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Time for a New mITX Build!

post #1 of 9
6/26/12 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
It's time to start nailing down parts for my next build. It's gonna be mITX form-factor in a Bitfenix Prodigy case. Watercooling will come later, likely in the form of a single 240mm radiator up top so I can cut a window in the front of the case. I'll also be cutting a window in the side (where the vent-holes are) to showcase the GPU block. The theme is black/white/gray (so no blue or otherwise off-color PCBs, etc).

What I'm thinking so far:

CPU
Intel i5 3570k

Motherboard
ASRock Z77E-ITX

GPU (two options)
EVGA GTX 670 FTW
PowerColor Radeon HD 7870

RAM (second choice is if I have the money for a RAM waterblock)
8gb Corsair Vengeance (white)
8gb Corsair Dominator

SSD
ADATA Premier Pro 128gb

PSU (a few options)
Silverstone Strider Gold 850 Watt Full Modular (might get the short cable set)
Corsair AX650
Seasonic SS-560KM 560 Watt Full Modular

Case
Bitfenix Prodigy (white)

I need help with a few things...
  • The graphics card. I'd like to keep the budget down as low as possible. Any card that I get needs to be compatible with an EK CSQ Full-cover block. Do you guys think the price premium on the 670 over the 7870 is worth it? Are there better low-price options than the 7870?
  • The power supply. Whichever PSU I get will get fully sleeved -- the question is, which would be easiest to sleeve? If you guys have better (especially cheaper!) suggestions, I'm all-ears. I'll only need 550 watts, 600 tops. Definitely needs to be fully modular, though.

Any recommendations or criticisms are welcome!
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"Not Quite White"
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post #2 of 9
6/26/12 at 6:52pm
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1.) The GTX 670 is only a few steps down from the GTX 680. If you can overclock your 670 well, it can match or top the performance of a GTX 680. It's also somewhat significantly better than the HD 7870.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_670/6.html
2.) There aren't any fully sleeved PSU's that fit your needs other than EVGA ones, which I believe are 1500W(?) ones. Sleeved PSU extensions aren't going to be too aesthetically pleasing in a Bitfenix Prodigy, however...
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post #3 of 9
6/26/12 at 6:58pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm. I checked out another build log and saw this Silverstone SFX 450 Watt power supply... it looks like a quality unit. Do you guys think I could get away with is if in this build (with either a 7870 or 670), or would I have to downgrade the GPU?

Edit: Yep, I think I'm gonna go with that SFX unit. Smileytown is using it just fine to power a build very similar to what I want (3570k + 7970 + SSD).
Quote:
Originally Posted by funfortehfun View Post

1.) The GTX 670 is only a few steps down from the GTX 680. If you can overclock your 670 well, it can match or top the performance of a GTX 680. It's also somewhat significantly better than the HD 7870.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_670/6.html
2.) There aren't any fully sleeved PSU's that fit your needs other than EVGA ones, which I believe are 1500W(?) ones. Sleeved PSU extensions aren't going to be too aesthetically pleasing in a Bitfenix Prodigy, however...

Yeah, I knew the performance was pretty sick. I'm just trying to figure out if I can justify spending $100 more on the 670 over the 7870. As for the PSU, I'm just looking for a power supply that's easy to sleeve (some are much more difficult than others, I've heard). I don't want a pre-sleeved power supply, nor do I want extensions. Thanks, though!
Edited by jackofhearts495 - 6/26/12 at 7:02pm
"Not Quite White"
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CaseMouseAudio
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Intel i5 2500K ASRock Extreme Gen3 P67 XFX Radeon HD 6950 2gb 16GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 
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Corsair Force GT 120gb Samsung 200gb 7200RPM SATA II ASUS 24X CD DVD RW XSPC Rasa RS240 with Primochill Tubing 
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Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Sceptre 21.5" 1080p Microsoft Sidewinder x4 Raidmax RX-850AE 850 Watt GOLD Modular 
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"Not Quite White"
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ADATA SP900 128gb Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Silverstone ST45SF-G 405W Gold Modular SFX 
CaseMouseAudio
Bitfenix Prodigy Logitech G9x Corsair Vengeance 1500 Headset 
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Corsair Force GT 120gb Samsung 200gb 7200RPM SATA II ASUS 24X CD DVD RW XSPC Rasa RS240 with Primochill Tubing 
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Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Sceptre 21.5" 1080p Microsoft Sidewinder x4 Raidmax RX-850AE 850 Watt GOLD Modular 
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post #4 of 9
6/26/12 at 7:04pm
^agreed, extensions wont be pretty in that case. If you want to keep your cables appealing you're either gonna have to sleeve your cables yourself(not the biggest feat for a itx build), or I think corsair sells sleeved cable kits for their AX series(you would be over paying tho for such a small project).

