Maximum Upgrade, Minimum PC

Maximum Upgrade, Minimum PC - 8700G build in 4.4L InWin Chopin Max
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⇨ Sponsor: Thermaltake Tower 300 Case | buy: geni.us/rHmW4k info: bit.ly/TT-T300
My sister needed a PC upgrade since she was still using a Sandy Bridge intel 2500K. I decided to build her a super-tiny 4.4L SFF Gaming PC based on the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G with its Radeon 780M iGPU (well for light gaming anyway). We built super small form factor in the InWin Chopin Max thanks to not needing room for a GPU upgrade. This is definitely the smallest and the best Mini ITX PC I've ever assembled. The build was a lot of fun, and the upgrade difference vs her old PC was huge!
► PARTS LIST
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8700G 8c/16t w/ Radeon 780M iGPU - geni.us/BjiWV
CPU Cooler: ID-COOLING IS-47-XT - geni.us/oyAj5bb
Motherboard: AsRock A620i Lightning WiFi - geni.us/OTpefN
Other Motherboard: Gigabyte A620i AX - geni.us/iDb5
Memory: G.SKILL Flare X5 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6000 - geni.us/bwJZ
SSDs:
Kioxia 1TB BG4 M.2 2230 - geni.us/BqVoD5q
Intel 2TB 660p Series M.2 2280 - geni.us/a20xy
Case / PSU: InWin Chopin MAX - geni.us/rulF237
► TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro - Teeny Tiny PC Build w/Ryzen 8700G
1:06 Parts Overview - CPU, Cooler, Motherboard, RAM, SSDs
3:56 Closer Look - InWin Chopin Max 4.4L Case + 200W PSU
7:09 Motherboard Setup: CPU/Cooler installation
10:09 Motherboard Setup: SSD/RAM installation
11:44 Installing Motherboard Assembly Into Case, Cabling
13:23 Powering On! BIOS Flashback and System Setup
14:48 Notes on the build, and a USB video out upgrade
16:51 temps, power draw, a bit of testing…
18:47 Delivering the PC to my sister - it’s HOW MUCH FASTER?
Please note that links above may be affiliate links -- clicking them earns me a small commission if you make a purchase and helps support my KZbin channel. Thank you!
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Paul's Hardware
P.O. Box 4325
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
► Edited by Joe Aguilar - ShaostylePostProductions
/ joe_editing
Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound
www.epidemicsound.com/

[@travistuckerSB]

This was a great change of pace from the ubiquitous gaming builds and a great example for the normals that do also use computers.

[@robertt9342]

A person using the term “normals” that way is a great ways to demonstrate one is not.

[@pptemplar5840]

​@@robertt9342I mean it's true tho. This guy has a regular viewerbase, I seriously doubt most people watching this intend to build anything similar to this. We aren't "Normals" 98% of people watching this are PC hardware porn addicts.

[@JuiceboxDesmond]

I built my good friend a music production PC a couple weeks ago with a 5700G. I quite like building without a graphics card honestly

[@mauricus6670]

You are a very generous and kind brother

[@Riga_Style]

Thank you very much, I try to give advice to everyone 🙂👍

[@ghomerhust]

@@Riga_Style they weren't talking to you............

[@SabeTheApple]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂​@@ghomerhust

[@tapts503]

My first PC I ever built in 2014 was with the 7850k APU and no graphics card. It was the gateway to a whole new world.

[@rstewart2702]

I built a new machine (first time in 20 years!) with a Ryzen 5 7600X and an Asrock B650M Pro RS motherboard. It also has (somewhat anemic) iGPU and I have been quite impressed that OBS recording (at 1080p resolution) has worked out well. The beauty of the desktop custom-built universe is that it is still possible to mix and match the parts you need for your particular situation, and still have room to expand and grow. I am still researching where to go next regarding discrete graphics hardware, but the iGPU is meeting my basic needs, including AMD’s video codecs used quite well in OBS!

