HTPC/Living Room Console/Steam Box

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k2000k

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I have decided to construct a living room console substitute/potential steam box computer for my living room but before I purchase my parts I want a second opinion. My goal is to have a PC that can last generation titles, ex Deadspace, Red Faction Guerilla, Assassins Creed III at high resolutions and play next generation titles with graphics equivalent to the current generation of consoles. Is this set up sufficent enough?

**CPU** | [Intel Core i3-3240 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i33240) | $117.49 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** | [ASRock H77M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-h77mitx) | $89.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-kvr13n9s8k28) | $71.39 @ NCIX US
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $59.65 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100364l) | $205.66 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcanode304bl) | $54.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500m) | $34.99 @ Newegg
**Other**| External DVD Drive| $35.00
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $669.16
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... using a ITX case could have limits on the size of Video card and Power Supply you can put into it... that is your major design concerns with it, research that fully before buying... look at MEDIA and DESKTOP cases next if there is a fit problem.
 
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k2000k

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Looked into it. The case is fully compatible with a full sized GPU and PSU.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... What is concidered a 'Full Size Video Card" ? card lengths will very, and where the the power plug gets plugged in ( Back or Side ) can make a Big Construction Obstruction... just saying i've been there and TRIED to fit it... http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/lian-li-pc-q08-silverstone-sst-sg07-cubitek-mini-tank,2864.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352033&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Computer+Cases-_-N82E16811352033&gclid=CJfh546H0boCFUhk7AodwDYAMA Read Cons...
it appears that cal got a great system together using theses components... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352027
Other Thoughts: I fit an Asus Impact!, Corsair H60, Silverstone compact module PSU and EVGA superclocked Titan in this bad boy, with plenty of room to spare. I even have enough cooling overhead to overclock quite a bit. This is the best case I've ever worked with.
it seems a different/smaller Power Supply might make your build more successful.
 
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ScrewySqrl

ScrewySqrl

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my main concern is that an i3 dual core processor won't hack next gen titles very well at all, not when new consoles will be full bore PCs with 8 core processors.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($117.97 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($84.29 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.65 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XB (Black) ATX Desktop Case ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDC-207DBK Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($45.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $742.81
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-06 15:58 EST-0500)

the Blu-ray is thet because consoles have it and you mentioned use as a home theatre PC.

an extra $40 would get you an FX 8320 instead.
the 7870 is a bit more poweful than the GPU in the XBOne or PS4.

SSD for boot and popular games, 1 TB drive for storage
Case is more expensive than a typical case, and its not ITX, but the footprint isn't very huge.

 
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k2000k

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The case can up to a 12 inch GPU and the R9 270 is 9.8 inches. The case I picked was chosen explicitly for it's ability to handle graphics cards.

http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/node-series/node-605

I'm not so much worried about the case, I've spent a log time researching that, my other case would have been a Prodigy, it's more the components. The PSU is one I am concerned about.

The comment about the power plug in is a good one, I need to look into that.
 
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k2000k

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Valid concerns, one of the reasons why I chose the sandybridge was based on the tomshardwre CPU hiearchy and the decreased power requirements. I originally considered using AMD, I black edition for my other PC, but the heat output on those things leaves me to believe that those chips would not be ideal. I believe this gives me the ability to upgrade if I find that my CPU isn't meeting my gaming needs.

The case doesn't fit internal optical drives, fine by me, so if I ever wanted to I would get an external blueray drive.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Jul 31, 2011
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Hello... Yes... read my updated previous post, a smaller 140mm or smaller Power Supply was mentioned as making the build very possible... Silverstone compact module PSU?
Watch their install video for the Corsair http://www.corsair.com/builder-series-cx430-v2-80plus-certified-power-supply.html Look at all those cables hanging off of that power supply... it is made for large tower installs... Find a modular cable designed power supply and use only the cables you need in that case for better air Flow and space use. http://www.tonymacx86.com/144-silverstone-launches-compact-450w-modular-sfx-power-supply.html
 
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S

sora

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The R9 270X is also a rebranded version of another HD 7000 series so you'd be better off saving by buying a card from the HD 7*** series.
sig.jpg
 
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