Card for Mini-ITX Intel build / WQHD/WQXGA/4K?

[FuzzyBee]

It's been a while since I've bought a video card. I have a new Mini-ITX build that is currently running off onboard Intel graphics. Specs:

- GIGABYTE GA-H97N-WiFi
- i5-4690K
- 16GB RAM
- XFX P1-650X-XXB9 650W PSU
- Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced case

I will be running three monitors - 2x 1080Ps for the sides, and 1 larger display that will most likely be WQHD or WQXGA (currently, it's a larger 1080p).

I will mainly use my displays for work (primarily coding and graphics work), but I occasionally play games like Civ 5. I wouldn't mind playing FPS games, but frankly, I don't have the time to.

It seems like heat generated is going to be an issue in such a small case. From what I've gathered, it would appear that this will push me toward nVidia - is this correct? Are there "cooler" Radeon cards?

Would it make sense to run my side displays off the onboard graphics, and only drive my main display off the video card?

I don't necessarily want to overspend for what I need to do. Any suggestions for which direction to head are welcome.

 

[preslove]

Given that you're not too interested in heavy gaming, I'd go with a smaller 750ti or gtx 960.

 

[JDG1980]

This might be a use case where the GTX 960, with its three DisplayPorts (each of them 4K-capable), is actually the best choice. These cards run cool and are relatively frugal with their power usage. For a case this small, you might want to consider a blower-style card like this. That said, you can probably get away with an open-air GTX 960, unless you're going to be running Furmark 24/7 in a non-air-conditioned room.

Also, the GTX 960 has full hardware H.265 decoding, which no other card currently possesses (not even the bigger Maxwell GPUs).

Unfortunately, AMD cards are still power hogs in multi-monitor setups (even when sitting idle at the desktop). Hopefully they'll fix this in the next iteration of GCN, but for now, you're best off going with the green team for your configuration since you'll be running 3 monitors.

 

[FuzzyBee]

Thanks. I may have to check out one of the 960s.

 

[Headfoot]

The 960 is going to be pretty terrible at above 1080p gaming, I really would suggest against it. I wouldn't buy now. The new cards are coming in the next 2-3 months and should shake up the market.

A great thing you can do in Mini ITX builds is get an AIO cooler and put it on the graphics card with a G10 bracket, and vent 100% of the hot air out of the case via a 120mm fan slot while getting great core temperatures on your card. It's just like installing a cooler for your CPU. You could use any GPU that fits in the case this way, fast ones that will be good at 1440p to 4k gaming like the 290, 290x, 970 or 980. Or if you wait, the future 380x, GM200 or 390x (which may come with stock watercooling actually...)

 

[TeknoBug]

I was going to suggest 750Ti too, I think there's half height ones now.

960 isn't worth the money.

 

[Stuka87]

960 is too expensive for its performance. If you want something in that performance area go AMD.

But with the poor cooling that case has, I think a 750Ti is your best bet. Not sure you want anything hotter in that case.

 

[FuzzyBee]

OK - other than cost, what are the differences between a 750Ti and a 960?

 

[Attic]

If you want to have fun with gaming, particularly FPS then get a 970. The Witcher 3 will be great and there's other games that you are going to want to have more power for. Heavy gamer or not you'll want to have a good time when gaming. For that you'll want good FPS and highish details.

Asus has an awsome mini itx 970 card for a build like yours.



Asus GTX 970 DC Mini

As a % cost of your total build, going from a 960 to a 970 is going to provide very good bang for the buck gaming wise and it will be fun to try out triple screen at decent frames.

750ti is a very weak gaming card. It specific situations the 750ti is ok, overall a turd for gaming going forward though. Min i'd go is the 960 at $200 or an AMD R9 270 at $140. But i'd get the 970 personally. Run with vsync to clamp down on heat a bit, i think you can manage with that case. Tweak the 970 further in MSI afterburner if needed to tone down heat output (already very efficient card).

 

[Stuka87]

If you want to have fun with gaming, particularly FPS then get a 970. The Witcher 3 will be great and there's other games that you are going to want to have more power for. Heavy gamer or not you'll want to have a good time when gaming. For that you'll want good FPS and highish details.

Asus has an awsome mini itx 970 card for a build like yours.



Asus GTX 970 DC Mini

As a % cost of your total build, going from a 960 to a 970 is going to provide very good bang for the buck gaming wise and it will be fun to try out triple screen at decent frames.

750ti is a very weak gaming card. It specific situations the 750ti is ok, overall a turd for gaming going forward though. Min i'd go is the 960 at $200 or an AMD R9 270 at $140. But i'd get the 970 personally. Run with vsync to clamp down on heat a bit, i think you can manage with that case. Tweak the 970 further in MSI afterburner if needed to tone down heat output (already very efficient card).

The 970 DC Mini is insainly loud. The fan has to run way faster due to the smaller heat sink. Plus the case he has will not allow for a card with that high of a TDP. That case does not cool well.

OP: The 960 is certainly faster than a 750Ti, no real comparison there. The 750Ti was mentioned because it has a low TDP, which is good for the case that you have. An R9 270X would be a good middle of the road choice between the 750Ti and 960.

 

[AkumaX]

OP: I have some pretty similar specs. i5-4590 (no K cuz no o/c). CM 110 instead of 120. Seasonic 660w Plat for full modular.

I ended up going with a GTX 960 (on sale/with coupons). Have a 1440p monitor o/ced to 108hz, and its magical, haha. Although, I wouldn't hesitate to get a GTX 970 if I found it on sale.

 

[FuzzyBee]

How is the R9 270X heat-wise?