Reducing Build Size + Upgrades

What screen are you using for gaming?

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.