Need help transform my mITX build into more SFF

numcapsule

Cable Smoosher
Original poster
Jun 28, 2018
8
0
Hello everyone,

Thanks for reading this post.
First of all, this is my current working build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($347.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock - Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($157.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LED 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($112.78 @ Newegg Marketplace)
Storage: Crucial - MX500 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.95 @ Adorama)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card
Case: NZXT - H200i (White/Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($120.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($96.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1424.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-06-28 10:13 EDT-0400

I've been using the above PC for more than 6 months and everything is going good so far (temp and performance wise) I do light gaming with it and mostly use it for my job as a freelance software developer or designer.

At the moment I am required to travel from one country to another country every two weeks. Usually I bring my laptop and monitor with me but my laptop is very slow. So I am thinking of transforming my current build into more small form factor so I can fit it into my luggage/backpack.

Looking at my current build, I realize that I can probably reuse most of my parts and change only a few. This is my desired SFF PC (Changing only the Case, Power Supply, and Cooler). I know that the processor is very hot for SFF, I'll have someone experienced to Delid it for me next week

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($347.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock - Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($157.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LED 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($112.78 @ Newegg Marketplace)
Storage: Crucial - MX500 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.95 @ Adorama)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card
Case: Fractal Design - Node 202 HTPC Case w/450W Power Supply ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1218.68
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-06-28 10:13 EDT-0400

I need help

1. Please kindly suggest/recommend me CPU Cooler if possible
2. Do you think this is doable? As in constantly moving parts from one PC to another, any downsides?
3. Any other Case suggestions/recommendations?
4. Do you think the Power supply is enough or any recommendations?
5. Any Fans recommendation?

Thanks again!
 

jmarin

Airflow Optimizer
Mar 8, 2018
258
187
You are probably better selling the 8700k and getting the non k variant, as most low profile coolers are not designed for a 95w TDP processor. The Noctua NH-L9i is one a lot of people prefer, Cryorig C7 and C7cu are pretty good options, too. Going a step down on the CPU will help with PSU overhead as well, but don't think that is an issue regardless. As far as cases go, that depends on what you are looking to spend and how small you want to go.
 
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loader963

King of Cable Management
Jan 21, 2017
660
568
Had a cryorig c7 with a delidded 8700k that was fantastic. But for virgin chips.... we’ll the things I’ve read weren’t very encouraging.

I don’t have the 8700k anymore, but I did get an 8700t, the 35 watt version and as far as gaming goes, I can’t tell a single difference performance wise. Good luck with the new build, I love the node 202 cases.
 
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numcapsule

Cable Smoosher
Original poster
Jun 28, 2018
8
0
You are probably better selling the 8700k and getting the non k variant, as most low profile coolers are not designed for a 95w TDP processor. The Noctua NH-L9i is one a lot of people prefer, Cryorig C7 and C7cu are pretty good options, too. Going a step down on the CPU will help with PSU overhead as well, but don't think that is an issue regardless. As far as cases go, that depends on what you are looking to spend and how small you want to go.

Hello,
Thanks for the reply. Sorry newbie here, what would happen if I still proceed with the 8700k and use low profile coolers?
I am not planning to OC in SFF and will be delidding the CPU soon.
Thanks for the suggestions, will definitely check it out.
If the 8700k is not doable, I think I will just continue to use my Laptop while travelling or maybe get another CPU. I travel every two weeks but spend most of the time inside house
 

numcapsule

Cable Smoosher
Original poster
Jun 28, 2018
8
0
Had a cryorig c7 with a delidded 8700k that was fantastic. But for virgin chips.... we’ll the things I’ve read weren’t very encouraging.

I don’t have the 8700k anymore, but I did get an 8700t, the 35 watt version and as far as gaming goes, I can’t tell a single difference performance wise. Good luck with the new build, I love the node 202 cases.
Thanks for the response. I am planning to delid my 8700k as well.
Sorry, what do you mean by Virgin chips?
 

loader963

King of Cable Management
Jan 21, 2017
660
568
You can try and see if temps stay reasonable. If they do, then no worries. If not, delid it or sell it and replace it. I had silicon lottery do my delid and was very happy with it.

Edit: virgin as in not delidded.
 
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numcapsule

Cable Smoosher
Original poster
Jun 28, 2018
8
0
You can try and see if temps stay reasonable. If they do, then no worries. If not, delid it or sell it and replace it. I had silicon lottery do my delid and was very happy with it.

