Mini ITX Build which case / mobo?

Boomstick777 · 24 Jan 2015 at 00:45

Right so having bought a new desk that is reem and stunning and fits my two screens perfectly, my PC tower (CM690III) no longer fits next to it :rolleyes:

The desk is on side of the room with PC next to sub on corner onto the bay Window and PS4 etc and looks ridiculous. Not just the look, run the risk of destroying it with my chair when moving back from screen

I like our bedroom as minimalist as pos, this big case has to go !

I've wanted to go smaller for ages and think now will be good time as PC just looks out of place..

I am going to give my Haswell -E monster build PC to my kids as it will fit in there setup fine hidden away beside their desk and should keep them going for years. I can recycle some of their 'old' bits into the mini build.

So now I'm looking for a small case etc that will better fit into room (Not stand out like) and still be good enough for gaming etc.

Parts I already have.

4770K.
8GB DDR3 2666.
2x SSD 2 x SHDD.
290X 8GB or GTX 980.

All I need is case + mobo.

I love Gigabyte and would prefer Gigabyte mobo. Which one is best bet, price VS performance?

(Also will Z97 support Broadwell / Broadwell -K) ???

Case wise I've been looking at Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX, anybody used that one or think of anything better?

Boomstick777 · 24 Jan 2015 at 13:08

stulid said:
How about a small matx case?

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte Z97MX-Gaming 5 Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £111.95
1 x Antec ISK600M mATX Cube Case - Black £56.99
Total : £182.44 (includes shipping : £11.25).

Possibly not.

Cheers but It's got to be mini ITX, as small as pos but still able to fit decent GPU. Liking the look of this case small but will fit GTX 980..

Boomstick777 · 24 Jan 2015 at 13:14

skaif said:
Just to add my 2p...I was in a similar situation and wanted a smaller form factor to keep ony desk. Ended up going for the Asus z97-I plus and elite 130. Glad to say I'm more than happy with it.

Been looking at that mobo it's a lil beast.

Tough decision between Asus Z97 I and Gigabyte Gaming / Z97N-WIFI..

Boomstick777 · 24 Jan 2015 at 13:21

stulid said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-496-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=2811

itx board with a 4yr warranty when you register it.

That case has some great space inside it. Limited to 140mm high coolers, so what cooler you have?

Really like that mobo, would that do 5.1 over optical?

Torn between these 3.. The two Gigabyte's or ASUS Z97 I Plus.

The Gigabyte Z97N has Wifi and an extra Sata port plus Realtek Audio so I know it will do 5.1 over optical.. Leaning towards this one atm.

Saw some nice EVGA's as well but over twice the price.

Boomstick777 · 24 Jan 2015 at 13:36

stulid said:
Gigabytes site is a going a bit slow so cant check the specs for the board.

But it seems you asked a question and answered it at the same time?

I don't know about the gaming, I know the Z97N will do it as it has Realtek Audio, looks like the gaming uses creative?

I don't know much about audio tbh, just want something that can send 5.1 to my speakers over digital optical. The gaming looks nice and probably would be better for overclocking etc, but I doubt I will bother clock the CPU and the extra sata port / Wifi has me sold on the Gigabyte Z97N atm. Think I'm gonna go for that one.

Boomstick777 · 24 Jan 2015 at 13:41

tamzzy said:
if it were me, i'd get this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Silverstone SST-RVZ01 Raven Mini-ITX - Black £63.94
Total : £72.64 (includes shipping : £7.25).

console sized case
review:

Case is really nice, but I'm looking for something small / squarish as it's going to stand on carpet next to a sub. I think the case in your link would be ideal for lounge like setup, under a TV sort of thing or within a desk. Problem is my desk is in an enclave next to a fireplace, PC can't fit next to it.

Freestanding small ish case would be ideal, pretty set on the thermaltake V1 for my first mini iTX build, it can take my GTX 980.

Boomstick777 · 24 Jan 2015 at 16:22

kaku said:
You might want to look into dust filtering too, since with the size of the mesh the internals are gonna be clogged in no time.

Yeah this is a good point mate, it's def gonna get dusty. Because of the size it should be easy enough to take it outside and use compressed air to get rid any dust. I'm sure it will build up fast because of the way mesh sides don't have any filters.

I've gone for,

Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX
Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI
4770K
GTX 980
8GB DDR3
Antec 550 Watt PSU
2 x SSD + 2 x SSHD

Boomstick777 · 24 Jan 2015 at 17:03

ALXAndy said:
That Thermaltake looks like a complete internal rip off of the 250D.

On that subject I don't like the 250D at all. It's not built very well and aside from the sliver of alu on the front is not worth the asking price.

Yeah internally they are very similar, the reason I like the Thermaltake is that it's a plain mesh sort of look at the front with Window on top, and the way the front panel fits it acts as extra space for the GPU to push out of the case so the can fit bigger GPU's. So I can fit my 980 inside that is def a priority lol.

Boomstick777 · 26 Jan 2015 at 23:14

Case and mobo dispatched, hopefully get some time to build this week

Boomstick777 · 27 Jan 2015 at 14:58

Case and motherboard have arrived, really like the case ideal for the way room is setup, the mobo is tiny ! Might start putting this together later, no CPU cooler yet though, might have to find a stock Intel cooler sure I've got one here somewhere..

First ever mini ITX I've built for myself, tbh I'll be amazed if I can get all my drives / GPU etc in there lol.

Boomstick777 · 28 Jan 2015 at 16:49

skaif said:
Lol sounds good! Pics!!

The case is nice but inside looks a mess tbh, using a stock Intel cooler with AIO cooled GTX 980, it's a real squeeze to get it all in lol. I've got a new cooler as a temp on it's way (Intel stock cooler is not great). At some point I'll move back to a reference card that exhausts heat out the rear and then I can put the Antec Kuhler 920 on the CPU. Then I'll add some pics lol.

I'm amazed how much you can get in this case, 2 X SHDD + 2 x SSD, GTX 980 AIO cooling, mobo + memory and 750W PSU. Once I get some different parts I'll tidy it all up. I'm just glad it's up and running for now tbh.

Boomstick777 · 29 Jan 2015 at 13:25

Adding later..

16GB HyperX 2400mhz
Zalman CPU cooler
290X 8GB MSI

Coming together now..

Boomstick777 · 3 Feb 2015 at 15:36

McGraw said:
Just noticed you have the same mobo as me.

I love my board, couldn't give myself a reason to buy the gaming.

Yeah I chose this as it has extra Sata and built in WiFi. Got to say it's a great lil mobo. No problems with this build. All working well.

Hoping to throw in a Broadwell CPU later this year, my 4770K runs hot. I want something similar performance but lower temps, Broadwell hopefully be ideal.

Boomstick777 · 19 Feb 2015 at 16:50

Really happy with the mini ITX PC, quiet and powerful, and most importantly small lol.

Some pics,

With sides of:

Next to PS4, it's tiny:

Boomstick777 · 22 Feb 2015 at 17:04

Updated *Added custom water cooled (Ghetto Modded) GTX 980*

Water cooled GTX 980, IDLE 28c. Load 55c Max.

2 X SSD Samsung 128GB 840 Pro (OS) 1TB Samsung 850 Pro (Games)
2 X Hybrid SSD / HDD (Data)
16GB DDR3 2400mhz
Gigabyte Z97N Wifi
750W Cooler Master PSU

Awesomeness !!