Building a top-tier gaming PC within a mATX case offers a compelling balance between cost and size. While not as compact as many ITX builds, mATX setups can still be significantly smaller than standard mid towers, all without incurring the ITX tax.
We will dive into what has quickly become my favorite mATX case of the year.
Parts
CPU: Intel i5-13600K
The CPU for this build is the Intel i5-13600K. It has 14 cores, 6 of which are performance cores, and can boost up to 5.1 GHz.
The benefit of this CPU is that it offers some flexibility budget-wise, as it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM. Pairing this with a DDR4 motherboard will allow buyers to save some money.
If building a brand new system in 2023, it is recommended to use the DDR5, as it has decreased in price this year, but the system will function with DDR4 to accommodate budget constraints.
The 14th Gen intel chips are now available as well, which is causing these 13th Gen chips to go on sale. The 13600 is on sale for as much as $60 less than its 14th gen counterpart. The difference in gaming performance between these 2 is minor.
There are AMD alternatives as well. The 7700 is at a similar price point, as well as the 7800X3D. Choosing one of these chips is likely to give buyers a longer upgrade path, as the LGA 1700 socket may not last much longer for Intel.
Motherboard: ASUS TUF B760M
The motherboard for this build is the ASUS TUF B760M. This is a b series motherboard, meaning it will have mid-range features. It is, however, more economical than a Z series board. This board will not allow for overclocking. The performance of the 13600 at stock is satisfactory, and, if you can find it, the 13600 non-k is even better.
This particular model motherboard has both DDR4 and DDR5 versions. This build will use the DDR5 version.
This board has proved itself to be satisfactory in previous builds. The TUF branding has been ASUS’s mainstream, affordable line of components. This board has been designed to give all the performance, ports, and features needed for the cost of some of their other products. For a DDR4 build, it is available for only $120.
This motherboard offers a large array of features in terms of connectivity. It includes multiple USB ports, including a 10Gig Type-C port, along with Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5 gigabit Ethernet for fast and reliable network connections.
Looking at its design and functionality, it boasts sizable VRM heatsinks on the front, crucial for efficient power delivery to the CPU. Additionally, it provides a reinforced PCIe Gen 5 slot to support heavier GPUs securely. The inclusion of a front panel USB Type-C connector and two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots adds versatility for storage and peripheral connectivity.
A standout feature is the presence of a Thunderbolt USB 4 header at the bottom, offering high-speed data transfer capabilities. Overall, this motherboard combines ease of use, appealing aesthetics, and comprehensive connectivity options, making it an excellent choice for a high-performance gaming PC setup.
SSD: 1 TB Samsung 970 EVO
The SSD slotted will be the 1 TB Samsung 970 EVO. They are quick and reliable.
CPU Cooler: Deepcool Ak620 Digital
The CPU cooler for this build is the Deepcool Ak620 digital. This is a rather large cooler and will hang over the DIMM slots, leaving about 43mm of clearance, making low-clearance RAM necessary.
The AK620 Digital’s screen attaches magnetically to the top, offering a refreshing simplicity compared to screens with customizable messages and images. It focuses solely on displaying the CPU temperature, which I find appealing. Its accompanying software is equally straightforward, appearing as a menu in the taskbar without additional UI elements. This lightweight approach is great for users who prefer minimal RGB or flashy features, appreciating a simple display to monitor temperatures. It’s a neat option for those wanting functional simplicity.
In terms of performance, the AK620 Digital handles the Intel i5-13600K without issues. During extensive gaming sessions, such as CyberPunk 2077 in 4K ultra settings, it peaked at 72 degrees Celsius. Even in more GPU-intensive games like Alan Wake 2, where the CPU workload is lighter, temperatures stayed comfortably in the low 60s.
RAM: Corsair DDR5-5600 CL36 Vengeance Sticks
This build will use 32GB of DDR5-5600 CL36 vengeance sticks which sit about 35mm in height, which will allow both fans to run on the ak620.
