Recommendations on building a budget mini ITX computer

[vishnumrao]

I am looking to build a budget AMD Llano (A8-3850) based mini ITX computer. Planning to use this motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157273&Tpk=a75%20mini%20itx

I will be using the onboard graphics as its good for HD content. I don't game. I would like to use a regular power supply unit. Most ITX cases come with a PSU, but I would rather put in some standard PSU. I would rather use standard PSU, than some proprietary form factor PSU, which will cost quite a bit to replace.

Approximate Purchase Date: In a month

Budget Range: 400 total

System Usage from Most to Least Important: surfing the internet, watching movies, boxee, hulu

Parts Not Required: Keyboary, Mouse, ODD, HDD

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: amazon, newegg. Not a hard requirement

Country of Origin: ??

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: AMD Llano CPU ( or rather APU), mini ITX formfactor

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution:1920x1080

Additional Comments: Yeah quiet PC would be great. Plan to run Ubuntu.

Cases I have already checked out:

PC-Q07
PC-Q08
PC-Q11
SG05
SG06
SG07
ISK300
ISK310
ISK100

Not very keen on the ones that come with a PSU. But I will go with one, if the reviews are good and is easy to replace PSU, it PSU goes bust.

Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.

 

[Proximon]

I really doubt you can do that for $400, that way. Go mATX instead.

■ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
■Rosewill FBM-01 Dual Fans MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case
■Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
■ASRock A75M-HVS FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
■Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W Continuous Power ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
■G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBXL
TOTAL: $256.66

A6-3850
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-A8-3850-Graphics-Quad-Core-Processor/dp/B0055ZCXVE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317022590&sr=8-1

That will be about $400 after tax and shipping. The PSU will be failry quiet, but will not come with the external cord. Antec thinks you have plenty of those already.

I just used a DVD drive. Blu-ray is more of course.

 

[chulex67]

Challenge Accepted. give me 1 hour.

 

[chulex67]

CASE(can hold an a3850 system)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163149

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233141

CPU+MOBO (neweeg dont have in stock the a8, but they have the A6, which is good too.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.694235

Gaming video of a6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dRhTxcjPMY&feature=related

DVD PLAYER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118031

341dlls.

dont worry about the case and the psu, they are a great choice for your budget and the psu that comes with the case can run your system and a Low profile card latter.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

^---- gonna be hard to fit a micro-ATX motherboard in a mini-ITX case.

 

[Proximon]

Yep, but he may have a case there. I'll have to make inquiries about the PSU. Silverstone does have some PSU standards, so it's possible it's adequate.

Oh nice! It's been reviewed and passed.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/FSP300-60GHS-Power-Supply-Review/757

22A on the 12V also. That's a very nice PSU and case combo, but you need a decent ITX MB still.

At newegg there is only one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157273

 

[itxgamer]

Just a thought about the PSU, don't overdo it. My ASRock A75M-ITX with the Llano A8-3850 pulls 99 watts from the wall under full load (simultanious 3Dmark11, Prime95 and File Transfers)

 

[vishnumrao]

Oh Jeez, I did not realize that there were so many replies to to this thread. Maybe my email pushed all TomsHardware emails to junk? Let me review and reply on what I think about the answers.

Thanks for all your replies. Sorry in the delay in replying to this thread.

Quick reply to itxgamer: I can't find any 200W or less PSU that is 80 Plus certified. I agree that 300W + PSU is overkill. 150W is plenty for a AMD FM1 based desktop.

 

[vishnumrao]

@ all replies:
I am set on an ITX machine. mATX will not work for me! Space constraints! Budget is a little flexible. But not by a whole lot. Still I would like to fit within 400.

 

[vishnumrao]

@ all who replied:

Here is what I used to build my ITX system:

Case: Antec ISK 310-150. Cost: 79.99 + tax @ Frys= $86.8
CPU ( or rather APU): AMD Llano A8-3850 from Frys: 134.99 + tax = 146.5
Mobo: Asrock A75m-itx. = 89.99 @ Amazon
RAM: Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2x4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX. 39.99 @ Amazon
HDD ( or SSD): Kingston SSDNow V100 64 GB SATA II 3 GB/s 2.5 inch Solid-State Drive SV100S2/64GZ : 102.99 - 40 MIR = 62.99 @ Amazon

Total: 87 + 146.5 + 90 + 40 + 63 = 426.5 $

I am reusing lcd screen, keyboard, mouse, speakers etc. OS is Ubuntu 11.10. The system runs pretty good! I am happy so far. The fans were a bit noisy. Once I enabled temperature based cpu fan control, fan noise came down to acceptable levels. The case fan is a Antec 80 mm tricool fan, with 4 manual speed settings. It is very noisy in the high speed settings. But acceptable noise at lowest speed setting.

Also, I have had to place the system vertically. Placing it horizontally is my preferred choice, but I am able to get better cooling with vertical positioning, as the vents line up at the bottom of the case and the upper vent where the tricool case fan pushes warm air out!

Oh, BTW, I tried the MI008 case. I don't recommend this case. There is not enough clearance to fit a heatsink for a more powerful processor like this A8-3850. Also, there are no case fans. So heat is definitely going to be a major problem.

With the ISK 310-150, my only concern is that the peak power sometimes hits 130-135 watts during bootup. But the full load power consumption at 100% CPU utilization is just under 100W. So the 150W PSU works great, except for a minor concern at bootup.

So far so good!

 

[vishnumrao]

Best answer selected by vishnumrao.