new build around a mini ITX for Media/Gaming

duncan78

duncan78

duncan78

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28 Dec 2012
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14
I am loving these new mini ITX boards and want to build one just for the fun of it.
Mainly i'd like it as a Home Media Centre but have the option of a secondary gaming PC. (i.e. stick my EVGA 680 in it when I next upgrade)

I already have an SSD so this is what i've been thinking ...

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3470 3.20GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £155.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £98.99
1 x Cooler Master Silent Pro Modular 600W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £74.99
1 x Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CML8GX3M2A1600C9) £55.99
1 x Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX Case - Black £39.98
1 x Cooler Master GeminII M4 Low Profile CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366) £22.99
Total : £448.93 (includes shipping : FREE).



The Bitfenix Case looks to be very popular though but is it better than the Coolermaster? I need it to be quiet

what do you guys think?
 
 
duncan78 said:
what's the difference between the 2 chips? (apart from 200 MHz!)
Click to expand...

The 'k' version has an unlocked multiplyer, meaning you can overclock it.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £199.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £98.99
1 x XFX Pro Series 650W XXX Edition Modular '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £74.99
1 x BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX Cube Case - Midnight Black £69.98
1 x Avexir Core Blue Series 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AVD3U16000904G-2CW) - Blue Light £37.99
1 x Cooler Master Hyper 612S CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £32.99
Total : £514.93 (includes shipping : FREE).



If you want it to be quiet, get the BitFenix Recon and use an external DVD or Blue-Ray drive.
 
Last edited:
I did think about overclocking but the case has only got 2.5" of clearance for a heatsink. If Overclocking surely it would be best to get a water cooler although not sure one would fit in the Coolermaster case :s
 
Think I'd prefer the Prodigy myself. If you had some paste spare you could consider this with a barebones H60......

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £187.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £98.99
1 x BitFenix Prodigy 'Yin' Mini-ITX Cube Case - White/Black £69.98
1 x BeQuiet Pure Power L8 530W '80 Plus Bronze' Modular Power Supply - With 120mm Silent Wing Fan Built in £66.95
1 x OcUK Tech Labs - Corsair H60 Performance Intel Liquid Cooling Solution (Socket 1155 / 1156 / 1366) £39.95
- 1 x No Thermal Paste Required £0.00
- 1 x No Fan Required £0.00
- 1 x No Fan Required £0.00
1 x Avexir Core Blue Series 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AVD3U16000904G-2CW) - Blue Light £37.99
1 x BitFenix Spectre PRO 200mm Fan White LED - black £11.99
Total : £513.84 (includes shipping : FREE).



More money true but now you have the unlocked i5K with the better IGP which can be overclocked on the Z77 mobo (mobo is voltage locked btw so you can't go for silly high overclocks).

Cheaper RAM, PSU is cheaper too, has enough power for your needs and has a nice quiet fan fitted (I own the L8 630W myself). Added the 200mm fan as the twin 120mm fans supplied with the case would need to be hooked upto the rad on the CLC. Someone will complain they are not static pressure fans but you can change that later on easy enough. Most people upgrade the stock fans that come supplied with the retail CLCs anyway.
 
duncan78 said:
I did think about overclocking but the case has only got 2.5" of clearance for a heatsink. If Overclocking surely it would be best to get a water cooler although not sure one would fit in the Coolermaster case :s
Click to expand...

The smaller 120mm rad + fan setups do fit into the cooler master 120 elite. I have seen a few pic s of setups with the rads in the front end where the drive bay is either directed out the side or flat on to the front of the case.

How effective these are in these set up's, I am not too sure though, but I know it can be done without major case alterations. I'm planning on testing this myself too when I get the final bits for my build.
 
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