Micro-ATX gaming rig w/ Crossfire Build, critique please

[Praxis1452]

The GPU's are the same model but I can get a deal for $200 each. I was thinking about getting the hyper 212 + as well since it's so cheap but maybe I should get a better one for the 3570k? Also are there any really good reasons not to get crossfire? I understand it doesn't scale perfectly but the 7870XT is pretty close to a 7950 and I can get it for $200. I have a couple silent 92mm to help airflow for the crossfire so it should be OK.
My gaming resolution is 1920x1200 so maybe crossfire is overkill? I'd consider adding a monitor/s in the future.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: MSI Z77MA-G45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($49.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($163.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($239.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card (2-Way CrossFire) ($239.99 @ NCIX US)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N180UBE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone SG09B (Black) MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: SilenX EFX-09-12 32.0 CFM 92mm Fan ($6.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On DS-8A9SH-01 DVD/CD Writer ($27.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1217.37
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-11 16:05 EDT-0400)

 

[biostud]

You will probably get some pretty loud cards when they're sandwiched together on a m-atx board. I tried to run two cards in my case and the fans where just too loud for me. But it's wasn't the best cooled card to begin with, so maybe you won't have that problem.

 

[Termie]

There's no way you'll get two 7870XT cards to run in a tiny mATX case like that. They run hot, and those PowerColor models have particularly bad coolers. You'll overheat the cards pretty quickly, leading to crashes.

I've tried running Crossfire in my mATX case with much less power-hungry vanilla 7870s, and the top one ran very hot with the fan at 100%. Consider buying cards that are not the same length so you can put the longer one on top, giving it a chance to get fresh air. I'd just go for standard 7870s - you won't find a good cooler on a 7870XT. They're cheap by design because they are reject 7970s.

Everything else looks fine, although I wouldn't use DDR3-1333 in a gaming system just to save $5.

 

[XavierMace]

I personally can't imagine spending $1200 and having Rosewill parts in my computer, but that's just me.

 

[Praxis1452]

Hmm, I realize that they run hot but there are 3 fans right next to the graphics card slots with the sg09 case. There is a video with a guy putting in dual 680's (link below) so I kinda assumed the 7870XT's were doable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSOxvwbke9w


The rosewill PSU is the same type as the OCZ SZ series and other models in the line have reviewed well so I trust it. Also, rosewill is newegg's value brand and I trust newegg not to fry my comp.

 

[lehtv]

$1200 budget and microATX form factor? Forget about crossfire / SLI.

Are you actually close to a Microcenter? That CPU deal is in-store only, and can be combined with a motherboard discount. Though I'd get the Haswell equivalents. Here

i5-4670K $200
Asrock Z87M Extreme4 $100 after combo discount
Hyper 212 Evo $30
2x4GB Crucial Ballistix $53 AP
Samsung 840 250GB $164
MSI GTX 770 2GB $400
Rosewill RNX-N250PCe $23 (is this really needed? why not use a cable?)
Asus DVD-RW $17 AP
Seasonic G550 $80 (higher efficiency, more solid quality)
Corsair 350D $70 AR

$1137 AR AP + MC tax + shipping

GTX 770 is 50% faster than a single 7870. Two 7870's would be a bit faster but the experience wouldn't be as smooth and consistent. Always buy a single card unless you're can't reach an good enough level of performance without two (higher resolutions). Two 7870's would also be noisier, hotter (especially right next to each other!), and would require a bigger PSU.

If you're willing to gamble a little, a 7950 worth less than $300 could probably be overclocked near GTX 770 levels even in an mATX case

 

[Termie]

Hmm, I realize that they run hot but there are 3 fans right next to the graphics card slots with the sg09 case. There is a video with a guy putting in dual 680's (link below) so I kinda assumed the 7870XT's were doable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSOxvwbke9w


...

First, the cooler on the PowerColor 7870XT isn't even remotely comparable to the reference 680 cooler. Second, the 7870XT uses way more power than a 680. Third, he's running his top 680 at 84C, which is deep into throttling territory with Nvidia cards. Basically, it's not working that well.

If you really want to build a tiny Crossfire rig, I'd suggest you look at some of the higher-end 7870s from Asus and MSI. Better yet, you'd use an externally-exhausting card like the 680 used in the video, but as I said, even that's not optimal.

Trust me, there's no way you'll get dual 7870XTs to work in that case, because those side fans aren't going to do anything but push the hot air expelled sideways by those cards back into them.

 

[Praxis1452]

Sadly I do not live close to microcenter. I just use that website to produce a nice format. Haswell has been running really hot and since it's new I feel like there's a slight price premium for something I probably won't stress to hard to be honest. I could even reduce the i5 and mobo, but I figure it's really not that much more expensive and I plan to keep it for hopefully 4 years or so.

I guess I've just always like the concept of crossfire/SLI. Reading more about it, people have done SLI in this case but ofc temps are nearing 90C during furmark. Also noise. I'll probably just go with a 7950 then. I may just wait and try and find a deal on any single card then.

 

[mfenn]

$1200 budget and microATX form factor? Forget about crossfire / SLI.

Are you actually close to a Microcenter? That CPU deal is in-store only, and can be combined with a motherboard discount. Though I'd get the Haswell equivalents. Here

i5-4670K $200
Asrock Z87M Extreme4 $100 after combo discount
Hyper 212 Evo $30
2x4GB Crucial Ballistix $53 AP
Samsung 840 250GB $164
MSI GTX 770 2GB $400
Rosewill RNX-N250PCe $23 (is this really needed? why not use a cable?)
Asus DVD-RW $17 AP
Seasonic G550 $80 (higher efficiency, more solid quality)
Corsair 350D $70 AR

$1137 AR AP + MC tax + shipping

GTX 770 is 50% faster than a single 7870. Two 7870's would be a bit faster but the experience wouldn't be as smooth and consistent. Always buy a single card unless you're can't reach an good enough level of performance without two (higher resolutions). Two 7870's would also be noisier, hotter (especially right next to each other!), and would require a bigger PSU.

If you're willing to gamble a little, a 7950 worth less than $300 could probably be overclocked near GTX 770 levels even in an mATX case

Nice build.

Agree 100% on the SLI/CFX versus single-GPU. IMHO the quality of experience offered by a single GPU (smoothness, compatibility, noise, etc.) cannot be matched by two GPUs. I only recommend multi-GPU setups when the user is looking for performance that simply cannot be had with a single GPU.

 

[Eureka]

Crossfire is definitely more trouble than it's worth, really. Even with after-market tweaks like Radeon Pro, you have to ensure that you're getting high frames. 40 FPS is not playable with CF because of the stutter. If you can spend $400 on graphic cards, I would look into a single 7970 GHz or GTX 770.

 

[Praxis1452]

Just updating, I got pretty much exactly what I posted except for: 1 8gb stick for $45 at ddr-1600. A gtx 670 for $300, it's running on a reference design. If in the future I want to try sli it should have a lower TDP than competing 79XX cards. Got a better cpu cooler (phanteks 140mm) since I didn't go crossfire and my friend had a free 700W psu laying aroud. Anyway, thanks for all your thoughts!