Help with performance Micro-atx/Small form factor PC

[roonieboy]

Hi all and thanks in advance for advice.

I have been a regular buyer of those expensive, high performance laptops which cost an arm and a leg and need replacing every 2 years or so. So i want to build a portable (say micro-atx) desktop for gaming and graphics/web design that sits on my desk at home and comes with me to the office. I'd like to incorporate an i7 860, 8mb ddr3 and a decent graphics card.

I am aware of power/heat/space restrictions of my planned build, and what i'm after is advice on any problems you might forsee as i have little technical know how in terms of specific dimensions and requirements of said components.

Case: In Win case BL634 Black micro ATX desktop / tower 300W PSU
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/37598/In-Win-case-BL634-Black-micro-ATX-desktop---tower

Motherboard:Intel motherboard DP55SB mATX
http://www.microdirect.co.uk /Home/Product/42736/Intel-motherboard-DP55SB-mATX

Cpu: Intel CPU Core i7 860 2.80GHz LGA1156
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/42198/Intel-CPU-Core-i7-860-2-80GHz-LGA1156--3-Year

These are some components i had in mind, but i'd love some feedback! Maybe a suitable psu could be a problem? Anyway, over to you....

Thanks

Arron

 

[xurwin]

first of all dont get that motherboard.
hmm. micro atx form. that wont do.

second: whats the budget?

third: intel or amd? i would go with intel

mobo:asus p7p55d e pro
cpu:core i5 750
gpu:asti hd 5850
ram:gskill ripjaws 4gb
psu:corsiar 650wats
hsf:cm hyper 212
hdd:seagate 500gb
dvd:sony 24x
case:antec 300 illusion

total:$1,053.93

 

[batuchka]

$1020AR with 64GB SSD in

 

[roonieboy]

xurwin,
Thanks for the reply. This looks like a pretty solid build, I like the gpu in particular, but my main requirement is a small form factor pc. This one looks a bit big for my needs.

second: whats the budget?

Sorry, should have stated this in the brief. Got an insurance payout on my faulty Vaio SZ to the tune of £1600 ($2400). So I could go all the way to that, but probably not necessary. I would also prefer an intel processor.

batuchka,
Looks nice. I have seen these cube type gaming rigs on my travels, but hadn't given them serious thought. I really like the look of this, and i also just found a link from the case you specced to one with a handle on the top which tickled my fancy. Do you think I would have to make too many concessions with the case I specified to make it do-able? I noticed even the machine you specced had only an i5 processor, is this down to a space issue?

thanks again

 

[batuchka]

The problem with that case u picked out is:
1. underpowered to run a mid/high end gaming set up
2. layout may not be ideal for a HD 58xx class GPU
3. non standard PSU form factor i.e TFX

I am actually specialising in SFF/HTPC/LANparty boxes these days and you would want to try to get modular PSU 80+ (better cable management, promotes better airflow in small cases) with healthy 12V amps on the 12V rails for a single GPU set up