First possible build/Micro-ATX

Funnyguy1123 · Feb 22, 2015

I am currently trying to put together a mini computer when I LAN. When I am not lanning, the PC will be plugged into my TV at home. This is my first mini build and also my first build using Intel.

I mostly game with strategy games. I LOVE Rome 2 and Attila and need a PC that can play both at solid frame rates.

This PC is something I cooked up. Most of the PCs I have built are low-end at best, so I am hoping this will at least play most things at high or extra high. I am very apprehensive about doing this, so any suggestions would be incredibly helpful.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LQMRyc
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LQMRyc/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($56.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 250GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($164.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $563.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-22 00:18 EST-0500

CTurbo · Feb 22, 2015

First of all, that is not a good psu. I don't recommend using a H81 motherboard, and a 1TB hard drive is only like $5-8 more than that 250GB.

Why don't you build a true mini build with a miniITX case?

Funnyguy1123 · Feb 22, 2015

Really? I thought Corsair made good PSUs. Shows what I know about PSU's.

I would but I was having a hard time finding a good, cheap Mini-ITX. I thought about the Bitfenix Prodigy, but could not decide on it.

What motherboard is best with the processor?

CTurbo · Feb 22, 2015

Better everything and smaller too

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tHc24D
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tHc24D/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($175.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($28.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($145.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($31.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $556.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-22 00:59 EST-0500

CTurbo · Feb 22, 2015

I'm really liking this case though

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133260&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

CTurbo · Feb 22, 2015

I forgot the even look at video cards. Here is a 280 for just a little more.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/YGQtRB
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/YGQtRB/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($175.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($28.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $573.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-22 01:02 EST-0500

nikoli707 · Feb 22, 2015

that core v1 case is cool.

but why 4gb of ram? if you were going with a g3220 and a gtx750 i would say skimp and go with 4gb of ram, but not with an i5 and an r9-280.

CTurbo · Feb 22, 2015

The reason I don't mind starting with 4GB RAM is that it's so easy to add more at any time. To start with 8GB, it would take $30ish directly off of another core component. That's like dropping from the 280 to a 265 or 750ti or dropping to a cheapo H81 chipset.

Funnyguy1123 · Feb 22, 2015

And this will run the Total War games at high or very high with no problems? I play other things obviously, but those games are my bread and butter. Should I run with more RAM or is 4 enough?

CTurbo · Feb 22, 2015

Yes it's going to run every game very well. Yes you will want to add 4GB more RAM whenever you get another $30ish. It will be totally fine to start with just 4GB though. I promise you it's not going to ruin things haha

nikoli707 · Feb 22, 2015

if the op is never going to upgrade the basic i5 to an unlocked sku, there are 4 phase h81s and b85s that will work fine. almost all prebuits at best buy that have i5/i7s are using h81 or b85 mobos. the asrock h81 itx has the same 4 phase power as the their h97 does. otherwise the h81 just lacks types of raid support and less usb/sata connectors.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($175.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $578.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-22 01:35 EST-0500

if the op can throw another $20 at it, sure get the h97. be aware that since this sapphire r9-280 is 10.28", the thermaltake core v1 will need its lower drive cages removed to accommodate a longer than 10.04" gpu.

Funnyguy1123 · Feb 22, 2015

I do not intend on overclocking at all. I overclock AMD due to their price. I am very new to Intel so I would rather not tempt fate.

CTurbo · Feb 22, 2015

We know you aren't planning on overclocking.

The ASRock H97M-ITX/AC has on board wifi and that H81 does not. I don't know if that is important to the OP or not.

Sparhawk76 · Feb 22, 2015

With 4GB of RAM and a HDD you will be hitting swap alot more often while gaming, causing stutter. I'd highly suggest putting a second 4GB stick in. Not only will you have more RAM, but it will have access to dual channel mode doubling the memory access speed. You might be able to mitigate this by switching to an SSD, but I'm not sure. But you'd be losing dual channel speeds if you did. If you plan to have 8GB eventually anyways, its also best to order the RAM at the same time so you can ensure the batches match as closely as possible, or you can order a matched set to guaruntee they come from the same batch. Different batches of RAM can have slight variations in performance sometimes causing incompatibility issues.

As others have posted look into the difference in cost to a r9 280 instead of a r9 270, which is basically a rebranded 7870 myst edition. When I took apart my Mining Rig, I upgraded my GFs system to a single 7870 myst and she was having some issues with performance at med-high settings on most games ... after throwing in a second one and enabling crossfire her gaming performance went up to acceptable levels. Admittedly this was for FPS type games for the most part. For reference her system has 8gb of ram, 4 core i5, forget which one.

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