Reducing Build Size + Upgrades

TitianGerm

Folks I'm considering making a few changes to my current PC and looking for a little advice.

I definitely want to reduce the size of the PC and while I'm at it maybe upgrade the CPU.

I currently have the following.

NZXT H500

RTX 3070

Ryzen 5 3600

Arctic Freezer 34 eSports Duo CPU Cooler

16GB Crucial Ballistic 3600Mhz (Dual Channel)

MSI MAG B550 Tomohawk

Crucial MP600 500GB NVME

WB Blue SN550 1TB M2 SSD

Fractal Design Ion+ 760W PSU

I also have a good few Corsair fans.

Cuddlesworth

What screen are you using for gaming?

TitianGerm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119864847#Comment_119864847

Dual 27" LG Ultragear GL83A. They're 1440P 144hz monitors.

I tend to game at 60FPS 1440P for single player games and higher FPS then in FPS games.

Lumen

I love SFF but the latest generation of enormous RTX cards has made it difficult to recommend.

However, I'm not giving up.

If you can bear the prices the ssupd cases are worth looking at, specifically the Meshroom S.

Some madman managed to get a 4090 partner card to fit...

https://www.reddit.com/r/sffpc/comments/y9g2w9/meshroom_s_msi_gaming_trio_rtx_4090_build/

I'm currently running a 3080 in a NZXT H1 V2 and there's no way a 4090 would fit.

Generally speaking avoid cases with tempered glass as the airflow is worse. I built a 3070 in a glass SFF that was cool and quiet but I wouldn't expect to achieve that with a more powerful card.

TitianGerm

I only have a 3070 and don't expect to be going up to XX80 cards anytime soon.

K.O.Kiki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058271428/reducing-build-size-upgrades

The only cases I can think of that would be smaller AND allow you to keep your ATX motherboard + PSU would be:

• SFF time N-ATX which is both pricey & hard to buy (you just missed the window)
• Sliger Cerberus X which is just mad expensive
• Raijintek Thetis which might be hard to build in/keep cool, but at least it's affordable & available!

There's also the Thermaltake Core G3 but that would require a SFX size PSU (e.g Corsair SF Series Platinum).

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CPU upgrade is a good shout though. The Ryzen 5-5600 is dipping below €160, but the Ryzen 7-5700X/5800X (€250-260) wouldn't be a bad idea. Plus there's the option of going for the 5800X3D for sub-400 which is possibly "future-proof".

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The NZXT H500 is an interesting case because from tests, it can't be made to perform better with more fans, at least with a CPU air cooler. Its negative-pressure setup (i.e. 2x fans exhausting air with no intake) seems to work best, so only change the fans for looks or noise.

TitianGerm

Sorry folks I probably wasn't overly clear in my OP, I'm actually open to a new MB and PSU and was considering a new CPU on top of the change to a smaller platform.

That SFF Time N ATX does look really good though KO Kiki and isn't something I thought was actually available.

K.O.Kiki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119869663#Comment_119869663

If you don't want to spend crazy money, a new micro-ATX board would allow you to transplant into the a SAMA IM-01 variant; CPU cooler would be a tight fit though.

TitianGerm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119869832#Comment_119869832

I thought I was going to need an ITX board so an MATX sounds good. Whatever I go with I just want to make sure it has plenty of USB ports.

I have a friend building a PC at the moment so whatever I swap out I'll be selling to him so might see about a Noctua cooler now as well.

Cuddlesworth

I'm not sure a cpu upgrade would net you much of a improvement at 1440p but if any cpu could do it, it would be the 5800x3d. If its comparable to selling the 3070 and buying a better card like the upcoming 4070ti or 7800xt, probably not.

K.O.Kiki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119870901#Comment_119870901

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-ryzen-7-5800x3d/17.html

The other benefit of going Ryzen 5000-series is a big reduction in micro-stutter.