Build a desktop PC with 980M ?

[Augure]

I'm a noob. I've had consoles (all) to play but have been stuck with crApBook Air and Pro's which are unable to play shit (especially with Intel HD iGPUs).

I have been contemplating buying a PC for gaming for some times now, but always had a problem I'll never accept: it's too damn fat and ugly, and one of the reason is that dGPUs are disgustingly fat, over-consuming and heating bulks.

And then came the 980M. At first I didn't understand when I saw different benchmarks and reports saying, well, this is as powerful as a 960 and almost as much as a 780/290X. EXCEPT it's a mobile GPU, reduced both in size and power consumption.
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So my question (theoretical if, as I understood, they're not available on the consumer market yet) is:
Couldn't you build a desktop PC, greatly reduced in size not unlike the Mac Pro form-factor, if you just crammed a 980M inside?

Also some details, as I'm a noob, I don't know about: what are the drawbacks for it being a mobile GPU in terms of performance compared to desktop GPUs displaying the same benchmark scores? Does it emit less heat than a desktop GPU, thus being easier to cool with fans/super-fans? Would a 980M with 8GB be able to handle 4K gaming (or downsampling) and/or 2K60fps?

My current dream is to build a small compact desktop GPU with the power of a 980M card, and wether with this one, the next Maxwell iteration or even Pascal, I'm sure this will soon be possible.

 

[Augure]

They have some itx cases that are like the size of a console, and will also fit full fledged desktop gpus in them.

Nothing as small as mac pro laptop though.

Mac Pro is stupid and too small. I'm not searching for a laptop or all-in-one form-factor, I really want to make a small box but with a powerful GPU. But I'm still searching for something not bigger than 2 Mac Pros at most.

The problem is that the 980 and it's cooling system are probably too big for me to reach the optimal/desired size I want to reach. That's why 980M, being that much powerful, especially in SLI with 8GDDR5, but consuming way less power/heat is a great solution to reach said size.

 

[Eggz]

The thing is, you probably can't put a 980 in such a small form factor because of power consumption and cooling . . .

Dude, you totally can! The cases I linked were actually designed for that specific purpose. Click the final link I gave you to PC Part Picker. It shows people that did exactly what you're talking about.

Silverstone is a very innovative company in the mITX space, and they've solved the (1) cooling and (2) power issues. There is a Silversone cooler (there are 7 other options as well) and power supply to go along with those cases.

Tom's actually did a roundup of the low profile mITX coolers for compact builds. The article does a good job. Check it out. The Thermalright AXP 200R came out as the best mITX CPU cooler for small form factor builds. Here's a picture of it (click image for link)


As for power, the small form factor cases I linked you use a smaller power supply size called SFX, and Silverstone makes an 80+ Gold certified SFX Power Supply that can deliver 600w continuously. It's quite impressive and allows you to run any single GPU desktop graphics card you'd like in the cases I linked above. Here's a picture of that power supply next to a standard-sized ATX unit, showing just how small it actually is (click image for link to Tom's Review).

 

[Augure]

The thing is, you probably can't put a 980 in such a small form factor because of power consumption and cooling . . .

Dude, you totally can! The cases I linked were actually designed for that specific purpose. Click the final link I gave you to PC Part Picker. It shows people that did exactly what you're talking about.

Silverstone is a very innovative company in the mITX space, and they've solved the (1) cooling and (2) power issues. There is a Silversone cooler (there are 7 other options as well) and power supply to go along with those cases.

Tom's actually did a roundup of the low profile mITX coolers for compact builds. The article does a good job. Check it out. The Thermalright AXP 200R came out as the best mITX CPU cooler for small form factor builds. Here's a picture of it (click image for link)


As for power, the small form factor cases I linked you use a smaller power supply size called SFX, and Silverstone makes an 80+ Gold certified SFX Power Supply that can deliver 600w continuously. It's quite impressive and allows you to run any single GPU desktop graphics card you'd like in the cases I linked above. Here's a picture of that power supply next to a standard-sized ATX unit, showing just how small it actually is (click image for link to Tom's Review).

The silverligh mini-TX still is too big. But of course it's because it houses a 980 with the HUGE cooling system implied.

I'm really searching for a small "boxed" rectangular rather than an elongated rectangular one that isn't much smaller than a regular tower.

But their compact cooling and fan system certainly are good news, and the FT Mini seems to be getting there:

 

[Eggz]

You gotta click on the links, man. I put in (parenthesis) where clicking an image will take you to a site. Go check out the Silverstone ML07. Here's a dimension pic from the website you'll go to if you click the image of it in my original post, which shows its very small but still fits graphics cards up to 13 inches (i.e. you can put the new Titan X in it if you want). Click this link for original website -> http/www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=503

It also comes in various color trims. Here's an example of one of the colors:

They make the case so small because they use a "90 degree riser card," which make the graphics card lay parallel with the motherboard rather than perpendicular to it. Boom! PC not fat.

