Good cheap miniatx comuter

[bloodblitz0]

so my brother's laptop is finally getting too old and can only run minecraft at 5 fps, so he needs a new computer. he doesnt want a netbook so he asked me to build him a mini computer. The only thing he will need it for is to run minecraft, use the internet and play a couple fps games.
Approximate Purchase Date: Would like to order in the next 2 weeks

Budget Range: up to $500 but preferably $400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Mainly a gaming machine, surfing the net.

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com

Country of Origin: US

Parts Preferences:Best quality for cheap products

Overclocking: Probably not.

SLI or Crossfire: No.

Monitor Resolution: 1360x786

______________________________________________________________
CASE:COOLER MASTER Elite 360 RC-360-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mini Tower Computer Case $40

CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 255 Regor 3.1GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor ADX255OCGMBOX $63

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-880GM-D2H AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $80

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM $47

Power Supply: FSP Group SAGA+ 400R 400W ATX12V Power Supply $45

GPU:XFX HD-567X-YNF3 Radeon HD 5670 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card with Eyefinity $80

HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $50

CD\DVD: LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24LS50 LightScribe Support - OEM $21

Wireless adapter: SYBA SY-ADA23015 USB 2.0 Wireless Dongle

The total is $436

 

[WR2]

Hello bloodblitz0;

Checkout this NewEgg combo deal. $290
Add your HD 5670 and Wireless dongle and you're at $380

 

[ScrewySqrl]

a few changes:

Rosewill R-102 is $29.99, small microATX case with a 120mm fan.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

I'd pay the extra $8 for a Triple-core Athlon II X3 435 (2.9 GHz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103920

get the Antec 380W 80+ Bronze PSU for the smae price, much more reliable
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

Get the Seagate 500 GB drive for $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

and a cheaper DVD burner, $17.99 w/ free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

thsi saves about $26 total

 

[bloodblitz0]

Hello bloodblitz0;

Checkout this NewEgg combo deal. $290
Add your HD 5670 and Wireless dongle and you're at $380

the thing is my little brother wants a really small computer case so he wouldnt want a midtower

 

[batuchka]

If Microcenter is an option

X4 840 + Gigabyte 760G $99.99
http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html

Items from Egg

$168

HD 5770 $99AR Free Ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131330&cm_re=HD_5770-_-14-131-330-_-Product

$368AR in total

 

[Crashman]

the thing is my little brother wants a really small computer case so he wouldnt want a midtower

So you're really looking for a Mini ITX computer. Or a DTX. But since DTX boards are rare, perhaps an ITX board in a DTX case.

 

[WR2]

CASE:COOLER MASTER Elite 360 RC-360-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mini Tower Computer Case $40

You can probably guess why your initial post did not make that clear.
So you want to smallest possible case you can still stick a gaming video card inside. We can do that for you.

 

[Crashman]

the thing is my little brother wants a really small computer case so he wouldnt want a midtower

Silverstone SG05 case with 450W power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163171
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H55N-USB3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128448
CPU: Intel Core i3-540
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115221
Graphics: HD 5770 with Blower style cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447
DVD-RW: Samsung Slimline
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151221
Cable adapter for notebook DVD-RW:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812186124&cm_re=Mini_SATA-_-12-186-124-_-Product

Pick a hard drive and add the OS. That case can also support more powerful graphics cards, I just had one pass with a heavily overclocked GTX 560 Ti.

The system I laid out only pulls about 260W from the socket, max, so you could "get by" with a smaller power supply. I like to leave room for upgrades.

 

[bloodblitz0]

So you're really looking for a Mini ITX computer. Or a DTX. But since DTX boards are rare, perhaps an ITX board in a DTX case.

Sorry that's what i meant but i accidentally mixed them. i will change the title, and does microcenter ship?

 

[bloodblitz0]

Silverstone SG05 case with 450W power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163171
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H55N-USB3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128448
CPU: Intel Core i3-540
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115221
Graphics: HD 5770 with Blower style cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447
DVD-RW: Samsung Slimline
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151221
Cable adapter for notebook DVD-RW:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812186124&cm_re=Mini_SATA-_-12-186-124-_-Product

Pick a hard drive and add the OS. That case can also support more powerful graphics cards, I just had one pass with a heavily overclocked GTX 560 Ti.

