Advice for ITX Gaming System

[xooomer]

Hi,

Am looking for advice for an ITX Gaming System. Games played include Divinity Original Sin, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, XCom etc. Don't really play MMORPG. Mostly Single Player games. Don't mind not playing on high settings.

Am thinking of the following but not sure if components complement each other:
1) i3 4130 + ASRock H81-ITX ($333). Is i5 necessary for type of games I play?

2) Crucial Value Ram DDR3 1600 8GB ($96)

3) Samsung EVO 840 250GB SSD ($159)

4) FD Node 304 casing ($115) or Jonsbo V3+ ($79) or CM 120 ($85). All 3 looks sleek to me but am worried about overheating. Are all 3 suitable for a gaming system?

5) FSP HEXA 300W PSU ($39). Is it sufficient? Thought of getting the 450W one to be safe. Or do I need a modular PSU for ITX system to prevent overheating but quite expensive.

6) GPU - Not decided on this one. Currently using a Radeon 4650 (3 yrs old and dying). Looking at Leadtek GTX740 ($142), ZOTAC GTX750 ($179) or Palit GT740 ($145). Not sure the difference between the 3. My budget not more than $180 but don't wish to get an overkill type of GPU for the games I play.

For point 5 and 6, I also need to take into account the dimensions as different ITX cases have different max dimensions for PSU and GPU.

I am quite budget-conscious so would appreciate any advice on reducing overkill. Also hope the system can last me for another 3 yrs at least.

Thank you so much for helping

 

[Ark Law]

I was thinking you could get a Pentium (G3240/G3258) and then use the savings so that you can get a 750ti instead.

In a few years time, you could still swap out the Pentium for a 2nd hand i5/i7 on the cheap if you need it anyways

 

[bagger 288]

Zotac 750ti marketplace have 1 guy selling $180 iirc.
Don't know still available. I bought 1 piece from him.

 

[xooomer]

BTW, I have a current rig which is running on AMD Athlon X2 255. Was looking at i3 because I think the leap in performance more significant. Not sure if the CPUs suggested actually gives me that leap in performance. Was initially considering the i5 4460 but not sure if the quad core is really useful for my usage style. I also don't do video editing.

 

[Alternative X]

1) Since you are on a budget, i3 also can. You will only get a slight hit in gaming performance. i5 is more for mainstream gaming and true video editors tend to look for a i7 or the Intel Xeon series.

3) Wow, thats a very good pricing for a Samsung EVO 840 250GB. Is that Amazon prices?

4) FD Node 304
GPU max length: 310mm
Fans: 2X front 92mm, 1X rear 120mm

CM Elite 120
GPU max length: 343mm
Fans: 1X front 120mm, 1X rear 80mm, 1X HDD 120mm

Jonsbo V3+
GPU max length: 210mm (estimated)
Fans: 4X 80mm

Your choice.

5) No no no, systems with entry level GPU has a peak load of approx 280W, thats way too little headroom. Get the 450W version. If you do not mind spending a bit more, get the Thermaltake Smartpower 530W modular for $75 so that you can slap on a more powerful GPU in the future.

6) If you do not mind not playing at high, get a GTX750 at least. However, I think you should spend a bit more money for GTX 750ti as that card offers the most value for money. Entry level cards like the GT 740 tends to offer the worst value for your money.

 

[kimaking]

1) Since you are on a budget, i3 also can. You will only get a slight hit in gaming performance. i5 is more for mainstream gaming and true video editors tend to look for a i7 or the Intel Xeon series.

3) Wow, thats a very good pricing for a Samsung EVO 840 250GB. Is that Amazon prices?

4) FD Node 304
GPU max length: 310mm
Fans: 2X front 92mm, 1X rear 120mm

CM Elite 120
GPU max length: 343mm
Fans: 1X front 120mm, 1X rear 80mm, 1X HDD 120mm

Jonsbo V3+
GPU max length: 210mm (estimated)
Fans: 4X 80mm

Your choice.