The only other thing you'll want to do is get a blower style card because they exhaust hot air out, unlike other cooler types, which means blower coolers perform better in small cases. The Titan-style cooler on the 770, 780, Titan, Titan Black, 980, and Titan X will work. AMD has some blower coolers, but they aren't as effective because AMD cards run a little hotter (maybe new ones will be better). Here is a picture of a blower cooler below an "open air" cooler

Here's a small diagram that helps show how the air flows in a blower cooler, which blows heat out the back of your case leaving very little heat inside the case.

That's all the information you need. What you want to do is easy if you pick the right parts.

 

[Augure]

You gotta click on the links, man. I put in (parenthesis) where clicking an image will take you to a site. Go check out the Silverstone ML07. Here's a dimension pic from the website you'll go to if you click the image of it in my original post, which shows its very small but still fits graphics cards up to 13 inches (i.e. you can put the new Titan X in it if you want). Click this link for original website -> http/www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=503

It also comes in various color trims. Here's an example of one of the colors:

They make the case so small because they use a "90 degree riser card," which make the graphics card lay parallel with the motherboard rather than perpendicular to it. Boom! PC not fat.

The only other thing you'll want to do is get a blower style card because they exhaust hot air out, unlike other cooler types, which means blower coolers perform better in small cases. The Titan-style cooler on the 770, 780, Titan, Titan Black, 980, and Titan X will work. AMD has some blower coolers, but they aren't as effective because AMD cards run a little hotter (maybe new ones will be better). Here is a picture of a blower cooler below an "open air" cooler

Here's a small diagram that helps show how the air flows in a blower cooler, which blows heat out the back of your case leaving very little heat inside the case.

That's all the information you need. What you want to do is easy if you pick the right parts.

Thanks, but I looked at the Silverstone ML07, as I told you it's still to big. No in fact it's too tall, I know I'm picky but I have my (non-hardware) reasons. It's slim sure, in fact too slim, I'd rather have something a bit larger but less tall. something like w150xh250xd300.

Also you're telling me I can put a 980M in a ML07 form-fact, and a blower-cooler-sink is enough, no need additional vent or fan (except for the CPU)? Great, it means I'm closer to the goal

 

[anobody]

[/quotemsg]

Thanks, but I looked at the Silverstone ML07, as I told you it's still to big. No in fact it's too tall, I know I'm picky but I have my (non-hardware) reasons. It's slim sure, in fact too slim, I'd rather have something a bit larger but less tall. something like w150xh250xd300.

Also you're telling me I can put a 980M in a ML07 form-fact, and a blower-cooler-sink is enough, no need additional vent or fan (except for the CPU)? Great, it means I'm closer to the goal[/quotemsg]

Have you built a 980m in a ML07? If so, could you share your spec? Is it quiet like laptop, or noisy?

I want to build a 980M as well, but always worry about the fan noisy. The last time I built a home server in a Lian Li PC-Q25 Mini Tower, it sits on my desk in two years, too noisy to be used it. How do you guys address / resolve the fan noisy issues?

 

[Augure]

Thanks, but I looked at the Silverstone ML07, as I told you it's still to big. No in fact it's too tall, I know I'm picky but I have my (non-hardware) reasons. It's slim sure, in fact too slim, I'd rather have something a bit larger but less tall. something like w150xh250xd300.

Also you're telling me I can put a 980M in a ML07 form-fact, and a blower-cooler-sink is enough, no need additional vent or fan (except for the CPU)? Great, it means I'm closer to the goal[/quotemsg]

Have you built a 980m in a ML07? If so, could you share your spec? Is it quiet like laptop, or noisy?

I want to build a 980M as well, but always worry about the fan noisy. The last time I built a home server in a Lian Li PC-Q25 Mini Tower, it sits on my desk in two years, too noisy to be used it. How do you guys address / resolve the fan noisy issues?

[/quotemsg]

Hi, turns out I abandon that idea because as other pointed out: you can't get a vanilla 980M on the component market as they're only sold through PC manufacturers (Laptop or All-in-ones). It is crazy to think that there are huge laptops with 980M SLI, very few All-In-On desktop model with single 980M only (http/us.msi.com/All-in-One-PC/Gaming-27T-6QE-GTX-980M.html) with a screen attached to it, but NO desktop box or tower with 980M or SLI.

I prospected for a regular 980ti Desktop but as I thought, it's still these fat, ugly, overheating and over-consuming PCs. So I'm waiting for consumer Pascal card, if they ever get released this year, or will just go for a PS4 + Mac.

 

[MusenMouse]

Well if you have the money MSI just released the Vortex.

https/us.msi.com/product/vortex/Vortex-G65-GTX-980-SLI.html#hero-overview

Dimensions are 7.61"x7.01"x10.55". Comes in dual GTX 960's or 980's. Form factor seems to be what you are looking for.

