M-ITX gaming build in progress

So I've had this Hp Omni100-5050 (http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=120&prodSeriesId=4273707&prodTypeId=12454&objectID=c02620410) for about a year and a half and it kinda runs like doodoo. With the intent to spend my money more wisely this time, I wanted to build my own pc keeping in mind what I wanted to get out of it. I've tried gaming on this pc and I couldn't run BattleField Bad Company 2. The best I can do is a f2p game called Crossfire and all graphics are on low.

Things to note : I went M-ITX because I'll graduating here soon and will be going to colledge so I wanted it to be easily portable.I do have a Microcenter nearby. The PSU that comes with the case is 80+ Bronze.

Parts list :

i5 3570k ~ $190 at Microcenter

Noctua L9i ~ $50 at Newegg

AsRock z77e-itx Mobo ~ $145 at Microcenter

Corsair Vengance 8gb 1866 mhz ~ $65 at Newegg

Seagate Barracuda 500gb 7200rpm HDD ~ $60 at Newegg

Crucial M4 MSATA 32gb SSD ~ $55 at Newegg

XFX 7870 ghz edition ~ $210 at Newegg after rebate

Silverstone SG06BB-450 w/ 450W PSU ~ $145 at Amazon/NCIX

Total ~ $920

I'd like to keep the price at around $900-950.

 

Thanks for taking your time to help me.

 

working on it!

I'm not sure if a 32gb SSD is worth it as an OS drive but I guess you could use it as a cache and maximize the speed increase.  Otherwise it all looks good.

How big is Windows 7?

I was planning on using that for the boot drive but... what would be the reasons not to?

i think windows around around 20gigs~ish


I looked at your build and the case you've chosen, the second you said portable, I had to try throwing in the bitfenix Prodigy, it has handles for portablitiy and looks pretty slick...almost like a mac...you'll have an easier time lugging it around

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ysJ3

the heatsink you chose looks really weaksauce and not worth $50 so I changed it, hopefully there aren't any clearance issues withthe 212

A clean install of windows take up about 20GB

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ysMq

I changed a few parts, including a better caes and PSU, and added a better CPU cooler. The NZXT Havik 140mm is not necessary, but it is really good. If you can spare an extra $20-30, I would get it. Sorry that it went a bit over - I wanted to add a better PSU, and it added more money to the cost. Hope I helped!


Cheers,

 

Brennan Riddell

So I could, if I wanted to, use the 32gb SSD for a boot drive? Since Windows is about 20 gigs....

Slimm, thanks for your input. Only issue I have is that the Bitfenix Prodigy isn't that appealing to me.

Brennanriddell, I appreciate your suggestions but if I'm not mistaken the h77 board you choose won't allow for the overclocking of the i5. Also a M-ITX board in a M-ATX case..

 

Although the l9i does look "weaksause", I did some research on it and under load at 4.0 ghz it's 11 degrees cooler thatn stock. Not sure if it's totally worth 50 bucks but there aren't that many options.

I'm sure you can use it as a boot, but the cost per gig isn't good (if i'm doing the math in my head correctly)

even though that cooler is 11 degree cooloer...$50 forget about ittttt try to find a better heatsink for the money, but never buy a watercooling kit with a thin single rad, those get whipped by most air coolers

 

 

I would look into the ThermalRight AXP-100 CPU cooler. Cooler and quiter than the Noctua NH-L9. But the Noctua ain't bad at all!

As for SSD... do it right man. 120 GB at least. Those low-capacity SSDs are scaling really bad storage/price comparison.

Are you sure you don't want a case that is more... stylish? Lian Li PQ-Q25, Q08, SilverStone SG05, SG07, Fractal Node 304, Bitfenix Prodigy? Just inputs.

I have to agree with the comments above about your SSD option.  Remember that you might want to store some core programs on the drive also.  It will also slow down as the amount of storage space decreases and you'll be starting with it 2/3 full at 32G.  It just doesn't make sense - I know...I put a 64G SSD in my build (for OS primarily) and am now regretting not having at least a 120G.

That CPU cooler.... is... amazing. Thank you for sharing RuffeDK.

I think the only reason that particular SSD is so much is because it's MSATA. And there is an MSATA port under the AsRock mobo and I decided, since my budget allowed it, to use it and save space.

As for cases, I really like that Lian Li one you suggested. Would like to have it but seems abit pricey as goes for the sg07. And the SG05 doesn't support graphics cards over 9". I don't think there are many graphics cards that size or smaller that would provide the performance I want.

I can't find that cooler on Newegg

also a mobo and ram suggestion since its cheaper and has super low latencies

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1183565

and case suggestion

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163205

and GPU suggestion as it actually has rear facing PCI-E power connectors

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202010

 

Thanks gigabusterEXE for the ideas. Putting all of your suggestions together and some more looking around this is what I've come up with : 

MOBO/RAM combo that giga suggested ~ $185

i5 3570k ~ $190

H80 ~ $80 (weird. lol.)

Silverstone sg09b ~ $85 after rebate.

XFX 7870 ~ $210 after rebate.

Seagate barracuda 500gb HDD ~ 60$

64gb Crucial M4 SSD ~ $75  (I don't really use any programs much enough to need to put them on the SSD.)

SeaSonic 520W 80+Bronze PSU ~ $80

Total ~ $965   

I think that's a considerable improvement. Thoughts?

 

Seems legit now. I'm just finishing up my M-ITX build this month. Same reasons too, college and stuff and junk  it needed to be small. I hope the CPU serves you well. I have a 3570K and it makes everything so buttery smooth.

Have you given the Fractal Design Node 304 a look?  Not much bigger than the SG06 but it's mITX isntead of mATX which you've ended up going for.

Since I wouldn't be doing any editing would it be worth it to get a 2500k and upgrade to a 7950?

I guess the real question would be, what would perform better? 3570k w/ 7870  or  2500k w/ 7950?

 

Or... go AMD with the 8320 with this motherboard : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131883