*Updated* Advice Wanted - Compact Gaming PC Build

LBrewstersBargains on 19/02/2017 - 01:28
Last edited 20/02/2017 - 08:52

Hi All, I am building a compact gaming PC and I need your advice as I have never built a gaming PC before. I am capable of putting a PC together I just need help with compatibility and quality of hardware. It must be compact because I am travelling around Australia for the next few years.

Here is what I have so far:

-Corsair Carbide Series AIR 240 mini Cube Case $125(UMART)

-Intel Core i5 7600 $305(MSY)

-Gigabyte H270N WiFi Mini ITX $195(MSY)

-Corsair 8GB (1x8GB) DDR4 Vengeance Red $85(UMART)

-Crucial MX300 275GB SATA 2.5" Internal SSD $115.00 (MSY)

-Corsair SF450 High Perform SFX 80 PLUS Gold $124(UMART)

-4G RX 480 MSI Gaming X GPU $272 shipped(Purchased AMAZON)
—————
Total $1223
—————
Thanks for all the great advice so far.

Computing

Comments

  • currentfad on 19/02/2017 - 01:42
    +1

    Get a small form factor z170. And you'd probably want a 2 x 8gb ram kit instead. A lot of titles are ram hungry nowadays like BF1. Don't get that Corsair VS PSU. It is rubbish. Take your pick: https://i.imgur.com/koLUPLh.jpg. Please don't go cheap on a PSU…it's the heart of your computer, especially vital for an overclocked rig. I'd rather pay more for a good PSU than get a case more expensive… Popular ones are EVGA Supernova G2, Corsair CX-M. You probably want a HDD too.

    • BrewstersBargains on 19/02/2017 - 12:01

      point taken on PSU. I will have to start with 8GB and upgrade later as I am already over budget. I already have a 1TB HDD ready to go for this rig. I have checked out the list of PSU's thanks for the advice :)

      • SydStrand on 19/02/2017 - 14:57

        If you'll upgrade RAM later, just get a single 8GB stick and leave the second slot empty, then fill it later for dual channel. Otherwise you have 2x4GBs that will be wasted later.

  • alvian on 19/02/2017 - 01:53

    Search Z270 mini ITX for starter, then plug your components into PCPartPicker to check compatibility and to get some alternatives.

  • spackbace on 19/02/2017 - 02:40
    -1

    Surely $1500 would get an equivalent laptop…? Saves dealing with a monitor if you don't want to

    • BrewstersBargains on 19/02/2017 - 12:03

      Thanks for your reply. Its time i build a gaming rig. I've owned decent laptop for the last decade and I am sick of not being able to upgrade hardware or play decent games. Also gaming laptops are vacuum cleaners.

  • SydStrand on 19/02/2017 - 03:44
    +3

    You're not going to get a decent mITX mobo for $150. Even H270 boards start at $200, and you'll need a more expensive Z-series mobo (not to mention, a low profile aftermarket cooler - add $40-50) to take advantage of that 7600K overclock. Either downgrade your CPU choice (no-OC, or go back a generation), or upgrade your mobo.

    Micro ATX is not the same thing as mini ITX, you'll want the latter for a compact build, which scraps your PSU, mobo, and case. The Carbide is not compact either. Just skimming over the spec sheet, it has 3x internal HDD bays; and looking at the thing, it looks like a minifridge. Decent compact cases include the Fractal Node 202, or Silverstone cube series (SG13, etc.)

    You do not need a 600W PSU, 450W would suffice. Also, check compatibility, if you want a mITX case, most will only accept SFX PSUs like the Corsair SF450.

    275GB isn't enough for a gaming PC. Between formatting and Windows, you'll be down closer to 230-240GB, and with game install sizes these days, you'll be lucky to fit a handful. Pick up a 2.5" or 3.5" HDD for everything else.

    I'd probably get 2x8GB (16GB) DDR4 RAM.

    • jiberz on 19/02/2017 - 08:27

      Don't recommend a K for this type of rig. Good advice above.

    • BrewstersBargains on 19/02/2017 - 12:06

      Thanks Strand I will consider and reconfig my list based on your advice and I will have some more questions for you shortly if thats cool.
      Thanks

      • SydStrand on 19/02/2017 - 15:03
        +1

        Firstly, I'd recommend downgrading to Skylake, maybe 6600 (non-K), and you can buy a cheaper H170 board, and not worry about buying an aftermarket cooler. Once the mobo is locked in, everything else tends to fall into place.

    • BrewstersBargains on 19/02/2017 - 15:48

      Ok so what if I get a i5 7600 non-k? the price diff is only a few dollars from the 6600.

