Looking for Build Suggestions for a Very Small Design

[Erous]

Hey folks,

I'm on the fence between purchasing a gaming laptop vs a new gaming rig for my wife, but don't want the hassle of lugging around a giant device. I was originally leaning towards a 14" Lenovo laptop for around $800.00 US with corporate discount running a 3rd Gen i7 and GTX 660. This morning I came to the realization that I might be able to match the price vs performance to a compact PC I would build myself.

Any suggestions on how to accomplish this? What parts, case, etc. would be best for a build like this.

Thanks.

[n0cturnal]

Here is an article about how Sweclockers builds a Mini-ITX computer with a GTX 690 and an overclocked i7-3770k. http://translate.google.com/translat...ini-itx-format

They talk a bit about why they picked the parts they did and such, there is also a list of all the parts they used.

[Guruftw]

That is pritty close to my build ^^. And it works really good
They even mentioned my case there.

[Erous]

Fantastic, thanks all.

Edit: I'm assuming I can mix and match some of these parts aside from probably the motherboard. I don't need a BEAST. I want to try and keep the cost under or around $800.00 US

[Idrinkwhiterussians]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($223.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77E-ITX Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($144.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($92.11 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XB (Black) ATX Desktop Case ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $804.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-28 11:20 EST-0500)

This is what I put together, though you could switch a few things around to get a SSD in there. This system is to be OCd, though I did not include a cooler at this time since it would push over your budget.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($122.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($73.52 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XB (Black) ATX Desktop Case ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $744.44
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-28 11:24 EST-0500)

This build is swapped around to get the SSD and optical drives in. It does have a bit lower processor and MB, but you said you don't need a beast so that is why I gave you an alternative build.

I used the Haf XB case, as it is (sadly) cheaper than the BitFenix Prodigy atm.

If you had a Microcenter nearby, you could save some on the processor/MB combo and SSD. (combo deals there are lovely)

You also did not mention if you needed Windows, so I did not include it.

[n0cturnal]

I used the Haf XB case, as it is (sadly) cheaper than the BitFenix Prodigy atm.

If you had a Microcenter nearby, you could save some on the processor/MB combo and SSD. (combo deals there are lovely)

You also did not mention if you needed Windows, so I did not include it.

The HAF XB is a pretty big case. It is pretty much a miditower turned 90 degrees on its side.

---------- Post added 2013-02-28 at 05:31 PM ----------

Fantastic, thanks all.

Edit: I'm assuming I can mix and match some of these parts aside from probably the motherboard. I don't need a BEAST. I want to try and keep the cost under or around $800.00 US

You can get a cheaper motherboard as well, if you don't need the WiFi you could get something much cheaper.

[Erous]

Perfect, thanks for the feedback and info

[n0cturnal]

Perfect, thanks for the feedback and info

Modified Idrinks second build with a Sugo8 instead.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($122.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($73.52 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($92.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone SST-SG08B Mini ITX Desktop Case w/600W Power Supply ($205.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $815.44
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-28 11:33 EST-0500)

[Idrinkwhiterussians]

The HAF XB is a pretty big case. It is pretty much a miditower turned 90 degrees on its side.

Did not realize this. Dully noted! I will blame it on waking up still (plus horrible test that made my brain feel like mush last night)

On a second note, the build n0cturnal posted is lovely

[Lemmiwink]

I wouldn't use those prone to catch fire M-ITX boards tbh. They short circuit, are DOA and some even catch fire! Go with ITX-boards of high quality like the P8Z77-I Deluxe.

[n0cturnal]

Do note that there are other cases in almost the same size on the market such as COOLER MASTER Elite 120 Advanced and Fractal Design Node 304 but with these cases you will have to find yourself a PSU that fits since they doesn't come with a built-in like the SG08 do.

---------- Post added 2013-02-28 at 05:56 PM ----------

I wouldn't use those prone to catch fire M-ITX boards tbh. They short circuit, are DOA and some even catch fire! Go with ITX-boards of high quality like the P8Z77-I Deluxe.

Yes motherboards that regularly catch fire would probably be allowed to stay on the market.

[Lemmiwink]

Do note that there are other cases in almost the same size on the market such as COOLER MASTER Elite 120 Advanced and Fractal Design Node 304 but with these cases you will have to find yourself a PSU that fits since they doesn't come with a built-in like the SG08 do.

---------- Post added 2013-02-28 at 05:56 PM ----------



Yes motherboards that regularly catch fire would probably be allowed to stay on the market.

The Node 304 is an excellent case, have it myself. I was trying to build with that H77 board from ASRock at first, it caught fire. Luckily the case was open and I was able to blow it out after taking the powercord out of the wall. I ordered an MSI Z77, it died after 4 hours of use. Those boards are utter crap tbh... I succumbed to common sense and got the P8Z77-I and it runs stable, cool with a nice 4,6GHz OC on the 3570K installed in it. Value for money. I would not recommend using any board except from ASRock Z77 e-itx or ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe. Those are the only two boards on the market right now that is capable of having a current going through them over longer periods of time.

And finally, yes, boards like that gets to stay on the market as long as retailers let them. In Norway, most of the M-ITX boards are shunned by retailers, heck even ASRock boards in general is only available if you order from Sweden. Reason: Low quality, high RMA rate. Personally I think ASRock boards are quite alright though, but high RMA history makes Norwegian retailers sceptical to taking them in.

[n0cturnal]

Do you have any source for this except for a personal anecdote?

[Lemmiwink]

know a few people that buys in for the Norwegian retailers, the large ones, and they share this information freely with you should you ask them. They discontinue items that have an RMA rate higher than a certain % (Individually set for type of product). Last time a manufacturer of MB's was discontinued by a big Norwegian retailer was the Sapphire P67 Black.

They discontinued ASRock years ago when they were a bad brand. I am actually surprised you have to order it from Sweden to get one in Norway.

[n0cturnal]

know a few people that buys in for the Norwegian retailers, the large ones, and they share this information freely with you should you ask them. They discontinue items that have an RMA rate higher than a certain % (Individually set for type of product). Last time a manufacturer of MB's was discontinued by a big Norwegian retailer was the Sapphire P67 Black.

They discontinued ASRock years ago when they were a bad brand. I am actually surprised you have to order it from Sweden to get one in Norway.

Yeah that is still just a couple of bad stories from one guy, no sources or anything.

It would be pretty stupid to exclude several product lines based on what a single person says without any proof.

[Lemmiwink]

yeah, I guess the two boards I ordered and if you look around on review sites on the web, those lower end m-ITX boards aren't exactly recommended for much besides media PC's is not proof exactly. But then again, this is a place where people come asking for advice based on personal experience. I build quite a few builds a year and see alot of hardware, so I am no stranger to it, thus I have alot of personal experience. m-ITX is the new big thing atm, got several requests for builds atm.

But oh well, what do I know, I hope those H77 or bad Z77 cards works out fine tbh. I wasn't trying to diss ASRock either, I was just saying they are not bought in by the big Norwegian retailers due to previous high RMA rates, and no, I can't produce "evidence" to this as this is info I don't have access to apart from hearing it from people working with buying in every day. So, without producing "evidence" I lay my arguement dead.