Small (SMALL) Gaming PC

[Stonep11]

Hey guys!

     I am in college so I am looking at a PC build that is AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.  I would like to be able to play games like BF4, Skyrim, Borderlands 2 at 60fps or higher at 1080p (highest settings).  I do not care about AMD/Intel/Nvidia internals, but ease to work with (ie modular PSU) is a plus.  I would also like it to be a decent looking case as it well be seen. Budget (because I was asked) would be about $1500-$2000 I will look to see what the cost benefit of my options are.  When I say small I mean literally as small as it can be.

 

I have all peripherals and monitors.  Don't include the OS as it is a easy cost to add later.

 

EDIT: I have seen cases that use a PCI riser to mount the GPU in parallel with the mobo, something like that would be great!

 

UPDATE:

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Hhhu

 

Ok here is what I have complied.  Please suggest improvements or places where I overspent. REMEMBER I am using this ONLY FOR GAMING! So I want costs cut where they don't help gaming and where more money could help gaming, let me know!

[helping]

EVGA Hadron + 3570k & ITX board with card of your choice.

 

You'll have to be pretty experienced at building because while it's small and looks really sleek it is much harder to work in.

 

[Joshua]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcVbFXSlgEc Try using this as a base.

 

Also, look at the Bitfenix Prodigy M, it's really ugly in my opinion, but it's the same size as the above case but M-ATX.

[Cacao]

Could you at least give us some kind of budget? Or do you really want an overkill tiny PC?

[megadarkwood]

EVGA Hadron would be the case of choice for you.

[SpamBrie]

I would as everybody else is saying go with the EVGA Hadron

[Lord Pantaloons]

Hadron, super tiny, only downside really (at least for me) is that the sleeving on the PSU is crap.

[Kaasgeelheid]

In my opinion you can get something better than the EVGA Hadron, especially for the price.

 

 

 

I would go with the Fractal Design Node 304, but it doesn't look as good as the Hadron and is I think not as tiny.

[ERSCreeper]

EVGA Hadron + http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1H9hZ

[Stonep11]

EVGA Hadron would be the case of choice for you.

 

I would as everybody else is saying go with the EVGA Hadron

How would this case compare to the FT03 Mini?

[HeathCliff]

As the above have already said, you can go with a hadron, or go even smaller with a Lian-Li PC-TU100. Just stick in a 4670k, VI Impact and a dcu2 760 (or mini version) and you're good to go.

[Stonep11]

As the above have already said, you can go with a hadron, or go even smaller with a Lian-Li PC-TU100. Just stick in a 4670k, VI Impact and a dcu2 760 (or mini version) and you're good to go. http://www.guru3d.com/news_story/lian_li_pc_tu100_mini_itx_tower_comes_with_a_carrying_handle.html

I would rather put the money from a VI impact to a more powerful GPU.  My sound solution is external so I don't care about Supreme FX

[lachyman]

If you want SERIOUSLY SMALL, get the CM Elite 130. Forget the Hadron and Prodigy, those cases are of the same size as some mATX towers. The Elite 130 is a shuttle case which supports even cards long over 30cm and 120mm rad in the front.

Here is the list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($225.99 @ NCIX US) 

CPU Cooler:  Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($87.99 @ Newegg) 

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

Memory:  Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($154.79 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($176.99 @ NCIX US) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($84.98 @ Outlet PC) 

Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7990 6GB Video Card  ($729.99 @ Amazon) 

Case:  Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($44.99 @ Microcenter) 

Case Fan:  Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($23.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply:  XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $1759.69

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-24 13:58 EDT-0400)

Noctua fan on the H80i. I know it's ugly but you won't see it anyway.

[Stonep11]

As the above have already said, you can go with a hadron, or go even smaller with a Lian-Li PC-TU100. Just stick in a 4670k, VI Impact and a dcu2 760 (or mini version) and you're good to go.

I like this case, but the GPU is limited to 190mm, what GPU can I get that is that small?

[HeathCliff]

I would rather put the money from a VI impact to a more powerful GPU.  My sound solution is external so I don't care about Supreme FX

Might be a problem with gpu compatibility with this case. If you seen logans video's, you'll know that you will need a gpu under 200mm.

[HeathCliff]

I like this case, but the GPU is limited to 190mm, what GPU can I get that is that small?

the 3 that i'd recommend are the dcu2 760 or the mini version of it or the dcu2 670 mini. (yeah, im an asus fanboy )

[TheSLSAMG]

I like this case, but the GPU is limited to 190mm, what GPU can I get that is that small?

 

GTX 670 DCU Mini

[lachyman]

GTX 670 DCU Mini

Or he can get the Elite 130 which is smaller and supports almost 35cm long cards.

[TheSLSAMG]

Or he can get the Elite 130 which is smaller and supports almost 35cm long cards.

It's not smaller. But, I agree that he should just get one of those.

[lachyman]

It's not smaller. But, I agree that he should just get one of those.

As of terms of actual volume it might be the same, but the shape of the Elite 130 makes it easier to place in tiny areas than a tower and also it uses the space better.

[Stonep11]

 

If you want SERIOUSLY SMALL, get the CM Elite 130. Forget the Hadron and Prodigy, those cases are of the same size as some mATX towers. The Elite 130 is a shuttle case which supports even cards long over 30cm and 120mm rad in the front.

Here is the list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($225.99 @ NCIX US) 

CPU Cooler:  Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($87.99 @ Newegg) 

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

Memory:  Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($154.79 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($176.99 @ NCIX US) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($84.98 @ Outlet PC) 

Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7990 6GB Video Card  ($729.99 @ Amazon) 

Case:  Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($44.99 @ Microcenter) 

Power Supply:  XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $1735.70

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-24 13:42 EDT-0400)

 

 

 

If you want SERIOUSLY SMALL, get the CM Elite 130. Forget the Hadron and Prodigy, those cases are of the same size as some mATX towers. The Elite 130 is a shuttle case which supports even cards long over 30cm and 120mm rad in the front.

Here is the list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($225.99 @ NCIX US) 

CPU Cooler:  Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($87.99 @ Newegg) 

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

Memory:  Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($154.79 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($176.99 @ NCIX US) 

Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($84.98 @ Outlet PC) 

Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7990 6GB Video Card  ($729.99 @ Amazon) 

Case:  Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($44.99 @ Microcenter) 

Power Supply:  XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $1735.70

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-24 13:42 EDT-0400)

 

I like this build the best so far. Case still seems to still be a bit big, but I like it the best so far!

[lachyman]

I like this build the best so far. Case still seems to still be a bit big, but I like it the best so far!

I added a fan for the cooler into the list. Also the case is the best you can get with all the features.

[Stonep11]

I added a fan for the cooler into the list. Also the case is the best you can get with all the features.

How would you say this compares to an FT03 Mini, my goal would be a powerful PC that I could carry on a plane so  I could transport it with me.

[MrSuperb]

 

If you want SERIOUSLY SMALL, get the CM Elite 130. Forget the Hadron and Prodigy, ....

 

a) The CM130 is NOT small. Small is something like the Silverstone SG05 (10.7l)

b) The Hadron (15.9l) is actually smaller than the CM130 (18.6l)

[lachyman]

How would you say this compares to an FT03 Mini, my goal would be a powerful PC that I could carry on a plane so  I could transport it with me.

Do you mean taking it into the cabin? I don't understand why would you want to do that.