Mini-ITX Build

Leaper_SG

Leaper_SG

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Hi Guys,

Gave up waiting for a new 2014 mac-mini release.
Planning to build a Mini-ITX and planning to install Mac OS(Mavericks) from iTunes for personal use end of Feb. Strictly no gaming. Just 4K/1080p video playback or casual edit.

CPU + MotherBoard : i7-4771 + Gigabyte Z87N = $587
RAM : 16GB
GPU : NVidia that has Dual-DVI or Displayport
HDD : Samsung 840 Pro(256GB) = $359
PSU : Seasonic P-660 660W Full Modular = $238
CASE : ?
Water Cooling : CORSAIR Hydro Series
Bluetooth : IOGear GBU521
Others : Fans

Existing Hardware(Reuse) :
MONITOR : Dell U3011
SPEAKER : Corsair SP2500 2.1
Mouse : Logitech M950 Bluetooth Mouse
Keyboard : Macally BTKey

Please advice me on the following :

CASE :
Please kindly advice a good mini-ITX case that has water cooling mounting options + air filters.

WATER Cooling :
A corsair hydro series that is suitable to go along with the case.
 
Last edited:
S

simon45op

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Leaper_SG said:
Hi Guys,

Gave up waiting for a new 2014 mac-mini release.
Planning to build a Mini-ITX hackintosh for personal use end of Feb. Strictly no gaming. Just 4K/1080p video playback or casual edit.

CPU + MotherBoard : i7-4771 + Gigabyte Z87N = $587
RAM : 16GB
GPU : NVidia that has Dual-DVI or Displayport
HDD : Samsung 840 Pro(256GB) = $359
PSU : Seasonic P-660 660W Full Modular = $238
CASE : ?
Water Cooling : CORSAIR Hydro Series
Bluetooth : IOGear GBU521
Others : Fans

Existing Hardware(Reuse) :
MONITOR : Dell U3011
SPEAKER : Corsair SP2500 2.1
Mouse : Logitech M950 Bluetooth Mouse
Keyboard : Macally BTKey

Please advice me on the following :

CASE :
Please kindly advice a good mini-ITX case that has water cooling mounting options + air filters.

WATER Cooling :
A corsair hydro series that is suitable to go along with the case.
Click to expand...

maybe u want consider psu with shorter cables for easier
management? not sure what brand have the shortest cable.
hope other pros can answer.
 
royfrosty

royfrosty

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Leaper_SG said:
Hi Guys,

Gave up waiting for a new 2014 mac-mini release.
Planning to build a Mini-ITX and planning to install Mac OS(Mavericks) from iTunes for personal use end of Feb. Strictly no gaming. Just 4K/1080p video playback or casual edit.

CPU + MotherBoard : i7-4771 + Gigabyte Z87N = $587
RAM : 16GB
GPU : NVidia that has Dual-DVI or Displayport
HDD : Samsung 840 Pro(256GB) = $359
PSU : Seasonic P-660 660W Full Modular = $238
CASE : ?
Water Cooling : CORSAIR Hydro Series
Bluetooth : IOGear GBU521
Others : Fans

Existing Hardware(Reuse) :
MONITOR : Dell U3011
SPEAKER : Corsair SP2500 2.1
Mouse : Logitech M950 Bluetooth Mouse
Keyboard : Macally BTKey

Please advice me on the following :

CASE :
Please kindly advice a good mini-ITX case that has water cooling mounting options + air filters.

WATER Cooling :
A corsair hydro series that is suitable to go along with the case.
Click to expand...

Overkill for an i7. An i5 would suffice your needs along with a 8gb ram will do.

You wont even need a water cooling AIO as there is no overclocking done.

Lastly your choice of SSD, do you really need till a PRO? A regular crucial m500 or a Samsung EVO will do just fine. You cant see any real performance in either one of them.

Your choice of PSU Platinum grade is so ex that with that price you could have gone for a higher wattage PSU. But if i were you i would just get a regular Superflower HX500 500w 80+ gold to power up the rig.
 
havetobuy

havetobuy

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Leaper_SG said:
Any idea when is this case coming to SG? Just saw this case few hours ago. Comparing this and BitFenix Prodigy at the moment.
Click to expand...


if u want more of this type casin go to 5th floor behind cannot remembered the name juz 2 door along from Best Buy..on the outside many casin on windows display..the shop specialised on casin all type
 
Leaper_SG

Leaper_SG

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royfrosty said:
Overkill for an i7. An i5 would suffice your needs along with a 8gb ram will do.

