I've got the itch to build small and move my gaming options into the living room.
My current build was given the fine-toothed comb review here back in 2009 and has been absolutely rock solid.
I've read a few mini-ITX discussions here already, but many seem to be alternative suggestions or intended for HTPC or general PC use.
I figure I'll have to work much harder this time around due to the smaller size/restricted airflow and would sincerely appreciate your feedback.
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
- Gaming, along with general household use (web, Office, Netflix/Hulu)
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
- $700 (I already have some parts... see below)
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
- US, North Carolina, near Raleigh
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
- CPU & cooler (I prefer Intel), GPU, motherboard, RAM, power supply, maybe another SSD if budget allows
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
- Not reusing, but I have some parts on hand already
- Case: Cooler Master Elite 130
- SSD: Toshiba HDTS225XZSTA 256GB
- HDD: Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX 1TB
6) Will you be overclocking?
- Yes, please
7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
- 1920 x 1080, 50" TV via HDMI
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
- Right after Black Friday/Monday
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
- Nothing special, no room to do anything fancy.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
- Yes, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
------------------------------------------------------------
My thoughts so far to meet the above requirements:
- CPU: i5-3570k - I don't really need HT and Ivy Bridge seems to strike a better balance than Haswell between overclocking and power/heat
- Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120M (definitely open for other options, but space is tight)
- Motherboard: Interested in the ASUS P8Z77-I DELUXE for the power and OC stability and since the ASRock Z77E-ITX was discontinued I'm seeking good alternatives. Perhaps the MSI Z77IA-E53?
- GPU: HD 7870 seems to hit a good price/performance point. May have to drop to a 7850 for price. (Prefer a reference design that vents out the back due to my case, but open for options)
- Power Supply: Prefer modular due to space constraints, leaning toward Corsair CX600M
- RAM: 8GB of whatever reputable brand pops up on Black Friday
All that is roughly $750 at "normal" prices, so I will need some good fortune on deals or some good substitutions to come in under budget and squeeze in another SSD.
Thanks for your help!
My current build was given the fine-toothed comb review here back in 2009 and has been absolutely rock solid.
I've read a few mini-ITX discussions here already, but many seem to be alternative suggestions or intended for HTPC or general PC use.
I figure I'll have to work much harder this time around due to the smaller size/restricted airflow and would sincerely appreciate your feedback.
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
- Gaming, along with general household use (web, Office, Netflix/Hulu)
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
- $700 (I already have some parts... see below)
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
- US, North Carolina, near Raleigh
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
- CPU & cooler (I prefer Intel), GPU, motherboard, RAM, power supply, maybe another SSD if budget allows
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
- Not reusing, but I have some parts on hand already
- Case: Cooler Master Elite 130
- SSD: Toshiba HDTS225XZSTA 256GB
- HDD: Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX 1TB
6) Will you be overclocking?
- Yes, please
7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
- 1920 x 1080, 50" TV via HDMI
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
- Right after Black Friday/Monday
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
- Nothing special, no room to do anything fancy.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
- Yes, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
------------------------------------------------------------
My thoughts so far to meet the above requirements:
- CPU: i5-3570k - I don't really need HT and Ivy Bridge seems to strike a better balance than Haswell between overclocking and power/heat
- Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120M (definitely open for other options, but space is tight)
- Motherboard: Interested in the ASUS P8Z77-I DELUXE for the power and OC stability and since the ASRock Z77E-ITX was discontinued I'm seeking good alternatives. Perhaps the MSI Z77IA-E53?
- GPU: HD 7870 seems to hit a good price/performance point. May have to drop to a 7850 for price. (Prefer a reference design that vents out the back due to my case, but open for options)
- Power Supply: Prefer modular due to space constraints, leaning toward Corsair CX600M
- RAM: 8GB of whatever reputable brand pops up on Black Friday
All that is roughly $750 at "normal" prices, so I will need some good fortune on deals or some good substitutions to come in under budget and squeeze in another SSD.
Thanks for your help!
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