Mini-ITX build questions

[iyzik]

I am just about to start building myself a wooden computer case in my woodworking project (I have been in it for 10 years now) and I have a current small rig that I want to convert to a Mini-ITX rig in a completely custom wooden case. So I need some advice on the parts I have chosen and if there is anything I am forgetting or to change.

Components I have laying around that might be usefull and save money:
-Sapphire HD 6850 1GB
-XFX HD 6970 2GB
-EVGA GTX 550 Ti Superclocked 2GB
-ASUS 3870 512MB
-Intel Pentium G860
-Intel Core i7 3770 (coming from my full tower gaming rig cuz i replaced it with a 3770K)
-80mm Blue LED 3-Speed Case Fan
-Antec 450Watt PSU (very simple and good quality)
-120GB Seagate Barracuda OVER PATA (old PATA drive)
-4GB Team Xtreem 1600MHz RAM

Components I am looking at getting:
MoBo: ASRock H77M-ITX (only mini itx i found to support ivy)
SSD: Corsair Nova Series 2 30GB

So final build should be something like this:
MoBo: ASRock H77M-ITX
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770
Graphics: Sapphire HD 6850 (6970 might be too big but we'll see)
Memory: 4GB Team Xtreem 1600MHz
Storage: Corsair Nova Series 2 30GB SSD + ???? (need a cheap HDD all the ones on newegg are little too expensive and i dont need more than 160GB)
PSU: ????? (I could use the one I have but is there a smaller one anywhere that can still power an i7 with a high end dedicated GPU?)


Also keep in mind form factors really do not matter for the PSU cuz it will be all custom built custom mount i can make it anyway that the psu will fit

Thanks!

 

[aqualipt]

So final build should be something like this:
MoBo: ASRock H77M-ITX
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770
Graphics: Sapphire HD 6850 (6970 might be too big but we'll see)
Memory: 4GB Team Xtreem 1600MHz
Storage: Corsair Nova Series 2 30GB SSD + ???? (need a cheap HDD all the ones on newegg are little too expensive and i dont need more than 160GB)
PSU: ????? (I could use the one I have but is there a smaller one anywhere that can still power an i7 with a high end dedicated GPU?)


Also keep in mind form factors really do not matter for the PSU cuz it will be all custom built custom mount i can make it anyway that the psu will fit

Thanks!

No, your final build should look like this:

Motherboard: MSI Z77MA-G45
CPU: Intel i7 3770
GPU: 6970 or 7850
Memory: 8GB @1600Mhz
Storage: WD Caviar Blue 1TB + OCZ Vertex 4 64GB
PSU: OCZ-ZS550W <---perfect for the 6970

Make sure that your custom build case has the support for a Micro ATX motherboard ----> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroATX or you can use your imagination and "glue it" to case because wood is non conductive so your motherboard will not short


Edit: it would be great if you build something like this:

and my personal favorite...!!!

a wooden replica of the thermaltake level 10 GT

 

[COLGeek]

I think you could get away with one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151115

It is a Seasonic and they make some of the best PSUs on the market. I wouldn't OC with it, but at stock speeds (and good cooling) you should be fine.

Will your project have room for a standard ATX PSU? Or could it be designed to have room? That would obviously give you many more options.

Still, I think the Seasonic will do the trick.

 

[iyzik]

No, your final build should look like this:

Motherboard: MSI Z77MA-G45
CPU: Intel i7 3770
GPU: 6970 or 7850
Memory: 8GB @1600Mhz
Storage: WD Caviar Blue 1TB + OCZ Vertex 4 64GB
PSU: OCZ-ZS550W <---perfect for the 6970

Make sure that your custom build case has the support for a Micro ATX motherboard ----> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroATX or you can use your imagination and "glue it" to case because wood is non conductive so your motherboard will not short


Edit: it would be great if you build something like this:

http://www.itechnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/fivewood-wooden-pc-case.jpg

http://www.mydisguises.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/shinto-mod.jpg

and my personal favorite...!!!

