Building Mini-ITX Haswell Gaming Rig

[techgeeknyc]

Looking to purchase this setup shortly. Can you please comment on it ? Thanks.

Shuttle XPC SZ87R6
http://global.shuttle.com/products/productsGallery?productId=1723

EVGA SuperClocked w/ ACX Cooling 02G-P4-2774-KR GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130921

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-16GXM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231568

Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell 3.5GHz LGA 1150 84W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics BX80646I74770K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116901


1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Primarily gaming the latest titles at 1080p, ie crysis 3, bf4, cod ghosts, batman AO, and some programming/office work.


2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
1500 is my soft upper limit.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU.
NA

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
Intel and Nvidia.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Monitor/keyboard/mouse.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
No overclocking.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1080P.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within next 2 weeks.

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
No software needed, already have copy of windows 7/8.

 

[lehtv]

You should start by posting answers to these questions which will help us give you the best advice: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121

Also are you close to a Microcenter by any chance? Can you also explain how small the case needs to be exactly? Mini-ITX cases come in dramatically different sizes.

Can't see the secure wishlist.

 

[Arkuatika]

Wishlist isn't available, might want to try pcpartpicker.com

 

[techgeeknyc]

Updated original post with actual components. Any help appreciated!

 

[nsafreak]

That video card is going to be crammed in there pretty tight, might still work but I have to wonder if it'll get proper air circulation. I'm always curious whenever folks go with ITX for gaming systems. For HTPCs and the like I can understand, especially since they typically can go with onboard video. Have you given thought to perhaps a microATX system instead?

 

[techgeeknyc]

That video card is going to be crammed in there pretty tight, might still work but I have to wonder if it'll get proper air circulation. I'm always curious whenever folks go with ITX for gaming systems. For HTPCs and the like I can understand, especially since they typically can go with onboard video. Have you given thought to perhaps a microATX system instead?

Thanks for the feedback. I can confirm that this card should work, as confirmed by the shuttle XPC site itself:

http://global.shuttle.com/products/productsSupportList?productId=1723

That being said, I agree the card is probably going to fit tight. Is it because this particular 770GTX made by eVGA is bigger than most other cards of similar spec ?

I haven't really thought about microATX though, are there are cases which are around the same size as the shuttle ? I'm mainly looking to fit this into a tight space, with depth being the biggest issue. All the full size desktops are about 18 inches + in depth, whereas i can really only fit a 12-13inch depth rig.

The other mini-itx cases i've thought about were the Lian Li PC-08B. But hands down in terms of ease of setup and just overall looks, i would think shuttle xpc has the upperhand here.

 

[lehtv]

You should still post answers to the questions I linked as it's pretty much impossible to help you otherwise

 

[techgeeknyc]

You should still post answers to the questions I linked as it's pretty much impossible to help you otherwise

Thanks, yes i have just updated OP with the info.

 

[lehtv]

Okay, those help alot. Firstly, since you're not OC'ing, you don't need the unlocked CPU.

I wouldn't get the Shuttle, it should be cheaper to get similar or better parts together for less cost. The SZ87R6 should cost about $300, and all it really contains is the case, PSU and motherboard which in the below setup total $225 or so.

CPU+motherboard - i7-4770 + Gigabyte Z87N-WiFi $415
RAM - Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB 1600 1.35V $67 x 2 = $134
GPU - EVGA GTX 780 ACX FTW $535
SSD - Samsung 840 EVO 250GB $175 @amazon
HDD - Seagate ST1000DM003 $61 @amazon
PSU - Seasonic G550 $85
Case - Cooler Master Elite 130 $40

= $1445

Optional CPU cooling - Cooler Master Seidon 120M $60