So I recently built this computer and it hasn't even been a year yet. Clearly, I haven't put enough time into thinking about getting an m-atx rig a year ago. So now I'm not sure what to do. I have ~$350 saved up to either change my rig to an m-atx computer or upgrade my graphics card. I already checked if my other computer parts would work with the ones below.
Current Computer parts mentioned:
Chasis: Fractal Design define r4
Mobo: Asrock 970 extreme 3
GPU: Radeon HD 6790 1gb
Reasons to upgrade to matx:
-heavy as crap when moving ( I sometimes move everything to the basement where my tv is and play there cause its cold )
-can go to lan party if upgraded
Reasons to upgrade GPU:
-its old, cant play anything on 1080p, gotta tone down settings
-its only 1gb of ram
Option 1:
MOBO: ASrock 960 GM $74.99
CASES: Thermaltake Urban S1 or Bitfenix Prodigy $56.77 or $100
Option 2:
R9 270 or above > $200
Option 3: Suck it up, deal with the labor and wait a few years.
However i would upgrade that GPU though. Maybe grab a 770 or 280x. changing to a smaller platform requires more than $350. and you'll be stuck on a M-ATX board with a Radeon 6790 with 1GB of VRAM on the GPU? not worth it. Upgrade your GPU and then when save a bit more money. probably like 400 dollars later on Go with an m-ATX case and Motherboard.
Here, its a Corsair 250D. Gotta change the MOBO because there are no mITX AM3/AM3+ boards, to a H87 board and grab the G3258 dual core unlocked cheap but badass processor. Then you can use the rest to buy the 750ti which is better at efficiency with the Maxwell platform and you'll be able to play most games at 1080p on high/medium settings. After rebates it comes in at exactly $350 and it'll be a much smaller case than a M-ATX case for moving it around to the basement or LAN parties. Also, if you want to upgrade later it is an LGA1150 platform and their are a plethora of badass CPUs there and the case can handle full sized GPUs in a mITX case!!!