Build for my wife

[Shadowfreak]

Hi everyone. Today I am looking at a semi-inexpensive build for my wife. Her system goes in our entertainment center, hence the mini ITX. Here's what I put together:

CPU: Intel Core i3-4330 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($132.97 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($49.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $452.91

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2xUWh

Parts I am reusing:
EVGA 560ti
ODD
SSD
Win 7 Pro

Uses:
Heavy WoW
Some Diablo 3
The internets

Let me know your thoughts!

[Valorous]

Don't forget to factor in the cost of the OS if it's a Windows build and you don't have an extra copy.

Otherwise it'll run all of that without issue, and you probably don't even need the water cooler unless you are going for dead silence. Also, note that that case only has one 120mm fan slot on the front so that's the only place you could POSSIBLY mount the radiator/fan of the H60 and I'd bet that the radiator won't fit inside the case. You might want to find a different case.

EDIT: On second glance, it might go in there sideways. I'd check around online.
EDIT2: It does. http://www.overclockersclub.com/news..._elite_130.htm

[chazus]

If it's all the same and you want to save some money, I'd opt for the i3-4330 or 4340. About the same game performance for $50-70 less

[Saxtorph]

It looks vastly overbuilt for the intended uses. You must have $$ to burn.

[PCK]

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.98 @ Newegg)

thats an ATX PSU so doesnt fit in the mini itx case perhaps ?

[Shadowfreak]

I have Win 7 Pro. Edited to note. Thanks for pointing that out.

As for the cooler... yeah, it's a toss up between the H60 or the low profile Nocta: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhl12

I put the H60 just cause I've used it in the past and had good results. Also, I'm not sure how I feel about fan based CPU cooler in the middle of a compact case like that. At the same time, I have no experience with a mini case so anyone who's used one before can correct me.

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If it's all the same and you want to save some money, I'd opt for the i3-4330 or 4340. About the same game performance for $50-70 less

Noted. I'll take a look at them for sure. I used the 4670 because I figured WoW was CPU heavy. If those will run WoW without issue, then I'm all for it! Thanks.

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Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.98 @ Newegg)

thats an ATX PSU so doesnt fit in the mini itx case perhaps ?

In theory, CM says it will fit a standard PSU.

[chazus]

Noted. I'll take a look at them for sure. I used the 4670 because I figured WoW was CPU heavy. If those will run WoW without issue, then I'm all for it! Thanks.

WoW -is- CPU heavy (especially in raids) however a 3.4ghz i5 is the same thing as a 3.5 or 3.6ghz i3. Wow only uses 2.5ish cores... And the i3 has 2 cores, but hyperthreading so 4 threads. The i5 might perform marginally better in say... BF4... But even so, the i3 is substantially cheaper.

I pretty much recommend these days, either i3-4330, i3-4340, or i5-4670K. nothing in between is worth the cost for performance,

[Shadowfreak]

WoW -is- CPU heavy (especially in raids) however a 3.4ghz i5 is the same thing as a 3.5 or 3.6ghz i3. Wow only uses 2.5ish cores... And the i3 has 2 cores, but hyperthreading so 4 threads. The i5 might perform marginally better in say... BF4... But even so, the i3 is substantially cheaper.

I pretty much recommend these days, either i3-4330, i3-4340, or i5-4670K. nothing in between is worth the cost for performance,

Sweet. Thanks for clearing that up. I've never fully educated myself on anything after the Core 2 Duo's lol.

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OP has been updated with CPU and motherboard

[n0cturnal]

WoW -is- CPU heavy (especially in raids) however a 3.4ghz i5 is the same thing as a 3.5 or 3.6ghz i3. Wow only uses 2.5ish cores... And the i3 has 2 cores, but hyperthreading so 4 threads. The i5 might perform marginally better in say... BF4... But even so, the i3 is substantially cheaper.

I pretty much recommend these days, either i3-4330, i3-4340, or i5-4670K. nothing in between is worth the cost for performance,

There is really no point in getting a i3 over an i5 unless the budget is very limited, the extra cores will make it last longer than the puny HT an i3 provides.

[chazus]

There is really no point in getting a i3 over an i5 unless the budget is very limited, the extra cores will make it last longer than the puny HT an i3 provides.

All budgets are limited, IMO. The i3-4330 @ 3.5ghz has proven to have as good performance than the i5-4570 3.3ghz (3.5 under load), at nearly half the cost. I agree that 4 cores/4 threads is 'stronger' than 2 cores/4 threads, but not strong enough to warrant the extra $80 bucks. If you want to go beyond the i3, then just go whole hog and get the 4670K for like... $30 more that the i5-4570 (the cost of the Z87 board over the H81/H87).

Again, I'm not saying the i3 is 'better', but from a price/performance perspective... There's just no reason to get a i5-4570 or 4670. Either i3, or i5-4670K.

[n0cturnal]

Yeah I would pick the i5-4670k and a z87 board any day if the budget didn't limit it. 5 proper cores at 4.2GHz or more will out last the i3 to warrant the extra $80-$100 at least in my opinion.