[@elitepauper7400]

​@@rstewart2702how ur liking the 7600x? I'm upgrading from my amd fx 6350 and GTX 960 to a 7600x aswell with a 7900XT

[@Little_Cr0w]

Watching this video on my Chopin with a 3400G in it, had it 4+ years and great to see it getting some love. Bought the ASRock DeskMini vesa mount to attach it to the back of a monitor and replaced the PSU fan with a Noctua to eliminate some slightly annoying noise. Fitted a Noctua Low profile Cooler for the CPU and it really is a great general work machine that's served me fantastically well

[@robertaguirre8973]

I also have an identical rig since 2020. It serves as my always on plex server. love it. I also changed the PSU fan. 😁

[@mrTeamanlol]

I had the same config for a while except for the mount. It was fine, but I bought a mac mini since then, which is even smaller, looks even better, quieter and performs better for my tasks (damn windows machines cannot build applications for ios, only macs :( )

[@erich.1355]

Gretchen and Paul have the same joyful smirk and earnest eyes, funny how nature do that... XD Cheers to both~!

[@disguiseddv8ant486]

RDNA microarchitecture.

[@Kelekona_808]

I approve of how Paul supports his sister with PCs. I do the same for my fam!

[@stuffwhy3501]

Incredible. I just put a system in that case this afternoon and here it is in a video. That’s fun. It’s a fave

[@soupwizard]

Thanks, a friend of mine is looking to build a small pc with decent graphics - he'll be doing basic video and photo editing, some software development for fun, so a tiny machine like this is perfect for his needs because it can sit hidden on the back corner of his desk and just do work.

[@Little_Cr0w]

Original version of this case you could buy a VESA mount and attach it to the back of your monitor, Ideal for getting it off the desk entirely - Real shame they've removed that ability

[@wyntje83]

you're a kind brother, I love to see a fit for purpose build that achieves solid performance for its application without overspending on flair and powerful hardware that won't see daily use. your sister seems like chill person too :)

[@KryptonicHD]

I loved the whole thing! Funny enough I just gifted my brother a PC from spare parts I had that I just couldn't let go of! He got an i7 2700k ,32gbs RAM, Asus Strix 980ti, along with a 1TB ssd! Nothing crazy, but I finally managed to bring him back to PC gaming!

[@LionWithTheLamb]

My friend was gave a similar computer recently. i7 2600K, 16GB DDR3-1600, EVGA GTX 980, and a 240GB SSD

[@MrSamadolfo]

🙂 yes thats great, im rebuilding my Core 2 Quad and i7-870, the core 2 quad doesnt launch Cyberpunk but I was surprised that the 870 can run it just fine at low settings, the motherboard doesn't like my RX cards so if u try this u have to stick with Invidia, go green or stay home 😄

[@KryptonicHD]

@@LionWithTheLamb It's a solid PC overall! I tested Pal World and Helldivers on it and it ran 60fps with some tweaks but definitely not on the "lowest"! I think a decent cooler and MORE WAM (RAM) on an older system makes a huge difference!

[@mr.guillotine3766]

Man, for whatever reason I really love those small pc builds. Great video!

[@phizix5023]

Love the Chopin. I've done multiple builds in them. One with a 3400G a few years back and recently just built a pc for my mom for the holidays with the Chopin Max and a 5600G. It's been perfect.

[@waterandsteel4713]

I think that is the best cable management in a small form that I have seen. I really like that case.

[@keifbry]

Thank you for the build and introduction to the inWin case. I need to build a small system for my wife. This is perfect. I have been looking at the mini PCs, but this offers an actual upgrade path while still being small.

[@ferdgerbeler8494]

Can be pretty cramped to work in, hemostats for plugging in the front panel connectors is vital if ya got sausage fingers, and handy for lots of things down in that tiny little space.

[@aaron57422]

An excellent build, possibly got extra credit because Chopin is my favorite "classical" (technically "romantic" I think) composer.

[@markdattage1996]

Always good to help family!! Way to be a great Brother!!!

[@SabeTheApple]

That scene with your sister was very beautiful. Enjoyed seeing how happy it made her. 😢

[@braydennturner]

Awesome build and video, keep up the great work!

[@mystic_guardian]

This is my favourite case and nearly the exact rebuild I have planned this year! Glad it's getting the attention it deserves. The old revisions actually did have a bulge in the mesh but the central bracket accommodated thicker rear drives (even optical drives) which was adjusted to improve CPU clearance.

