and interfear with hard drive cables).

 

Other than that, everything should work right? I don't want to spend more than 250 for the upgrade, 200 would be preferred.

[ChaseB]

 

I plan to get a much smaller case for college, since ATX is really not needed. Most expansion cards can be purchased as USB and I will not go over 1080p so another 970 is pointless. So here is the potential build:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  (Purchased For $160.00) 

CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 3 113.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler  (Purchased For $60.00) 

Motherboard: MSI Z87I AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($139.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  (Purchased For $40.00) 

Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $150.00) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $55.00) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card  (Purchased For $270.00) 

Case: Fractal Design Node 304 (White) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: Corsair RM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (Purchased For $80.00) 

Total: $1038.98

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-11 18:53 EDT-0400

 

Potential problems: 

 

1. Power supply too long to support a full sized GPU? (I measured it and compared it to pictures of larger power supplies and it looks like it would fit...)

2. Cooler might not fit?  (160mm vs the 165mm support, might be too large and interfear with hard drive cables).

 

Other than that, everything should work right? I don't want to spend more than 250 for the upgrade, 200 would be preferred.

 

I would up the PSU and If you can, go ASUS ITX Motherboards 

[TheSLSAMG]

The cooler will be a tight fit (you probably won't fit the HDD bays in there), and the PSU will not fit properly because of the modular connectors.

[ForsakenLive]

The CPU cooler will fit, not with super clearance, but it won't touch anything (that's what matters).

As for the PSU, I'm in doubt. The Node 304 supports max 160mm PSU length, and the RM 650W is 160mm deep, But it's a modular unit, with cables sticking out in the back. They are flat cables, but still it might be a little bit outside spec.

The only real way to know it is trying. Worst case scenario you end up changing the PSU for something shorter (like Silverstone Strider PSUs which are very short).

 

If you are not dead set on the case, maybe keep looking around? I'm not a fan of cube-like Small form factor cases, as they end up taking the same (if not more) space in the desk, thanks to the large footprint.

[Weak1ings]

While that will work for you very well, Why that case?  It seems kind of large for a mini-itx...  Granted, smaller ones won't support big CPU coolers like the Dark rock; the Cooler Master Elite 130 (with a 120mm Rad) would perform similarly, have an optical drive support, get okay HDD/SSD storage, and support really long GPUs (like those HD 7990s.) but more importantly, it's smaller.  (not to mention power switch on back/PSU back)

 

Either one will work nicely.

[Dubesta11]

The cooler will be a tight fit (you probably won't fit the HDD bays in there), and the PSU will not fit properly because of the modular connectors.

 

It looks like it, and the PSU would be very tight. Someone recommended removing the bracket create more room, which looks like it would work fine.

I would up the PSU and If you can, go ASUS ITX Motherboards 

 

Up the PSU? First off all, 650W is more than enough for any single card setup, and I already own it. I actually ment to add an ASUS board, unless I can get one for cheaper and have it perform the same.

 

 

The CPU cooler will fit, not with super clearance, but it won't touch anything (that's what matters).

As for the PSU, I'm in doubt. The Node 304 supports max 160mm PSU length, and the RM 650W is 160mm deep, But it's a modular unit, with cables sticking out in the back. They are flat cables, but still it might be a little bit outside spec.

The only real way to know it is trying. Worst case scenario you end up changing the PSU for something shorter (like Silverstone Strider PSUs which are very short).

 

If you are not dead set on the case, maybe keep looking around? I'm not a fan of cube-like Small form factor cases, as they end up taking the same (if not more) space in the desk, thanks to the large footprint.

 

I am looking into a Phanteks Enthoo Evolv iTX right now, it might be a better fit.

 

 

While that will work for you very well, Why that case?  It seems kind of large for a mini-itx...  Granted, smaller ones won't support big CPU coolers like the Dark rock; the Cooler Master Elite 130 (with a 120mm Rad) would perform similarly, have an optical drive support, get okay HDD/SSD storage, and support really long GPUs (like those HD 7990s.) but more importantly, it's smaller.  (not to mention power switch on back/PSU back)

 

Either one will work nicely.

 

I already own all components besides the new motherboard and case. So everything needs to be compatible.