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- 6 Aug 2012
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Hi,
I was hoping for some recommendations on the best set of components to build a small form factor gaming rig to connect to the TV to replace the aging Xbox 360.
REQUIREMENTS:
The Xbox-replacement will sit in the living room and be connected to the television so as small a form factor as possible is quite key. It will be used to mainly play PC games (mostly my Steam collection) at 1080p and to play various media.
It would be good for any motherboard recommendations to come with decent onboard sound (5.1 / 7.1) to save on internal space.
Good ventilation and quiet fans are a must.
An HTPC-style case (i.e. longer width and shorter height) is preferred over a Cube.
I do not require Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Operating System, etc.
NICE-TO-HAVES:
- Front USB to plug in controllers
- Space for optical drive (but I have an external one to save space since I'll mostly be using Steam)
- Case with media card reader (very low on the list)
BUDGET:
I'd like to keep it below £1,000
SELECTED COMPONENTS:
I've selected the following components:
I need some help on the selection of the right case and other components.
QUESTIONS:
1. PSU
Is the 700W overkill to run an i5-3750K and GTX 670?
If so - what is the recommended watts for this setup to fit into a small form factor case?
2. Motherboard
2.1 Mini-ITX or Micro-ATX?
The motherboard I've put in my list is Micro-ATX, but a mini-ITX would open up some attractive case options for a living room setup.
- Is there perhaps a mini-ITX option that would work with the Ivy Bridge i5 and the GTX 670?
- Is Micro-ATX the recommended option over Mini-ITX? If so, why?
2.2 MSI Z77MS-G45
I've opted for the MSI z77MA-G45 over some of the other more expensive options as I didn't see much reason to spend a ton on one.
- Is this a decent motherboard? - Is there a better recommendation? If so, why?
3. Case
This is the one I was hoping to get some advice on the most.
I'm keen to have either an HTPC or Cube style case instead of a micro tower to fit nicely within the living room furniture layout.
I initially had two potential options:
- Antec NSK2400
- ThermalTake Armor A30
3.1 Mini-ITX options?
I've initially looked at micro-ATX cases, but if there is a good mini-ITX board recommendation then which mITX cases come recommended (with space for the GTX 670)?
I was looking at the elite 120 advanced as a mini-itx option.
3.2 antec nsk2400
the one i potentially liked the look of is the antec nsk2400 but i'm a bit concerned about whether the above components will actually fit with enough space for cables, etc.
antec links:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2637/6
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page1.html
What I liked:
- low form factor
- aesthetics fit into a living room setup
- good ventilation
Concerns:
- Is the form factor too low for GPU and CPU cooler?
3.3 ThermalTake Armor A30
This was a potential alternative.
ThermalTake links:
http://thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1466&ID=1989#Tab1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M3qGRmRXbY
What I liked:
- definitely no height issues for GPU and CPU cooler
- excellent ventilation
Concerns:
- Design isn't very living room friendly
- Might be just too tall for my setup but I'm flexible
4. CPU FAN
- Is the CPU Fan overkill?
- Will it even fit into the case?
- Is there a smaller silent option?
Thanks in advance to any recommendations
I was hoping for some recommendations on the best set of components to build a small form factor gaming rig to connect to the TV to replace the aging Xbox 360.
REQUIREMENTS:
The Xbox-replacement will sit in the living room and be connected to the television so as small a form factor as possible is quite key. It will be used to mainly play PC games (mostly my Steam collection) at 1080p and to play various media.
It would be good for any motherboard recommendations to come with decent onboard sound (5.1 / 7.1) to save on internal space.
Good ventilation and quiet fans are a must.
An HTPC-style case (i.e. longer width and shorter height) is preferred over a Cube.
I do not require Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Operating System, etc.
NICE-TO-HAVES:
- Front USB to plug in controllers
- Space for optical drive (but I have an external one to save space since I'll mostly be using Steam)
- Case with media card reader (very low on the list)
BUDGET:
I'd like to keep it below £1,000
SELECTED COMPONENTS:
I've selected the following components:
- CPU: i5-3570K
- CPU Fan: Noctua NH-D14 Dual Radiator
- Motherboard: MSI Z77MA-G45 Micro-ATX
- GPU: Asus GTX 670 DirectCU II (GTX670-DC2-2GD5)
- Memory: 8Gb Corsair (2 x 4Gb)
- HDD: 2TB 7,200 RPM
- PSU: Be Quiet Straight Power 700W
- Case: ??
I need some help on the selection of the right case and other components.
QUESTIONS:
1. PSU
Is the 700W overkill to run an i5-3750K and GTX 670?
If so - what is the recommended watts for this setup to fit into a small form factor case?
2. Motherboard
2.1 Mini-ITX or Micro-ATX?
The motherboard I've put in my list is Micro-ATX, but a mini-ITX would open up some attractive case options for a living room setup.
- Is there perhaps a mini-ITX option that would work with the Ivy Bridge i5 and the GTX 670?
- Is Micro-ATX the recommended option over Mini-ITX? If so, why?
2.2 MSI Z77MS-G45
I've opted for the MSI z77MA-G45 over some of the other more expensive options as I didn't see much reason to spend a ton on one.
- Is this a decent motherboard? - Is there a better recommendation? If so, why?
3. Case
This is the one I was hoping to get some advice on the most.
I'm keen to have either an HTPC or Cube style case instead of a micro tower to fit nicely within the living room furniture layout.
I initially had two potential options:
- Antec NSK2400
- ThermalTake Armor A30
3.1 Mini-ITX options?
I've initially looked at micro-ATX cases, but if there is a good mini-ITX board recommendation then which mITX cases come recommended (with space for the GTX 670)?
I was looking at the elite 120 advanced as a mini-itx option.
3.2 antec nsk2400
the one i potentially liked the look of is the antec nsk2400 but i'm a bit concerned about whether the above components will actually fit with enough space for cables, etc.
antec links:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2637/6
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page1.html
What I liked:
- low form factor
- aesthetics fit into a living room setup
- good ventilation
Concerns:
- Is the form factor too low for GPU and CPU cooler?
3.3 ThermalTake Armor A30
This was a potential alternative.
ThermalTake links:
http://thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1466&ID=1989#Tab1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M3qGRmRXbY
What I liked:
- definitely no height issues for GPU and CPU cooler
- excellent ventilation
Concerns:
- Design isn't very living room friendly
- Might be just too tall for my setup but I'm flexible
4. CPU FAN
- Is the CPU Fan overkill?
- Will it even fit into the case?
- Is there a smaller silent option?
Thanks in advance to any recommendations
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