5) No no no, systems with entry level GPU has a peak load of approx 280W, thats way too little headroom. Get the 450W version. If you do not mind spending a bit more, get the Thermaltake Smartpower 530W modular for $75 so that you can slap on a more powerful GPU in the future.

6) If you do not mind not playing at high, get a GTX750 at least. However, I think you should spend a bit more money for GTX 750ti as that card offers the most value for money. Entry level cards like the GT 740 tends to offer the worst value for your money.

If I'm not wrong, from qoo10, self collection at bizgram.

 

[MacClipper]

Maybe also consider these 2 upcoming Corsair cases too - Carbide Air 240, Graphite 380T

The Graphite 380T kinda reminds me a lil' bit of... Mike Wazowski!

 

[Ark Law]

If I'm not wrong, from qoo10, self collection at bizgram.

If you can buy it for a good price from q0010 via an SLS retailer, that means you can get it for the same price or lower from other SLS retailers as well.

 

[bloo1998]

Maybe also consider these 2 upcoming Corsair cases too - Carbide Air 240, Graphite 380T

The Graphite 380T kinda reminds me a lil' bit of... Mike Wazowski!

That carbide air looks amazing!
mAtx or itx?

 

[prezioso]

That carbide air looks amazing!
mAtx or itx?

both also can

 

[bloo1998]

both also can

Wah...throw away my 200R case get this better

 

[mav3rick]

silverstone rvz01? ml07?

im waiting for silverstone ftz01 though. same interior just tt exterior is different design...

 

[KeYoKe]

if getting the FD Node 304, carbide 240 and graphite 380T, i rather stick with matx build

 

[royfrosty]

keyoke is right.

furthermore if you have budget constrains, don't go small. Small doesn't mean cheap. Its a slight premium to pay for for mobo + cpu combo.

Other things like chassis for the size you are paying is slightly more expensive.

Might wanna state your budget for the entire rig so that we can help you out further.

 

[Ark Law]

Other things like chassis for the size you are paying is slightly more expensive.

The smaller, the more expensive. ITX builds cost more and you compromise cable management space & limit expansion. UCFF builds like NUC & Brix are tremendously small, but force you to purchase more costly hardware & give up on any internal expansion.

 

[coyote]

I was thinking you could get a Pentium (G3240/G3258) and then use the savings so that you can get a 750ti instead.

In a few years time, you could still swap out the Pentium for a 2nd hand i5/i7 on the cheap if you need it anyways

First of all, the motherboard always dies before the CPU.

Secondly, when new CPU is released, a new chipset is always released to compliment.

So, this swap out old CPU and put in a new CPU in an old board scenarios almost rarely or never happens.

Just buy, use and buy new one. Forget about upgrading or future proof whatever.

 

[Quest]

Maybe also consider these 2 upcoming Corsair cases too - Carbide Air 240, Graphite 380T

The Graphite 380T kinda reminds me a lil' bit of... Mike Wazowski!

i wanted the Carbide Air 240 for my nxt rig...any idea if sg have stock already?

 

[MacClipper]

That carbide air looks amazing!
mAtx or itx?

both also can

Yeah lagi best, both mITX and mATX too.
Introducing the new Carbide Series Air 240 High Airflow MicroATX and Mini-ITX PC Case

Wah...throw away my 200R case get this better

i wanted the Carbide Air 240 for my nxt rig...any idea if sg have stock already?

Should be very soon enough, Corsair had just sent me my test sample.

Best contact the local distro if wanna chope 1st batch.

 

[Ark Law]

So, this swap out old CPU and put in a new CPU in an old board scenarios almost rarely or never happens.

Just buy, use and buy new one. Forget about upgrading or future proof whatever.

Rightly so. Hence I'm very interested in looking at a refined gaming Brix in 2 years time. I no longer see the point of having a gaming rig of an ATX case mid-tower or larger unless going for custom WC.

 

[Quest]

Yeah lagi best, both mITX and mATX too.
Introducing the new Carbide Series Air 240 High Airflow MicroATX and Mini-ITX PC Case

Should be very soon enough, Corsair had just sent me my test sample.

Best contact the local distro if wanna chope 1st batch.

wao...going to post any review thread on it?