Advice on building a SFF desktop PC (non-gaming)

Whiffle

Whiffle

Whiffle

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27 Jul 2009
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386
Hello.

My large desktop PC is too big for my office (and not particularly power-efficient) and whilst I considered things like NUCs, I think I am going to build something myself.

I haven't built a PC in many years and also never dealt with SFF parts before, so I really grateful for some tips on what to consider.

Ultimately, all I need is room for two SSDs (though I could make do with just one, if it means a better case).

In terms of use - all it will be used for is browsing, word-processing and a bit of music recording (nothing to taxing, in this respect).

Any suggestions for parts would much appreciated.

One thing I am currently deciding is whether to go for a regular mini-itx board and use a Pic psu or go with a board that has DC built in.
 
In all honesty you’d likely be much cheaper picking up an older refurbished dell desktop. Get an i5 version with 8GB ram and windows 10 for around £100.
 
Thanks MissChief.

Given that these are the specs of my machine:

i3-2105
mATX motherboard
2 x 4GB RAM
NSK2480
2 x SSDs (one for Windows, one for Linux)
Antec High Current Gamer 400W PSU

do you think there is anything to be said for just keeping it and try squeezing it all into a much more suitable case?
 
you're not going to save that much more space, given you already have a reasonably small matx case to begin with.
if that's all the power that you need from a computer, then rearranging your desk space would probably be the more cost effective option
 
Thanks - perhaps you are right.

I was hoping to save a bit of power, too, but I guess that the power saving of going to a newer system is probably going to be barely worth it in the long run.

My current case is for HTPCs so I guess the best thing I can do is find a small desktop tower to act as a replacement. Can you recommend anything that might be up to the job?
 
Quartz said:
Do look at Intel's NUC boxes and similar. My mother loves her NUC. If you really want to build your own, look at the Mini-STX and Micro-STX form factors, like the Asrock DeskMini.
Click to expand...
I have to say you can pack way more storage into that than I ever thought possible. 2x M.2 slots and two standard SATA mounts on the bottom? You could be packing 2TB without even going mechanical.
 
Thanks for that - I have to say that I really am really impressed by the Asrock DeskMini - so much so that I am pretty sure that I am going to go that route, now.

They do seem to be better value than NUCs, given that you can use desktop CPUs in them too.

I originally thought that my obvious choice was the DeskMini 310 with a G5400. Everyone seems to be raving over what an amazing CPU that is.

I completely disregarded anything by AMD on the grounds that I have exclusively been using Intel for the last 20 years - not that there is any particular loyalty to Intel, it is just that all my previous purchased happen to have ended up with Intel being the better choice.

It is on this basis that I have only really kept an eye on new Intel products and it seems that I have overlooked that AMD seem to be very much back in the game, now.

The Ryzen 2200G seems to be getting some amazing reviews and seems to be offering so much more than the G5400, for not a lot more in price.

Would it be foolish to not, therefore, go down the AMD route with a DeskMini A300 instead?
 
Whiffle said:
It is on this basis that I have only really kept an eye on new Intel products and it seems that I have overlooked that AMD seem to be very much back in the game, now.

The Ryzen 2200G seems to be getting some amazing reviews and seems to be offering so much more than the G5400, for not a lot more in price.

Would it be foolish to not, therefore, go down the AMD route with a DeskMini A300 instead?
Click to expand...

Looks nice. Don't suppose your monitor has VESA that isn't in use? If so, could just mount it to the back of it so you don't use desk room.
 
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