Mini ITX Build Check

[raze_rob]

Hi, I wanted to check the parts that I have already purchased. I have been planning this build for a while and decided on these parts. I'm going to use this pc for gaming, streaming and light office work.

It will be build in a bitfenix prodigy case that was given as a gift.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345021

I was wondering if there was going to be any glaring issues I need to worry about with space or software.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/MxQTt6

 

[iron8orn]

cool case!

Well nothing wrong it but you could make it better with a 250gb Samsung SSD and 16gb of ram.

 

[logainofhades]

No issues at all. That is a nice build, there. Pretty much how I would build it. :lol: Maybe 16gb of ram vs 8gb, but not necessary.

 

[sadams04]

I'm going to use this pc for gaming, streaming and light office work.

CPU - The Xeon is nice, but the relatively "slow" clock rate has it behind some i5 processors for the workloads you laid out. For your non-overclocking purposes, a good case could be made for the 4460. It is Haswell Refresh and is a whopping 200 MHz behind the Xeon. I would recommend the 4460, or step up the a Z97 motherboard with the 4960k CPU. If you were doing intense video work or editing, then there is a better case for the Xeon or i7.
MB - Changed to the Gigabyte ITX (with the same features).
GPU - The EGVA below is the same price and has a higher clock rate (slightly faster).
PSU - Good choice. The XFX below is of the same high quality and is a bit cheaper.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.77 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Orange) Mini ITX Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: BitFenix Spectre Pro 156.3 CFM 230mm Fan ($19.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1022.68

 

[raze_rob]

Thanks I figured I could upgrade the ram and SSD later on.

 

[iron8orn]

There is nothing wrong with the Xeon raze chose as it is a i7 4770 and the i5 you stuck in certainly not of the same caliber.

 

[sadams04]

There is nothing wrong with the Xeon raze chose as it is a i7 4770 and the i5 you stuck in certainly not of the same caliber.

Single threaded performance between the Xeon 1231 V3 and i5-4460 is going to be VERY VERY VERY similar. The additional 200MHz and 2MB L3 cache of the Xeon will NOT be noticed. If this was a comparison of the 1231 v3 and an i5-4960 it would be a clear win for the i5 having a high clock speed and turbo speed. However, as we all know, there is no need to go with anything "above" the 4460 unless overclocking. This is a gaming build which mean hyperthreading should have very little to do with the decision process. Four cores of a Haswell Refresh CPU is all that is needed here. If you are considering hyperthreading from a future-proofing perspective, then that CPU need a higher clock speed before getting into this conversation (or the ability to overclock).

 

[iron8orn]

...I will let logain debate with you if he wants too but your saying the 200mhz does not matter then you finish by saying it is not enough not to mention it would help with streaming and when a game can use more threads a higher clock is less important since the load is spread out..

just baffling you are so later

 

[logainofhades]

I'm going to use this pc for gaming, streaming and light office work.

CPU - The Xeon is nice, but the relatively "slow" clock rate has it behind some i5 processors for the workloads you laid out. For your non-overclocking purposes, a good case could be made for the 4460. It is Haswell Refresh and is a whopping 200 MHz behind the Xeon. I would recommend the 4460, or step up the a Z97 motherboard with the 4960k CPU. If you were doing intense video work or editing, then there is a better case for the Xeon or i7.
MB - Changed to the Gigabyte ITX (with the same features).
GPU - The EGVA below is the same price and has a higher clock rate (slightly faster).
PSU - Good choice. The XFX below is of the same high quality and is a bit cheaper.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.77 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Orange) Mini ITX Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: BitFenix Spectre Pro 156.3 CFM 230mm Fan ($19.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1022.68

You talk about the so called slow clock rate and suggest an even slower chip? You make absolutely no sense at all.

 

[raze_rob]

I picked the CPU so that it would help with cpu heavy activities like streaming so I thought it was a good choice and from what I'm hearing it seems like it was.

 

[sadams04]

What I am struggling with is why you guys think four cores at 3.4GHz is leaps and bounds better than four cores at 3.2GHz that will turbo to 3.4GHz. ...and at a 25% cost increase. Streaming and light office work won't even show a blip on the performance chart on a basic dual core machine. At a cost of $342.98 for the H97 MB + Xeon CPU, the better choice would be to overclock a 4960k on a Z97 motherboard. Four cores at 4.5+ GHz would smoke either the Xeon or 4460. Again, I don't feel hyperthreading belongs in this conversation without a workload that supports it (CAD / CAM / modeling / Adobe/ etc..).

 

[mdocod]

Only changes I would have made is the MSI H97I AC motherboard instead of that ASRock, and a 256GB MX100 instead of the 128GB since 128GB doesn't go far.

 

[logainofhades]

Overclocking costs more, by the time you add a Z97 board and aftermarket cooling. Being an ITX case, if you want to overclock, you are probably going to be looking at something like a Seidon 120xl or H80i. Overclocking isn't worth the added cost. Only reason I have a k series is Microcenter and needing something same day. I wish I had a Xeon to be honest. I do other things, at the same time, while gaming.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($248.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $338.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-24 17:06 EST-0500


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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97E-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $419.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-24 17:06 EST-0500



Asrock > MSI. I do agree that the 256gb would be more useful.