[@itsdeonlol]

This mini build is cool! I hope your sister enjoys her new PC!

[@stevencoad9224]

It *is* fun to see a build like this. I’ve recently been pushing really slim client pcs (like the ones from the servethehome tinyminimicro project) for general use boxes for relatives that don’t want a laptop but don’t game. This is almost as small, but fixes one of the pet peeves I have with the thin clients - no external power brick!

[@TECHiSuppose]

A neat little build! Nice to see it is very quiet. Sound profile is the main reason I tend to go with standard sized components.

[@Ladioz]

I wish I had a friend like Paul. Genuinely a nice person

[@ers-tj4to]

Watched Paul doing his how-to pc builds back in the Newegg days. He and Linus were the ones who inspired me to build pcs.

[@ahliiing6943]

Thanks for building this pc, been thinking of building another ITX system for work. i forget that integrated gpu chips are also available, here i am going to consider my upcoming build again

[@markalot]

Love it. I have this build but with a 5700G meant for mostly non gameplay. I love the fact the latest Ryzen 8700G can actually run AAA games at all.

[@christiankappel1194]

Currently building an ITX system for the first time in the CM NR200P. Loving the challenge to squeeze everything in! I'll be squeezing a 7800XT in though too make it a tiny but powerful system. Great videos recently!

[@pcbuilderlover4271]

I bet you are her favorite brother. She looked so happy, nice job!

[@Chef_-xv7ms]

Wow Paul it was a really good build for it's purpose and it's very kind of you to build your Sister 😍

[@ryankorte8601]

I am getting ready to build my Sister a small form factor PC as well! General use and maybe some retro gaming. Considered using a integrated graphics solution. Perfect timing with this video!!!

[@csjpokey]

Love Paul's videos. Soon as I get notified I pop it open and instantly click the thumbs up because I know im going to enjoy it.

[@Gavrev]

That's a really cute InWin case. Overall a lovely build and really nice to see such a prosaic build. It's a pretty different experience when you aren't dealing with a GPU isn't it? An absolute dearth of case fans makes for such a tidy experience too!

[@Pembroke.]

Congratulations Gretchen🎉🎉

[@TheCrustyCupcake]

Amazingly small build, im about to go back and watch the dual syst video, fiancé is really wanting more cameras around the place, time to build an NVR, was already planning a NAS. So this will be fun

[@ryangardinerusa2753]

I have finally found my inspiration for a small form factor pc for my wife’s needs. She might not be happy about the price tag. So, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. 😂 Excellent build, my friend!🤙 And it’s great how you take care of your sister. Major kudos.

[@paulshardware]

Thank you! An easy way to shave off $100 is to go for the 8600G if you're ok with a 6-core

[@ryangardinerusa2753]

@@paulshardware Much obliged! 🤙

[@ryangardinerusa2753]

@@paulshardware You gotta tell me your procedure for the BIOS bro. I’ve done the flashback per procedure on the ASRock website several times, in several different ways. It just won’t flash. 🤦‍♂️ Edit: I went with 8700G, because I got $50 discount from Newegg. Same motherboard, cooler as you. And no real help from ASRock customer support. 😡

[@nolan71]

This was a lot of fun! Your kindness never ceases to amaze me :)

[@Dan-Simms]

So sweet, it's such a massive upgrade, even without a graphics card. Awesome mini little machine.

[@satchell78]

Awesome build Thanks Paul and Joe!

[@Zordonzig]

Oh man! The Newegg special NZXT Phantom case! That was the case I chose for my first ever build. I think I remember Paul doing the video for it on Newegg as well.

[@Zelement911onrs]

This is such a handsome little case! Also love to see these purpose built PCs for family and friends.

[@PattyB-wx1ub]

Still rocking the Chopin with the 5600g finally looks an apu worth upgrade, thanks Paul. Sweet build

[@01ai01]

Nice job Paul, now she's all set for another decade of computing.

[@usnaccountant]

I've been following your content for quite some time and these are the kinds of builds that are probably more suited for my needs. I permanently work from home and have a system I built during the pandemic with a discreet graphics card but I don't do much gaming. I do a lot of videos for work such as tutorials on ERP systems and was wondering if something like this build would be sufficient for my kind of work.