You wont even need a water cooling AIO as there is no overclocking done.

Lastly your choice of SSD, do you really need till a PRO? A regular crucial m500 or a Samsung EVO will do just fine. You cant see any real performance in either one of them.

Your choice of PSU Platinum grade is so ex that with that price you could have gone for a higher wattage PSU. But if i were you i would just get a regular Superflower HX500 500w 80+ gold to power up the rig.
Click to expand...

Hi there, sorry about that. I didn't mention that i will be using CPU intensive apps such as VMWare/GNS3(Network Virtualization) apps and maybe video editing apps such as Final cut pro / adobe premiere too.

For SSD, I chose samsung 840 pro due to it's performance and stability in the market. Prefer to get the top of the line for that capacity.

For cooling, I'm tired of heatsinks+fan building up chunks of dust easily, lazy to dismount and mount back everytime for cleaning. And based on online reviews, water cooling seems good for CPUs that run at max load often. For other fans used for in/out take air, will use filters.

For PSU, The last time i built a PC was 4 - 6years ago. So i only remember corsair / seasonic PSUs, So I just chose seasonic. I'm still open to other brands as long it's a good brand. You guys are upto date in forum so need your help. So do suggest a "best" modular PSU with the best cable management. I don't mind forking out extra bucks for PSU since it's an important part as well for system stability.

Thanks
 
Leaper_SG

Leaper_SG

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For Case, got 2 options in mind.

1) Corsair Obsidian 250D + Corsair Hydro H100i
2) Lian Li TU-200 + Corsair Hydro H80i
 
royfrosty

royfrosty

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Leaper_SG said:
Hi there, sorry about that. I didn't mention that i will be using CPU intensive apps such as VMWare/GNS3(Network Virtualization) apps and maybe video editing apps such as Final cut pro / adobe premiere too.

For SSD, I chose samsung 840 pro due to it's performance and stability in the market. Prefer to get the top of the line for that capacity.

For cooling, I'm tired of heatsinks+fan building up chunks of dust easily, lazy to dismount and mount back everytime for cleaning. And based on online reviews, water cooling seems good for CPUs that run at max load often. For other fans used for in/out take air, will use filters.

For PSU, The last time i built a PC was 4 - 6years ago. So i only remember corsair / seasonic PSUs, So I just chose seasonic. I'm still open to other brands as long it's a good brand. You guys are upto date in forum so need your help. So do suggest a "best" modular PSU with the best cable management. I don't mind forking out extra bucks for PSU since it's an important part as well for system stability.

Thanks
Click to expand...


If you are using vmware and other stuffs then i leave the cpu choice.

840 pro or evo there is no real world performance. Be it stability or whatsoever. Your eyes cant see that split seconds difference. I bought budget ssd till the current ones i see no difference in the real world applications. If i were you i just swap out the pro for an evo.

Cooler wise there is no such thing as easy cleaning. If you take the stock intel heatsink it is way much easier to clean. A radiator with fans also will trap dust in between the fins of the radiator. Plus heat output, do you think intel were to come out with a cpu stock fan and make their cpu run hotter? Its like shooting themselves on their feet. I rather you save the money on $100 over cooler on a better gpu or somthing.

Psu wise you are not powering any overclocking cpu. So just get any regular superflower hx500 500w. Or 600w gold. Dont let the brand name fool you. Go search reviews on it.

I leave it up to you to decide and its your choice as its your money. Cause what i see is that you channel your budget to an unnecessary stuffs.
 
I

iAmBored

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Don't give up waiting for the mac. Just give up on the mac.

If you need a case, there's always the trash can mod you can do.
Mac Pro Trashcan Mod

badumtss.jpg


On a serious note, Jonsbo has some pretty sweet looking itx cases.

And cable wise, I'm not sure if X-treme Solutions still do it, but they did offer custom cables before. But be warned, a little pricey.
 
W

wtfh4x

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Don't think you can buy the ASRock case just by itself. Must buy the whole system which isn't available here.
 
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