SFF gaming rigs?

[Yossarian22]

Hello.

I've just started to get interested into making my machines smaller (as opposed to running Full ATX sized cases). I went from a Full sized ATX tower (Chieftec Clone) to an Antec 300
and I keep wanting to go smaller. A SFF rig might be in my future.

In your opinion can SFF gaming rigs be done? How small can you go?

Post your opinions and thoughts (sorry for being newbish, I'm a bit new to SFF stuff) on the subject.

 

[lt_shiro]

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1372339

DFI should be releasing a P55 itx board in dec.

so rig like this is very possible.

i5 750/x3440
4 GB DDR3
5770 1GB

 

[darkz179]

http://hardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1449718

Get a shuttle they can power everything you throw at it

 

[fr500]

I think even with an Antec ISK300 you could do gaming (modding with an additional pico psu for a low profile GT240 or something alike)

My SG05 is my main gaming PC, It has a GTS250, and e8500@3.7Ghz, It's hooked up to a 40" LCD and hidden behind it.

I use it mostly for "console" gaming and LAN parties, etc.

It's a pretty fine compromise, my other PC is not that much faster anymore (750i FTW, e8500@4Ghz, 8800GTX SLI all watercooled), it plays most games just fine (only GTA needs more CPU power I think), I use it at home for SFIV, Batman AA, GTA IV, GRID among others, and for FPSs when I go to a LAN party or something else.

It runs cool, runs pretty quiet and consumes way less power than my full desktop system. I guess I could use a 5850 in there, I'm waiting for someone to try and report

There is a DFI P55 board coming for the same form factor, with the upcoming 450SFX PSU from silverstone you could have an i5 750 and any card that physically fits in there. So....yes you can have a gaming SFF in your future.

And then you have matx not that much bigger and still SFF.

 

[PrimeSLP]

that heatsink is retarded big fr500

cool though

my setup is:

nzxt rogue
XFX mATX board
650 InWin PSU
Intel C2D 6320 @ 2.2 ghz
eVGA 8800GT 512MB KO Edition

 

[Steeeeve]

Shuttle or mini-itx with SG05/06 is my suggestion. Shuttle should have some new things at CES 2010 which is exciting!

 

[Lost_Troll]

Hi Yossarian,

Being new my self, I stuck to a mATX for my first SFF build over building a ITX system. It will allow you to run SLI or XFire and water cooling if you are a heavy overclocker. Most cases will also take a full size card, like a 5870 or a 285 video card.

The ITX systems are a bit more limited due to there size, they only have one 16x PCIE slot and the ITX cases don't have allot of room for long video cards or water cooling, but you can still over clock them.

For my first build, I used the Silver Stone SG03 case. These seem to be a popular case for the guys that are serious about getting the most power out of there builds.

Case Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163085
2.5" HD Tray Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817997007
This thread will show you what you can shove into one of these small cases.

Thread Link: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1450590

A few other pointers that I found the hard way and read about.
1) Use a modular power supply.
2) Cable management.
3) Make sure the MB has the PCIE slots in the right places for 2 video cards (Slot 1 & 3).
4) Pay attention to the length of the video card and make sure it is under or matches the case manufacturers recommend max length that will fit the case.