My Proposed SG13 Build. Open to suggestions

freckerbium

Efficiency Noob
Original poster
Dec 25, 2019
6
0
Hey everyone! First post here. I posted over at /r/SFFPC and /r/BuildAPC earlier in the week and then I found out this place existed! So I am sharing my proposed build with you in hopes you:

  • Identify any potential areas I can increase value / get something better for cheaper (which I know sometimes happens with CPUs)
  • Any potential issues you see from your own experience
  • Any recommendations you have in general
  • If you hate the SG-13 and have a suggestion for a better (similar) case.
A lot of the replies on reddit pointed out that I needed to go with a Ryzen build. They seem like a great value, but almost every testing video I look at on YouTube shows Intel stomping on AMD as far as FPS in games etc. General productivity seems to be the winner for AMD (which, to be fair, I will probably use the machine mostly for).

My budget is $1500 USD or under, so I'm pretty flexible.I would like some future-proofing, as I tend to keep machines for quite some time (still running some Westmere Xeon's in a server!)

Link to list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/X6BmL2

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-9600K 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($206.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Silverstone AR06 40.2 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z390M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($125.78 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($102.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial P1 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon RX 580 8 GB PULSE Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone SG13 Mini ITX Tower Case ($57.99 @ B&H)
Power Supply: Corsair SF 600 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply ($139.99 @ Corsair)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM 70.75 CFM 120 mm Fan ($13.90 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM 70.75 CFM 120 mm Fan ($13.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $987.51
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-12-25 10:16 EST-0500
 

Leinel

Caliper Novice
Dec 19, 2019
21
14
I don‘t know the case. Seems that everything else is quite solid. The only question is why you stuck with Intel. Personally, I would take a Ryzen 3600 with a B450 Max Board. With the saved money, you could get a 3200 RAM, I suppose. With the fans, I went with Noctua NF-A 12x25. Really great in case of noise and power.

Regards,

Leinel
 
Last edited:
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freckerbium

Efficiency Noob
Original poster
Dec 25, 2019
6
0
I don‘t know the case. Seems that everything else is quite solid. The only question is why you stuck with Intel. Personally, I would take a Ryzen 3600 with a B450 Max Board. With the saved money, you could get a 3200 RAM, I suppose. With the fans, I went with Noctua NF-A 12x25. Really great in case of noise and power.

Regards,

Leinel

This is super helpful, thank you! I am interested to see your build if you've completed (or are working on) a Ryzen/B450 build!
 

sternbutfair

Minimal Tinkerer
New User
May 12, 2019
4
7
First real quick, you have two NF-P12 fans, case only supports one fans.

I have built multiple builds in the SG-13 and believe it is by far the best SFF case under $100, to get better I think you have to step up into the $200+ range of the Ncase/Ghost/Dan Case/Sliger etc...

Based on you list I think there are trade offs that could be made and have a better gaming PC/general PC. I have built a list bellow on what I would build at the same total cost in your list, the main trade off is the memory, is there a specific reason you are going for 32gb, if this PC is for gaming there will be no benefits with that much memory now or in the next couple of years. Using the money from the memory and the CPU change you can move up to a 1660 super,. The GPU is a much bigger upgrade about 15% on average better than the RX580, and at 1080p with either of the cards you will be GPU bound, not CPU bound, so the 3600 is a better buy, also the 3600 will age better. I would do the big shuriken 3 for the same price its a much better cooler, and I would choose the Strix B450 over the MSI B450 due to the better bios and more importantly it has two m.2 slots, in the future you could add another m.2 ssd for more storage. The PSU was more to match the build price, there is nothing wrong with the EVGA, but the corsair is slightly better and has sleeved cables so if you don't care about making it $20 higher total price get the corsair.

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9nFK7T

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Big Shuriken 3 50.79 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix B450-I Gaming Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard ($138.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory ($84.99 @ Corsair)
Storage: Crucial P1 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB OC Video Card ($239.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone SG13 Mini ITX Tower Case ($57.99 @ B&H)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GM 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply ($106.98 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM 70.75 CFM 120 mm Fan ($13.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $979.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-12-26 19:17 EST-0500
 
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freckerbium

Efficiency Noob
Original poster
Dec 25, 2019
6
0
First real quick, you have two NF-P12 fans, case only supports one fans.

I have built multiple builds in the SG-13 and believe it is by far the best SFF case under $100, to get better I think you have to step up into the $200+ range of the Ncase/Ghost/Dan Case/Sliger etc...

Based on you list I think there are trade offs that could be made and have a better gaming PC/general PC. I have built a list bellow on what I would build at the same total cost in your list, the main trade off is the memory, is there a specific reason you are going for 32gb, if this PC is for gaming there will be no benefits with that much memory now or in the next couple of years. Using the money from the memory and the CPU change you can move up to a 1660 super,. The GPU is a much bigger upgrade about 15% on average better than the RX580, and at 1080p with either of the cards you will be GPU bound, not CPU bound, so the 3600 is a better buy, also the 3600 will age better. I would do the big shuriken 3 for the same price its a much better cooler, and I would choose the Strix B450 over the MSI B450 due to the better bios and more importantly it has two m.2 slots, in the future you could add another m.2 ssd for more storage. The PSU was more to match the build price, there is nothing wrong with the EVGA, but the corsair is slightly better and has sleeved cables so if you don't care about making it $20 higher total price get the corsair.

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9nFK7T

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Big Shuriken 3 50.79 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix B450-I Gaming Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard ($138.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory ($84.99 @ Corsair)
Storage: Crucial P1 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB OC Video Card ($239.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone SG13 Mini ITX Tower Case ($57.99 @ B&H)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GM 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply ($106.98 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM 70.75 CFM 120 mm Fan ($13.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $979.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-12-26 19:17 EST-0500

Thanks for the reply and tips and list!
  • I went with 32GB as I’m used to “‘more RAM is better” as a methodology, lol. I may run a Linux VM here or there on Win 10 Pro
  • In December 2019 can I run into issues with trying to use a Zen2 processor on a B450 board? I’ve read some people need to have a Z+ processor on hand to update the mobo firmware?
  • My monitors support Freesync -- is it beneficial to have a GPU that supports FreeSync with a build like this?
  • Will I run into any fitment issues with that CPU cooler?
 
Last edited:

sternbutfair

Minimal Tinkerer
New User
May 12, 2019
4
7
If your going to be running a VM then I would definitely go with a Ryzen 3600 for the extra threads. If you keep the 32gb then would still try to keep DDR4 3600 speed as well unless you want to manually tune the speed/timings then go for the Crucial Ballistix Sport 3000 or 3200.

I have seen post on reddit showing many of the popular B450 boards are now coming Ryzen 3000 ready, I think most of the popular boards have run thru stock that was not Ryzen 3000 ready.

For your Freesync monitor I would google the monitor to see if it will work properly if you force Gsync compatibility. If it won’t work or you want to stick with AMD spend the money for 5700 or wait for CES and see if the release the 5600 series which should compete in the $200-300 market. But if your monitor is only 1080p 60hz then go back to the RX580.

The cpu cooler fits with the motherboard and the case with an SFX psu. Look the cooler up on pc part picker and you will see a build with and SG13 and B450 strix. I did this on one of my SG13 builds.