Edit: virgin as in not delidded.
Thanks for the response.
Yup, I am planning to delid it. May I know what is your temps while on cryorig c7 with a delidded 8700k and also what Case?
 

loader963

King of Cable Management
Jan 21, 2017
660
568
Thanks for the response.
Yup, I am planning to delid it. May I know what is your temps while on cryorig c7 with a delidded 8700k and also what Case?
f

Triple AAA gaming with an Asus 1080 Ti turbo on a 3440@100hz monitor, mid 60’s. The case is a custom mod sfx, available on this site. It’s very similar to a Dan a4 sfx if you aren’t familiar with it.

But as the hack pointed out, with 58mm of clearance, the scythe big shuriken can’t be beat. It would do better than the cryorig since it’s so much bigger and fits in the node 202. I used one back when I had a silverstone rvz02 and a 6700k and was very happy with it.
 

rfarmer

Spatial Philosopher
Jul 7, 2017
2,588
2,702
I am cooling my 8700k with a Big Shuriken 2 and it works very well. Definitely delid your CPU, I gained 20C lower temps with mine. I can run it at 5.0GHz 1.302v and does not exceed 75C in stress testing, I usually run it at 4.50GHz and gaming temps are in the mid 50s to low 60s. I replaced the fan with a Prolimatech 140mm slim fan and it is very quiet and cools very well.

I would recommend the Corsair SF600, the Platinum version will be released soon and will be worth it for the better cables.
 
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numcapsule

Cable Smoosher
Original poster
Jun 28, 2018
8
0
f

Triple AAA gaming with an Asus 1080 Ti turbo on a 3440@100hz monitor, mid 60’s. The case is a custom mod sfx, available on this site. It’s very similar to a Dan a4 sfx if you aren’t familiar with it.

But as the hack pointed out, with 58mm of clearance, the scythe big shuriken can’t be beat. It would do better than the cryorig since it’s so much bigger and fits in the node 202. I used one back when I had a silverstone rvz02 and a 6700k and was very happy with it.


Thanks for your response!

I am cooling my 8700k with a Big Shuriken 2 and it works very well. Definitely delid your CPU, I gained 20C lower temps with mine. I can run it at 5.0GHz 1.302v and does not exceed 75C in stress testing, I usually run it at 4.50GHz and gaming temps are in the mid 50s to low 60s. I replaced the fan with a Prolimatech 140mm slim fan and it is very quiet and cools very well.

I would recommend the Corsair SF600, the Platinum version will be released soon and will be worth it for the better cables.

Thanks for the reply! Wow, that's nice.
I assume you are using Node 202 as well?
 

rfarmer

Spatial Philosopher
Jul 7, 2017
2,588
2,702
Thanks for your response!



Thanks for the reply! Wow, that's nice.
I assume you are using Node 202 as well?

No the case I am using is called a MI-6.

It had been posted earlier in this thread that the Node has 58mm of clearance for CPU coolers, I was just checking Fractal's site and they state it has 56mm for CPU coolers. Not quite enough for the Big Shuriken.

You might want to take a look at this cooler from ID Cooling, 55mm height with fan. 6 heat pipes and 130w rated so it should be able to cool a delidded 8700k, I considered using one with my MI-6.
 
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loader963

King of Cable Management
Jan 21, 2017
660
568
Hey @rfarmer
That is the official spec but many peeps use the shuriken in node 202. You have to remove the dust filter I believe though. But lots of builds on pcpartpicker and the owners club forum on overclock.net use it.
 

rfarmer

Spatial Philosopher
Jul 7, 2017
2,588
2,702
Hey @rfarmer
That is the official spec but many peeps use the shuriken in node 202. You have to remove the dust filter I believe though. But lots of builds on pcpartpicker and the owners club forum on overclock.net use it.

Ok cool, I just didn't want him getting a cooler that was not compatible. Big Shuriken 2 works very well on my 8700k.
 

jtd871

SFF Guru
Jun 22, 2015
1,166
851
@numcapsule You can always turn off MCE and/or restrict the TDP in BIOS to run cooler in the smaller case if you end up having thermal issues. Nobody's forcing you to run your CPU full balls to the wall; 90% of balls to the wall may be fast enough.
 
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