Close apartments, small computer tables … There is not always a place for a large case. Yes, and is it necessary, even if in the case of the Mini-ITX form factor you can fit a decent game system. As an experiment, I collected a Gamer PC in the Mini-ITX case based on the novelty of this summer-the Sapphire R9 380 ITX Compact video card. To date, it is one of the most powerful graphic adapters of the Mini-ITX size size. In hot pursuit, I decided to share experience with everyone who will be interesting.
What is itx?
The ITX form factor was developed at the beginning of the zero by Via Technologies, presenting the market new motherboards with built-in processors. They were distinguished by noticeably smaller sizes than Micro-Atx (21×19 cm versus 24×24 cm). Industry of computer components, this improvisation was to the taste, and soon the new standard has acquired officially approved variations: mini -itx, Pico-ITX and MOBILE -ITX.
The basic ITX standard did not gain popularity, but the reduced mini -itx literally shot-all motherboards for compact computers are available in this type of size. With modest dimensions (17×17 cm), the board repeats the location of the ports and interface connectors of ATX, which means that such boards can be installed in any modern computer case. However, it is better for such a baby to choose a case of the corresponding size.
Frame
For some reason, there are many buildings on sale, which, at the height and width corresponding to the mini -itx, have the depth of the usual case. But I tried to choose the most compact for all three measurements model. The choice fell on the Lian Li Mini-Q-Q21 case, which interferes with the system fee with dimensions of not more than 17×17 cm. And even the video card is limited to the same length. The case takes the minimum of space: the parameters are 149x257x224 mm can be shown with one hand, spreading the fingers! At the same time, the motherboard, a graphic adapter, a processor cooler up to 60 mm high and two 3 fit in the PC-Q21.5-inch hard drive (or three SSD).
For compact systems, it is better to use power supply units of the SFX form factor. Given that I collected a productive system, not a video player for cartoons, Zalman ZM450-FX for 450 watts as an adapter. He got up perfectly at the Lian Li PC-Q21, taking everything remaining after the assembly of the PC.
If there are no problems with motherboards of the Mini-ITX type, almost every brand has several models from available to very expensive ones, then the choice of video cards is much worse. Modern graphic adapters of the gaming level are built on huge boards, have two -sloping, or even three -sliding coolers, and climb far from every ATX case. But as it turned out, it is possible to fit such power into the tiny body of Mini-ITX
Sapphire has come to make compact versions of productive solutions. The last novelty was Sapphire R9 380 ITX Compact – the most powerful adapter with AMD chip for the ITX platform, by the way. To reduce the printed circuit board by almost ten centimeters, the manufacturer had to reduce the volume of video memory from 4 GB to 2 GB. Otherwise, we have a full -fledged Radeon R9 380, not cut off in anything else.
2 GB of memory is not enough or normal? On the one hand, now there are games, which in some cases even 4 GB are difficult – these are masterpieces with open worlds like gta v. On the other hand, the vast majority of gaming projects feel perfectly within the framework of two gigabytes of video memory, because even in such a volume you can accommodate textures of excellent quality, the only question is in resolving the screen. If you are going to play in the usual Full HD, then there will be no problems from two gigabytes. But here is 1440p and even more so 4K require three or four gigabytes, and preferably the SLI/Crossfire array. In order not to go far, look at the screenshots of GTA V, shot when loading less than two or more than two gigabytes of video memory (difference in texture quality settings). Definitely, this is not the difference because it is worth it to lament.
The length of the R9 380 ITX Compact is 17 cm, which means that it fits into the Lian Li case as well as possible. The graphics card cooling system consists of one fan and four heat tubes. Having a two-legged design, the adapter is equipped with two Mini Displayport connectors, one HDMI and DVI-I. Additional power is supplied through an eight -pin connector, which is in the available zalman power supply.
From the unusual, it is worth noting the Microderogram switching button: in the Legacy position, the initialization of the Sapphire R9 380 ITX Compact will be faster when starting the system, in UEFI, it is safer by checking the signature of the sent data. Fast mode is preferable to me.
Motherboard
It was logical to choose a motherboard on the most actual chipset – Intel Z97 under the game system. If you do not feel sorry for the money, you can pay attention to the ASUS ROG series, but I wanted to save money and stopped at the brand MSI. The Z97I AC model is approximately half the ASUS cards, while it is built on the Z97 chip and supports modern Intel Broadwell processors (Core i5-56xx).
Despite the modest size, the Z97 AC has everything you need to build a powerful system: two DDR3 slots with a frequency of 3000 MHz, four SATA 3.0. For sweets-Wi-Fi Super Rost Standard 802.11AC – Routers with his support for so far on the fingers to count, but he touched the future pleasant.
