How much would it cost to put together an ITX size system?

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 21:52

Just chewing the fat at the moment....a thought exercise just came to me while I was out on my walk.

So currently I have a 2018 Macbook Pro, it has an Intel chip inside and so I have been able to install windows on it. It is all it is really used for now because I just replaced it with a new M4 Macbook Air. However it runs hot all the time and I only use it for when I need to run somethings that requires Windows only, like updating drivers in some hardware like a gaming controller or my retro consoles.

But if I were to get rid of it, I still will need a PC, but I don't need a top spec one, but I would like something that to match the speed and run games to similar level to my Steam Deck. Let's say, running Witcher 3 in 1440p would be nice. I do have that in my Steam Library and it doesn't work on Mac.

So, how much am I looking at? I am happy to put it together myself rather than pre-built to save some money, plus I like the Fractal Terra cases, or completely left field, one of those Shipping Container ITX cases.

Excluding the price for the case, or needing any peripherals as I have them already, what is a rough cost of an ITX motherboard to run games on par or just above the Steam Deck?

Case (Fractal Terra £175)
Mobo
CPU
RAM
SSD
PSU
Fans

What else

tamzzy · 3 Jul 2025 at 21:57

Raymond Lin said:
but I would like something that to match the speed and run games to similar level to my Steam Deck. Let's say, running Witcher 3 in 1440p would be nice. I do have that in my Steam Library and it doesn't work on Mac.

the steam deck's resolution is 800p, so 1440p is nearly quadruple the pixels
realistically, i suspect you'd be looking at a gpu around a 3060 12gb/4060 to run 1440p at similar frame rates to the steam deck

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:03

tamzzy said:
the steam deck's resolution is 800p, so 1440p is nearly quadruple the pixels
realistically, i suspect you'd be looking at a gpu around a 3060 12gb/4060 to run 1440p at similar frame rates to the steam deck

A 4060 is £270.....reasonable.

tamzzy · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:06

it'll be easier for us to spec you a build if we know your ball park budget. please don't say unlimited.

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:20

tamzzy said:
it'll be easier for us to spec you a build if we know your ball park budget. please don't say unlimited.

Let's say £600-£650 excluding the case. Let's pretend I have the Fractal Terra case already.

EDIT - if it helps, I have a Kingston NV3 NVMe PCIe 4.0 Internal SSD 1TB sitting around doing nothing if it helps saving £50 off the budget.

Gray2233 · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:24

That's going to be rough for an ITX build, the boards are like hens teeth as is and you're looking at around £200 for one minimum.

There's a pre-order for an Intel 1851 ITX board at £150 but you'd only end up spending more than is necessary on a less suitable gaming CPU if buying current gen.

You might be better off trying to snag some parts on the MM tbh.

Edit:

My basket at OcUK:

1 x PNY XLR8 Gaming EPIC-X 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-51200C36 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-PNY-04564) = £77.99
1 x Asrock B850I Lightning WiFi (Socket AM5) DDR5 Mini-ITX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASR-04013) = £199.99
1 x Lian Li SP750 SFX Modular 80 Plus Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-79G-LL) = £109.99
1 x AMD Ryzen 5 9600 Six Core 5.20GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-05398) = £199.99
1 x Sparkle Intel ARC B580 GUARDIAN 12GB GDDR6 Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-SPK-03945) = £230.00

Total: £825.95 (includes delivery: £7.99)

Hold in mind you'd still need an HSF so factor in another £15-20 at minimum. Apparently the Ryzen 7600 can be had currently for around £150 so you could shave a further £50 off there.

There is room for shaving down the cost here and there but the value proposition plummets outside of what I've mentioned.

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:28

Gray2233 said:
That's going to be rough for an ITX build, the boards are like hens teeth as is and you're looking at around £200 for one minimum.

There's a pre-order for an Intel 1851 ITX board at £150 but you'd only end up spending more than is necessary on a less suitable gaming CPU if buying current gen.

You might be better off trying to snag some parts on the MM tbh.

What if I increase it to £750, and don't need a SSD.

tamzzy · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:29

My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 5 5600 Six Core 4.4GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3D2-AM) = £99.95
1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AJ-TG) = £79.99
1 x Zotac GeForce RTX 5060 Twin Edge 8GB GDDR7 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-ZTC-05422) = £269.99
1 x be quiet! SFX 3 450W Bronze Power Supply (SKU: CA-14D-BQ) = £59.99
1 x Jonsbo HX4170D Low Profile CPU Cooler Black – Intel and AMD (SKU: HS-00W-JB) = £33.94

Total: £543.86 (includes delivery: £0.00)

b550i board elsewhere for £160, so a grand total of £700

is this a good build though? no.

Gray2233 · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:32

Raymond Lin said:
What if I increase it to £750, and don't need a SSD.

£750 would just about snag you the spec I mentioned, but it'd comfortably fit the suggestion by @tamzzy.

