New Build Mini ITX

[Kylla4]

Hi all,

I put up the components for a build the other day, but now that Black Friday sales are on, I sure could use your advice on whether the new parts I picked work together or if something is wrong. I built an office computer earlier this year and put in a Corsair HX650 PSU and an i5-2500K chip. Overkill...so I want to replace those with an i3-2105 and a Corsair CX430 PSU because it's a really good sale. There is a 500 GB WD HD and an optical drive in the office build, really nothing else. Just a printer hooked up (don't know if that matters) and a USB wireless adapter and a monitor. Will the 430 power that?

For the micro ATX build: I'll link what I'm getting from Newegg:

Coolermaster Elite 120 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119261&Tpk=coolermaster%20elite%20120

Asrock z77E-ITX $146 Superbiiz (is this place legit?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157312

MSI HD 7770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127687

G.Skill Ripjaws
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Seagate Momentus 720GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148599

ASUS DVD/CD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

TP Link Wireless Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704045

Any suggestions for something I'm doing wrong please let me know. If a wireless card will fit in there with that video card, I'd rather do that, too but I'm not sure it will. Any advice would be great since I have to start ordering before the sales are over and it takes me a while to hit that BUY button :lol:

Thanks so much!

 

[cutebeans]

Hi, what is this for? If it's only for office, it's still overkill.

 

[Kylla4]

Oh, I'm sorry - this one is for gaming. I have only played stuff like Diner Dash, but I want to start playing the other kinds of games - not multi player, but the more intensive games. I have a Qosmio x305-Q701 that I'm going to sell and it just isn't going to cut it. I don't want another laptop. I want to be able to fix things if I need to and get more perfomance on a budget. Thanks for your help!

 

[cutebeans]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($114.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($46.57 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $486.48
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-22 22:09 EST-0500)

Are you sure that your monitor needs to be hooked up to the PSU?

 

[Kylla4]

No, I have no idea what the monitor hooks up to - the back of the case :lol: I just want to make sure that when I steal the i5-2500k and the 650 power supply from the office build that the CX 430 will be enough to power it. The mini ITX I will put the HX650 that I steal and the i5-2500k. I'm trying to make the mini ITX a little future proof, too. I thought I needed the z77 board to get something from the i5-2500k. What is that something?

Is the i3-3220 an Ivy Bridge? The mobo I have in the office build that it's going into is a z68 Asrock (Extreme 3, Gen3) - will that work in there? Is it a lot better than the 2105? I really don't know how to determine that; I just saw that newegg had the 2105 for $105. Also, someone had recommended the Sapphire Vapor X 7770 for the same $115; is the HIS better? I'm sorry I'm so dumb LOL. Where did you learn all this, grrr, I just wish I knew how to learn it! I have a feeling my building days aren't over since prebuilt are so overpriced.

 

[cutebeans]

If you want a future proof build then you wouldn't get an ITX build lol. Oh, you already have a z68 extrem3 gen3 huh.

Now that is something I'm not sure of, =(

 

[Kylla4]

The Z68 is in the office build, though, that the i3 chip and the 430 PSU are going in. I know the ITX isn't perfect, but I have to carry it around a little LOL.

 

[Kylla4]

If you want a future proof build then you wouldn't get an ITX build lol. Oh, you already have a z68 extrem3 gen3 huh.

Now that is something I'm not sure of, =(

I went on Asrock's site and it looks like it does support that i3-3220 chip - that would be a step up from the 2105 right?

 

[cutebeans]

That would be a generation step up than the 2105.

 

[Kylla4]

That would be a generation step up than the 2105.

Told you I don't know what I'm doing LOL. I take it my $70 MSI 7770 find was no good? I know - you get what you pay for, but that seemed like such a good deal! I know nothing about video cards; the office build just uses the onboard graphics and I'll be using the speakers that came on the monitor (ASUS VH236H) for the gaming, at least for a while.

 

[cutebeans]

The 7770 is a good card if it's really true. Get it fast.

MSI is a good manufacturer for cards.

It's also a Ghz edition. Nice find.

 

[Kylla4]

The 7770 is a good card if it's really true. Get it fast.

MSI is a good manufacturer for cards.

It's also a Ghz edition. Nice find.

Oh YEA, I finally did something right? It only took a week of about 24/7 figuring out how to do this to find that LOL. Should I buy 5 and sell them on ebay? LOL, that would help pay for this thing...

 

[cutebeans]

I wouldn't lol! It's not easy to sell these kinds of things.

 

[Kylla4]

I wouldn't lol! It's not easy to sell these kinds of things.

