Spec Check - ~£2k SFF build

LiE

LiE

LiE

Caporegime
Joined
2 Aug 2005
Posts
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Location
Milton Keynes
Just need a sanity check on the build. Most demanding things the build will do is run Lightroom/Photoshop and play games at 1440p 144Hz.

The plan is to build in the Ncase M1 case, but getting hold of one will take some time so in the interim I've picked a cheap MATX case to house the components.

When I'm not doing anything demanding I want it to be pretty quiet.

I have a 1TB Samsung Evo SSD to add to the build as well.


CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 3.8 GHz 12-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X53 73.11 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix B450-I Gaming Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory C16
Storage: Sabrent Rocket 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB WINDFORCE OC 3X Video Card
Power Supply: Corsair SF 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply
Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 27.0" 2560x1440 144 Hz Monitor
Total: £2041.82

Case: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/kolink-citadel-micro-atx-case-black-ca-03k-kk.html
 
Carl81 said:
You might save some ££££ if you
Consider the new AOC monitors that are on pre order... quite cheap
Click to expand...

I should have said, the monitor has already been ordered and being delivered today.

I'm looking at Air cooling in the Ncase M1 as an alternative to the AIO. I've found the pump noise in the past to be intrusive.
 
Id probably go with something like this, plus 32gb of Crucial Ballisitx E-Die and the gen4 NVME.

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £1,447.02 (includes shipping: £11.10)​
​
 
I've had a think about the Ncase m1 and cooling a 3900x looks challenging without the 240 AIO which I'm not comfortable with.

So I've decided on the Lian Li TU150 which is big for a SSF case but allows the Noctua NH-D15.

Here's what I'm currently thinking.


CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 3.8 GHz 12-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 CHROMAX.BLACK 82.52 CFM CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix B450-I Gaming Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 Memory
Storage: Sabrent Rocket 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB WINDFORCE OC 3X Video Card
Case: Lian Li TU150 Mini ITX Desktop Case
Power Supply: Corsair SF 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular SFX Power Supply
Total: £‭1,628.89‬
 
LiE said:
Gone with the build in the TU150.
Click to expand...
Apologies LiE - missed your post.

If you're after a bit of purchase validation - i, personally, feel you made the sensible choice going B450 and the mITX boards are excellent quality. The 2070 Super is the best value 'premium' card, original Sabrient Rocket again great value, and 32GB makes sense at these prices. And your choice of cooler wil keep things frosty and quiet - they look cool in black too. You've got the makings of a mighty mini beast.

Gutted you couldn't get your hands on the Ncase M1 as i would have liked to look at the build log - but the LIan Li is a great looking alternative.

Look forward to pics - best of luck.
 
Is the rocket drive a gen4? If so it might be worth looking at something else. Ryzen 9 is easily cooled. The GPU is the big heat load.
 
Why do people recommend the 2070s over the RX 5700TX It’s as fast for less money.

I think it’s the Q version that’s gen3.

Description
The Sabrent 1TB Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD Extreme Performance Solid State Drive (SB-ROCKET-NVMe4-1TB) delivers all the advantages of flash disk technology with PCIe Gen4.0 x4 interface.

Based on Toshiba’s BiCS4 96L TLC NAND Flash memory, its performance speeds can reach up to 5000 MB/s (read) and 4400 MB/s (write) when using a PCIe Gen4 motherboard. Using a PCIe Gen3 Motherboard Speeds will reach up to 3400 MB/s (read) and 3000 MB/s (write). Power consumption is much lower than traditional hard drives, making it the best embedded solution for new systems.

The Sabrent 1TB Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD was designed using PCIe 4.0 which allows for speeds of up to 5000 MB/s (read) and 4400 MB/s (write), significantly faster than PCIe 3.0.

Note: In order to take advantage of these speeds, a PCIe Gen4 motherboard is REQUIRED. Otherwise it will be at pcie gen 3 speed at max of 3500MB/s. When installing any NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD directly onto a PCIe Gen4 Motherboard a Heatsink is required to dissipate the heat generated by the drives extreme speed levels to avoid thermal throttling and maximize performance.

The Sabrent 1TB Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal SSD is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0. Using a Gen 3 PCIe motherboard will enable the user to reach speeds of up to 3400 MB/s (read) and 3000 MB/s (write).

