smallest "high end" system possible?

Psypher5

Psypher5

Psypher5

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So, i have a thing for small pc's, but I need a high end pc for uni. (i7, good gfx card etc, see sig..)

Whats the best small system you can put together today (or near future, with those da box cases etc)

Just curious and wondering whats do able in such a small space :)
 
You don't specify whether you plan to use your existing components or just want equal performance.

The smallest yet powerful set-up I can think of is DFI's mini-ITX P55 board in an SG06 case.

DFI LanParty MI P55-T36
Intel Xeon X3440 (adds hyperthreading over the i5 750)
ATI HD5850 (tested in the SG06/SG05 cases)
8GB of DDR3
SG06 case and 300w PSU

For s1366 your looking at a sff shuttle setup or matx.
 
ideally id like to use existing components (my i7 as im pushing 4ghz+ out of it, tri-ram[however the shuttle i saw only did 1600 speeds, wheres my ram will push 1800+], gfx card?! thats the big question is if you can actually cram a good gpu in a small setup..)

I wouldn't want to be going backwards as it were.


could a 300watt psu even hope to power such a system either?
 
I've owned a shuttle box previously and they generally are a fairly lovely bit of kit. Generally tho, i'm not sure you'd be able to clock it so high (at least not without big stupid fans to replace the once on the shuttles I.C.E cooler).

Take a look at a "P" series chassis, they almost certainly have space for a good sized card (not sure the 5850 tho).
 
Psypher5 said:
ideally id like to use existing components (my i7 as im pushing 4ghz+ out of it, tri-ram[however the shuttle i saw only did 1600 speeds, wheres my ram will push 1800+], gfx card?! thats the big question is if you can actually cram a good gpu in a small setup..)

I wouldn't want to be going backwards as it were.


could a 300watt psu even hope to power such a system either?
Click to expand...

I thought as much, so s1366?

A 300watt PSU would be fine with a stock clocked I7 chip (130w tdp), a power efficient HD5850 gfx card and 3 stick of DDR3 ram, obviously you have no overclocking headroom.

I like shuttle systems but overclocking is never their strong point as much as they try to make you think it is.

I think a small mATX system is the way to go :)

Something like....

DFI JR X58-T3H6 i7 mATX board (DDR3 1800 support)
Two ATI HD5770 gfx cards in crossfire configuration (more powerful than a single 5850)
your processor, ram, PSU
DA BOX 100 mATX case
 
i went matx before my i7, well a lian li v350, and found that still quite bigish D: (i had cpu watered too so it was cramped and too fussy)

that da box 100 caught my eye though, and the devs said they were making an itx gamer case in spring 2010 so :D Wouldnt happen to know which card legths it can house do you? (the 100)
 
The lian li v350 is a pretty much the same size as the da box 100, just a little taller.

Your not really going to get a case much smaller than that which will accommodate a s1366 board and a decent gfx card.

Your only option is a SFF barebone system like the Shuttle SX58H7.

I suggested an ITX gamer system earlier but you said you wanted to use you existing s1366 processor an tri-channel ram. It has been pretty much decided there will never be a s1366 itx motherboard because the cpu socket, chipset and 3 dimm slots cant all fit on a tiny itx pcb.
 
looking into a v300/dabox (not sure which though!) and that dfi looks stonking, or a gene 2? :) Decisions!


da box looks awesome actually, its won my heart!
 
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I would say the following is as small as it goes in terms of gaming power.

Core i5-750 (no need for a faster i5).
DFI MI P55
8GB DDR3
ATI Radeon HD5850
Sugo SG05/06

This would most likely need the new 450W PSU though, I think it would run on the 300W one but struggle under heavy load.
Beyond that you're looking at a move to microATX, in which case you can run pretty much anything in an SG03/04.
Also an SG05 with that hardware is going to be a nightmare to keep cool, i'd recommend modding an H5O in there somewhere for the CPU.
 
Psypher5 said:
looking into a v300/dabox (not sure which though!) and that dfi looks stonking, or a gene 2? :) Decisions!


da box looks awesome actually, its won my heart!
Click to expand...


Or EVGA's X58 Micro once released here......

http://www.evga.com/articles/00487/

It overclocks like the top Classified boards yet its a matx board!

Tute said:
I would say the following is as small as it goes in terms of gaming power.

Core i5-750 (no need for a faster i5).
DFI MI P55
8GB DDR3
ATI Radeon HD5850
Sugo SG05/06

This would most likely need the new 450W PSU though, I think it would run on the 300W one but struggle under heavy load.
Beyond that you're looking at a move to microATX, in which case you can run pretty much anything in an SG03/04.
Also an SG05 with that hardware is going to be a nightmare to keep cool, i'd recommend modding an H5O in there somewhere for the CPU.
Click to expand...

Tute, he wants to use his 920 i7
 
i need my i7 due to uni , so i5 is a no go.

Just seen that evga mentioned over at lanbox forum, cheers for the link :)


dabox with red internals, + that evga = win? ;)


how does the h50 cope with the i7 clock btw?

(why do they all only have one ethernet, dammit! I use my other for a bridge to my ps3, haha)
 
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It overclocks nicely and the H50 is nice as you cant fit a big cooler in that's the main reason i went for it temps are at about 75°c - 80°c under full load @4.1Ghz overall not bad.
And yes red and black is very satisfying :D
 
id fit a cooler in the dabox, but wanted to stroll into water again. Hmmmm. Think i found the mobo for 170 which aint too bad, and have emailed about the case :)

(lucky berk for winning that mobo so early! I hate you :D)
 
Fair enough, I did try. :p

In which case, you're looking at a Shuttle X58 or microATX system, but I see the aquatic animal has it all in hand. :)
 
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