mITX Build for Mother's Day

[bontenshi7]

So my mother has been in the need of an upgrade to her current laptop for years. She is a web developer/designer and does graphic design and video editing in her free time.

 

She had an old computer at one point but it ended up dying do to the strain she put on it, as it was a prebuilt POS. She has gone through many laptops since then all dying or being infected by viruses to the point of death.

 

So I have decided to build her a new machine for Mother"s day/her birthday(their one day apart).

 

I have 2 24" monitors already that I dont use anymore(anything under27" is too small to me now) and a copy of windows 8.1 i got as a free gift. So i decided to go the mITX route instead of a typical tower or mATX as there are 2 toddlers and a teenager currently liveing with my parents and space is at a premium. The rig needs to be able to last for some years and withstand alot of strain especially on the RAM and GPU. My mothers goes through disk space insanely fast (4x2TB backupdrives full already) so I decided to go with a 4TB drive as for christmas i bought her a disk array of 12TBs. The GPU I tended for is the 770 as it is good bang for the buck has 4GB of VRAM and will last for some years. The i5 is a no brainer. For the PSU i went modular since there is little space to work with, the concern is if 650w will be enough with 2 montiors; I think it should be fine. The case is spacious for an mITX tower and will fit everything needed with ease. 16GB of RAM with good timings i can lower a bit, mainly for all the tasks she runs and to help with 3d editing and video encoding. The SSD mainly as a boot drive and to fit things like photoshop and her other 3d/video editing tools. The blu-ray drive is a must for her. The after market heatsink since the case is small and will be tightly packed and my mother leaves her pc on for days at a time.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345016  BitFenix Prodigy mITC case  $70

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236604  WD Green 4TB HDD  $165

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133500  PNY GTX 770 4GB  $360

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012  Corsair HX650w Modular PSU  $110

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231485  G-skill 8GB 1333(8-8-8-24) $70 x2  $140

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132041  ASUS H81I-Plus 1150 MITX MB  $77

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116898  Inel i5 4670  $220

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608019  Noctua NH-C12P 140mm Heatsink  $74

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136269  LG Blu-Ray burner  $70

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820228074  OCZ Vector 150 240GB  $160

 

Total= $1,446

 

Budget wise I would like to stay around the $1500 range going a little over is fine.

 

Let me know what you guys think and any improvements or compatibility issues you can think of.

[BonTenshi]

For some reason it logged me on as an old account this is my main.

 

Looking forward for insight and help.

[El_Capitan]

1. You won't be able to put 4x4GB memory on an m-iTX board. You're limited to 2 RAM slots. You can get 2x8GB memory for 16GB.

 

2. If you're not going for a smaller case, you can get the m-ATX version of the BitFenix Prodigy case. They're exactly the same size. That means you can get a m-ATX motherboard which will have 4 DIMM slots and more PCIE slots.

 

3. Why would you need a 4TB drive if you already setup a 12GB disk array? Just have her store her files in the array. You can set her older computer as a dedicated NAS.

 

4. Going with an i7 with Hyperthreading will benefit her for her uses in 3D editing, photoshop, and video encoding.

 

5. Since she's not gaming, why not get her a workstation graphics card? Also throw in a Spyder 3 Elite (or Spyder 4 Elite) for color calibration on her monitors.

 

6. You can also watercool the rig if she appreciates working in a quiet environment. A Corsair 350D is also a m-ATX case, but the same size as the BitFenix Prodigy, and is a little easier to watercool.

 

http://forums.overclockersclub.com/?showtopic=195637 - An old thread, the rig now has an ASUS m-iTX board and an i7-4670K.

Edited April 28, 2014 by El_Capitan

[panjang110]

i'm with el on the micro atx board, it's much better overall if you not going to make the pc lan rig.... the only downside is if you get the prodigy-m you will be short on the amount of hard drive you can install.

 

for cpu i found a better deal for you here you go

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116906 Xeon E3-1230V3 $249

i always recommend anyone who's going with non k i7 to get the Xeon E3, it's cheaper and still hyper threaded. just missing igpu which you will never use anyways.

 

 

[BonTenshi]

1. You won't be able to put 4x4GB memory on an m-iTX board. You're limited to 2 RAM slots. You can get 2x8GB memory for 16GB.