http://cdn.ubergizmo.com/photos/2010/5/level-eleven-wooden-pc.jpg

a wooden replica of the thermaltake level 10 GT

Thank you for your advice but this looks like a build for an average Mid-Tower. The point of what I am building is to have it be as compact as possible while still retaining gaming power.
The MoBo you listed is 2 inches bigger than I'm looking for in both directions and a bit expensive. I am certainly not looking at buying a new GPU when I have a 6850 and a GTX 550 Ti laying around both of which are perfect size for this build.
As for the ram I am fine with 4 gigs for now.
And for the storage 1tb is wayy overkill I'm looking for something like 150GB for 40-50$ which doesn't seem to be on newegg.
Is there something wrong with the SSD I listed? (30gb is plenty for OS and bf3)

 

[iyzik]

I think you could get away with one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151115

It is a Seasonic and they make some of the best PSUs on the market. I wouldn't OC with it, but at stock speeds (and good cooling) you should be fine.

Will your project have room for a standard ATX PSU? Or could it be designed to have room? That would obviously give you many more options.

Still, I think the Seasonic will do the trick.

That is EXACTLY what I was looking for for a PSU. Thanks so much!

 

[aqualipt]

Thank you for your advice but this looks like a build for an average Mid-Tower. The point of what I am building is to have it be as compact as possible while still retaining gaming power.
The MoBo you listed is 2 inches bigger than I'm looking for in both directions and a bit expensive. I am certainly not looking at buying a new GPU when I have a 6850 and a GTX 550 Ti laying around both of which are perfect size for this build.
As for the ram I am fine with 4 gigs for now.
And for the storage 1tb is wayy overkill I'm looking for something like 150GB for 40-50$ which doesn't seem to be on newegg.
Is there something wrong with the SSD I listed? (30gb is plenty for OS and bf3)

*for 60$ you can get this: http://pcpartpicker.com/mr/newegg/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd5000aakx

*the 6850 is better than the GTX 550ti so use the 6850.

*There is nothing wrong with that SSD but the Vertex 4 is waaay faster and the extra capacity will give you a little bit more freedom to install a few things on it.

*take a look at the ASRock H77M

 

[aqualipt]

That is EXACTLY what I was looking for for a PSU. Thanks so much!

i am sorry to inform you that the 6850 requieres atleast a 500w PSU.

 

[iyzik]

i am sorry to inform you that the 6850 requieres atleast a 500w PSU.

No it doesn't. That's just BS that AMD and NVIDIA tell you so you won't burn anything out with too small of a PSU. I run my small rig on 450watt PSU with BOTH the 6850 and the GTX 550 Ti plugged in and running to seperate monitors.

@ the vertex SSD I'll take a look at that

 

[aqualipt]

No it doesn't. That's just BS that AMD and NVIDIA tell you so you won't burn anything out with too small of a PSU. I run my small rig on 450watt PSU with BOTH the 6850 and the GTX 550 Ti plugged in and running to seperate monitors.
@ the vertex SSD I'll take a look at that

i know i know... you can usually buy a PSU with 50-100w less than recomended but 150w less than recomended???? i dont think so..

Edit: you definetly can not use a 350w PSU, i just did the math with a PSU calculator and the recomended wattage (for the build with 550ti) is 360w

 

[iyzik]

i know i know... you can usually buy a PSU with 50-100w less than recomended but 150w less than recomended???? i dont think so..

The TDP on a 6850 is 127 watts and the i7 pulls like 85 watts I think. 350 should be fine. Considering it 100 watts less than what I currently use and I run a 116 watt GTX 550 Ti alongside the 6850.

Extreme PSU Calc tells me 250watts min 300 recommended

 

[iyzik]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/339650-33-radeon-6850-350w

 

[aqualipt]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/339650-33-radeon-6850-350w

wow...that really didnt proved anything but i dont think that running a psu @ its maximun capacity is recomended.

 

[iyzik]

wow...that really didnt proved anything but i dont think that running a psu @ its maximun capacity is recomended.

