Mini-Itx gaming build <$800 USD

[Gregarius]

Hey folks - I'm looking to try to put together a low to mid-range gaming system. I just need the tower, I've got everything else. I'd like to stick with the Mini-Itx form factor for space reasons (and 'cause it's purty). As for graphics, I'm not a fanatic, I just want to be able to play games at a decent framerate at either 720 or 1080, anything higher is just plain gravy.

I don't need an OS, optical drive is entirely optional, and I'm hoping to be able to nab some of these components on special to drive the price down even more - but I'm a serious beginner at all of this stuff, so I'd love any comments, suggestions, etc.

I've done some basic config just so it's an idea of where to start:, cobbled together from what I read and what other folks were doing.

Part Picker List
CPU : Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard : ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard
Memory : Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage : Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card : Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card
Case : Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case
Power Supply : Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply

comes out to ~$750 USD

So please, any suggestions, comments, warnings are much appreciated!

~Daniel

 

[CTurbo]

Great build. I made a few improvements. If you could increase your budget $25-30, you could get a GTX970

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xPnxWZ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xPnxWZ/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.59 @ Directron)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4GB Tri-X Video Card ($249.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $758.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-20 22:27 EST-0500

 

[Gregarius]

Couple of questions:

1) I'm only running stock cooling, do you think I need to worry about this at all
2) i5-4460 vs i5-4570, what do I get here?

I like your suggestion about the GTX970 - for a small bump in price I can get a decent solid bump in graphics power.

Thanks for the help.

 

[CTurbo]

The 4570 is 200mhz faster AND $5 cheaper. The stock cooler is perfectly adequate although they tend to be a little on the loud side. It's something you could upgrade in the future if you want.