Mini Itx Build Help

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
T

TheGecko

Honorable
Jun 28, 2013
107
0
10,680
Hey guys i wanted to build a portable mini system mainly for coding/programming light gaming and very light rendering/editing.

I will be bringing this system back and forth from my home to office.

No OS, No monitors, nothing except for the build is needed.

Needs Strong Wifi (AC is preferred or a card etc)

I would like it to be up to $700.

I Will be using 1-3 monitors (2 probably at most) one is 1080p other(s) are 900p

Preferred stores are Newegg and Amazon

The cases I liked were the Lian Li Tu100:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112407&cm_mmc=SNC-YouTube-_-NETV-_-jNHbJWwFlp0-_-11-112-407


and the Tu200: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112348

(P.S. I thought maybe a Kaveri APu would be pretty cool, but i am not sure, I am kinda stuck
thanks in advanced for helping me out)




link for cool gpu: http://www.amazon.com/MSI-R9-270X-DisplayPort-PCI-Express/dp/B00FR6XPCW/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1P3LNDFGBISEI
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

Glorious
Apr 1, 2008
10,191
24
43,965
Those cases are very expensive and limit the important components that can be used with your budget. I went with a cheaper case and put the money saved into a nice i5 CPU, motherboard with integrated dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, and a very high quality modular PSU.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($180.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI(REV2.0) Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($121.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($114.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($71.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $700.39
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-14 16:51 EDT-0400)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HiTechObsessed

HiTechObsessed

Splendid
Dec 3, 2013
5,430
0
24,960
The Prodigy is very large... I just changed from it to a Hadron, actually, and love the Hadron Air :) This would get you a dedicated GPU which would help in rendering too.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($180.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($103.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: GeIL EVO POTENZA 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: PNY XLR8 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($59.99 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7750 1GB Video Card ($84.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: EVGA Hadron Mini ITX Tower Case w/500W Power Supply ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $699.42
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-14 17:39 EDT-0400)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HiTechObsessed

HiTechObsessed

Splendid
Dec 3, 2013
5,430
0
24,960
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($204.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($107.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: GeIL EVO POTENZA 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Lian-Li PC-TU200A Mini ITX Tower Case ($166.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Thermaltake SMART 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $682.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-14 21:45 EDT-0400)

The power supply is plenty capable of powering a graphics card if you want to add one in later.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Seeking Solace

Reputable
Mar 1, 2014
397
0
4,860
If you can't go to a micro center, it makes the build much less worth it...
The Kaveri gets absolutely spanked in terms of processing power by the i5, and even struggles against the i3s. If you want to do even some light gaming, you are going to want to crossfire with the R7 to boost performance. The Asrock mobo doesn't have ac speed wifi, but gets you up to 2400MHz of RAM to make the Kaveri chip happy.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($102.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R7 250 2GB Video Card ($97.99 @ Mwave)
Case: Lian-Li PC-TU200B Mini ITX Tower Case ($169.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $707.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 01:59 EDT-0400)

The gigabyte board gives you the ac speed wifi, but drops you down to 2133 RAM, which is probably more the build you are after, if you even went for Kaveri. Personally I like the Asrock board more for it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($99.69 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($76.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R7 250 2GB Video Card ($97.99 @ Mwave)
Case: Lian-Li PC-TU200B Mini ITX Tower Case ($169.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $701.63
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 02:06 EDT-0400)


$700 is a lot to spend on a Kaveri build right now, even if a chunk goes on the very cool case (personally I like the cooler master elite 130 for this idea). AMD are still playing catch up in terms of their APUs being competitive with intel i3s/i5s and a dedicated GPU and their own FX series with a GPU for the price.
Definitely read up about it, because I don't want to deter you if you are intrigued by the APU prospects, but neither do I want you to be disappointed.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

Glorious
Apr 1, 2008
10,191
24
43,965


I would not go with a Kaveri system. Their CPUs are very weak compared to the Intel i5 chips. You also don't want a slow 5400RPM 2.5" hard drive holding the system back. Since you have to have the expensive Lian Li case then I still recommend the build I suggested above without the SSD to allow for the expensive case.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($180.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI(REV2.0) Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($121.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Lian-Li PC-TU200B Mini ITX Tower Case ($167.48 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $681.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 11:27 EDT-0400)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

Glorious
Apr 1, 2008
10,191
24
43,965
If gaming performance is more important to you than rendering and all-around processing power then you could get the Kaveri chip. Just don't expect to be blown away by it's processing power.

Here's my suggestions if you go the AMD route:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ TigerDirect)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($99.69 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($76.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Lian-Li PC-TU200B Mini ITX Tower Case ($167.48 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $667.09
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-16 12:12 EDT-0400)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HiTechObsessed

HiTechObsessed

Splendid
Dec 3, 2013
5,430
0
24,960
Core i5 plus dedicated GPU 7770 GHz which will be much, much better for gaming and processing than a Kaveri system, with your case, under budget:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($180.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($107.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: GeIL EVO POTENZA 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Lian-Li PC-TU200B Mini ITX Tower Case ($167.48 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $692.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-16 11:58 EDT-0400)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom