Mini-ITX AMD Build Advice

Howdy lads,

It's been a while since I posted around here, and this build has given me an excuse to include NBR in my life again.

I'm doing a SFF Red Team build, and it seems as though all mini-ITX AM4 motherboards require an adapter to fit most coolers. I was just wondering what type I would need, and how to make sure that it would be compatible size-wise. This is my first time doing a mini-ITX build, so general advice or feedback on the component choices would be appreciated.

Oh, and don't mind the empty video card slot. Just waiting for RX Vega to drop.

 

Cryorig H7 for the CPU cooler instead of H212 EVO. Better thermal and acoustic performance, easier to install, less likely to have case/RAM clearance issues.

Edit: Arctic Freezer 33 also an option, but very little info on it...

 

The Cryorig H7 comes up with the same compatibility warning as the H212 Evo:

 

It's gonna say that for coolers released before Ryzen, but you can get adapter for free if you contact the company. Freezer 33 doesn't have this issue because it's a newer cooler so adapter is already included. Found a review which puts its performance on-par with H7 and better than H212, but unknown how acoustics compare to H7 (quieter than H212 though). But with reference fan (Noctua NF-A15/NF-F12) on all coolers, H7 is 5C cooler than Freezer 33 at low RPM.

 

ATX power supply and a towercooler? that's not an itx-system



Head to https://smallformfactor.net/forum/ for some food for thought
Some nice builds, good advice, examples etc.

 

Some further comments as I scroll down:

• Get better RAM. DDR4-3200 CL14. Infinity Fabric speed is directly linked to RAM clock on Ryzen. Faster RAM is a flat boost to your CPU under all conditions. I assume you're gonna OC that CPU that's why you went for the lowest R7 SKU (you're gonna need it to keep Vega fed).
• Get a higher wattage PSU. mITX system, so I assume you're going for the liquid-cooled Vega 64. That's 345W at stock. And you gotta factor in CPU overclocking (1700 @ 4 GHz uses 150W+), as well as the faster RAM increasing power consumption of the memory controller, and the rest of the system components. I'd say a high quality 650W PSU would be good.

 

I was actually planning on getting the Vega 54. Would I still have to make the jump to 550W?

Whoops. I've never had to really consider the size of the PSU before. mITX really is its own world.
EDIT: Does PC Partpicker not account for PSU size though? I thought its compatibility filter took care of that.

 

You'd be fine with 550W for the Vega 56. You want a blower so that likely means getting a reference card. Too bad there isn't a Limited Edition V56 like there is for the air-cooled V64, that metal shroud is sexy.

 

Would an aftermarket cooler really be all that bad?

 

An open air cooler dumps the heat into your case. A blower, like on the reference cards, expels the heat out the back.

 

I'm aware but aftermarket coolers often have better board efficiency, and I might throw in some extra fans in the case.

 

FWIW, Buildzoid (extreme overclocker) has indicated in his PCB breakdowns on YouTube that custom designs sometimes cheap out on components compared to the AMD reference board.

 

Bullzoid is life when it comes to GPU components.