A new PC for everyday use - micro atx / mini itx

[finsaah]

I currently don’t meet windows upgrade requirements so need a new PC

It’s for everyday office/home type use with some light audio and video editing/conversion, music player and maybe plex server.

Not for gaming (unless very light), so ideally no separate graphics card.

Micro atx or mini itx MB - Ideally to fit inside a lazer3d cravo 7 (while it’s still available here)

Will have music, movies media etc storage separately in nas or whatever.

So CPU, MB, PSU, SSD and RAM basically unless anything else would be needed (fans etc)


Budget isn’t really an issue. Doesn’t need to be overkill but would like it to take whatever general programs I put on it and be as long lasting for future windows versions as possible.


I’m well out of the loop and don’t know the latest MB/CPU combos to go for or wheher Intel or AMD so any help here appreciated.

 

[dfour]

Looking at the spec of the Lazer3d cravo 7 this should fit and give you all the power you need.

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x MSI MPG B650I Edge WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 Mini ITX Motherboard (SKU: MB-374-MS) = £249.95
• 1 x TeamGroup Delta RGB 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-44800C30 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FF3D532G6000HC30DC01) (SKU: MY-0B8-TG) = £109.99
• 1 x Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 Low Profile CPU Cooler - 92mm (SKU: HS-041-NC) = £44.99
• 1 x be quiet! TFX 3 300W Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-14F-BQ) = £64.99
• 1 x WD Black SN770 1TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS100T3X0E) (SKU: HD-58F-WD) = £69.95
• 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 8600G Six Core 4.3GHz (Socket AM5) APU with Radeon 760M Graphics (SKU: PRO-AMD-01797) = £218.99
• 2 x Noctua NF-A9x14 PWM Fan - 92mm (SKU: FG-015-NC) = £17.95

Total: £794.76 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

 

[finsaah]

Thanks for the response dfour

Though now I look at that figure, maybe budget is a bit more of an issue than I thought! I’d like to have a bit more left for a nas enclosure

Is there anyway to come in under £600 for what I need or is that just how much it is these days?

Would I need to go for mATX and rethink the case?

I do like that case though…

 

[Tetras]

Would I need to go for mATX and rethink the case?

Swapped out for MATX:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 8600G Six Core 4.3GHz (Socket AM5) APU with Radeon 760M Graphics (SKU: PRO-AMD-01797) = £218.99
• 1 x Asus TUF Gaming A620M-PLUS WIFI (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASU-01397) = £135.99
• 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £99.95
• 1 x WD Blue SN580 1TB SSD NVME M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-WDC-00540) = £64.99
• 1 x AeroCool Trinity V2 Mini Tower PC Case - Black (SKU: CA-23J-AE) = £41.99
• 1 x Phanteks AMP 650W 80 Plus Gold Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-09Q-PT) = £89.99

Total: £659.89 (includes delivery: £7.99)​

be as long lasting for future windows versions as possible

We don't know what the requirements are going to be for future Windows, but I think AM5 has a better chance than most (newest platform, most likely to be supported for 3+ years) and the 8600G has an NPU. The other possibility to cover AI is to buy an older CPU (e.g. 5600G, 12400) and leave space for a graphics card, so that you can fit something like a RX 7600 in the future (which has AI cores).

Another alternative is just to buy something that is enough "for now" and accept that you may or may not get away with keeping it long-term, e.g.

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Intel Core i3-12100 3.30GHz (Alder Lake) Socket LGA1700 Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-6AK-IN) = £119.99
• 1 x Asus Prime B660M-A WIFI D4 - Intel B660 DDR4 Micro ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6HK-AS) = £129.99
• 1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AJ-TG) = £59.99
• 1 x WD Blue SN580 1TB SSD NVME M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-WDC-00540) = £64.99
• 1 x AeroCool Trinity V2 Mini Tower PC Case - Black (SKU: CA-23J-AE) = £41.99
• 1 x Phanteks AMP 650W 80 Plus Gold Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-09Q-PT) = £89.99

Total: £514.93 (includes delivery: £7.99)​

 

[dfour]

Unfortunatly mini-itx is an expensive option as ther are no cheap motherboards in that form factor. There is no way you can hit under £600 using that case and mini-itx AFAIK.

As Tetras has posted above M-atx is a much better option for your budget.

 

[jigger]

Minisforum?

 

[finsaah]

Thanks both, you've given me some good options

 

[Gray2233]

I currently don’t meet windows upgrade requirements so need a new PC

It’s for everyday office/home type use with some light audio and video editing/conversion, music player and maybe plex server.

Not for gaming (unless very light), so ideally no separate graphics card.

Micro atx or mini itx MB - Ideally to fit inside a lazer3d cravo 7 (while it’s still available here)

Will have music, movies media etc storage separately in nas or whatever.

So CPU, MB, PSU, SSD and RAM basically unless anything else would be needed (fans etc)


Budget isn’t really an issue. Doesn’t need to be overkill but would like it to take whatever general programs I put on it and be as long lasting for future windows versions as possible.


I’m well out of the loop and don’t know the latest MB/CPU combos to go for or wheher Intel or AMD so any help here appreciated.

What are your current specs?

Windows can be a funny thing when it comes to requirements, depending on what you have your rig might just need a bios update or something relatively minor.

 

[Quartz]

Not for gaming (unless very light), so ideally no separate graphics card.

Consider a NUC.

 

[tamzzy]

Consider a NUC.

this

or just buy an ex-corporate pc with an intel 8th gen and above - these will be win 11 compatible, and will be much cheaper than any new custom build

 

[Kurgen]

this

or just buy an ex-corporate pc with an intel 8th gen and above - these will be win 11 compatible, and will be much cheaper than any new custom build

I did this for my Dads office PC. he went from 1st Gen i5 windows 7 32bit. to a SFF HP with i5 8500 and a quadro GPU running windows 11 , night and day difference ... for about £100 - £150. plus a quadro P400,P600 will support hardware playback at 4k with virtually no load on the CPU