Features:

•NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 Interface.
•PCIe 4.0 Compliant / NVMe 1.3 Compliant.
•Power Management Support for APST / ASPM / L1.2.
•Supports SMART and TRIM commands.
•Supports ONFi 2.3, ONFi 3.0, ONFi 3.2 and ONFi 4.0 interface.
•Advanced Wear Leveling, Bad Block Management, Error Correction Code, and Over-Provision.
•Upgradeable Firmware.

Package contents:

•1TB Rocket Nvme PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD.
•User Manual
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
jigger said:
Why do people recommend the 2070s over the RX 5700TX It’s as fast for less money.
Click to expand...
Not sure anyone did? But the 2070 SUPER is the best value card above the 5700XT - anything more the performance to cost ratio gets very poor. Plus, he's bought the spec already and he knows his onions and budget from previous posts.

jigger said:
I think it’s the Q version that’s gen3.
Click to expand...
It is - it's a poorer version of the original - which is also Gen 3 ~£120.

You've listed the spec for the SB NVMe 4 - pretty much has the same product description.
 
jigger said:
So the Sabrent gen3 and gen4 drives have the same description and same name?
Click to expand...
Same product naming from the looks (other than PCIe 4 in title) - admittedly a bit confusing via quick search.

Look up Sabrent 1Tb Rocket NVMe PCIe m.2 2280 Internal - within the rainforest - second drive down (below the gold Gen 4)

He could have course bought the Gen 4 but would be a surprise pairing with the B450.
 
Plec said:
Apologies LiE - missed your post.

If you're after a bit of purchase validation - i, personally, feel you made the sensible choice going B450 and the mITX boards are excellent quality. The 2070 Super is the best value 'premium' card, original Sabrient Rocket again great value, and 32GB makes sense at these prices. And your choice of cooler wil keep things frosty and quiet - they look cool in black too. You've got the makings of a mighty mini beast.

Gutted you couldn't get your hands on the Ncase M1 as i would have liked to look at the build log - but the LIan Li is a great looking alternative.

Look forward to pics - best of luck.
Click to expand...

The Ncase looks really good but the best cooling requires the 240 AIO. The air cooling wouldn’t be up to the task on the 3900x from what I read. I also think the case would end up being quite expensive after shipping and customs.

jigger said:
Why do people recommend the 2070s over the RX 5700TX It’s as fast for less money.

I think it’s the Q version that’s gen3.
Click to expand...

Ive had a 5700XT and it had really bad coil whine so I’m a bit put off. I’ll probably upgrade towards the end of the year to a 3000 series card.

It’s the Pcie 3 nvme
 
Some parts have arrived :)

hCTGZ1w.jpg


kUF1oxO.jpg
 
I'm trying to decide on the fan setup for this case. Current plan is to start simple and add fans if needed rather than just filling up slots with fans because there's space.

Here's an image of another build with the D15. They have opted for no fan in the rear exhaust position. You can probably squeeze a 15mm in there. So question is, do we think that the CPU fans will be OK at exhausting hot air?

CQOteMG.jpg


I'm also debating putting in 2 fans at the bottom feeding air into the GPU, depends if the GPU can pull it's own fresh air through the bottom unaided.

RAM arrives today so build can be completed!

Edit:

Here's another build but with a D15s, they have a fan in the exhaust position. I do have a Noctua NF-A12x15 coming today in black that I can put in the exhaust position.

p9nOoc3.jpg
 
Last edited:
LiE said:
I'm trying to decide on the fan setup for this case. Current plan is to start simple and add fans if needed rather than just filling up slots with fans because there's space.
Click to expand...
If relative silence is key i would do just that - especially with all the open grill/vents that will leak fan noise.

LiE said:
They have opted for no fan in the rear exhaust position. You can probably squeeze a 15mm in there. So question is, do we think that the CPU fans will be OK at exhausting hot air
Click to expand...
I passed on my Silver Arrow to my son's build and didn't feel the need for an exhaust fan with the 2 x 140mm combo so close to the rear exhaust. Admittedly a different case with vents at the top (no fans) - but didn't and doesn't need it on his build. That said - he has an intake but on a very low RPM profile.

That said a low rpm profile for the rear exhaust would be inaudible.

LiE said:
I'm also debating putting in 2 fans at the bottom feeding air into the GPU, depends if the GPU can pull it's own fresh air through the bottom unaided.
Click to expand...

Again, persobally, i would wait and see how effective the bottom grill is without the extra fans - although i would add a magnetic dust filter either way.

EDIT: Just saw your edit - was the fan arriving today your intake? If so i would affix there first and monitor. Hopefully, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
 
I should have said, the fan arriving today is for the rear exhaust.

Yea ordering a dust filter today :)
 
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