Rebuilding My Computer

[ryanskeltis]

Hi, Im looking to Shrink my gaming PC down from a Full Tower to a mATX. This is my Current Build.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/M7hf99
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/M7hf99/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card
Case: Thermaltake Chaser MK-I ATX Full Tower Case
Power Supply: Kingwin Lazer 1000W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 OEM (64-bit)




When I first built my computer, I didn't take into the fact on how big the full tower was actually going to be. I would like to shrink it down to a mATX board and a case. The case isnt the problem. I'm looking for details on the different Motherboards. I can't decide which one to go with. I have 2 SSD's and 2 HDD's and would like a 6Gb Sata 3 board.

Thanks

If it would be possible and I could just get a smaller case that would be even better, but from my research The smallest cases I have found are the corsair 540 air and the haf xb evo

 

[geofelt]

I did some research, and I think you will have a problem finding a M-ATX motherboard that is also suitable for a FX-8350.
Here is the link I used to assess motherboard suitability.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2383150/motherboard-tier-list.html

FWIW, I can highly recommend the Silverstone TJ-08E as a M-ATX case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163182

Since you are going to change out your motherboard, why not consider upgrading to Intel at the same time.
There are many very good M-ATX lga1150 motherboards available.

 

[getochkn]

The problem is, there isn't any real micro ATX boards for the AM3+ chips. There are a couple, and they are old, outdated chipsets, no USB 3.0, limited to 8-16GB of RAM, etc. It's a market missed out on by AMD. Plus the 8350 runs hot, too hot for a small case and would push any of the couple available boards VRM's to the max.

Either deal with your big case or you'll have to rebuild to an intel build if you want to go mAtx.

 

[ryanskeltis]

The problem is, there isn't any real micro ATX boards for the AM3+ chips. There are a couple, and they are old, outdated chipsets, no USB 3.0, limited to 8-16GB of RAM, etc. It's a market missed out on by AMD. Plus the 8350 runs hot, too hot for a small case and would push any of the couple available boards VRM's to the max.

Either deal with your big case or you'll have to rebuild to an intel build if you want to go mAtx.

Ok, Thank you for the help. Are there any cases you would recommend for my current motherboard?

I would like a smaller case. Not a full tower, this thing is a mammoth of a tower.

 

[fudgecakes99]

Yeah along with the fact i don't think putting a 7970 in such a small area is such a good idea i'm fairly certain the run hot as it is. I don't think confining it any more is so good.

 

[ryanskeltis]

I did some research, and I think you will have a problem finding a M-ATX motherboard that is also suitable for a FX-8350.
Here is the link I used to assess motherboard suitability.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2383150/motherboard-tier-list.html

FWIW, I can highly recommend the Silverstone TJ-08E as a M-ATX case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163182

Since you are going to change out your motherboard, why not consider upgrading to Intel at the same time.
There are many very good M-ATX lga1150 motherboards available.

I could sell my current computer and build a new one. Just not sure how to go about selling it haha

 

[fudgecakes99]

Smalls a relative term, to me that atx tower looks fairly small. I don't think you're gonna get any much smaller within the atx range, maybe save an inch or two?

 

[geofelt]

Your current case is 22.9 x 9.3 x 22.4.
Here is a NZXT source 210 that is 17.32" x 7.68" x 19.51"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146077

The Silverstone TJ-08e I referenced is 15.16" x 8.27" x 14.72"
I had a need for a case no deeper than 16"; they are hard to find.

If you want really small, consider a ITX size.
I am guessing that would entail a Intel motherboard also.

 

[ryanskeltis]

I did some research, and I think you will have a problem finding a M-ATX motherboard that is also suitable for a FX-8350.
Here is the link I used to assess motherboard suitability.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2383150/motherboard-tier-list.html

FWIW, I can highly recommend the Silverstone TJ-08E as a M-ATX case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163182

Since you are going to change out your motherboard, why not consider upgrading to Intel at the same time.
There are many very good M-ATX lga1150 motherboards available.

Yeah along with the fact i don't think putting a 7970 in such a small area is such a good idea i'm fairly certain the run hot as it is. I don't think confining it any more is so good.

I think I may sell my current one and use the money for a new one.. What kind of performance will i Notice going from the AMD 8350 to an intel CPU?

This was my first computer build. And I have learned a lot from I. I think its time to do another after selling This one to someone

 

[getochkn]

I did some research, and I think you will have a problem finding a M-ATX motherboard that is also suitable for a FX-8350.
Here is the link I used to assess motherboard suitability.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2383150/motherboard-tier-list.html

FWIW, I can highly recommend the Silverstone TJ-08E as a M-ATX case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163182

Since you are going to change out your motherboard, why not consider upgrading to Intel at the same time.
There are many very good M-ATX lga1150 motherboards available.

Yeah along with the fact i don't think putting a 7970 in such a small area is such a good idea i'm fairly certain the run hot as it is. I don't think confining it any more is so good.

I think I may sell my current one and use the money for a new one.. What kind of performance will i Notice going from the AMD 8350 to an intel CPU?

This was my first computer build. And I have learned a lot from I. I think its time to do another after selling This one to someone

It's actually a fairly good PC and you won't get nearly what you put into it and it's going to cost more to build an intel build that won't give a lot more performance for the probably $600+ you'd have to dump into it after selling your system, a bit more FPS isn't worth that, least IMO.

 

[fudgecakes99]

Why the hatred of big cases? Not enough room or just not aesthetically pleasing. Yeah if you wanna upgrade your rig it's gonna cost a pretty penny and you may not like the out come.

 

[ryanskeltis]

Why the hatred of big cases? Not enough room or just not aesthetically pleasing. Yeah if you wanna upgrade your rig it's gonna cost a pretty penny and you may not like the out come.

My case just takes up to much space in my room. I just made a replica of the haf xb evo out of some boxes and its not really that big. So i think i may go with one of the smaller cases

 

[fudgecakes99]

Well gl with the rebuild.