[@rynosraceroom66]

This was awesome ! That case is super cool also , love the look of it .

[@richardfarmer6570]

Nice little build. I have a DeskMini X300 that I am using an ID Cooling IS-40 X and I was actually surprised on how well it works. I have one of the new 5500GT and it cools it really well. I only use this for a HTPC/Plex server but it works really well.

[@Tom-sd2vi]

Interesting build, I might use it as an inspiration for the build I'm doing for my neighbors.

[@robertlucke4964]

What a great brother you make me laugh when you put your head up next to the pc trying to hear noise from it lmao 😂thank you for sharing

[@Hjorth87]

I love small form factors. More please!

[@nathanhoffman20000]

That's a cool build. Making a computer invisible (or as near as possible) has tons of aesthetic application.

[@Tpazmachine]

I absolutely love this. Simple, straightforward and made for "normal" use, say for example the family PC. Edit: Also thanks for offering alternative purchasing options depending on needs and alternatives to expand depending on choice!

[@user-cg7wg8jq7z]

The InWin Chopin case is very good. I use them to help my mother and elders assemble computers.

[@uss_04]

For a second I read it as “Maximum PC” :(

[@TheRossMadness]

RIP. The magazine and No BS podcast used to be incredible

[@rrsd700]

My favorite magazine to read while poopin before iPhones!😢

[@RetroTinkerer]

​@@TheRossMadnesswasn't also "Minimum BS" written just bellows "Maximum PC"?

[@flow221]

Same. Loved that mag back in the day.

[@jornjat]

Many thanks for your guidance, advice, and especially for showing that cool cooler!

[@glanguish9390]

Thermalright AXP90-X36 black Low Profile is even more compact.

[@Gnomleif]

"Do you ever build a PC that doesn't need a graphics card?" Yeah, got a jack-of-all-trades backup/media server that I built because my boss gave me an old AsRock Rack ITX server board. It's tucked away at the bottom of my shelf, and since everything is done remotely it doesn't need a graphics card. On a completely unrelated note I'd give you double the upvotes for the dog if I could. It looked lovely.

[@tonyd7164]

I built almost the exact same build. Used the asrock b650 board and the id cooling is55. I play COD with no problem. Used the china A09 3.8 L case. Went with the seasonic 300 watt power supply. I’ve seen up to 207 watts of draw while gaming on my kilowatt.

[@imfromzwolle]

Built a system for a friend about a year ago in the older 150 watt version of this case. Fantastic small case to build in.

[@vtnwesley]

The case is lovely and one of my favorite Mini ITX cases. I wish they'd make a version with enough room for a 1 or 2 slot low profile GPU.

[@b6s4shelter]

I built a 5600G in the Chopin Pro a couple years back. Great build Paul.

[@Ste_Va]

I have an old alienware alpha as a living room machine atm but ive wanted to do something in this case whenever the next round of AMD apus came out and this definitely looks like it would be a fun project!

[@lexman7002]

Love it!! Awesome video!!

[@williamsouthworth5275]

I like it! looks good! Merry Xmas!

[@ko_tech]

Great vid! I'm building my new ITX system using the same motherboard and RAM (5600 MHz version) and a Ryzen 5 7600. And I used the same case to build a new PC for my mom last month. Although, it's built on a AM4 platform with a Ryzen 4600G.

[@Ladioz]

I had a 780 TI and a i7 3770 back in 2014. For me, it was the best PC I could ever dream of. It played everything

[@Thatswutshesaid9023]

This looks like an amazing at home media (youtube/twitch consumption for example) pc that doesn't require too much for the bare minimum day-to-day use most people have.

[@michaelluong6484]

This is exactly what I've been looking for!

[@justinspoerle1739]

Thats a sweet case. Adding to my never ending wishlist.

[@Finlander89]

I made a daily driver build for my parents in the Chopin a few years ago and I gotta say it was very easy to build, looks great and was decent value with the included PSU. FYI, if someone wants to save a buck, the Wraith Stealth w/o the plastic shroud fits in the case with 1mm or less to spare :)

[@jeremybarber2837]

Super great little rig! If I didn’t have a second hand Dell 3260 I would totally have built this little NUC-ish system.