Processor, RAM, drives
But with the choice of these components, everything is much easier, because they do not have a separation by form factors of motherboards. Any supported processor can be installed on an ITX-computer, if only the power of the power supply is enough. A serious video card needs the corresponding CPU, so I opted for the Intel Core i5-4460 generation Haswell. Since this is the initial model among quad -core Haswell, the heat will be minimal. The cooling cooler of the classical form of Zalman CNPS 8900 Quiet is responsible for cooling-it is important to remember that the height of the radiator in the housing is limited by 60 millimeters, so there can be no tower models with heat grips. CNPS 8900 is made in the form of a classic bowl with a fan inside, so it takes up very little space in height.
The accelerated potential of the system does not bother me much, so I did not choose the RAM not the most “gaming”-I have enough pair of DDR3-1600 modules with a total of 16 GB.
And since the Lian Li housing holds several drives, I settled on a small SSD (256 GB) for the system and HDD for 2 terabyte for games and media content.
Assembly and effect
To assemble a computer in the Mini-ITX case, you need to show miracles of fine motor skills of the hands-do not leave interface cables freely hang out in close space. All wires need to be tucked and attached to the elements of the case – a freely dangling cord will sooner or later get into the impeller of the processor cooler.
The logical question is – what about the temperature regime inside the tight case? As it turned out, very good, since air exchange is very effective in a small space. When trying to warm up the video adapter during tests, the nucleus temperature Sapphire R9 380 ITX Compact reached 75 degrees. And all because the video card fan was just opposite the body fan to the bucket, so the adapter constantly gets cool air outside.
The processor was a little less lucky – it was able to heat it to 78 degrees. This is not the temperature at which it is worth starting to worry, but still it is noticeably higher than when using tower coolers with many heating pipes. In the light of such indicators, the selection of an initial processor processor no longer looks like a reinsurance.
Tests
To check the collected system, I chose modern games with decent graphics and by no means low requirements. In each game, the maximum quality settings of the picture plus were necessarily used to smooth the highest level (except GTA V), the resolution was standard 1920×1080 pixels.
Game – Fps
Assassin’s Creed Unity – 44
Battlefield 4 – 45
Crysis 3 – 48
Far Cry 4 – 49
Tomb Raider – 66
Witcher 3 – 43
GTA V, MSAA 4X – 32
The results of the benchmarks look absolutely normal not only for the mini -itx, but for any desktop computer-a very similar Frameite shows the desktop Radeon R9 380. With a decrease in the level of anti -alias or decreasing SSAO, the frame rate in games has significantly increased. But the failure in GTA V is completely explained: firstly, 2 GB of video memory is enough only for medium-quality textures when playing in resolution of 1920×1080, secondly, post-effects and soft shadows eat a lion’s share-at maximum settings, including FXAA and MSAA, in the GTA V bar 60 FPS can only be overcome by AMDRadeon 295×2 and Nvidia GeForce Titan X, and this is a completely different price level.
And it is worth it?
Game ITX-computer-a very underestimated topic. Iron Manufacturers do not take extra money for compact devices. At the same time, motherboards differ from ATX versions only by the number of memory slots and PCI Express, and the Sapphire R9 380 ITX Compact video card completely completely repeats its full-size analogue with the exception of the video memory. At the same time, my system system is many times less than ordinary computer buildings.
The upgrade opportunities for such a configuration, unfortunately, are very limited. And not so much the size of the case as the power of the power supply and the effectiveness of the cooler – you can’t deceive physics, low -profile models can hardly cope with the top and even more dispersed processors. Nevertheless, such iron will be relevant for three or four years, during which, if desired, you can replace the video card-compact versions receives each new generation of video adapters.
Does it make sense instead of a huge ATX machine to collect such a crumb? It is quite if you can live without extreme acceleration, an array of two video cards and a spacious steel box on the table. In return, you will get a very quiet, compact and pretty system unit with the performance of a powerful game PC.
Tomb Raider II
Crysis 3
Battlefield 4
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Far Cry 4
Assassin’s Creed: Identity
The best comments
In general, good, but:
1. It would be nice to see "live" photos
2. With the thesis “manufacturers“ Iron ”will not take off extra money for compact devices” does not agree entirely and completely.
Plus all the same, IMHO))
It would be interesting to see not only the temperatures of this systematic under load, but in a simple and with a long load (at the same time to clarify what they loaded), otherwise the blowing of the body inspires me doubts even after the words that everything is fine … and clarification of the games settings. Well, at least just references to GTX970 – as another compact version of the video card (for example, ASUS GTX 970 DC mini).
P.WITH. And there are small doubts in the life expectancy of the BP with a recommended power of 500 W is installed in 450. Pull it to pull, but how long ..
Why put a hot video card in a small case? IMHO, at the moment, 960 for such buildings is perfect.
And ITX will have to overpay money. I think the assembly will come out about 6-7k more expensive.