 

[Augure]

Well if you have the money MSI just released the Vortex.

https/us.msi.com/product/vortex/Vortex-G65-GTX-980-SLI.html#hero-overview

Dimensions are 7.61"x7.01"x10.55". Comes in dual GTX 960's or 980's. Form factor seems to be what you are looking for.

Thanks but I'm searching for custom part, as I imply both design and industrial design in "form-factor"

 

[Eggz]

There's an "MXM" form factor graphics card available that's tiny. It stands for Mobile PCI-Express Module: https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_PCI_Express_Module

That is how companies are putting the full desktop GTX 980 into laptops without having to resort to mobile chips like the 980m, which is not nearly as fast. In fact, the vortext uses them to be so small, but you can buy an SLI 980m setup in MXM form factor on Amazon directly from Nvidia: http/www.amazon.com/Nvidia-GeForce-upgrade-P570WM-Panther/dp/B00X6AYO3A

Here is a link to the desktop 980 (non-m) chip in MXM form: http/www.fudzilla.com/news/graphics/38843-nvidia-releases-gtx-980-for-notebooks-graphics-card

It's not so easy to find as a retail purchase, but here is an e-bay link to show it's possible to find (even if not for the greatest price): http/www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-NVIDIA-GTX-980-N16E-GXX-Desktop-8GB-DDR5-MXM-3-107-6x115mm-200W-/131714579785

Using MXM would open up a lot of possibilities for making a very small but very fast computer. You might need some adapters and customization, but that's part of the territory if you're getting as specific as you're talking about.

 

[Augure]

There's an "MXM" form factor graphics card available that's tiny. It stands for Mobile PCI-Express Module: https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_PCI_Express_Module

That is how companies are putting the full desktop GTX 980 into laptops without having to resort to mobile chips like the 980m, which is not nearly as fast. In fact, the vortext uses them to be so small, but you can buy an SLI 980m setup in MXM form factor on Amazon directly from Nvidia: http/www.amazon.com/Nvidia-GeForce-upgrade-P570WM-Panther/dp/B00X6AYO3A

Here is a link to the desktop 980 (non-m) chip in MXM form: http/www.fudzilla.com/news/graphics/38843-nvidia-releases-gtx-980-for-notebooks-graphics-card

It's not so easy to find as a retail purchase, but here is an e-bay link to show it's possible to find (even if not for the greatest price): http/www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-NVIDIA-GTX-980-N16E-GXX-Desktop-8GB-DDR5-MXM-3-107-6x115mm-200W-/131714579785

Using MXM would open up a lot of possibilities for making a very small but very fast computer. You might need some adapters and customization, but that's part of the territory if you're getting as specific as you're talking about.

Thanks! But why doesn't Nvidia release this option, like WTF. Lots if not most people are searching for a miniaturisation of performance PC and it does exist, so why the heck doesn't Nvidia makes it the flagship form-factor?

 

[Eggz]

Well, that's what they started doing with the 980 in a 8gb version. You can SLI them together, which will give you faster than Titan X performance with plenty of VRAM.

 

[MusenMouse]

Thanks! But why doesn't Nvidia release this option, like WTF. Lots if not most people are searching for a miniaturisation of performance PC and it does exist, so why the heck doesn't Nvidia makes it the flagship form-factor?

Nvidia probably doesn't make it a flag ship form-factor because of how tailored the computer build will need to be to include the more compact GPU. The smaller form factor leads to increased thermals and can lead to hardware not working as intended or even early failure. It is like Intel not wanting their lower grade chips to be overclocked, because the lower grade chips may not work as intended.

In short, Nvidia does not want to hurt their brand by openly marketing a product that may not perform consistently due to the circumstances the product will be put through.

 

[Augure]

Well, that's what they started doing with the 980 in a 8gb version. You can SLI them together, which will give you faster than Titan X performance with plenty of VRAM.

Yes but I mean, in a consumer market format, not a super-expensive professional custom part.

 

[Eggz]

Nvidia probably doesn't make it a flag ship form-factor because of how tailored the computer build will need to be to include the more compact GPU. The smaller form factor leads to increased thermals and can lead to hardware not working as intended or even early failure. It is like Intel not wanting their lower grade chips to be overclocked, because the lower grade chips may not work as intended.

In short, Nvidia does not want to hurt their brand by openly marketing a product that may not perform consistently due to the circumstances the product will be put through.

The MXM 980 is a regular 980, nothing different except the form. It's just a matter of being an OEM part that's part of the supply chain for system builders. But it still has the same properties and it not at all comparable to Intel's i3 vs Extreme i7 chips. That comparison only applies to the 980m cards, which we're really not interested in here.