[@Bob_Smith19]

Been looking a small case to build a modded Minecraft PC for my kids. The mini-PCs can run the heavy packs no problem but they are noisy beyond belief. This looks like the perfect option for only a little bit more. And it’s repairable/upgradable.

[@tourist6290]

Neat little system. I like how quiet it seems to be.

[@Duckferd]

I have one with a A520i AC and 5600g, and it's been a very reliable mini PC for non-gaming use and was super cheap. Media consumption, browsing, coding and CAD via Fusion 360.

[@intrepidskycomputing]

Did a similar build back in January for my mother-in-law, jumping from a i7-2700 to a i5-12400K. Mainly as I has an AsRock Z690M-ITX/ax motherboard ready for a different build (a silent build in a Streacom DB4 which has some very unusual limitations with VRM heatsinks), and her previous computer started having power problems, in that it just wouldn't turn on. The main difference between the Max and Pro versions of the Chopin is that the motherboard tray was moved, sacrificing space for larger 2.5" drives (i.e. 2.5" HDDs over 9.5mm thick) for greater CPU cooler clearance. It's designed to take the stock Intel and AMD coolers, which the Pro can't do. That and the USB 3 Gen 2 socket on the side panel, which was added for the Max. It's a great little case for desktop use, though the cables provided are a bit too long, especially the USB 3.0 header cable

[@PatrickLipsinic]

I have always loved this case. Kyle did a build in one of these a while back.

[@sc00bieskylin34]

I love a cheeky little build!

[@trivialpershoot]

I liked the way you handled the brother in law's most excellent GPU upgrade in the old PC.

[@KillerKermie]

What an upgrade. Good to see it was the cables holding the screens back, I wonder how many people would immediately blame the graphics processors?

[@sthsth2846]

Great video, thank you! I've wanted to get something that can replace my old pc(gaming pc from 2013), that has better mobility, without getting into laptops, for quite some time now. I guess anything is better nowadays, but I'm so out of the loop of pc building that I wasn't sure it was a viable option. Anyway, thanks for a great video! =D

[@GamingFruguy]

Awesome build. Nice to see something that is more suited to the average user.

[@heirtothethrone000]

I have always loved these cases but now you can only get them in one color. Great build and you seem like a great brother. Glad she loved it.

[@TheGreenReaper]

I was bummed when I found out there was only the grey option in the EU, but it's not a bad look.

[@Hjorth87]

I would love to see you take one of the small streaco mitx cases and make a light gaming/media center to have with the TV. I live in an apartment so we try to minimize space usage. I still have my real gaming pc - it's built into a IKEA metod closet

[@richardsm]

Your sister's dog is adorable :)

[@garyshumway9089]

Just 'finished' a very similar build with same case/PSU, CPU, and RAM (but 64GB). Used Noctua NH-L9a but looking to try another cooler. Used liquid metal (carefully & w/ Thermalright ASF). Storage: Firecuda 540, Samsung 970 EVO, & Samsung 870 EVO (just to try it). Oh, and mbd is Asus ROG Strix B650E-I (I updated the bios but OEM bios recognized the 8700G). Your Time Spy values were good for out of the box. Using Asus AI OC with no curve optimization, etc got 3678/3273/12365 but temps rather toasty, thus looking for a different cooler to try. My second Chopin Pro build, good case if a discrete GPU isn't needed.

[@flocko60]

FANTASTIC build . Pretty darn powerful system in a small package . By todays standards , this is a pretty reasonably priced build .

[@parisloop6855]

Sweet, I've missed these NeweggTV videos!

[@bersig]

A couple years ago I built a similar system around the 3400G as a central component of the entertainment center in the living room. Still works. Very quiet. Very low power. Does everything I wanted it to do. Originally it was driving a standard HD display but since then I've switched that out for a 4k monitor without incident. Totally happy with the build. The computer geek in me wants to upgrade it to something similar to this video but I really can't justify it. The old system is still working 100%.

