MicroATX build required

Tasocahtfu · 2 Sep 2014 at 15:30

Hi all,

Need a little help putting a mATX build together for my sister to replace a very old system I built for her about 10 years ago.

It needs to be mATX as the case has to fit in a certain gap, and the only one I can find that's suitable and fits is:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-060-AE

This needs to last them a long time, so want to try and get her on a decent i5 and 8GB ram setup, with an SSD for OS and a storage drive. It shouldn't be used for gaming afaik, so the CPU/onboard graphics should suffice. Don't need monitor or OS. Budget ~£500.

Was looking at the following, or could the money be more wisely utilised?

Intel Core i5-4690K 3.50GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-540-IN
&
Gigabyte Z97M-D3H Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-499-GI

Any advice appreciated as always

Cheers!

Quartz · 2 Sep 2014 at 16:15

That case looks pretty bad from a cable management POV. Have you looked at an ITX or NUC build? Like the Primo Nano 5?

ExRayTed · 2 Sep 2014 at 21:21

Don't bother with a 'K' series CPU or Z97 motherboard - utterly no need if it's not being used for gaming and is for your sister. Noise (or more accurately, lack of noise) and stability would be top of my list. If you wanted to you could add a 3rd party cooler and some quiet case fans to keep the noise down further.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4430 3.00GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £131.99
1 x Crucial MX100 256GB SATA 2.5” 7mm SSD + 9.5mm Adapter (CT256MX100SSD1) £79.99
1 x Gigabyte H97M-HD3 Intel H97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £67.99
1 x Western Digital Caviar Green 2TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (WD20EZRX) HDD £62.99
1 x TeamGroup Elite Black 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TED38GM1600HC11DC01) £59.99
1 x SuperFlower Golden Green HX 350W "80 Plus Gold" Power Supply - Black £39.95
1 x Aerocool Qs-200 Lite Midi Tower Case - Black £34.99
Total : £487.49 (includes shipping : £8.00).

Tasocahtfu · 3 Sep 2014 at 15:14

Thanks for the advice! No benefit to the better board/CPU in terms of longevity? She made her last PC go about 10 years, just figured it might help in the long term to have a bit more to play with.

Cheers

ExRayTed · 3 Sep 2014 at 18:15

Not for what she's using it for, no. The board is perfectly fine too.

Tasocahtfu · 3 Sep 2014 at 18:28

Awesome cheers!