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Planning my Haswell mini ITX System

4K views 21 replies 8 participants last post by  Doomtomb 
#1 ·
I am working on the planning of my next system. Given that I want to save space I want to reduce the case size as much as possible.
I want to have a powerful system with gaming capabilities while idle it will be the file server for my home (2x3 TB Drives)

I would like to have your opinions about the system in general and particularly for the CPU cooling as I am not decided yet on what to use.

Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced - Mini-ITX Computer Case with USB 3.0 and Long Graphics Card Support- Coolermaster (Elite 130 if Avalable)
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VI Impact
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K Quad-Core Desktop Processor 3.5 GHZ 8 MB Cache BX80646I74770K - Intel
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP Blue 16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR3 1600MHz (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory CML16GX3M2A1600C10B - Corsair
SSD: Samsung Electronics 840 Pro Series 2.5-Inch 256 GB SATA 6GB/s Solid State Drive MZ-7PD256BW - Samsung
HDD: 2x Seagate Barracuda 3 TB HDD SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 7200 RPM 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST3000DM001 - Seagate
PSU: Corsair Professional Series AX 750 Watt ATX/EPS Modular 80 PLUS Gold (AX750) - Corsair
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX670 FTW 2048MB GDDR5 256bit, Dual Dual-Link DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, 4-Way SLI Ready Graphics Card Graphics Cards 02G-P4-2678-KR - EVGA
Seconds Case Cooler: Cooler Master 120mm R4 Computer Case Fan (R4-C2R-20AC-GP) - Cooler Master
ODD: Panasonic UJ260 6x Blu-ray Burner BD-RE/8x DVD±RW DL SATA Drive (Black) - Panasonic
Memory: Rosewill 40-In-1 USB 2.0 3.5-Inch Internal Card Reader with USB Port / Extra Silver Face Plate (RCR-IC001) - Rosewill
Misc: StarTech.com Slimline SATA to SATA Adapter with Power(SLSATAADAP) - STARTECH.COM
Misc: Chenbro 1x ODD Bay to 1x Slim ODD Bay and 1x Internal 3.5-Inch HDD/FDD Bay Cage SK41202 - Chenbro

CPU Coooler: Cooler Master GeminII M4 - CPU Cooler with 4 Direct Contact Heat Pipes (RR-GMM4-16PK-R2) - Cooler Master
or
CPU Coooler: Prolimatech Samuel 17 CPU Cooler
CPU Fan: Scythe Kaze-Jyuni Slim Slip Stream 120mm x 12mm Fan - 1500 RPM

I have ruled out the Noctua NH-L9i as given it specs it might not be able to cool the 4770K and the Noctua NH-L12 without the 120mm fan as it exceeds the Elite 120 clearance by 1mm (65mm vs 66mm).

What other options you think that might work on this configuration? Whick one would give the maximum cooling?

Thanks a lot for your help
 
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#2 ·
If you're only gaming drop the 4770K in favor of the 4670K and with the money saved invest in a 770 or 780.

PSU is overkill, that system won't need more than 550 watts (including overclocking headroom)
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allanitomwesh View Post

That's alot of power just for gaming.
Get the 780,it's basically a Titan half price.
I Just said that
wink.gif
 
#5 ·
I'd advise looking into the difference between the Maximus VI Impact and the Z87I-Deluxe in terms of necessary features. Neither are available on the market yet and I'd assume they will both be out by the end of July. I expect a price difference of ~$100, which can be put to good use elsewhere.

I side with the above posters in their comments about choosing a lower spec PSU, as this system will likely use less than 550W. Perhaps the Seasonic G-Series 550W is a good alternative to your original choice. Buying a 4670k instead of the 4770k will also be a good way to save $100.

Determine if you really need the optical disc drive and the card reader, if not that's another ~$75 saved.

The total suggested savings add up to around $375. For this money you can get that GTX780 and choose a case which is a little more flexible in cooling options, as I'd expect the GeminII to be suboptimal in cooling an overclocked Haswell. This is expecting that you want to overclock your CPU, considering your choice for a K-model and an enthousiast motherboard.
I'd suggest looking into an FT-03 mini, Node 304 or a Cubitek Mini Cube and opting for a more beefy CPU cooler such as a Silver Arrow, NH-D14 or H80i. As for the cases, look into GPU space limitations; I know the node 304 will take long cards, but I am not sure of the others.
 
#7 ·
Thanks a lot, I have taken the recommendations.

I will go with the 4670K and upgrade to a 770 or 780.
Will Change the PS to Seasonic G-Series 550W

I need to keep the DVD/Blue Ray and the Memory Reader as I will be doing lot of Photo and video Editing, so I will be doing also some OC. In Fact, The need of an ODD was the reason why I discarded the Fractal Node 304 as I liked it more than the Elite 120. Also I would have taken the SG05 but it cannot handle two 3.5 HDDs.

Does anybody has another recommendation regarding a cooling solution?

Thanks
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allanitomwesh View Post

A reference cooling 780 will exhaust well in the FT03 mini.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azgalor View Post

Unfortunately FT03 mini can only fit up to 10" cards and the reference 780's are 10.5 at the shortest length.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allanitomwesh View Post

It's that darn cooler stretching past the PCB. Dunno why Nvidia do that.
GTX 780 cooler is not stretching past the PCB; you're thinking of the GTX 660 Ti / 670 / 760 with the extended impeller housing. The reason it's like that is: since the low-binned GK104 don't need so much power, the VRMs could be moved to the slot end of the card. Then there was no reason to have any components after the RAM chips, so the whole PCB could be shorter. However, you still need the impeller, hence the plastic housing to mount it.

I'm very glad they went with that PCB design, because it allows a fairly powerful water-cooled GPU that is no longer than a mini ITX motherboard.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allanitomwesh View Post

Yeah, I was pretty heart broken there were no air cooled 670's (until Asus 670 mini) Man,780's are longer than I thought. Who came up with inches,feet and miles anyway?
If this is a serious question I'm prett sure it was the Romans and the British that were combined and standardized over time.
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allanitomwesh View Post

Meters are better.
wink.gif
No doubt, but imperial was first.
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allanitomwesh View Post

Yeah, I was pretty heart broken there were no air cooled 670's (until Asus 670 mini)
Zotac did one, but only sold it in Japan.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wthenshaw View Post

No doubt, but imperial was first.
No no no
smile.gif


Indus Valley "cubits" were a standard while the Romans were still a bunch of hill tribes. Interestingly a cubit is about half a meter, the people also had a measurement with a name meaning 'bowl' which was about 1 litre, and a weight measurement of around about half a kilogram. This convenient system, which had been in use for 2000 years from Egypt to northern India was messed up by first the Greeks and then by the Romans such that the cubit used in Western Europe eventually lost more than four inches and ended up as being 444mm. This is because they kept redefining it based on the length of the feet of various statues.
 
#18 ·
I meant that imperial was before metric. I know there were many measurement methods before
 
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