Shoot holes in my mini-ITX MMORPG only build

Hi all!

I need someone to shoot holes in my plan for my next PC build. Flame Away I have my asbestos suit on.

This PC build is *only* going to be used for MMORPG’s. Mainly for the new Star Wars: Old Republic MMO. But I’m also going to be playing the Champions Online that is going to be out in a few weeks.

The monitor is a Acer H233H ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=h233h ) that I use for my Xbox 360. This is a 1920 x 1080 monitor.

I’m trying to build the PC to be as small as possible and as cheaply as possible without being foolish.

Onto the specs...

Case: Silverstone SG05 $75 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163149 )

Motherboard: Zotac GF9300-D-E (mini-ITX, pci-e 2.0 x16, wifi) $140 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813500022 )

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual-Core E6300 2.8ghz $84 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116091 )

GPU: ASUS EAH4770 Radeon HD 4770 512MB $110 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121326 )

RAM: Patriot Viper 4GB (2x2) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $40 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820220293 )

Hard Drives: two Fujitsu MHY2080BH 2.5” 5,400rpm Raid 0 $free ( http://193.128.183.41/home/v3__pro [...] inf=&wg=15 )

My thoughts about the build...

I saw a SG05 case in person at a Micro Center and I knew that this was something different, and I would use this case on my next build. Because of the mini-ITX form factor I needed to use the Zotac motherboard to get pci-e 2.0. This motherboard can overclock but it doesn’t allow for a change in the CPU multiplier; so I didn’t go with the Intel E5200. I picked the ASUS 4770 because of 4850 performance when OC'ed and low power requirement (thanks Dirtmountain). At $40 the ram is cheap and good timings. I have these hard drives lying around so I thought I would try them in a RAID 0 before I pick my usual Seagate Barracuda 7200.12.

So what do you think?

(edited for the change from 4850 to 4770 GPU)

-Ecarus

If i were you i'd compromise on form factor and go with mATX in a shoebox casing - way better ventilation and longer GPUs. Standard modular 80+ certified PSU ftw hehe

I was considering mATX but it really isn't that much smaller than ATX. Mini-ITX is in another class of compactness.

This being used for only MMORPG's I don't need blazing fast FPS. So I think the system is very "Zen like" with the 300w 80+ PSU, short 4850 GPU, and small case with a 120mm fan and a lot of ventalation.

Thanks for the reply

-Ecarus

Neat idea, but I think batuchka is right. The PSU is FSP, but it might not have the juice. Ah, but dirtmountain comes to the rescue; a 4770 would work.

Good Idea! I have changed to the ASUS 4770

Thanks for the reply

-Ecarus

Well, it does have a lot of ventilation openings, and an Earthwatts 380 would run nice and cool in there.
Too bad there's no AM2+ socket board with a PCI-E x16 slot; that case just cries for my old 4850e...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.235851

I wouldn't mind going to an AMD CPU but I have yet to find an AMD socketed mini-ITX motherboard that has a pci-e 2.0 slot. That is what makes the Zotac board special.

It's not from the lack of trying.

Thanks for the reply

-Ecarus

Wow, ecarus, considering you've been crystal clear from the OP that you're going for a mini-ITX build, you were very kind up there.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103681

Obsidian: pay attention please.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] _-13136068

The PSU is made by FSP. Hardware Secrets did a good review of the PSU here ( http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/757/1 ). It's a well made true 300w 80%+ PSU.

Even though I think the PSU can support a 4850. I think I'm going to stick with the 4770 because of the less noise, heat, power of the 4770 even when overclocked.

Thanks for the reply.

-Ecarus

I'm using two older 2.5" 5,400rpm HD's because I have them and want to compare the RAID 0 speed to my normal single Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 drive.

The placement of the 2.5" drives in the case is better than a single 3.5" drive because the first drive goes where the DVD drive normally goes (above the fan). and I'll make a custom mount for the second drive. I can then remove the 3.5" HD cage which hangs in front of the fan.

If the RAID 0 5,400rpm drives can't keep up with a 7200.12 then I'll put one in. But I think they will be marginally better, and they are free so why not put them in.

Thanks for replying

-Ecarus

I think it's a great idea. Why wouldn't anyone want a nice, small computer. It's a powerful build too, only lacking a bit in overclocking potential. You should be able to max out most MMORPGs, even at high resloutions.