Small but capable PC

I'm on the hunt for a PC that's small enough to fit into a pretty tight space (W415mm x D340mm x H125mm to be precise) but is powerful enough to output for some 4k gaming...a tall order I know.

I came across the Fractal Node 202 case which seems ideal but concerned about the thermals of the case and ideally I don't want it to sound like a 747 about to take off.

Am I asking the impossible?

Case FRACTAL DESIGN NODE 202 Mini ITX Case
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5 7500 (3.4GHz) 6MB Cache
Motherboard ASUS® Z170I PRO GAMING: Mini-ITX, LG1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM) 16GB HyperX SAVAGE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 8GB Kit)
Graphics Card 8GB EVGA GEFORCE GTX 1070 FTW GAMING *** FREE EVGA POWERLINK ***
1st Hard Disk NOT REQUIRED
M.2 SSD Drive 512GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1600MB/W)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply INTEGRATED FRACTAL INTEGRA 450W SFX PSU (For Fractal Node 202 Case
Only)
Power Cable 1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile, Super Quiet CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Extra Case Fans 2x 120mm Apache Black Quiet Fan (fitted to extract from rear/roof)
 

keynes

Multiverse Poster
Regardless of the case the gpu is going to be noisy when gaming. I don't think a bigger case will help with that. For 4k gaming you should be looking for at least a gtx 1080
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
In addition to the above:

I would not put a GTX 1070 in that case. I'd personally be a bit hesitant about putting a 1060 in there tbh.

Especially not a 1070 with an open fan solution like the FTW - I would absolutely want a GPU with a blower cooler to exhaust the heat out the back of the case if attempting something like this.

Thermals do indeed seem to be an issue:
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/chassis/84668-fractal-design-node-202/?page=3
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2016/02/11/fractal-design-node-202-review/4
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1464-page5.html (980 strix hitting 90 degrees there...)
http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/a...ign-Node-202-Enclosure-Review/3#axzz4IoW1sc5D

Even if you did get a blower cooler GPU, stuffing a PC with a powerful gaming GPU into a confined space is really not good for air flow. It could end up eating a lot of its own hot air, which would somewhat undo the extra value of the blower cooler.

It's really a HTPC case that can have a sort of mid-range GPU in there if you really want.

I wouldn't even put that PC in the "It's less than ideal, but it's your only choice" category, rather I'd say it's a sufficiently bad idea to be worth not doing. :(

Imagine spending all that cash on a PC only to see it thermal throttle, sound like a plane taking off, and still fail to deliver 4k gaming...

I wonder whether some kind of game streaming device would be a better option, with a more powerful PC in a different room.
 
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Thanks for the feedback.

That all makes sense, especially re issue of the confined space.

I'd thought about streaming but there really isn't anywhere else in the house it can go. The other option is to stick something behind the TV (instead of under it) but I don't particularly want to hide it, plus it'll be a bit clunky to get to. A laptop might be another option but obviously that comes with a whole host of issues.
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
If you had a little more room there would be the Corsair Bulldog: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/computers/corsair-bulldog/

But I suspect the 'behind the TV option' may be your best solution if streaming's a non-starter.

In terms of accessing it I guess you only really need the on-switch. And there's always things like Wake on LAN, or even remote controls that can power on the PC I believe.

A mini PC in a case like the Corsair Obsidian 250D or Fractal Node 304 should be able to handle the temps of powerful systems, if you didn't want a full size tower tucked behind the TV.
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
The stock cooling arrangements should generally be sufficient. I think the Node 304 and the Obsidian have the GPU put up against a vent on the side of the case to give it a ready source of fresh air. I think a blower cooler GPU rather than an open fan solution would still be preferable so that the hot air is exhausted out of the back of the case rather than being washed around the insides. I would think the air coolers for the CPU should be fine.

Other than that, for a 4k gaming system you probably want a GTX 1080 and ideally an i7 7700k plus fast DDR4. A single GTX 1080 is capable at 4k, but doesn't have all that much headroom for future, more demanding titles, so you'll want to help squeeze every last bit of performance out of it that you can.

I'd suggest one of the modular PSUs (CS series) to minimise the number of unnecessary cables inside the case.
 
It sounds like I may have to curb my expectations on the 4k side of things. I'd set myself a budget of £1,500 (absolute max), so might be pushing it a bit there with the 1080 and i7 but would settle for lesser and upgrade down the line.
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
You could do it with something like this:


Case
FRACTAL DESIGN NODE 304 Mini ITX Case
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-7600K (3.8GHz) 6MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® H110I-PLUS: Mini-ITX, LG1151, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM)
16GB HyperX FURY DDR4 2133MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 - DVI, HDMI, 3x DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Hard Disk
1TB SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 32MB CACHE
1[SUP]st[/SUP] DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W CS SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile, Super Quiet CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
GIGABIT LAN PORT + Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi excluded on H110I-PLUS)
USB Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 5 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £1,458.00 including VAT and delivery.

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-sff-gaming/WU2EHPVrwq/

No i7 and slower DDR4 but it will still get you a lot further at 4k than an i7 and GTX 1070. Since the higher resolution would put proportionately more strain on the GPU than the CPU in most games I can think of. :)

That said if you stretched to £1560 you could squeak an i7 7700k in there.

No SSD but you can add one in the future and it doesn't affect FPS anyway.
 
I am so tempted to press the button on that. Will hold out til next pay day and see about that i7 though.

Thanks for all the advice, you've been massively helpful.
 
Mini PC for Living Room Gaming

Put some further thought into this and now considering the below.

A bit more info - the new system will be connected to a 49" KS7000 but I won't be aiming for gaming at 4k, 1080/1440 will be fine.

As mentioned, space is tight (as it'll be situated behind the TV) and ideally looking for a balance in terms of performance and noise levels within a small footprint.

Hoping to keep it sub-£1500 and so far this is what I've come up with:

Case
CORSAIR OBSIDIAN 250D MINI-ITX CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-7500 (3.4GHz) 6MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® Z170I PRO GAMING: Mini-ITX, LG1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM)
16GB HyperX FURY DDR4 2133MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB EVGA GEFORCE GTX 1070 FTW GAMING *** FREE EVGA POWERLINK ***
FREE EVGA Powerlink with EVGA 10-Series GPUs
FREE FOR HONOR or GHOST RECON: WILDLANDS with select GTX 10 Series GPUs!
1st Hard Disk
2TB SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
M.2 SSD Drive
256GB SAMSUNG SM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3100MB/R, 1400MB/W)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 450W VS SERIES™ VS-450 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile, Super Quiet CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
GIGABIT LAN PORT + Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi excluded on H110I-PLUS)
USB Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence
 
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