Newbie Zotac H55-ITX Build - please improve my spec

Pandora2000

Pandora2000

Pandora2000

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Joined
8 Mar 2010
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19
Hi,

I am planning on building a M-ITX system - as quiet as poss, not for games, work stuff and some video/ web production.

Here is the spec I am thinking of, but I am new to this and happy to swap any part of it to get a better build.

Can anyone offer any advice pls?

case Lian Li Q07
psu 150w PicoPSU
mbo Zotac H55 ITX
cpu Intel Core i3 530 2.93Ghz
ram 2x2gb Corsair ddr3
cooler Scythe Mini Ninja
dvd Sony Optiarc AD-5240S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black)
drive1 Western Digital Scorpio Blue 320GB 5400RPM SATA-II 8MB 2.5"
drive 2 Western Digital Caviar Green 1.5TB SATA-II 64MB Cache - 3.5"

Not sure what fans the case will take vs what will be needed and still quiet?

Thanks!
Martin.
 
Pandora2000 said:
Hi,

I am planning on building a M-ITX system - as quiet as poss, not for games, work stuff and some video/ web production.

Here is the spec I am thinking of, but I am new to this and happy to swap any part of it to get a better build.

Can anyone offer any advice pls?

case Lian Li Q07
psu 150w PicoPSU
mbo Zotac H55 ITX
cpu Intel Core i3 530 2.93Ghz
ram 2x2gb Corsair ddr3
cooler Scythe Mini Ninja
dvd Sony Optiarc AD-5240S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black)
drive1 Western Digital Scorpio Blue 320GB 5400RPM SATA-II 8MB 2.5"
drive 2 Western Digital Caviar Green 1.5TB SATA-II 64MB Cache - 3.5"

Not sure what fans the case will take vs what will be needed and still quiet?

Thanks!
Martin.
Click to expand...
---------------------------------
SSD (as minimum 64 GB) instead of 2.5" HDD.
 
johnny sublime said:
is the 2.5 hdd need if so and you want a really quiet machine get an ssd and mount the psu so its pulling the air over the cpu
Click to expand...

The Pico PSU is just a 24pin MB connector with 1xmolex and 1xsata cable attached to it, they use an external power adapter so there will be no fan to blow air over the components. I would have thought that the Pico would probably also struggle with a i3 although i cant confirm that.

Zotac do a great range of M-ITX boards however I noticed that one of your main uses will be games which the on-board graphics will struggle to give a good frame rate and quality settings for most games. You would probably want to put a Seprate GFX card in if you want to game on it ... however that then throws up some issues with HD mounting on the bottom of the case, and you would also then need to use a full PSU.

The Lian-Li case looks great, I'm about to buy one myself however imo I think for your spec/needs you would be better at looking at m-atx boards in a shuttle type set-up rather than your current plan.
 
nick1988 said:
Zotac do a great range of M-ITX boards however I noticed that one of your main uses will be games which the on-board graphics will struggle to give a good frame rate and quality settings for most games.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your info nick1988, but I am not planning on playing any games on this machine.

I am hunting for an alternative PSU... prob an ATX one.

Martin.
 
Hi sorry totally misread the post about games ! Yeah the Lian-Li case allows a full atx PSU which is nice although most people advise you to go modular so you only have the cables you need, as obviously the case is tight for space. You could also get away with a core 2 duo for your needs however if you want a i3 then that obviously has its on benefits and longevity.
 
Well the orders in...

I swapped the 2.5" drive for a 64gb SSD and am going to go for a Corsair HX450 Modular PSU.

Thanks y'all... I hope this is a good little runner, amounted to £800 in all with Win 7
 
All the bits should have arrived by tomorrow minus the Scythe Mini Ninja.

Having read other build logs with this case I am not sure it will fit and so considering whether I could switch to a Scythe Big Shuriken low profile cooler instead.

I will decide once I can take some measurements with all the other kit in the box.

M
 
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