Advice for custom mITX or MATX Gaming PC

[Ferrel]

It has been a very long time since I've built a PC. So long mITX and mATX weren't really options then. I'd love someone to help me with a small form factor build that would be "middle of the road gaming." The budget is around $1000-$1200.

I'd like to stick to Intel and Nvidia. I'd prefer to shop at NewEgg but Amazon is fine too if it involves savings (or somewhere else if there is a newer place). I don't plan to overclock. One other rub, if possible, I'd like to get 16 GB of ram.

Thank you in advance!

 

[jimthenagual]

Here's what I came up with for a mini-ITX build.
-the case is probably your deciding factor. I'd start by looking at the microATX / mini-ITX cases and choose what you like. There is SUCH a wide range for small form factor cases it really matters what your priority is. The case I have chosen is one of the larger mini-ITX cases. There are much smaller out there, but then you become more limited in what can fit (i.e., graphics card and PSU sizes become smaller).
-I'd recommend getting a GPU with a reference style fan, as they blow air out the back of your case instead of inside like most aftermarket style fans do. Important for small form factor, although with the case I have chosen not so important as it is quite well ventilated.
-For the PSU, again it depends on the case you get. For the one I have chosen I went with a fully modular for better cable management.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.81 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($329.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 250D Mini ITX Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1120.66
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-26 09:33 EDT-0400

 

[DonkeyOatie]

This thread

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2328703/build-log-mini-itx-middle-school.html

Is the configuration and build of the mini-ITX system I'm working on now. I'm using one of the smaller cases. It uses many of the components from the build above.

If I were building the system today for someone else the changes I would make are:

Buy the most cost effective i5 CPU available at the time (prices and rebates change)
I need WiFi, but you may not, so a different or cheaper motherboard might work. I am satisfied with the ASRock.

You need to add a GTX970 GPU to taste, an OS, and a Monitor, if you need one.

jimthenagaul's built above is excellent even though I would make some other choices.

Here is a site with more mini-ITX ideas.

http://www.techbuyersguru.com/miniITX.php

The Silverstone FT03-mini is a good and interesting case, if the styling suits you.

 

[Ferrel]

Thank you to the folks above! I was going the total wrong direction. I was able to use your resources and this is what I came up with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.79 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($329.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 250D Mini ITX Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1120.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-27 10:11 EDT-0400

 

[jimthenagual]

That will be an amazing system. Make sure when you're done post a picture of it in the member's system gallery, there are a lot of people who love a good mini-ITX build.

 

[logainofhades]

i7 4770 performance, and still in budget. Do not need the cooler, but wanted to give the option. Only a little more than your build without the cooler.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($248.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS8900 Quiet CPU Cooler ($32.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.93 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($329.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1164.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-27 10:33 EDT-0400

$1131.80 minus the cooler.

 

[sadams04]

Thank you to the folks above! I was going the total wrong direction. I was able to use your resources and this is what I came up with:

Minor changes...

CPU - The 4670 offers a 200MHz difference over the 4460. ...not a noticeable difference and less cost. The important part is sticking with a Haswell Refresh offering.
MEM - Changed to 16GB of DDR3-1600 CL9 modules.
SSD - The MX100 will go head-to-head with the EVO in most instances. Both are good budget minded choices, however the Crucial being cheaper and 8GB larger gets the nod.
GPU - Changed to a GTX 970 with higher factory clock settings ("faster").
CASE - Changed to the Elite 130.

Enjoy that build!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($141.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.93 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($83.24 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($345.66 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.29 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1146.04