Spec me a Micro ATX build -- budget ~500GBP

FlyingPig

FlyingPig

FlyingPig

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Hi,

Ideally I'd like to squeeze another few years out of my rig but due to some recent overheating issues (see http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18659345) I am considering to use it as an excuse to upgrade, or perhaps "sidegrade". I currently have an i5 2500K CPU, 8GB DDR3 RAM, GTX 970 in a large case, but maybe it is the right time to "downsize" a bit as I like the idea of a small, quiet system underneath my desk, not this huge Coolermaster monster I have now.

What I have:

- GPU (GTX970, recent upgrade)
- 1440p monitor
- keyboard & mouse
- 64GB SSD, 1TB HDD and 2TB HDD
- 8GB DDR3 RAM, not sure what brand
- Asus Xonar DG 5.1 PCI Sound Card
- Wireless network card
- DVD drive

What I would need:

- Case
- Motherboard
- CPU
- New RAM (I guess?)
- CPU cooler
- 128GB SSD (keep running out of disk space for Win7)
- Anything else I may have forgotten

OcUK would have to assemble it as I can't be bothered and I want the peace of mind. Budget around 500, though that may be too little so may have to stretch it, which I could do as long as the thing is quiet during normal use (see below).

I quite like something like that BitFenix Phenom MATX Cube Case (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-147-BX&groupid=2362&catid=2278) but I'm open to suggestions.

My profile: rig mainly used for office work, watching movies and gaming (fairly casual). Would preferably get something that is as quiet as possible during work and watching movies, though noise is no real issue during gaming (headset).
 
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Hi Stulid,

Thanks for the quick reply. My PSU is an OCZ PSU 700W Stealth Xtreme so I probably need a new one (Superflower?), also because I don't really want to install this myself as I would have no real clue I think (happy enough to pay a bit extra for peace of mind).

Not too worried about the sound card, I guess today's on-board sound is decent enough.

Are you sure my current RAM would be compatible? (it's sitting in a P67A-GD53 (MS-7681) motherboard now, never had any issues with it)

Never heard of the SK Hynix SSD, interesting, and I see you managed to squeeze in 256GB. Any reason why you put this one instead of one of the Crucial ones?

Would the Raijintek Themis Direct Contact be worth the extra 9 quid? (thinking noise)
 
Your PSU I think is stil ok to reuse as its currently running yopur existing system that is almost identical in terms of power consumption.

Installing you will have to do as you have the parts with you, OcUK charge around £60 to build a rig (ask CS to confirm).

The RAm, you have is DDR3 and will work in the new board.

SKhynix aare a huge company, you find their RAM on many GFX cards, the SSD has positive reviews and being 256GB will not only hold the OS but has plenty of room for many games unlike a 128GB sized one which will quickly fill.

Your WiFi card if its PCI also will also not fit.
 
Hmm OK I might ask OcUK how much they would charge. I would have thought they could assemble it as the parts I have are not needed for it to post (apart from the RAM, but surely they could use some of their own and then take it out). I'd be nervous building it myself, you're talking to a guy who managed to kill a motherboard with static just by trying to upgrade some RAM over 10 years ago, and now it seems I can't even apply thermal paste properly :)

Thanks for the info about SK Hynix, will keep them in mind for sure, and 256GB makes more sense indeed, it's only 30 quid extra.

Wifi card not really needed any more actually, running my internet through a TP-link thingy.
 
Consider a Silverstone FT03 (NOT the Mini) or an Aerocool DS.

But really, before spending a lot of money, I'd try a new CPU cooler in your old system - one that you can transfer to a new system.
 
Thanks Quartz, those look like good cases too (of which I know nothing, I should add).
And I agree, I think I'd better try to install a new CPU cooler before throwing more money at this, but if I can't get this sorted shortly I might just have to bite the bullet. Was planning to wait until Skylake to upgrade as Sandy Bridge is still fine for what I need, so in a way it'd be a bit of a pointless upgrade I guess.
 
Do you use the optical drive, as the case you chose is not a simple optic drive fit if I remember.

Now if you do not use your current optic bay and mainly stream your movies, there are some very nice and not too intrusive small ATX cases out there, the NZXT S340 I think is superb. It could take a nice quiet cooler too.

My kids use the PC's for some gaming and movies, but never used the optical bay as they stream, use Netflix etc, so they now use a TJ08B-E with no optic bay and the other spare PC is in a NZXT S340.

Both my small MicroATX builds were Silverstone TJ08B-E cases, these can be quiet if you turn the fan onto it's lowest setting, but can get noisy when gaming, it's about the smallest most practical MicroATX case for air cooling though, small, dust filters, easy access to the optic drive, I used both Noctua and BeQuiet coolers and with the motherboard running a silent fan profile it was very pleasant and unobtrusive.

I changed due to heat though, I found non reference cooler GPU's, especially crossfire, dumped too much heat in the case. And had my CPU cooler fan mounted in pull at the rear of the cooler so I had more HDD clearance.
 
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