CPU+Motherboard for a GTS250 setup

[faugusztin]

Hi,

since i got few spare parts (GTS250, 2pcs of X25-M SSD - one G1, one G2, DVD drive) i decided to build a sort of HTPC/portable gaming rig.

First what i have or i did order and cannot be changed :

• Lan Gear Da Box 100 case (ordered)
• Zotac GTS250 Eco with Accelero L2 Pro (at home)
• Corsair XMS3 1600CL8 2x2GB RAM (ordered)
• Coolink Corator DS (ordered)
• Intel X25-M G1 80GB & Intel X25-M G2 80GB (at home)
• Enermax T.B.Silence fans (ordered)

I'm not yet decided about PSU, but that is for reasons i will not explain here (i don't need PSU advice).

So now i'm stuck at CPU + motherboard selection.
My main requirements are :

• mATX
• not too expensive(this rules out otherwise good boards like Maximus III Gene or EVGA P55 Micro)
• 3 or more fan headers controllable via Speedfan/BIOS (this rules out nearly all from the very few P55 mATX boards)
• relatively low idle power usage

My main choices are :

• MSI 880GMA-E45 (94€) + some AMD CPU - board has SATA3 & USB3, relatively OK layout. Problem is that the Corator DS can't be rotated on AM2/AM3 boards (no 90° mount available), so the cooler will allways face towards rear ports, and will overhang the board by a bit less than 1cm. CPU can be anything in range from Athlon II X3 435 (68€) to maybe Phenom II X4 945 (133€).
• MSI P55M-GD45 (92€) or some H55 board + Core i5 750 from a friend, without warranty (120€). Board layout is again ok, no SATA3/USB3 but i don't demand those features. Board doesn't have undervolting capability. On Intel sockets Corator DS can be mounted in any direction. In this case the question is if i5 750 isn't a overkill for the GTS250.
• MSI P55M-GD45 (92€) or some H55 board + new CPU (G6950 - 88€, i3 530 - 102€).

Budget is not very limited, but i would like to stay bellow the 210-220€ mark for CPU and MB together.

 

[faugusztin]

The i5 750 option is not possible anymore, and because of the rotation issue of AM2/AM3 socket, i decided to get a i3 530 for ~100€ + MSI P55M-GD45 for 92€ (as i won't use the IGP).

PSU got solved too, ordered a Seasonic X 650.

 

[sirmonkey1985]

nvm....