Converting to ITX/mATX.

Antony101 · 29 Jul 2013 at 19:10

Thinking of downsizing from my Define R4, I currently have a decent setup so would likely only need a motherboard and case.

What are my options, I don't overclock but do have some warm running components.

Prefer to keep the budget as low as possible but would like decent parts.

Any case recommendations would be wonderful too.

EDIT: I have a Xonar DGX Soundcard I wouldn't mind transferring over too if possible.

Doomedspeed · 29 Jul 2013 at 22:08

Ill cover mATX as i love that form factor and you can keep your sound card.

Motherboard wise a few choices are afoot, a Z68 or Z77 board..

Any of these:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £104.99
1 x **B Grade** Gigabyte Z77M-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £75
1 x **B Grade** MSI Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £59.99
Total : £251.38 (includes shipping : £9.50).

Cases are more fun a lot to choose from depending on needs and styles.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Parvum Systems S1.0 MicroATX Case - Black with Red £139.99
1 x Silverstone Fortress FT03 Tower Case - Black (SST-FT03B) £119.99
1 x Corsair Obsidian 350D Windowed Micro ATX Case - Black £86.99
1 x Silverstone TemJin TJ08B-E Midi Tower Case - Black (SST-TJ08B-E USB 3.0) £83.99
Total : £461.50 (includes shipping : £25.45).

The FT03 is quirky and you will need a slot loading drive..

The parvum is a watercooers dream and the TJ08-E and 350D are great small cases.

Im personally waiting for the Prodigy M to appear..

Antony101 · 29 Jul 2013 at 22:21

So I'm looking at around £200 to change, I like the look of the FT03.

gropingmantis · 29 Jul 2013 at 23:53

What doomedspeed said pretty much.

mATX will be the easiest downsize as it allows you to keep pretty much everything and you wont have to spend too much extra. New mobo and case.

The FT03 is really nice. Certainly one of the smaller mATX cases at the moment, largely because of its small footprint.

I would say the Corsair or the Lian-li (Here) are your best bet for "standard" style cases.