The system I laid out only pulls about 260W from the socket, max, so you could "get by" with a smaller power supply. I like to leave room for upgrades.

do you think that the i3 is worth the 40 dollars extra or should i just get an amd 3 core because all my little bro wants to use it for is playing minecraft and surfing the internet

 

[Crashman]

do you think that the i3 is worth the 40 dollars extra or should i just get an amd 3 core because all my little bro wants to use it for is playing minecraft and surfing the internet

You said "a couple FPS games"...

Newegg has a couple 890G-chipset ITX boards for which you have several, lower cost AMD CPU choices.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

you could get an 880G and a triple core AMD chip, plus a 460 GPU and the small Rosewill 102 case for under $500

 

[bloodblitz0]

You said "a couple FPS games"...

Newegg has a couple 890G-chipset ITX boards for which you have several, lower cost AMD CPU choices.

i know that he will want to play games like call of duty modern warfare 2 on it it but what im asking is that it the dual core i3 WORTH the 40 dollars extra compared to the 3core amd because if it is then i will get it

 

[Crashman]

i know that he will want to play games like call of duty modern warfare 2 on it it but what im asking is that it the dual core i3 WORTH the 40 dollars extra compared to the 3core amd because if it is then i will get it

It's probably worth less than the $40 difference.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

i know that he will want to play games like call of duty modern warfare 2 on it it but what im asking is that it the dual core i3 WORTH the 40 dollars extra compared to the 3core amd because if it is then i will get it

Considerably less considering that you also have to pay the difference in the cost of the motherboard.

AMD Athlon II X3 450: $79.99
ASRock 880GM Motherboard: $59.99
total: $139.98

i3-540: $119.99
AS Rock H55 mobo: $64.99
$184.98

the $45 difference is roughly the difference between, say, a HD5770 and HD 6850, or GTX 460 and GTX 560, or an HD6870 and HD 6950

 

[Crashman]

Considerably less considering that you also have to pay the difference in the cost of the motherboard.

AMD Athlon II X3 450: $79.99
ASRock 880GM Motherboard: $59.99
total: $139.98

i3-540: $119.99
AS Rock H55 mobo: $64.99
$184.98

the $45 difference is roughly the difference between, say, a HD5770 and HD 6850, or GTX 460 and GTX 560, or an HD6870 and HD 6950

Where is he going to find ANY ITX board for $60-65?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

thats uATX, Crashman.

If your budget is $400-500, uATX is small enough

 

[bloodblitz0]

? i dont get it

 

[Crashman]

? i dont get it

He says to build bigger to save money.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

here is the full build was thinking of:

AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz Processor : $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886

ASRock 880GM motherboard: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157199

G.Skill 4gb DDR3-1333 kit: $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB Hard drive: $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

DVD Burner: $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200048

EVGA GTX 460-768MB Superclocked: $139.99 w/ $30 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130564
comes with 2 free games

Corsair 430W Builder series: $39.99 w/20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017
28 Amps on the 12v rail is enough to handle the video card safely.

Rosewill P-102 Micro ATX mini-tower: $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

1 80mm fan: $1.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150007

1 120mm fan: $4.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200048

total: $454.90
shipping: $12.81
$467.71 total, $417.71 after $50 in rebates

 

[bloodblitz0]

here is the full build was thinking of:

AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz Processor : $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886

ASRock 880GM motherboard: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157199

G.Skill 4gb DDR3-1333 kit: $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB Hard drive: $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

DVD Burner: $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200048

EVGA GTX 460-768MB Superclocked: $139.99 w/ $30 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130564
comes with 2 free games

Corsair 430W Builder series: $39.99 w/20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017
28 Amps on the 12v rail is enough to handle the video card safely.

Rosewill P-102 Micro ATX mini-tower: $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

1 80mm fan: $1.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150007

1 120mm fan: $4.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200048

total: $454.90
shipping: $12.81
$467.71 total, $417.71 after $50 in rebates

thats actually a pretty good build and my little brother likes that case so i think he will want this

 

[bloodblitz0]

Best answer selected by bloodblitz0.