Building the Ultimate mATX SLI Gamer PC [Build Suggestions]

Hi Guys, a friend of mine asked me if it is possible to build a Gamer PC in the Size of classic small LAN Party PCs. We played a lot in the past together in such parties, but well, since Internet Connections got so fast nowadays and most of the games need to be played online via Client-Server Connection, lan parties are not anymore popular like it was 10-20 yrs ago.. too bad, lan parties were soo much fun and you meet soo many nice people.

But still it is a great Project to make a highly transportable Gaming Rig. Imagine you can move around with this rig and all you need are some sockets and internet-access. So my friend has discussed with me some requirements. Here they are:

So what are your Ideas? Let's create some cool "Builds", since we are Build-Engineers for sexy hot machines anyways.

Allright. Im gonna search for some nice components and share with you. Would be glad to look at your other Builds for comparison.

 

Here is my 1st Prototype:

• Case: AeroCool Strike-X Cube Red Edition ~$90 / 75€
• CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K, 4x 4.00GHz ~$360 / 300€
• MB: MSI Z87M Gaming, SLI 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 ~$130 / 110€
• RAM: TeamGroup Elite Series DIMM Kit 16GB, DDR3-1600, CL11-11-11-28 ~$140 / 120€
• GPUs: 2x Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 Mini, 4GB GDDR5, 2x DVI, HDMI, 3x DisplayPort ~$760 / 640€
• Storage Drive: 2x Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB, SATA 6Gb/s ~$260 / 220€
• Power Supply: be quiet! Straight Power 10 500W ATX 2.4 ~$90 / 75€
  
• Optical Drive: LG Electronics Bluray Burner BH16NS40, SATA ~$75 / 65€
• Keyboard: Tt eSPORTS Poseidon Z Illuminated Gaming Keyboard, mechanical, illuminated ~$70 / 60€
• Mouse: Sharkoon Drakonia Black ~$35 / 30€
• Monitor: Samsung S24D300H, 24", 2ms, VGA, HDMI ~$140 / 120€
• Headset: Tt eSPORTS Shock One Gaming Headset, 5.1 DTS ~$60 / 50€

Overall Price: ~$2200 / 1865€

Pix:

 

Wouldn't 500W be a bit low for all that? I would've guessed at least 650W to be safe, though I'm no expert.

 

That could be right. Afaik gtx 970 sli consume around 320Watts under full stress. System without gpus should consume around 100-150 Watts. But there is nothing wrong about going safe.

http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/core-i7-4790k-processor-review,11.html

http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/geforce-gtx-970-sli-review,4.html

@Vergere
Beautiful Build!

 

@Vergere Great build, love the corsair stuff, hate that mouse though never had good luck with MSI mother boards, but it's been a while since I put a system together.... That keyboard is sick... I may need to upgrade.

@Blagg Zear LOVE THAT CASE. I did a modular for my HTPC and have had no issues. One thing I have learned over the years of building systems for myself and friends is never skimp on RAM.

If it was me, I would take Blagg's case, mouse, load it up with Verg's corsair stuff along with the updated mother board and EVGA 970. The case is a bit flashy for me so I would probably paint it matte military green and change the LED highlights to amber so it would match my Corsair mouse and glossy black on the inside with custom amber highlights inside. Custom cabling throughout, (I hate seeing wires and they suck for airflow) but that's just me, and that sick ass Razer keyboard......

 

I use the logitech version of the mouse, and let me tell you...it is AMAZING for MWO. Control weapon groups 4/5/6 with thumb, as well as a button for strikes/uav/cool shots, a button to key up TS3, and 3 buttons for macros? Oh hell yeah. That's not to mention that you can easily set up a button as a DPI shift, which makes switching between fine aiming and fast torso twisting a breeze.

Logitech version:

http://gaming.logitech.com/en-us/product/g600-mmo-gaming-mouse

 

I chose a pair of SSDs to run them on RAID even though im not sure if there is any performance boost. There is little info in the inet about this topic:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1519469/for-gaming-single-ssd-raid-0-ssd-or-pcie-ssd

 

Using this mouse. more than enough for my style of play,
Weapons, zoom control with the bottom thumb button as a DPI shifter.

and I actually use a Saitek Cyborg Evo as my left hand control for throttle steering and any aux controls

Not happy with my keyboard at all though.

Edit: by the way, the joystick is painted to match the mouse.

 

This is the keyboard I have. I like the cherry black switches, but no backlighting on this model.


Edit: Of course I painted mine the same green as the mouse and joystick... one of these days I'll gut my Tt Armour Jr. case and paint it too.

 

I have the same one although with my Drakonia I don't bother with the macro keys anymore. I guess I could but they aren't really necessary.

 

I nixed the key pad on mine, and the small macro pad... they just got in the way for me. have you had any issues with yours Grimm?

 

@skidog2k3 None. I don't have the software installed right now so the volume knob light isn't lit up nor the other little lights here and there but I don't care. It still works. I have both the keybpad and the macro bad installed but don't use them.

 

Yepp i have the ASUS VS247H and i love that Monitor so much. The reasons i chose that screen were the design, the fast response time, the budget price and the connections. It has even an audio jack for console gaming / bluray via hdmi connection. Whenever i want to play Games on travel i bring my PS3 superslim, this Monitor and some headphones.

The MX279H-P has even more Sex Appeal. Want buy!

 

Recently did a micro build for my son . He chose the Bitfenix Prodigy . Awesome case , though beware the cable management .
I find this one much more tasty though...


I'd look at the 4670K to save money or alternately the 4770K .
Skip the optical .
750 min PSU .
Gigabyte G1 or MSI gaming GTX 970 gpu .

gotta run for now.

On an aside it was a pleasure running into you last night Mr Grimm . Even though you destroyed my mech lol

 

Maybe it's the software, I've had it inadvertently cut out on me after my system sleeps. Ill uninstall and see if that's the problem.... I don't use the macro buttons anyway.