mATX -> mITX - Get rid of the desk out the bedroom build...

[HeX]

We're planning on splitting our big main bedroom into two rooms, to give the kids their own spaces. Part of that plan is to get rid of all the computer equipment that currently resides in our bedroom.

So the desk has to go!

As such for the last week or so I've had my main PC hooked up to the TV downstairs, and have now gotten used to flopping on the settee for a few rounds of Titanfall and a spot of GW2 dungeon running.

My current rig sits in the lovely Antec P180 Mini, which has been fantastic. However it's rather too large and much too heavy to fit on the shelves above the TV in the alcove Not to mention using my current mouse and keyboard with cables strung across the room is an accident waiting to happen

So with CC in hand I've splashed out on the following:

Cooler Master Elite 130



Which uses a full sized PC PSU, can support full length GPU's of up to 13.5", and has space for a 120mm radiator in the front.

Coolermaster Seidon 120V



A new 120mm all in one watercooler. Nothing wrong with my H50-1, but the block and top mounted tubing will make it hard to fit in the mITX case, so I've switched it out for the Seidon. My H50-1 will be up for sale soon

ASUS P8Z77-I DELUXE



All the power of a full sized desktop board, in an itsy bitsy teeny weeny package.

Kingston HyperX Beast 16GB (2x8GB) 2400MHz C11



Again nothing wrong with my current 16GB Corsair, but it's unfortunately in 4x4GB and the mITX board only has 2 slots, so I need to sell it to change to a 2 stick setup. Thought I might as well nab some new shiny fast stuff while I was at it.

Logitech K270 Wireless Keyboard



This was a hard decision. I much prefer MS keyboards, but they have literally no good wireless ones at all, and I don't really want to have cables strung across the living room. I was tempted to go full hog and get the K800, but the MK270 looks to do the job I need it for, has a good layout, and proper sized keys (not horrible low travel laptop keys that many wireless keyboards use).

Logitech MX Wireless Performance Mouse



Again was tempted to go for the G602, but this one has a look and shape akin to my beloved MX518.

Samsung External DVD-RW



For emergency DVD reading. I'm not wasting space in the mITX case with an internal drive that I barely use.



From my current PC I'll be importing:

i7 2600K
Sapphire R290 Tri-X
Crucial M4 128GB SSD
Cruical M500 240GB SSD
Samsung F1 1TB HDD
Samsung F4 2TB HDD
Corsair 750W Modular PSU
SB X-Fi USB Soundcard



I'm looking forward to trying to squeeze all of this into the CM Elite 130, my only worry is the Tri-X, but I've seen people with the Gigabyte Windforces installed, so I should be OK


All the gear has turned up today, so I'll be posting pics as I start building later... mmmmm new stuff!

 

[dottty27]

Im doing the same kind of build with the same case

 

[HeX]

Haven't had time to do this build yet, planning on doing it Saturday.

However, quick update about the Keyboard and Mouse.

In a nutshell, they are awful. The keyboard felt like it came out of a Christmas cracker, it was so light and flimsy feeling, the plastic felt super cheap, the batteries it came with were utterly dead, even with brand new ones inserted the signal strength was none existent, it was constantly missing keystrokes and having massive key lag.

The mouse, while having slightly better build quality still felt cheap, the buttons all felt loose, and the mouse wheel is horrible. However the deal breaker was attempting to game with it. Supposidly this mouse has 'Darkfield Technology' which is some fantastic marketing speak for it's meant to work on pretty much any surface "including glass" as the box states. Well apparently all surfaces doesn't include my settee, which is evidently harder to track on than glass. While attempting to play Titanfall should I try to do any quick movements, say a 180, the mouse would get to about 20 degrees, lose track of where it is, pause, suddenly spin to a random angle pointing at the ceiling/floor, pause, judder about a bit, pause, find where it is and start tracking again. This was constantly repeatable with any rapid direction change. Yet my 5 year old MX518 optical mouse has absolutely zero problems tracking on anything I've ever tried.

So yeah, very disappointed with both, they'll be going back for refunds and I'll start researching into a mouse that'll actually work. The G602 is meant to be good, but I'm a little disheartened with how terrible the MX Performance was.

 

[Psypher5]

Ive had no issues with the logitech mouse, one of the best mice ive ever used in fact. Shame to hear about that, i can literally use mine anywhere when not at my desk (arm/trousers/wall/bed duvet etc)

Build quality is superb on mine too, nothing is loose or feels cheap, and the mouse wheel has the option of freewheel or click along and certainly isnt horrid to use?

Also getting a logi k810 keyboard, can update you with the quality etc soon if you'd like? (by your description though I don't think its what your after)

 

[4T5]

I'm running my laptop through my Flatty & use that keyboard but I switched from a mouse to a Trackball that sits next to me on the sofa. Works really well for me.

 

[HeX]

Ive had no issues with the logitech mouse, one of the best mice ive ever used in fact. Shame to hear about that, i can literally use mine anywhere when not at my desk (arm/trousers/wall/bed duvet etc)

Build quality is superb on mine too, nothing is loose or feels cheap, and the mouse wheel has the option of freewheel or click along and certainly isnt horrid to use?

Also getting a logi k810 keyboard, can update you with the quality etc soon if you'd like? (by your description though I don't think its what your after)

Don't know if I had a dodgy sample or what then, but it was atrocious. Even it windows it'd lose track every now and again and jump across the screen.

As for build quality, the mechanical button to change between freewheel or click scroll was so wobbly and cheap feeling. The mouse casing felt very flimsy.

It basically wasn't at all the quality I've come to expect from Logitech mice.

 

[HeX]

All the new stuff!



Antec P180 Mini Vs the CM 130



The ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe in all its glory! With a 290 Tri-X poking out from behind



Stripped out HDD's and SSD's



Testing how the board looks in it's new home



SSD's and HDD's mounted, and the Seidon 120V fitted in the front. I had to move the hanging SSD in the end as my GPU is too long and I couldn't fit power and data cables with it installed. In the end I mounted it on the opposite side of the panel that my other SSD is on (pics later!).





Watercooler mounted, memory fitted, and a bit of cable tidying.




More pics to come!

 

[Bradmax57]

Looks great, can I ask is there space for a traditional hdd on the backside of the vertical bracket you have the ssd installed on?

 

[HeX]

Afraid not, you can fit 3.5" drives in the two locations I've used above. In the 5.25" bay and next to the mobo.

You can fit another SSD or 2.5" laptop style mechanical drive on the other side of the vertical bracket however. You can also squeeze a couple more in the 5.25" bay above a 3.5" drive, they just won't be screwed down.


I need to remember to post the finished build pics!