[@glanguish9390]

Get a used 5700g or even a new 5700GT (turbo vega 8) it performs about same as the 8500G

[@thomasmichaelschwarz9741]

I built already 3 AMD AGPU systems in this case. First one was in the first generation which had a problem to fit the AMD cooler. But taking off the shroud of the cooler fixed that. The max versions I fitted with a Noctua cooler which has foam parts building a chimney . Those systems are perfect if used for simple tasks like email and internet browsing. Still have one empty case left... maybe I build another one...I love that case... 😊

[@TheGreenReaper]

I use the NA-FD1 too! You can get free bolt extensions to fit a 25mm fan if you ask Noctua nicely with an invoice for the FD1. I eventually went with a 140mm iPPC 2000 resting atop the mesh that cools the RAM and other components by 15C as well. You have to deal with the wire pushing the side up a bit but I already had that for ARGB.

[@65oh7]

My media pc is in the same case still running an a10-5700. Works alright. A bit loud with the cooler I had to use, but the guts cost less used on ebay than the case. With ubuntu I don't see it needing an upgrade for a long while still.

[@josecorrales7195]

Im glad brands like ID cooling are around with low prices and good performance for what it is

[@JamieStuff]

I'm running a 7940HS system, and the iGPU is amazing for integrated graphics. It works great for 1080p gaming!

[@dukebracton6077]

That is a wonderful practical pc. On a side note. I am getting a Tower 300 for a new case, but they are sold out. Decided it was time to replace my Enlight 7237. How long does the referral work for?

[@brandankankel5209]

This is such sn awesome build!

[@bonanzabrandon6877]

When I saw the thumbnail I was like "hey that looks like an InWin case"

[@GTNLOST]

Got to take care of the family. Good job.

[@jbucata]

I had the original Chopin. I had to take out the PSU because of noise, so I replaced it with a PicoPSU. The fan on the PSU wasn't actually that loud, but the big problem was there were tight curves around that outside shroud where the air got turbulent => noisy. So even if I'd doctored up that PSU fan it wouldn't have made much different. For this one to be so silent, it seems like they did something to the PSU cooling situation since the original or since the prior V2 (the "Pro").

[@Garth2011]

Most system builds I have done in the past 15 years or so rarely included a graphics card. Mainly because of the CPU graphics capabilities on the Intel CPU's. They are way better than the integrated graphics of the 1990's or ever since the "Sandy Bridge" era graphics and forward. Those who want a graphics card I just tell them to get what they want and I'll install it and the drivers for them. Unless they are gaming or doing intensive video work, the on CPU graphics are just fine for most.

[@brentw8365]

What a coincidence, I just rebuilt a 4350G build in the Chopin non-Max last weekend. On another note, someone modded a low profile dGPU into this case with case modding, and an external PSU.

[@dsmith1484]

Hi Paul, Really like your content. I noticed that you were using an ASUS Strix carrier for the M.2 drive. I have tried several of these types of devices to allow me to make M.2 drives more portable. It is like having a super-sized USB drive paired with a type C plug really is a great way of having transportable data. The issue is that invariably the M.2 drive will fail. Now for the record I have used some inexpensive ones and I suspect that the cooling is the real issue. The least expensive one I have has no cooling just an M.2 slot on a card with a USB plug. I have had to improvise with a small piece of sheet metal and I stick it to the M.2 drive using a thermal pad. I then hang in front of one of the fans that is pushing air out of my case. The worst offenders seem to be the very cheap cases that enclose a M.2 drive but don't have a thermal solution. I have killed 3 Samsung 970 EVO drives in these cases. I was wondering if you could look into this and possibly do a deeper dive into portable M.2 adaptors. For reference, the most expensive one I got was about $20.00 whereas I noticed that the ASUS Strix one you used was about $50. Is this a case of you getting what you pay for? Could you do a deeper dive into these devices and give a guide of what to look for when purchasing? Thanks for all you do!!! It is greatly appreciated!!!

[@stuartbuchanan12001]

My HTPC is a 2200G on an Asrock AB350 in an InWin Chopin, really nice case. I occasionally think about upgrading to a 5700G on a B550i but I remember the cable management being a lot harder six years ago and I rarely use it, still looks good though.

[@farncoisbisson7737]

squeeze a foam edge between the fan and the grill.. it will only suck cold air instead or recirculating some of the hot air. or noctua make a shim i believe