Well do the math I have a 450 watt PSU running a 6850 and a 550. 450-116=334. So if you take the 550Ti out of the equation you get 334 watts safely. So why would a 350watt be inadequate for a MAX of 334watts? (And according to extreme PSU calc, a MAX of 297watts.)????

If you really still don't think 350 will do it even after all the proof I just gave, how about this: Athena AP-TFX40 400 watt

 

[aqualipt]

Well do the math I have a 450 watt PSU running a 6850 and a 550. 450-116=334. So if you take the 550Ti out of the equation you get 334 watts safely. So why would a 350watt be inadequate for a MAX of 334watts? (And according to extreme PSU calc, a MAX of 297watts.)????

If you really still don't think 350 will do it even after all the proof I just gave, how about this: Athena AP-TFX40 400 watt

yes, but like i said, its not good to make a psu run at its maximun power, besides, did you add capacitor aging??

 

[iyzik]

yes, but like i said, its not good to make a psu run at its maximun power, besides, did you add capacitor aging??

I do not believe it would be running at max capacity but anyway is that Athena one quality enough? Athena's never seem to have very good reviews on newegg..

 

[aqualipt]

I do not believe it would be running at max capacity but anyway is that Athena one quality enough? Athena's never seem to have very good reviews on newegg..

i never really pay attention to newegg reviews, most of the time they are written by people who dont even own the product or simply dont know how to fix minor issues and they get all mad and rate the product with 1egg.

Anyways...pay attention only to professional reviews.

i couldnt find anything about athenas PSUs in the professional reviewing pages so i guess they are simply a side brand like raidmax, diablotek or thortech.

 

[iyzik]

i never really pay attention to newegg reviews, most of the time they are written by people who dont even own the product or simply dont know how to fix minor issues and they get all mad and rate the product with 1egg.

Anyways...pay attention only to professional reviews.

i couldnt find anything about athenas PSUs in the professional reviewing pages so i guess they are simply a side brand like raidmax, diablotek or thortech.

True... you are very right about that. Hmm I am thinking I will just stick to my current 450watt as I am looking at it now and all the graphics card extend out from the side of the case (mobo) just as far as the PSU so if the PSU is thinner it wont make a big difference becuase the graphics cards still force the case to be that wide. Plus it gives much better upgrade options.

So:

MoBo: ASRock H77M-ITX
CPU: Intel i7 3770
Graphics Card: HD 6850 / GTX 550 Ti / HD 6970 (depending on room available)
Memory: 4GB Team Xtreem 1600MHz
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 64GB
PSU: Antec 450 Watt

Yeah?

 

[aqualipt]

True... you are very right about that. Hmm I am thinking I will just stick to my current 450watt as I am looking at it now and all the graphics card extend out from the side of the case (mobo) just as far as the PSU so if the PSU is thinner it wont make a big difference becuase the graphics cards still force the case to be that wide. Plus it gives much better upgrade options.

So:

MoBo: ASRock H77M-ITX
CPU: Intel i7 3770
Graphics Card: HD 6850 / GTX 550 Ti / HD 6970 (depending on room available)
Memory: 4GB Team Xtreem 1600MHz
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 64GB
PSU: Antec 450 Watt

Yeah?

Yep, that seems great to me but...arent you gonna add a HDD? or atleast leave space for it?

 

[iyzik]

Yep, that seems great to me but...arent you gonna add a HDD? or atleast leave space for it?

Cool. Yep I will definitely have space for a couple HDDs but I might have to wait a few weeks to have enough $ to get one. If they sold a HDD that was ~80gb (cause SSD is now 64gb) for like ~35$ that would be perfect but HDDs just dont seem to go that low anymore.

 

[the_creed4]

Can't wait to see your case, i love mini itx (it's so adorable) and I always wanted to make my own case, but i never had the know-how, good luck

 

[iyzik]

Best answer selected by iyzik.

 

[Toneloc427]

You might find this open, mountable Mini-ITX case helpful for mounting the board with proper grounding, and for mounting the SSD/HDDs: http://www.logicsupply.com/products/ct100