Help With a Console Form Factor PC

[nerdyotter]

I'm looking into building a new LAN rig built in Fractal's Design's new Node 202 case for a somewhat "console-like" form factor.  At the bottom of the post are the components picked out by forum members when I asked for help in one of my earlier posts about this build. I have a maximum budget of $1,000, and, as you can see by the PC Part Picker link, I'm a little over that.

Could some of you help me to bring down the price of this machine? Keep in mind that the Node 202 (which is not yet priced in PC Part Picker) will cost around $80.

Thank you!

My LAN Rig

[Nena Trinity]

I'm looking into building a new LAN rig built in Fractal's Design's new Node 202 case for a somewhat "console-like" form factor.  At the bottom of the post are the components picked out by forum members when I asked for help in one of my earlier posts about this build. I have a maximum budget of $1,000, and, as you can see by the PC Part Picker link, I'm a little over that.

Could some of you help me to bring down the price of this machine? Keep in mind that the Node 202 (which is not yet priced in PC Part Picker) will cost around $80.

Thank you!

My LAN Rig

Not bad!  (get a blower 970?)

[HoiDaniel]

You can easily save money by going with a less-expensive MoBo. You won't see the fancy layout anyway

[HoiDaniel]

Also, you can go with a much smaller HDD right? Or skip it and pick up a cheap 250GB SSD.

[HoiDaniel]

And your PSU is expensive as fudge

[Wingfan]

And your PSU is expensive as fudge

How much do you pay for fudge?

[nerdyotter]

How much do you pay for fudge?

Not enough, I'd say.

[nerdyotter]

Thank you all for your suggestions thus far. Taking them into account.

[HoiDaniel]

How much do you pay for fudge?

Too much 

[DarkBlade2117]

And your PSU is expensive as fudge

There is an "Edit" Option for a reason

[Mao_Zedong]

I brought it down to $1050 including the case. First off, I changed the CPU cooler to one that is both better and cheaper. Second, I reduced the price by $100 by going with a cheaper but still good motherboard. Next I added a larger hard drive, as it doesn't cost much more. After that I changed the 970 to a blower style because they work better in this type of case. Finally, I got a slightly smaller PSU, since this one is still fine for these components, is $40 cheaper, and is just as good in general.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12LS_BK 53.3 CFM CPU Cooler  ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($50.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($102.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 5K1000 1TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.90 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  ($321.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Node 202 HTPC Case  ($80.00)
Power Supply: Silverstone 500W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply  ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1045.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-31 19:40 EDT-0400

[Str_Mape]

Something like this, not much point going with an unlocked CPU + Z board in such a tiny case the Turbo is probably the best card for cooling in the 202 as it can get some air in the cooler from both sides and pump it out the back.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($176.95 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($72.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: PNY Anarchy 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($40.50 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Sandisk Ultra II 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($159.89 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  ($329.00 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Node 202 HTPC Case 

Power Supply: Silverstone 500W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply  ($94.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $874.31

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-31 19:49 EDT-0400

[nerdyotter]

I brought it down to $1050 including the case. First off, I changed the CPU cooler to one that is both better and cheaper. Second, I reduced the price by $100 by going with a cheaper but still good motherboard. Next I added a larger hard drive, as it doesn't cost much more. After that I changed the 970 to a blower style, as they work better in this type of case. Finally, I got a slightly smaller PSU, as this one is still fine for these components, is $40 cheaper, and is just as good in general.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ Micro Center)

CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12LS_BK 53.3 CFM CPU Cooler  ($36.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($50.89 @ OutletPC)

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($102.89 @ OutletPC)

Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 5K1000 1TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.90 @ Amazon)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  ($321.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: Fractal Design Node 202 HTPC Case  ($80.00)

Power Supply: Silverstone 500W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply  ($94.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $1045.63

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-31 19:40 EDT-0400

Thank you! Some great improvements. Added to the final list.

[nerdyotter]

 

Something like this, not much point going with an unlocked CPU + Z board in such a tiny case the Turbo is probably the best card for cooling in the 202 as it can get some air in the cooler from both sides and pump it out the back.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($176.95 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($72.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: PNY Anarchy 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($40.50 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Sandisk Ultra II 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($159.89 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  ($329.00 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Node 202 HTPC Case

Power Supply: Silverstone 500W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply  ($94.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $874.31

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-31 19:49 EDT-0400

 

Added a few of your selections. Thank you for the suggestions. They brought down the price significantly.  I still want to keep an HDD drive in my system simply for game storage, though.

[Starelementpoke]

Added a few of your selections. Thank you for the suggestions. They brought down the price significantly.  I still want to keep an HDD drive in my system simply for game storage, though.

Decently sure you can get an external ac wifi module and a separate h97 board for cheaper. Might be wrong.

[Nena Trinity]

I still say get a blower GPU cause they are better in bad airflow cases and CHEAPER!!!

[Starelementpoke]

I still say get a blower GPU cause they are better in bad airflow cases and CHEAPER!!!

Just got an idea. Blow most of you're budget on a Fury X. Or, you can do it the no fun way and just buy a separate water cooling block for the 970 or similar.

[Nena Trinity]

Just got an idea. Blow most of you're budget on a Fury X. Or, you can do it the no fun way and just buy a separate water cooling block for the 970 or similar.

Hehe if the HTPC has room for all that!

[Starelementpoke]

Hehe if the HTPC has room for all that!

Better chance than a 970. The Fury X was made small and with a aio for a reason. For small cases to offer 980ti performance for small cases.

[Nena Trinity]

Better chance than a 970. The Fury X was made small and with a aio for a reason. For small cases to offer 980ti performance for small cases.

Check it on PCpartpicker? I am kinda worried the radiator wont fit.

[nerdyotter]

I still say get a blower GPU cause they are better in bad airflow cases and CHEAPER!!!

While I agree with you, the Node 202 actually has exceptional airflow around the GPU. It's kept in an entirely separate compartment via a GPU riser card and is placed directly next to a vent that has dual 120mm fan support for cooling the GPU or exhausting the heat from its heat sink.

[Nena Trinity]

While I agree with you, the Node 202 actually has exceptional airflow around the GPU. It's kept in an entirely separate compartment via a GPU riser card and is placed directly next to a vent that has dual 120mm fan support for cooling the GPU or exhausting the heat from its heat sink.

So it has room for a water-cooled card?

[nerdyotter]

So it has room for a water-cooled card?

The max dimensions of the GPU are 310x145x47mm (LxHxD), so most likely. Don't know where you'd put both the radiator and the pump, though, not to mention actually getting the tubing to the card itself.

[Starelementpoke]

The max dimensions of the GPU are 310x145x47mm (LxHxD), so most likely. Don't know where you'd put both the radiator and the pump, though, not to mention actually getting the tubing to the card itself.

The fury x is aio. Doesn't have an external pump, so radiator might be fine. Also, tubing is pre done.

[nerdyotter]

The fury x is aio. Doesn't have an external pump, so radiator might be fine. Also, tubing is pre done.

How's the coil wine on the Fury X?  I can definitely see the benefits of having a water block for a GPU in a case this small.