New mATX build - how to deal with cooling?

[Juusuhako]

Hello all,
I'm building a new rig for a girlfriend and I've been back and forth trying to keep within her budget, with some help from other people.

One build is an mATX build consisting of:
- i5-8400
- 1070/1070ti (open-cooler)
- XFX TS 550W
- CM EVO 212
- Fractal Mini R2 case

Here's the thing... I have no personal experience with mATX builds, all I know is that the cases are smaller. One of her other friends got in her mind about cooling a system in an mATX case (apparently he has one and has issues with temps.)

So, I was hoping someone here with personal experience could verify anything, and maybe even have a suggestion or two on how to best deal with cooling (ie. how many fans). (this is all assuming her friend doesn't just have a bad build - I havent seen it)

 

[NeverBackDown]

It's only bad if the case is badly designed.

I'm running itx. It's fine for me. 2 intake and 3 exhaust

 

[Juusuhako]

It's only bad if the case is badly designed.

I'm running itx. It's fine for me. 2 intake and 3 exhaust

Well, a couple of cases has been mentioned by some.

Fractal Arc Mini R2 as mentioned in the first post, FD Focus G Mini, CM Q300L, Phanteks Eclipse P300 - none that I really know of - only know that Fractal supposedly does some good cases.

Hows your temp. and noise levels? I get the idea that mATX might be a tad more noisy due to needing more aircirculation?

 

[NeverBackDown]

Fractal make very good cases. That said the Arc Mini R2 is I believe at least 3 years old. Better alternatives from Fractal would be the Define Mini C, the Focus G, or Meshify Mini. I would be between the Define or Meshify.

When it comes to prices for MATX/MITX cases it's very apparent that you get what you pay for in my experience.

Temps are fine. 6700k at 4.2 using a 2nd gen H100i AIO alongisde a GTX 1080 running a mild OC. CPU in gaming doens't really get above 60C unless it's very hot inside my house then it'll get to around 65C.
It's a 1080. It'll hit 80C easy.

Noise is fine. I run my intake at 7v and my exhaust are all connected to my CPU temp.

IN regard to the other cases:
CM Q300L, Airflow looks fine. Case just looks super ugly though. If your girlfriend likes it then by all means get it. I personally just don't like the look and not a fan of Coolermaster.

Phanteks P300, I would stay away. Next to no airflow.

Corsair Carbide 240 is a little old but still popular. Depends if you like the cube look.

Phanteks Evolv. I have the Mini ITX version but they have a MATX version as well. I don't like my case. I wouldn't get it again personally. Just build quality seems meh. The radiator layout is poorly implemented for removing/adding anything. You have to take apart half the case to just remove a fan. Imagine having a big heavy rad on it as well.

That's all I got off the top of my head.

 

[Juusuhako]

Fractal make very good cases. That said the Arc Mini R2 is I believe at least 3 years old. Better alternatives from Fractal would be the Define Mini C, the Focus G, or Meshify Mini. I would be between the Define or Meshify.

When it comes to prices for MATX/MITX cases it's very apparent that you get what you pay for in my experience.

Temps are fine. 6700k at 4.2 using a 2nd gen H100i AIO alongisde a GTX 1080 running a mild OC. CPU in gaming doens't really get above 60C unless it's very hot inside my house then it'll get to around 65C.
It's a 1080. It'll hit 80C easy.

Noise is fine. I run my intake at 7v and my exhaust are all connected to my CPU temp.

IN regard to the other cases:
CM Q300L, Airflow looks fine. Case just looks super ugly though. If your girlfriend likes it then by all means get it. I personally just don't like the look and not a fan of Coolermaster.

Phanteks P300, I would stay away. Next to no airflow.

Corsair Carbide 240 is a little old but still popular. Depends if you like the cube look.

Phanteks Evolv. I have the Mini ITX version but they have a MATX version as well. I don't like my case. I wouldn't get it again personally. Just build quality seems meh. The radiator layout is poorly implemented for removing/adding anything. You have to take apart half the case to just remove a fan. Imagine having a big heavy rad on it as well.

That's all I got off the top of my head.

The Define Mini C TG looks great. Definitely an option.

I dont know about 1080 temps. but 80c seems awful high? Its hard to relate to the CPU temp. since the build will be using an EVO 212 and not an AIO water solution - but even then +60 seems high with an H100i. But maybe thats because its mITX and not mATX?

I would still love to hear some experience from people with mATX builds and their temps./noise leves.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Get a good CPU cooler and then manually set the vcore + some undervolting will have you set up fine.

If you need better cooling then get a better CPU cooler. Simples.

If you just clip everything together and dont manually configure things you havnt got grounds to moan tbh. Thats what customising is all about.

 

[Juusuhako]

Get a good CPU cooler and then manually set the vcore + some undervolting will have you set up fine.

If you need better cooling then get a better CPU cooler. Simples.

If you just clip everything together and dont manually configure things you havnt got grounds to moan tbh. Thats what customising is all about.

Not planning on tweaking numbers, just gonna let it run out of the box as-is. Just looking for some feedback from various ppl who has better knowledge on mATX builds.

 

[NeverBackDown]

The Define Mini C TG looks great. Definitely an option.

I dont know about 1080 temps. but 80c seems awful high? Its hard to relate to the CPU temp. since the build will be using an EVO 212 and not an AIO water solution - but even then +60 seems high with an H100i. But maybe thats because its mITX and not mATX?

I would still love to hear some experience from people with mATX builds and their temps./noise leves.

The temps are fine.

Not planning on tweaking numbers, just gonna let it run out of the box as-is. Just looking for some feedback from various ppl who has better knowledge on mATX builds.

If you don't tweak anything you'll probably run hotter and noisier. So really what you are asking for is the complete opposite of what you really want. Gotta put in the effort to get what you want with PC hardware.