Man, and here I thought I had a solution to pay for some of this. Ok, so I think I'm getting there - if you could just tell me the difference between the H77 and the Z77 board and if the 430 will be ok for the office build, I think I might be able to actually do this. Don't count on it, though, it gets here and I say where does that thingy plug in? LOL

 

[cutebeans]

to put it simply,

H77 motherboards are for non overclocking
z77 are for both non overclocking and overclocking.

 

[geofelt]

I have a few comments.

1. I like the ASRock Z77E-ITX. It has wireless N already, so you don't need a wireless usb dongle which will not perform well anyway.

2. The cm elite 120 is a decent case, and it is cheap. But, you will be limited to stock cooling or similar because of height limitations. And... you will probably want to overclock the "K".
I suggest the bitfenix prodigy. It costs a bit more, but should fit a decent cooler(cm hyper212) and everything else.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345017
Do check because there is limited space for the psu.
Actually the CX430 will be fine with a 7770, and it will certainly fit.

3. laptop hard drives are good on energy/battery saving, but not very good on performance.
Do yourself a favor and use a SSD of 120gb or larger. It will hold the os and a handful of games. You can always add a hard drive later.
Everything you do will be so much quicker. If you get 180gb or 240gb, you may never need a hard drive at all.
If you can't swing a ssd, look for a wd black which will be a better performer.

 

[Kylla4]

to put it simply,

H77 motherboards are for non overclocking
z77 are for both non overclocking and overclocking.

Listen, I don't know how you got to know me so well that quickly, but you're right - I almost guarantee I will never overclock this thing since I have no idea how to do it and I probably wouldn't notice the difference coming off a laptop and Diner Dash LOL.

 

[Kylla4]

I have a few comments.

1. I like the ASRock Z77E-ITX. It has wireless N already, so you don't need a wireless usb dongle which will not perform well anyway.

2. The cm elite 120 is a decent case, and it is cheap. But, you will be limited to stock cooling or similar because of height limitations. And... you will probably want to overclock the "K".
I suggest the bitfenix prodigy. It costs a bit more, but should fit a decent cooler(cm hyper212) and everything else.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345017
Do check because there is limited space for the psu.
Actually the CX430 will be fine with a 7770, and it will certainly fit.

3. laptop hard drives are good on energy/battery saving, but not very good on performance.
Do yourself a favor and use a SSD of 120gb or larger. It will hold the os and a handful of games. You can always add a hard drive later.
Everything you do will be so much quicker. If you get 180gb or 240gb, you may never need a hard drive at all.
If you can't swing a ssd, look for a wd black which will be a better performer.

Thank you so much for your help - I have a WD black in the office build (500GB), but I don't want to take it and lose all my office stuff and have to start over I will look for one. The reason I picked the 120 case is because I have to carry it in and out of the house twice a day LOL. The Bitfenix looks great, but it's bigger and I don't think I can carry it and store it as easily. I shouldn't have bought the k chip, because I don't think I will overclock it since I don't know how LOL. The CX 430 is actually going into the office build and I'm stealing the HX650 to put in this case. It's modular, so I think it will be easier in the smaller case. I have to go look for the WD black now LOL - thanks again...

 

[cutebeans]

I have a few comments.

1. I like the ASRock Z77E-ITX. It has wireless N already, so you don't need a wireless usb dongle which will not perform well anyway.

2. The cm elite 120 is a decent case, and it is cheap. But, you will be limited to stock cooling or similar because of height limitations. And... you will probably want to overclock the "K".
I suggest the bitfenix prodigy. It costs a bit more, but should fit a decent cooler(cm hyper212) and everything else.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345017
Do check because there is limited space for the psu.
Actually the CX430 will be fine with a 7770, and it will certainly fit.

3. laptop hard drives are good on energy/battery saving, but not very good on performance.
Do yourself a favor and use a SSD of 120gb or larger. It will hold the os and a handful of games. You can always add a hard drive later.
Everything you do will be so much quicker. If you get 180gb or 240gb, you may never need a hard drive at all.
If you can't swing a ssd, look for a wd black which will be a better performer.

I doubt she would need to fit an EVO there.

 

[Kylla4]

I doubt she would need to fit an EVO there.

What's an EVO? LOLOLOL See? I guess I don't need one...

 

[geofelt]

What's an EVO? LOLOLOL See? I guess I don't need one...

EVO is a model of the coolermaster Hyper 212 series of cpu coolers.
They are a very good value, selling for $30 or so.
I highly recommend one if it will fit in your case.
The larger 120mm fan cools better and is quieter.
You will eventually want to OC your"K" particularly when you learn now easy it is to do.
A better cooler lets you go higher and easier.
The backplate mount is easier for the novice(Intel pushpin mount can be tricky)