Need advice on my mini-itx gaming build!

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Animan968

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Jan 1, 2014
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Hi! Im new to the forums, so be nice! I need some advice on my mini-itx gaming build. More specifically, I want to know if this cpu/gpu combo is the best I can get at this price range. Is there a better intel processor and motherboard combo? Or a better gpu that will fit and stay inside my $150 budget? Should i get less RAM and a better gpu? ETC. Any recommendations are welcome, but I want to stay with a mini itx build inside the Fractal Design Node 304.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2u73U
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2u73U/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2u73U/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 760K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($105.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 1GB Video Card ($147.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design FD-CA-NODE-304-WH Mini ITX Desktop Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($112.13 @ NCIX US)
Total: $721.03
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 
Solution
Quaddro
well, this is the best i can find for your budget and mini itx platorm..

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($70.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($73.80 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 1GB Video Card ($134.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design FD-CA-NODE-304-WH Mini ITX Desktop Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @...
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Quaddro

Quaddro

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Sep 1, 2010
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well, this is the best i can find for your budget and mini itx platorm..

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($70.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($73.80 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 1GB Video Card ($134.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design FD-CA-NODE-304-WH Mini ITX Desktop Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $646.70

better performance of processor, and cooler too..
well, for gaming application, Intel Core i3-4130 is slightly faster than fx6300 and noticeable faster than AMD Athlon II X4 760K.
 
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Solution
Quaddro

Quaddro

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Sep 1, 2010
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yup..
you not need an aftermaket cooler..
because like you said, power draw is low, so stock cooler is good enough to handle the heat..

and the other reason is, this processor is not overclockable..
well, after all you'll run an mini itx machine..overclocking is not good in such a small case..:)
 
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Rammy

Rammy

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Sep 3, 2012
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The elephant in the room is the case. It's really nice (I do like it a lot) but relative to your budget it's an expense that is hurting the rest of your build. Just to illustrate this, here is an i5 build with a GTX660. It's not going to be breaking any performance records, but it's got a lot more scope than either of the machines listed so far, has Wifi, USB3.0 and barely costs more than your original build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($179.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $739.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-02 08:36 EST-0500)

There are a few things that are worth explaining -
The build is very rebate heavy, it's the best way to exploit value for money, but it might not work for you.
The performance difference between 3000and4000 series processors is pretty insignificant, and if you can squeeze in an i5 over an i3, it's definitely the way to go.
620W PSU is massive overkill, but there is method to the madness. It's great quality, great value, and semi modular. It can power basically any graphics card on the market, so you have huge scope if you wanted to upgrade the graphics somewhere down the line. Drop in something like a GTX770 or R9 280X and you instantly have a high end gaming machine.
Usually, 2*4Gb is a better choice than 1*8Gb, but that deal on that memory makes it too cheap to ignore. It's not the best ram in the world, but it shouldn't be a significantly limiting factor, and at that price it's great value (you struggle to find 4Gb for that price). Under normal circumstances a 1600Mhz, 1.5V, 2*4Gb, CAS8 or 9 kit would be the way to go.
I prefer the Elite 130 over the Elite 120, as I think the aesthetics have improved a bit, but it's still a solid case and it's pretty subtle. It's not as nice as the Node 304 but like I say you are struggling a little for funds, relatively speaking.
 
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Animan968

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Jan 1, 2014
17
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10,510
Thanks for your response!I made an error in my first post, i wanted a build inside a mini itx case, not the node in particular. I like your build because it is VERY upgradeable. However, are there any i5s in the newer haswell 1150 socket at the same price? I am also willing to pay a bit more and get a Bitfenix Prodigy.
 
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Rammy

Rammy

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Sep 3, 2012
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You can't really do 1150 for the same price and include Wifi. If you are willing to drop to non-Wifi motherboards then it is definitely possible. There isn't really any particular reason to chose 1150 over 1155 though. You won't get any CPU upgrades, but it's a component very few people upgrade anyway.

i5 4440 - $180
Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI - $116
So plus $31 to get what amounts to the same thing.

The Prodigy is a nice case, I use one myself, but it's not really good for size or value really. It's ace comes in it's watercooling flexibility, and great airflow, as well as the space to fit some pretty high end stuff.
At your budget, I'd definitely suggest the Elite 120/130 for great value, and compact size.
 
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