So gonna build my second computer for college! Wondering what case size would be the best.

broidk

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Oct 22, 2015
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So I want to build a much smaller PC since the other on I built is a full tower. I wanna know just how much bigger a micro atx case would be than a mini itx. Also what could be the trade offs of each for factor. I already have a sapphire r9 390 because I upgraded my current PC to an asus strix gaming 1070, Would either card be able to fit in either of those two form factors, if not what would you recommend so that one of those cards could fit. I am working with a $1k budget and I want to be able to get the best hardware I can since I am gonna be going to college for computer science. I'd want to be able to get another i7 and 32 gb of ram and stuff so I really want to use one of my graphics cards that I already have.
I also kind of want to do a white build so white cases would be good, though if there are black cases that are far superior or just plain good please recommend those as well!

I do plan to do some gaming as well with this computer if that affects anything with the type of mobo/case I get between micro atx and mini itx

Thanks!
 

FD2Raptor

Admirable
Given the length of the Saphire R9 390, you probably wouldn't be able to fit it into an ITX case. Hell, some mATX case (and some cheapo ATX one) would still have trouble with that one.

Example mATX white build i7+32GB RAM:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($299.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI B150M MORTAR ARCTIC Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($184.99 @ B&H)
Storage: SK hynix SL308 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($77.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 390 8GB Nitro Video Card
Case: Corsair Air 240 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ B&H)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G3 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($91.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full - USB 32/64-bit ($106.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $996.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-01-11 07:23 EST-0500
 

broidk

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Oct 22, 2015
418
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I kind of wanted to get an i7 7700k or should I just get an i7 6700k since it is cheaper. How much of a performance increase is the 7700k over the 6700k? Also if I were to go with an K series would spending a little extra to get an AIO be a good idea or would OCing on a mATX not be that good. Also are there possibly any cleaner looking cases out there lol I am kind of one for simplicity and style ._.
 

FD2Raptor

Admirable
Performance wise, there's barely any difference between a 7700k and a 6700k, especially at the same clock. The 7700k has greater likelihood to hit higher clock (with sample out there getting to 5Ghz) but that's with an ATX MB and its full size power delivery system.

In term of OCing, you'd need not just a bigger investment in CPU/cooler but MB as well... an increase of ~$200+ compare to non overclocking config in MB/CPU/AIO cost, especially when the unlocked K CPU can require 50% more power than their locked non-K counterpart (numbers taken from Toms' review of the Kabylake CPU). You'd need a greater investment as well as silicon luck to get high OC in mATX.

In term of case, I underestimated the length of the card... the Air 240 can't really fit ~300mm card without removing the front fans and then cabling would still cause more problems so there are hardly any white mATX case out there that can accommodate such huge graphic card (one that could is the BitFenix Phenom but it's not quite suitable for AIO, it'd require extra fans to support an i7+R9 390 config and it'd place a hard limit on the length/depth of the PSU to accommodate long graphic card). The best bet is probably the Fractal Design Define Mini C w/Window.

So, if you want 7700k+Z270+AIO:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($349.89 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($96.99 @ Jet)
Motherboard: Asus STRIX Z270G Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($203.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($184.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Crucial MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($83.35 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 390 8GB Nitro Video Card
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini C with Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G3 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($91.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full - USB 32/64-bit ($106.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1258.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-01-11 10:41 EST-0500

***SK hynix SL308 is temporary replaced in the list because it's out of stock at the moment.

If you have a spare USB laying around, you can look to get an W10 OEM license instead of this USB+retail license version and create your own USB installation drive, saving yourself ~$15 with the bit of extra work. It's just the convenience of not have to put any more effort into the final part of the build, since a mATX build would take more time to put together nicely.

You could also opt for the older but still very good SuperNOVA G2 instead of the updated G3 to stave off another $20.

Non-K Kabylake, white innards:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($309.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H270M MORTAR ARCTIC Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($109.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($184.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Crucial MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($83.35 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 390 8GB Nitro Video Card
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini C with Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G3 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($91.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home Full - USB 32/64-bit ($106.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1026.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-01-11 10:43 EST-0500

P.S: Can't believe in the few hours between post, the B150M Mortar Arctic become discontinued and unavailable on all sites.
 

broidk

Honorable
Oct 22, 2015
418
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Oh maybe should've mentioned but I don't need an operating system. I already can get it whenever I need one lol(And it's not pirated if you thinking that xD). I really need to put that in there cause everyone puts it in their build lists but I never need to.
I never knew if size in mobo really played a factor in OCing just because I have only built an ATX size with a 6700k & asus maximus viii hero mobo. I think unless I really come to terms with not caring about OCing I might want to try a mid tower build so I can have a full ATX mobo so I can learn to OC, maybe I'll meet someone who can teach me at college xD idk.
But here is the two lists I came up with,
My worries on the mATX list is probably the mobo and the PSU(Not fitting in the case idk) but the mobo I just don't know if it's good or not.
mATX build: https://pcpartpicker.com/user/highnight/saved/jwNycf
Mid tower build: https://pcpartpicker.com/user/highnight/saved/G7zZLk