G3258 mini-ITX HTPC build need cooler.

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envy14tpe

envy14tpe

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Building a mini-ITX HTPC. Based on price choices are : i3-4150 $115 and G3258 $72 I'm leaning towards G3258 as long as I can find a good cooler.

These are the prices so I'm leaning towards overclocking the G3258 and adding a decent cooler. However, due to space limitations on Silverstone ML06 I'm having a hard time to find a decent cooler. Any suggestions under $40?
 
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DonQuixoteMC
Just keep in mind, an overclocked G3258 will only perform about as well as a stock 4150. Adding a beefy cooler makes the price difference negligible. So OCing a pentium won't really be ideal. It increases ambient temps inside the case, regardless of cooling solution, and the powersupplies for the mini-itx form factor aren't really capable of sustaining the kind of overclock you'd need to match an i3.

Just my two cents.
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drkatz42

drkatz42

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Seriously, get the i3. The last thing you want in an HTPC is excessive heat from overclocking.(getting adequate cooling is going to be a serious problem and you'll wind up with the type of noise that defeats the purpose of this type of system)
 
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envy14tpe

envy14tpe

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That was a consideration. That's why I thought I had to add adequate cooling assuming I could find a quiet cooler. Otherwise I'll have to go i3 which isn't bad.
 
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Rammy

Rammy

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I think in the ML06 how much space you have depends on what you've put above the CPU, so that could be quite a lot or nothing at all depending on what you have to fit in your build.

If you have an optical drive (or use that bracket for anything really) then it really reduces you to the smallest of low profile coolers (and even these are motherboard dependant - which you don't mention) which aren't terribly well suited for overclocking.
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Just keep in mind, an overclocked G3258 will only perform about as well as a stock 4150. Adding a beefy cooler makes the price difference negligible. So OCing a pentium won't really be ideal. It increases ambient temps inside the case, regardless of cooling solution, and the powersupplies for the mini-itx form factor aren't really capable of sustaining the kind of overclock you'd need to match an i3.

Just my two cents.
 
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envy14tpe

envy14tpe

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I'm in the brainstorming stage of this build. Thinking to make a dual boot PC (Hackintosh/Windows 8) for gf to use and as HTPC for TV to watch movies. I want something very minimal and not like some monster case so I chose mini-ITX cases. I don't plan on using a DVD drive as my content is online or on HDDs.

As for mobo. If I do go G3258 then I need to research mobo well. Leaning towards ASRock H81M-ITX. Only downside is only 2 SATA connectors. But that should be enough.
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Unfortunately, I can't really find any cheap 9-series motherboards. This is the best I could find from a short search: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157526

However, you have the option of going with the 8 series if you have another CPU to upgrade BIOS with (for Haswell refresh compatibility).
If that's the case, here's the motherboard I would buy:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157451

I might consider spending the premium for the H97 board, just for the added upgradability, but if you don't plan to upgrade to a Broadwell CPU, then there's no reason not to go the H81 route.

Quick question: Are you planning on using dedicated graphics? If you're not, the better integrated GPU of broadwell might be something you'd be interested in.
 
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envy14tpe

envy14tpe

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There are no plans of upgrading. I'm sure a i3 would be enough for the design.
I'm not planning on dedicated graphics unless I find out that a really cheap GPU is worth it. But I doubt it.
 
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