Spec help please

HugsHeal · 27 Feb 2014 at 11:22

Hi, looking to do a self build but I'm really out of touch.

I'm looking hopefully at mini itx to offer a bit of portability as I will be travelling between properties and don't always drive so something I could potentially sling in a bag would be great.

I would be using the machine for work, bit of photoshop and gaming (such as Stalker, BF, Skyrim)

Just need the base unit. Got a Crucial M4 and loads of 2.5" drives so I don't need storage or an OS. I've got the option of a free 2500K if that would be useful. I'm quite out touch so any help would be appreciated. Budget somewhere around £800-£1000, around the £800 would be better.

Thanks

mickyflinn · 27 Feb 2014 at 12:18

Grab that 2500k and use it.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 OC WindForce 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (GV-R929OC-4GD) £329.99
1 x TeamGroup Elite Black 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TED316GM1600HC11DC01) £109.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £103.99
1 x Corsair RM Series RM 650 '80+ Gold' 650W Power Supply (CP-9020054-UK) £79.99
1 x Corsair Hydro H80i High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler £71.99
1 x BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX Cube Case - Midnight Black £69.95
1 x Pioneer 24x Internal DVR-221LBK DVD Rewriter - OEM £17.99
Total : £797.99 (includes shipping : £11.75).

hawkhench · 27 Feb 2014 at 13:36

Not sure I'd fancy lugging a Prodigy around with me if I had to carry it, it's bulky and heavy, and the strength of the handles really doesn't convince me.

If you're going to be gaming you're going to want a decent graphics card, and unfortunately there aren't all that many small-ish cases that will take one. I had a look and this seems to be your best bets (without going ridiculously expensive). I added the Lian-Li due to the handle despite the price basically.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Lian Li PC-TU200B Mini-ITX Cube - Black £149.99
1 x Silverstone Sugo SG05 HTPC Case with 450W Power Supply - All Black ( SST-SG05BB-450 USB 3.0) £114.95
1 x Corsair Obsidian Series 250D Mini ITX Compact Gaming Case - Black (CC-9011047-WW) £71.99
1 x Silverstone SST-RVZ01 Raven Mini-ITX - Black £69.98
1 x Antec ISK 600 Small Form Factor ITX Chassis £64.99
1 x Cooler Master Elite 130 RC-130-KKN1 Mini ITX Case - Black £45.95
Total : £532.85 (includes shipping : £12.50).

The Raven looks promising.

HugsHeal · 27 Feb 2014 at 14:52

Thanks for the recommendations. I do like the look of the Raven and a build around that would interest me but the specified card is too powerful for the PSU I think?

Is it work sticking with the 2500K as the motherboards seems pricer than the latest ones and I don't particularly want to but into old tech.

hawkhench · 27 Feb 2014 at 15:22

It doesn't come with a PSU, there's a couple of 450W Silverstone SFX PSUs in the store.

I think that card would probably be too much for that PSU, but I can't say for sure, someone else would have to weigh in on that.

DaleTheWhale · 27 Feb 2014 at 15:30

If you can grab a NZXT Vulcan, they're perfect for carrying around!