Budget mini itx build to work in college

Cubsfan15 · Aug 30, 2016

My budget is $500. I want to do basic gaming and schoolwork. Also hoping this can play media like YouTube and netflix.

The catch is I'm in high school, and I hope to buy this during christmas. But I need the build to be mini itx because I plan on taking this to college with a dorm and I don't want it to take up too much space. Could i do a micro atx build? Need this to run games like csgo, battlefront and battlefield one.

Any help is appreciated. I know the build is bad, but just help me improve from it.Thanks!

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

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: *ASRock B150M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($77.84 @ Amazon)

Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($38.88 @ OutletPC)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.49 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card ($148.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Tower Case ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.89 @ Newegg)

Total: $497.06
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-30 20:39 EDT-0400

Chugalug_ · Aug 30, 2016

The RX 460 performs 10% better for cheaper.
Looks mostly good, but there are some poor component choices in there such as the PSU, and slightly overpriced RAM.
Here is what I recommend.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B150M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($68.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($37.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon RX 460 2GB WINDFORCE OC Video Card ($117.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $495.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-30 20:55 EDT-0400

photonboy · Aug 30, 2016

Hey,

*This is a few months away, so the parts chosen will change. Especially the GRAPHICS CARD.

1. I would change the GPU to an RX-460 or RX-470 if possible (depending on total budget).

The new AMD cards are the most future proof (read about AMD ACE, and Async Compute).

2. Windows 10 Home 64-bit should be part of the budget.

3. A MONITOR and other periphersals should also be in the budget.

4. You may want to consider a LAPTOP. I would still get a monitor, but with Windows you'd have a $600 approximate budget.

*There are also some pre-built computers that are good, though I don't know if there are any good mini-ITX builds (in terms of value).

Summary:
General build is okay, but ask again later. Again, the GPU in particular should be changed IMO.

I'll post this and put some ASync Compute links below.

photonboy · Aug 30, 2016

Chugalug_ :

Pretty well balanced build.
I didn't look carefully at all the parts since this is a FUTURE purpose, but it's where I'd start and see if anything is worth changing later as budget or parts change.

Chugalug_ · Aug 30, 2016

I'm afraid the stuff you've mentioned in this budget is simply not possible unless OP goes for an mATX build, even then an RX470 and monitor is out of the question.

photonboy · Aug 30, 2016

AMD vs NVidia:
This is useful: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/213519-asynchronous-shading-amd-nvidia-and-dx12-what-we-know-so-far

That is NVidia Maxwell (i.e. GTX960) and though NVidia Pascal is improved (i.e. GTX1060) it is not as good as AMD's solution.

*Take these results with a grain of salt, however it is a good indicator that the newer AMD cards are going to do better (relatively) compared to anything NVidia offers currently:
http://www.pcgamesn.com/amd/rx-480-vs-gtx-1060-vulkan

The RX-460 will never beat a GTX1080, but my point is it should gain a higher PERCENTAGE increase (i.e. 30% vs 10%) in non-VR titles.

It's not just FPS, you may see less STUTTER as well. Of course you don't want a crappy card just because it might do okay in the future so look at CURRENT game performance as well.

Anyway, for light/medium gaming an RX-460 should do quite well. You'll obviously want to TWEAK the game settings as appropriate.

Cubsfan15 · Aug 30, 2016

Oh sorry I didn't mention but os monitor keyboard and stuff are NOT in this build. I've set aside separate money for them.

Chugalug thanks for your build (and photon)! I'm going to read that article. I will probably ask again close to black Friday but I wanted to get an idea of what I would be getting. Are mini itx cases small enough to bring to college? Does anyone have experience with them?

Thanks.

Chugalug_ · Aug 30, 2016

No problems.

To be honest, you'd be fine with even a Micro ATX case in college, although ITX is obviously much easier for storage.
I've made several college builds in the past, and most have been mATX or ATX honestly, but ITX will still work great, so you should be fine in that regard.

Chugalug_ · Aug 30, 2016

Here's what to get for monitor/keyboard/mouse by the way.
If you don't want clicky keys, get this instead: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/kpfp99/dsi-keyboard-kbmodmacunon
Note that you should buy the keyboard NOW, as it is on sale, and is a great deal.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Monitor: Asus VN248H-P 23.8" Monitor ($110.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Rosewill RK-9000V2 Wired Standard Keyboard ($64.00 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder 2013 Wired Optical Mouse ($41.88 @ Amazon)
Total: $216.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-30 21:14 EDT-0400

Cubsfan15 · Aug 31, 2016

Could you recommend another keyboard and mouse as that is a little more than I was looking to spend? Also a good USB WiFi adapter?

Chugalug_ · Aug 31, 2016

Sure thing, get this combo instead, very good value: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823129060
Get the TP-Link Archer T4U, very good USB wireless choice.

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/qn3RsY/tp-link-wireless-network-card-archert4u

Cubsfan15 · Aug 31, 2016

Thanks man! I think I'll buy it! Glad you helped me with the build as well.

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