If you are in the US, frozencpu.com just put up some 80mm 120x2 rads http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16236/ex-rad-410/Alphacool_NexXxoS_Monsta_Dual_120mm_Radiator_-_80mm_Thick.html or you could go with the 60mm options for alittle cheaper

GTX 670 is always recommendable over 680 unless you HAVE TO HAVE dem few fps

love that youre going for the white case over the black btw
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post #5 of 9
6/26/12 at 7:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by thehidecheck View Post

^agreed, extensions wont be pretty in that case. If you want to keep your cables appealing you're either gonna have to sleeve your cables yourself(not the biggest feat for a itx build), or I think corsair sells sleeved cable kits for their AX series(you would be over paying tho for such a small project).
If you are in the US, frozencpu.com just put up some 80mm 120x2 rads http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16236/ex-rad-410/Alphacool_NexXxoS_Monsta_Dual_120mm_Radiator_-_80mm_Thick.html or you could go with the 60mm options for alittle cheaper
GTX 670 is always recommendable over 680 unless you HAVE TO HAVE dem few fps
love that youre going for the white case over the black btw

That radiator looks beastly, but I think I'm gonna go for a 35mm radiator. I'm gonna put a nice big window in the front, so I don't want a massive radiator to hog the view tongue.gif

Also, the 680 is out of the question for me. I'm trying to decide between a 7870 (or something in that $300-330 price range) and a 670 ($400-420).

And thanks redface.gif It seems everyone's springing for the black version, but I really like the look of the white version. It'll contrast nicely with the black ASRock board as well.
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post #6 of 9
6/26/12 at 7:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackofhearts495 View Post

That radiator looks beastly, but I think I'm gonna go for a 35mm radiator. I'm gonna put a nice big window in the front, so I don't want a massive radiator to hog the view tongue.gif
I'd atleast push you towards a 60mm, but hey, its your build....
... you can hardly see the radiator at that point anyway wink.gif really going for 60mm on a cpu+gpu loop is something you should consider.

you just look at pictures of the case with cards in them and give it some thought for me, that's all i ask biggrin.gif
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post #7 of 9
6/26/12 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by thehidecheck View Post

I'd atleast push you towards a 60mm, but hey, its your build....
... you can hardly see the radiator at that point anyway wink.gif really going for 60mm on a cpu+gpu loop is something you should consider.
you just look at pictures of the case with cards in them and give it some thought for me, that's all i ask biggrin.gif

To be honest, this build is 50% aesthetics, 30% noise-level, and 20% performance. I don't mind if the CPU and GPU run a little hot as the only overclocking I plan to do is something modest on the 3570k. But I appreciate the concern tongue.gif
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post #8 of 9
6/26/12 at 10:21pm
Like this? http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/case-mods-worklog-gallery/54955-bitfenix-prodigy-watercooled-3.html
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post #9 of 9
6/27/12 at 7:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by xbournex View Post

Like this? http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/case-mods-worklog-gallery/54955-bitfenix-prodigy-watercooled-3.html

Not quite -- I want to put do almost the opposite of what he did (put a 240mm radiator up top and install a big window in the front).

That's quite the build, though!
Edited by jackofhearts495 - 6/27/12 at 7:58am
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Corsair Force GT 120gb Samsung 200gb 7200RPM SATA II ASUS 24X CD DVD RW XSPC Rasa RS240 with Primochill Tubing 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Sceptre 21.5" 1080p Microsoft Sidewinder x4 Raidmax RX-850AE 850 Watt GOLD Modular 
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CaseMouseAudio
Bitfenix Prodigy Logitech G9x Corsair Vengeance 1500 Headset 
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Intel i5 2500K ASRock Extreme Gen3 P67 XFX Radeon HD 6950 2gb 16GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 
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Corsair Force GT 120gb Samsung 200gb 7200RPM SATA II ASUS 24X CD DVD RW XSPC Rasa RS240 with Primochill Tubing 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Sceptre 21.5" 1080p Microsoft Sidewinder x4 Raidmax RX-850AE 850 Watt GOLD Modular 
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