Mini ITX System Build

[Tutonic]

So, given that I'm going to be stuck in the house for a while post-op I've decided to spend all my money and build a shiny new Mini-ITX system.

Here's my proposed part list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£167.99 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (£52.73 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: Asus Z87I-Pro Mini-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard (£119.84 @ Scan.co.uk)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£122.59 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Crucial M500 960GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£361.53 @ Amazon UK)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case (£69.95 @ Aria PC)
Case Fan: BitFenix Spectre LED 47.4 CFM 200mm Fan (£11.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case Fan: BitFenix Spectre LED 43.5 CFM 120mm Fan (£6.49 @ Amazon UK)
Case Fan: BitFenix Spectre LED 43.5 CFM 120mm Fan (£6.49 @ Amazon UK)
Other: BitFenix Recon Fan Controller (£29.99)
Other: Samsung SE-208DB/TSBS Slim Portable External USB 2.0 DVDRW - Black (£19.99)
Total: £969.58
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-15 11:39 GMT+0000)

I already have a GPU (Geforce 670), SSD (256GB) and PSU (850W) which will be pulled out of my existing rig. The aim is to end up with something small, quiet and powerful. Which is why I'm looking at the Bitfenix Prodigy case:


These things really are tiny, but they will take a full sized graphics card. What I could really use some advice on, is the potential fan layout. Here's what I'm thinking of going with:

1 x H60 Radiator with 120mm fan (top exhaust)
1 x 120mm (rear exhaust)
1 x 200mm (front intake)
1 x PSU fan (bottom intake)



Does anyone have any experience with the H60 cooler? I'm not planning on doing any overclocking initially, so I just need it to be quiet.

I'm also planning on sticking in a Bitfenix Recon fan controller:



I won't be ordering the parts for at least another 5 or 6 weeks, so hopefully the SSD price will drop down a bit. Any feedback/advice on the parts on this list would be most welcome

[Chaosphere]

For the parts list... that motherboard comes with Asus' software Fan Xpert II. Now, in the past motherboard fan control has been awful, but actually with that software its pretty darn good. I control all of my case and cpu fans using it, and it works like a charm - just acts as an automatic fan controller, you set the fans up how you like, and then leave it be. I notice the motherboard has 4x 4-pin slots for fans, so you will have no problems using it over the fan controller. Just saves you some cash. Oh, and it works with either 3 or 4 pin fans, so no problems there.

For the cpu cooler, I am sure the h60 would be fine, but if you could with the money saved from no fan controller, why not get a h80i? Better rad and pump.

As for the fans, bitfenix fans are rubbish, and I would always advise against them. Not a major point tbh, they will work 'fine', they're just too noisy for too little air. Corsair make some great fans, have a look at the SP120 range.

Oh and remember to 'improve airflow' you can remove all of the HDD trays there. You can literally shove that SSD in any spot you can find to keep it out of the way, it won't care at all where you shove it.

[Tutonic]

I'm going with the fan controller mainly for looks - the extra control it brings is a happy bonus

I rather liked the look of the Bitfenix fans with white LEDs. I will have a look at alternatives.....

I have a 3.5" 2TB backup drive to squeeze in from my existing PC so the lower cage will have to stay, otherwise I would have just bolted the SSD's onto the side of the PSU cage (there's room for two there, plus another two on the other side panel). The 200mm fan is pretty big, so it shouldn't restrict the airflow too much.

[TeaLeaf]

Make sure you buy all the stuff via the dMw Amazon Affiliate Shop please (see link at top of forum)!   Thank you!

[smilodon]

I rather liked the look of the Bitfenix fans with white LEDs. I will have a look at alternatives.....

Corsair do a nice white LED fan, which I bought. However these were the high volume AF type not the static pressure ones.

[Tutonic]

Corsair do a nice white LED fan, which I bought. However these were the high volume AF type not the static pressure ones.

The Corsiar AF120 Quiet Edition seems to get some pretty good reviews, and it comes in the right colour so I've swapped out the 120mm fans for a pair of those.

[BrotherTobious]

I would possibly look into braided cables as when I was looking at that case it was not the greatest for cable management. Especially with i/o on the side like that.

Looks a sweet setup though chief

Sent from my Nexus 4

[smilodon]

As far as I have been led to believe the AF fans are 'air flow' and shove a lot of air through so are suited to use unobstructed case fans. The SP fans are high pressure so shift less air but push it harder and so are suitable for squirting air through radiators or restricted areas like HDD bays. I'm running an air cooled system and so my fans are all case fans.

This is my AF 140 white through the wonders of the Internet's and technology stuff

[YOUTUBEHQ]539YID14BRI[/YOUTUBEHQ]

[Tutonic]

As far as I have been led to believe the AF fans are 'air flow' and shove a lot of air through so are suited to use unobstructed case fans. The SP fans are high pressure so shift less air but push it harder and so are suitable for squirting air through radiators or restricted areas like HDD bays. I'm running an air cooled system and so my fans are all case fans.

This is my AF 140 white through the wonders of the Internet's and technology stuff

[YOUTUBEHQ]539YID14BRI[/YOUTUBEHQ]

Cheers Smilo - I did some more reading and you are indeed quite correct.

I've gone for 2 AP120 fans to be top exhausts. The H60 comes with an SP120, which I will leave in place (as it's more suited to pushing air through a radiator).

Also bumped up the front fan to a 230mm, which is the biggest it will take.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Tutonic]

Update!

Ordered my updated parts list the other night, I should have everything delivered by tomorrow and so the build shall commence:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks


CPU:  Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  (£167.99 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler:  Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  (£56.92 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard:  Asus Z87I-Pro Mini-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  (£119.98 @ Amazon UK)
Memory:  G.Skill Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  (£82.99 @ Novatech)
Storage:  Crucial M500 960GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  (£337.00 @ Amazon UK)
Case:  BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case  (£63.96 @ Amazon UK)
Case Fan:  BitFenix Spectre Pro LED 156.3 CFM 230mm  Fan  (£16.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case Fan:  Corsair Air Series AF120 White 52.2 CFM 120mm  Fan  (£8.95 @ CCL Computers)
Power Supply:  Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  (£53.28 @ Amazon UK)
Other: BitFenix Recon Fan Controller (£29.99)
Other: Samsung SE-208DB/TSBS Slim Portable External USB 2.0 DVDRW - Black  (£19.99)
Other: BitFenix Prodigy Window Side Panel - White (£9.95)
Total: £967.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-25 17:52 GMT+0000)

Photos to follow

[TeaLeaf]

Those Corsair AF120QE fans are what is stuffed into my build   Even at max rpm they are real quiet, so I'd highly recommend them.

[BrotherTobious]

Looking forward to the build log mate

Sent from my Nexus 4

[Tutonic]

It begins.

Stripped backed the drive cages, stock cooling fans etc. Ready for action.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2584[/ATTACH]

Motherboard & CPU installed. PSU installed, cooling fans installed.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2585[/ATTACH]

The H60 is a bit of a tight fit, but the case is really nice to work with - nowhere near as awkward as you might expect despite the size.

[TeaLeaf]

Case looks real nice, looking forward to seeing this build!

[Sparko]

Looking good so far mate, look forward to seeing the final result