Case: Deepcool CH370
The case for this build is the Deepcool CH370. It is incredibly easy to work in, has a really solid build quality, and includes some nice features, like a magnetic tempered glass side panel, and a built-in GPU support bracket – for those large up to 320mm in length GPUs and can support up to a 165mm CPU cooler, which is enough room for our large ak620. It also has some other little features like a spring loaded headphone support and 2 front panel design options but all of this for only $60.
The only thing this case is missing is the inclusion of a type c connection.
This case is superior to the q300L in that it is that it has a basement that hides the power supply, giving a clean finish to the build. It also adds fan mounting points at the bottom and includes longer screws needed to install the fans if desired.
The q300 could improve by having, made the top panel removable for ease of access to the connections on the top of the motherboard. while the top on the CH370 is not removable, the motherboard does sit lower in the case and that makes it a breeze to plug everything in.
The case fits up to a 240mm radiator at the top or up to a 360mm radiator at the front.
Power Supply: Corsair RM750
The Corsair RM750 will be used to power this system. This should be ample to power this 13600 7900XT system. When measured, the power draw from the wall while gaming is at about 520 watts.
GPU: Power Color 7900 XT
The 7900 XT will be used for this build. Aside from the NVIDIA Founders Editions cards, this 7900 xt cooler design from Power Color might be one of the best-looking cards on the market, but more importantly, the performance per dollar out of the 7900 XT is decent.
When the 7900 XT first launched at the MSRP of $900, it wasn’t a great deal. Since then, the price has lowered pretty dramatically, now priced around $800 or less. That is competitive with the MSRP for a 4070 TI.
The 7900 XT is around 10% faster in a lot of situations without ray tracing enabled. With ray tracing enabled, both GPUs perform mostly the same.
However, it also provides 20GB of VRAM compared to the 12GB in the 4070 Ti, which is a significant advantage when playing at 4K. The NVIDIA GPU also provides access to features like DLSS and frame generation. When FSR upscaling is still accessible, DLSS offers much better image quality. Therefore, when choosing a GPU at this price point, the types of games that will be played play an important role.
Running through Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty in 1440p at the ultra preset turning off all upscaling, displays around 95 fps. In a game like this, it would be advisable to take advantage of the upscaling feature and ray tracing, and so with the ray tracing ultra preset on, it displays 60-70 fps.
Jumping into Alan Wake 2, this is a new and very GPU-intensive game. The 7900 XT holds up quite around 85 – 90 fps at 1440p in the highest settings at the native render resolution.
This was another satisfying build. If building a nearly identical DDR4 system instead, the performance would be largely similar for just over $1500. That is one of the advantages of building micro ATX over ITX. It is a system at a more manageable size compared to an ATX tower wile also avoiding the “ITX tax”.
Step-by-Step Assembly Guide
- Lower the CPU into the socket, ensuring the arrow on the top right aligns with the socket arrow. Once it’s in place, lower the latch to secure it.
- Install the SSD and secure it by gently screwing it in.
- Align the pins on the RAM with that of the motherboard and press down until it clicks.
- Installation of the AK620 Digital cooler follows a familiar process akin to other air coolers. You’ll use standoffs and brackets specific to your socket type, securing it onto the motherboard as usual.
- To connect the digital display, grab the two cables that tuck between the outer fan and the fins. Route to a USB header and an RGB header on the motherboard.
- Lower the motherboard into the case, and align the motherboard with the standoffs. Screw in securely.
- Install 3 FK120 fans at the front as intake and a single 140mm Noctua fan at the top for exhaust.
- Leave the pre-installed 120mm exhaust fan at the rear. Use the FH-1 from Noctua to hook it all up.
- Plug in everything needed power connectors and secure to the case.
- Plug the case and power cables into the motherboard.
- Install the GPU to the case and connect to the motherboard.
- Replace the case panels.
That’s the build complete!