      I'm looking at the Gigabyte H170N-WIFI $146(NSY) has bluetooth and wifi.

      Yes I will change my planned ram to 1x8GB. Also I really like the look of the SF450 PSU.

      I hear your point on the corsair 240 case. I was interested in this case because it comes with 3 x 120mm stock fans with dust covers, a clear window and reviews on its ventilation were quite good. I was told that if the case was to small I would have overheating issues. I'm up for reconsidering this case I just havent found anything with as good visual appeal and cooling/dust proofing as this(Very dusty environment).
      http://www.corsair.com/en-au/~/media/032BFC4859E54389A3F80DD…

      Really grateful for the help so far.

      • SydStrand on 19/02/2017 - 16:13

        If you're getting a Kaby Lake CPU like the 7600, then you might as well get this year's H270 mobo, something like this. 7XXX CPUs are compatible with sockets on last year's H170 boards, but you'll lose some features, and might as well just downgrade and get a Skylake CPU then.

        if the case was to small I would have overheating issues.

        In certain situations, yes. But you said you won't overclock, and 1060/RX480 GPUs run rather cool, so you won't run into issues with half-decent cable management. I'm running a Fractal Node 202 (a much smaller case than that, includes magnetic dust filters) with zero case fans, with no issues.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 10:42

    You've listed a micro ATX mobo rather than mini-ITX. Micros are still pretty big.

  • Diji1 on 19/02/2017 - 11:42

    I would consider substituting a cheaper CPU such as an new i3 or i5-6400 (but definitely a non-K version whatever you pick) - and spending a little more on video card so you can get a mini GTX 1070. This will be a much more capable gaming machine.

    • BrewstersBargains on 19/02/2017 - 16:01

      Thanks for the advice Diji. I started off considering a i3 however most min requirements for games I want to play list at least i5 CPU. Also I want to future proof this rig.

      I'm not real keen on spending $600 on a GPU.

  • w02m08w on 19/02/2017 - 12:05

    If you're not in a hurry, wait for about a month (or so) and see what AMD brings to the table. You could end up spending less for about the same specs….

    • BrewstersBargains on 20/02/2017 - 19:39

      I have heard great things about the 4G RX 480 MSI Gaming GPU and a deal came up on OzBargs for $272 shipped from amazon so I jumped on it. Thanks for the heads up tho

      • w02m08w on 22/02/2017 - 07:50

        I'm talking about the Ryzen CPUs which could just cost a fraction of their Intel equivalent….

  • klaw81 on 21/02/2017 - 09:55

    That Corsair case is not at all compact in real terms. It's over 30L in size, which is larger than some of the smaller micro ATX cases. If you want a truly compact machine, you need to looking at sub 15L cases - I suggest the CoolerMaster Elite 110/130 or the Silverstone SG13 in the mini cube format. There are also a couple of HTPC style cases around 12L by Silverstone and others.

    If gaming is your focus, forget about over-clocking CPUs etc - get an i5-7500 or similar, which is more than enough for pretty much any modern game.

    I would have gone for a Nvidia card (the 1060 mini would be ideal) which uses less power and creates less heat. But it seems that horse has now bolted, albeit on a pretty sweet deal.

    • BrewstersBargains on 21/02/2017 - 16:30

      Hey Klaw, I am unable to see on the spec sheets for these cases whether they come with dust filters or not. I definitely need to have dust filters on the case. I do like the look of the Coolermasters they look more solid than the corsair case also. Just worried about dust and pet hair getting into them. thanks for your input.

      • klaw81 on 21/02/2017 - 17:51

        I don't think either of the cases come with factory dust filters on the intakes, but you can easily add them if needed.

        There's ready-made kits available for the Elite 110 and 130 (eg. https://www.pccasegear.com/products/31128) which are really nice, or you can make your own very cheaply - eBay has tonnes of them.

    • f38r1 on 18/04/2017 - 13:32

      @klaw81, sorry to hijack. Do you have any recommendation for compact case for mATX? Thanks

      • klaw81 on 18/04/2017 - 14:24

        There's a decent list here for your consideration: https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/3cjdqt/build_help…

        • f38r1 on 18/04/2017 - 17:42

          Thanks. I've checked the list. Arc Mini R2 is not bad.
          But IMO Carbide Air 240 has much better design than all listed there. The only problem is I have to get rid of my hyper 212 if I choose Air 240

        • klaw81 on 19/04/2017 - 10:10

          I agree that the Air 240 is a very well designed case, and decently small for a microATX build. It's only a waste if you pay extra for the compactness of mini ITX motherboard and other small components, and then put it in a case that's twice the size it needs to be.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join