Gone off ITX, need help

koolpc

koolpc

koolpc

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Right, gone off the idea of ITX. Would prefer a small system but maybe Micro atx?

Now, i would like to keep it relatively energy efficient but also pack a punch.

Onboard Graphics are again fine with me.

Would i be ok to still go the 13-2100T route or opt for a more powerful yet energy efficient CPU?

I do use photoshop for photo work but no real gaming on pc.

I would like a modular PSU that is also quiet too. I have a hard drive.

So, case, mobo, cpu and ram. Help!
 
The G840 only draws 65W and costs about £60. Great CPU and performs on par with an i3 540 and I think you could have it passively cooled with no problem.

The i3 2100 is also fine power consumption and power wise and both should handle photo shop fine.

As for the PSU, Corsairs tend to be quiet, at least mine is :)
 
So, is it worth me sticking with an i3-2100T? Would i notice a big jump in performance if i were to opt for a G840 or should i think about a quad?
 
koolpc said:
So, is it worth me sticking with an i3-2100T? Would i notice a big jump in performance if i were to opt for a G840 or should i think about a quad?
Click to expand...

How much do you want to spend? Obviously a quad would be much better, but for basic photoshopping and multitasking the i3 should be perfect.
 
Not a lot! lol

Ok, so if i kept the i3 2100T in mind, what Matx mobo would you guys recommend. I will also want 8gig DDR3 ram and onboard GPU.
 
AMD A8-3850 looks the best

So, what if i wanted to game with the i3-2100T? I would need a sep graphics card? Only asking as my nephew sometimes likes to play some games on the PC like flight sim.

Just need a fast CPU. Personally, i am not hung up on pc gaming anyway but i do use flight sim every 6 months or so!!
 
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for your uses (apart from gaming) Id say that it puts the intel 2100 ontop. The A8-3850 will be decent for gaming.

Im sure it will be abel to handle a game like that (not on high settings).
 
Ok, so need to find a motherboard for it that can take 8gig DDR3 etc. I am hopeless at this type of thing!
 
if you go for the i3 2100 or G840 you will need a separate graphics card for gaming. doesnt have to be massive, but you'll want something otherwise ou'l be playing all your games in slideshow format.

the A8 3850 will cope with most games on low-mid settings, however, it will be far worse in terms of computing power than the i3 2100, which is a big problem for photoshop work and flight sims, because they are both very CPU intensive

whats your budget for the PC? as soon as i know roughly how much you want to spend i can recommend you something
 
So, go for the i3-2100T?

Not sure on budget but would want to keep it as low as possible otherwise the wife will cut off my child benefit!
 
since your aiming for a low cost i'd go for something like this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £94.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (ST3500413AS) £71.99
1 x MSI H67MA-E35 Intel H67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro-ATX Motherboard - (Sandybridge) **B3 REVISION** £61.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 '80 Plus' Power Supply (CMPSU-430CXUKV2) £37.99
1 x OcUK GeForce 9800 GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card - OEM £35.99
1 x Cooler Master Elite 342 Case - Black £24.98
1 x Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C10 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BL2KIT25664BA160A) £21.98
1 x LiteOn IHAS124-19 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM (Version B - with new Firmware) £17.99
Total : £382.01 (includes shipping : £11.75).
 
Ok, so ditch the i3-2100T and go for the i3-2100? Better?

Dont need a HD.

PSU would need to be modular and very quiet.

Onboard GPU would suffice for now.

Would want 8gig ram
 
koolpc said:
Ok, so ditch the i3-2100T and go for the i3-2100? Better?

Dont need a HD.

PSU would need to be modular and very quiet.

Onboard GPU would suffice for now.

Would want 8gig ram
Click to expand...
2100T isnt available from OcUK, just the i3 2100 and 2120

is your current HDD SATA or IDE. if its IDE it will not work with sandybridge processors or llano processors, ans IDE is being phased out

onboard GPU will mean that you will not be able to play the majority of games. you might get away with stuff like CS source on lower settings but not much else

redone the build:
YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £94.99
1 x MSI H67MA-E35 Intel H67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro-ATX Motherboard - (Sandybridge) **B3 REVISION** £61.99
1 x Antec TruePower New Modular 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £59.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £42.98
1 x Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) £25.99
1 x Cooler Master Elite 342 Case - Black £24.98
1 x OcUK 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £17.99
Total : £343.02 (includes shipping : £11.75).

since your quite clearly worried about the noise of the PC ive added a better processor cooler to the build. it should fit in the case, but it will be a damned tight fit (the cooler is 153mm tall, coolermaster say the cooler height limit for that case is 153mm)

if your after quietness i would recommend going for the coolermaster silencio because this has sound insulating foam around all the sides, making it really quiet
 
Only reason i mentioned the i3-2100T is that i have the option of having one for a really good price 2nd hand.

The HD is SATA.
 
I have looked at other forums, where people have asked the same question. It seems that there is very very little different between the 2. Apperently you wouldn't even notice.

Like someone else said, if you do feel you are struggling for power you can always add an discrete GPU such as the 9800 or a 5670 later on.
 
Ok, ta. So i have now bought the i3-2100T off of a friend so i need a nice motherboard Matx and ram. DDR3, 8gig.
 
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