Gaming ITX build - Advice needed

[keymaster]

Hi, recently I've decided on building a ITX build just for gaming as well as easy to take around (Lan purposes).
Anyways, here are the parts that I've ordered and some parts will be moving from my current pc.

***Ordered Parts***
CPU - Intel i5 3570k
(Will Order Corsair H60 cpu water cooler OR Thermaltake Water 2.0 Performer later)
Mobo - AsRock Z77E ITX
RAM - Corsair Vengeance Low Profile DDR3 1600 2 x 8GB
Case - Lian Li PC-Q08

***Moving from current PC***
SSD - ADATA 128GB
PSU - Zalman ZM600-HP 600w

OS - Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Monitor - Samsung T240 (For now)

As for the GPU, i'm currently using PowerColor HD6850 1GB, was good few months back.
But now its giving me problems...
So I've decided to upgrade my GPU but can't decide which one to get.

Build A with: Nvidia GTX 670 2GB or ATi 7950 3GB Around R4500 - R5000
Build B with: Nvidia GTX 680 2GB or ATi 7970 3GB (Might need to save up more) Around R5800 - R7000

I'm not sure if my PSU is able to handle Build B with just 600w and planning to OC the Cpu soon, and from some reviews ATi cards tend to draw more power than Nvidia?

Or Build C with: GTX660Ti 3GB or HD7870 2GB Around R3300 - R4000 and save some money for future upgrade?

Note: I'm trying to build a gaming PC that doesn't draw too much power and will last me atleast 4+ years.
Thanks for your time

Key

 

[Archer]

I cant check the specs of that PSU right now, but a decent 600W PSU will be fine for any single GPU config. I would suggest going for the GTX670, or the HD7970 if its the same price (I recall another rounds of price cuts recently thats why I mention it).

As for the cooler, the thermaltake solutions in the past have been terrible. Again, I cant check right now if thats the case with the one you listed, but I would rather go for the corsair solution.

 

[Pada]

Archer, that Thermaltake one is one of the best closed loop watercoolers that you can get, but it is also one of the most expensive and massive ones too.
I don't know how big your case is, but the Thermaltake one may not fit.

Going for the GTX670 is probably the more sensible option now, because you don't need a faster card than that for 1920x1080 resolution gaming at this moment. In 3 years a lot can change, and I hope the screen resolutions would increase and become more affordable.

A decent 500W PSU should suffice for the GTX670/680.

 

[keymaster]

I guess a GTX 670 is sufficient for my 1200p res monitor. If it doesn't fail on me anytime soon...it was giving me problems, but it seems to be avting good for now.

The case is really small...ITX size, smaller than mATX case. So I'm kinda worried about closed loop watercooling...

Key

 

[Archer]

I'll have a look at the case after work for possible cooling solutions for you. Do you prefer a closed loop, or would you be open to looking at a custom loop?

 

[CataclysmZA]

The TT Performer should fit. I don't know how many people have fitted something of that size inside the PC-Q08 but the rad is similar in size to Corsair's H-80, so theoretically it should be just fine. The PSU will be fine for a GTX660 Ti/HD7950, but that's where I'd draw the line in terms of 1080p performance and price. Your PSU is actually based on a 700W unit and still has most of the same hardware - normally, I don't rely on something like that too much. However, most units do seem capable of it considering the scores reviewers got out of it, so if you do hook it up to a GTX680/HD7970, it'll handle just fine.

As for what you can stuff in there in terms of cooling, Tech Reaction did a review of a PC-Q08 with a custom water-cooling setup.

 

[keymaster]

I'll have a look at the case after work for possible cooling solutions for you. Do you prefer a closed loop, or would you be open to looking at a custom loop?

Just a simple closed loop for the CPU due to the fact that once the system is setup up, the cpu won't have much breathing space, and i'm not worried about the psu or gpu because they have vents to draw in fresh air.

Thanks

Key

 

[Archer]

Looks like no matter which cooler you go for, about 1/3 of the radiator will be blocked by the PSU. Now you say you want to overclock, so you've lost 1/3 of your cooling, so temps could get toasty. You could of course mount either the rad, or fan outside the case. Maybe you could try mount the rad up front (does the case have mounting holes for 120 fan up front?). Or look for a cooler with a 140mm fan for up front? Small cases are a real pain arent they

 

[keymaster]

haha yeah, after putting together the parts for the ITX...it sure is a pain the a$$...and straight after I dismantled my big case and put it back together and guess what...it was a breeze!...

Anyways, I think i'm either going to find a slimmer rad with a 15mm fan, or mount it infront...

Thanks

Key