The 9600 is a good deal faster and I think the GPU's are about on par, although Nvidia has the benefits of DLSS vs more VRAM on the Intel, not sure what the current Intel driver situation is like.

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:32

Sounds like I need to spend more....last thing I want is spending £600-700 on something not good, I rather spend £1,000 on something that fits what I actually intended in the first place.

Gray2233 · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:34

Raymond Lin said:
Sounds like I need to spend more....last thing I want is spending £600-700 on something not good, I rather spend £1,000 on something that fits what I actually intended in the first place.

The AM4 spec suggested by @tamzzy isn't bad by any means, it's just an awkward time to buy certain things unfortunately.

It will be at least as good and probably a good deal better than what the deck is capable of.

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:35

Gray2233 said:
The AM4 spec suggested by @tamzzy isn't bad by any means, it's just an awkward time to buy certain things unfortunately.

I am not in a rush by any means, it was just a thought today. I am happy to revisit this again in 6 months' and make my MBP to last a bit longer.

tamzzy · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:36

Raymond Lin said:
Sounds like I need to spend more....last thing I want is spending £600-700 on something not good, I rather spend £1,000 on something that fits what I actually intended in the first place.

the stumbling block is that whilst the gpu is plenty fast enough, it doesn't have enough vram for 1440p.
what you really want is a 9060xt 16gb.

the reason it's not a good build is because for £700 and a bigger MATX system, you'd easily fit that in budget
you're paying a hefty, hefty ITX tax

deviation · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:38

Does it have to be brand new or are you game for going on a treasure hunt for used parts?
As you could easily build a 1440P bargain build from B450/B550 mitx or matx parts - as some mitx cases allow for matx motherboards, and mix and match new and used as required?

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:39

tamzzy said:
the stumbling block is that whilst the gpu is plenty fast enough, it doesn't have enough vram for 1440p.
what you really want is a 9060xt 16gb.

the reason it's not a good build is because for £700 and a bigger MATX system, you'd easily fit that in budget
you're paying a hefty, hefty ITX tax

My issue is space at my desk, MATX case is like double the height of an ITX and I just don't have the space.

tamzzy · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:41

Raymond Lin said:
MATX case is like double the height of an ITX and I just don't have the space.

had a look at the lian li A3?
terra: 343 x 153 x 218 mm
A3: 443 x 194 x 322 mm
(D x W x H)

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:42

deviation said:
Does it have to be brand new or are you game for going on a treasure hunt for used parts?
As you could easily build a 1440P bargain build from B450/B550 mitx or matx parts - as some mitx cases allow for matx motherboards, and mix and match new and used as required?

I haven't thought that far ahead, it's been like almost 20 years since I left the PC sphere so I am not familiar with what works with what and what gen or socket and even modern internal cables are call or look like...so it's going to be a mine field in the used market for me.

Gray2233 · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:43

For a grand on an ITX I'd be looking at something like this (assuming you have both case and SSD):

My basket at OcUK:

1 x PNY XLR8 Gaming EPIC-X 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-51200C36 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-PNY-04564) = £77.99
1 x Asrock B850I Lightning WiFi (Socket AM5) DDR5 Mini-ITX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASR-04013) = £199.99
1 x Lian Li SP750 SFX Modular 80 Plus Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-79G-LL) = £109.99
1 x PowerColor Radeon RX 9060 XT Reaper 16GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-PWC-05257) = £329.99
1 x Jonsbo HX4170D Low Profile CPU Cooler Black – Intel and AMD (SKU: HS-00W-JB) = £33.95
1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D Six Core 5.30GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-04829) = £269.99

Total: £1,029.89 (includes delivery: £7.99)

Hold in mind you'd need to measure up the GPU and I've no idea if that HSF would be sufficient for the 7600X3D.

There are some legitimately small M-ATX cases that would make life a lot easier assuming they'd fit in your office space.

Raymond Lin · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:44

tamzzy said:
had a look at the lian li A3?
terra: 343 x 153 x 218 mm
A3: 443 x 194 x 322 mm
(D x W x H)

Oooh, interesting, I do not hate that. Actually I quite like the black one with the dark walnut front.

deviation · 3 Jul 2025 at 22:48

Raymond Lin said:
I haven't thought that far ahead, it's been like almost 20 years since I left the PC sphere so I am not familiar with what works with what and what gen or socket and even modern internal cables are call or look like...so it's going to be a mine field in the used market for me.

The beauty of going last generation is the fact all the information of what works best with what, and what is and and isn't good at what price etc, is all there, as is all the compatability/issues you may face. And it'll be cheappp, especially if you go second hand or a bit of both.
Just enjoy going down the rabbit hole starting with the case you want, and watch videos/read builds on other peoples experiences building in that case, look into what hardware they paired it with, what issues they did or didn't face, etc etc, and just keep asking people for opinions on here, you cant really loose mate