 

2. If you're not going for a smaller case, you can get the m-ATX version of the BitFenix Prodigy case. They're exactly the same size. That means you can get a m-ATX motherboard which will have 4 DIMM slots and more PCIE slots.

 

3. Why would you need a 4TB drive if you already setup a 12GB disk array? Just have her store her files in the array. You can set her older computer as a dedicated NAS.

 

4. Going with an i7 with Hyperthreading will benefit her for her uses in 3D editing, photoshop, and video encoding.

 

5. Since she's not gaming, why not get her a workstation graphics card? Also throw in a Spyder 3 Elite (or Spyder 4 Elite) for color calibration on her monitors.

 

6. You can also watercool the rig if she appreciates working in a quiet environment. A Corsair 350D is also a m-ATX case, but the same size as the BitFenix Prodigy, and is a little easier to watercool.

 

1. Not relevant as i had 2x8GB to begin with.

2.I have decided to end up going with the mATX afterall since the cases are the same size and it adds more fans.

3.To have a drive in the system itself for dump mainly, as the array is pretty much just a server and filing case.

4.I agree i have decided to switch to a xeon e3.

5. the GTX770 will be more than enoguh to suffice in this end, I don't know if your familar with the worstation GPU market; but it is quite expensive and really only needed for hardcore graphic editing, also i did put a budget in the OP(which the more i read your comment seems you didn't read at all)

6. No go for various reasons.

 

Panjang110-

I have ended up switching to 4x4GB ram and a MATX case and MB, with the Xeon E3 CPU Thankyou for the input.

 

 

DWeiner-

Plz dont HiJack the thread also i hope a ban comes your way soon.

Edited April 29, 2014 by BonTenshi

[El_Capitan]

 

1. You won't be able to put 4x4GB memory on an m-iTX board. You're limited to 2 RAM slots. You can get 2x8GB memory for 16GB.

 

2. If you're not going for a smaller case, you can get the m-ATX version of the BitFenix Prodigy case. They're exactly the same size. That means you can get a m-ATX motherboard which will have 4 DIMM slots and more PCIE slots.

 

3. Why would you need a 4TB drive if you already setup a 12GB disk array? Just have her store her files in the array. You can set her older computer as a dedicated NAS.

 

4. Going with an i7 with Hyperthreading will benefit her for her uses in 3D editing, photoshop, and video encoding.

 

5. Since she's not gaming, why not get her a workstation graphics card? Also throw in a Spyder 3 Elite (or Spyder 4 Elite) for color calibration on her monitors.

 

6. You can also watercool the rig if she appreciates working in a quiet environment. A Corsair 350D is also a m-ATX case, but the same size as the BitFenix Prodigy, and is a little easier to watercool.

 

1. Not relevant as i had 2x8GB to begin with.

2.I have decided to end up going with the mATX afterall since the cases are the same size and it adds more fans.

3.To have a drive in the system itself for dump mainly, as the array is pretty much just a server and filing case.

4.I agree i have decided to switch to a xeon e3.

5. the GTX770 will be more than enoguh to suffice in this end, I don't know if your familar with the worstation GPU market; but it is quite expensive and really only needed for hardcore graphic editing, also i did put a budget in the OP(which the more i read your comment seems you didn't read at all)

6. No go for various reasons.

 

Panjang110-

I have ended up switching to 4x4GB ram and a MATX case and MB, with the Xeon E3 CPU Thankyou for the input.

 

 

DWeiner-

Plz dont HiJack the thread also i hope a ban comes your way soon.

 

5. I'm pretty familiar with the workstation graphics card market. I traded a GTX 690 for a Quadro 6000. Although it was a rare find, I find $600 - $2000 workstation card selling for near $200 - $600 on Craigslist pretty frequently. If you can find a deal on a GTX 780, I highly recommend it over the GTX 770 for what your mother's uses are.

[DanTheGamer11]

That's just a spam account, don't worry

[BonTenshi]

I've been looking for some deals on the 780 but have yet to find one cheap enough to be worth it. Ill start looking for the Workstaion cards on craigslist then if I can find one for that good of a deal ill buy it but it seems unlikely in the time i have to purchase it.

 

I also wound up changing the case http://www.corsair.com/en-us/obsidian-series-350d-micro-atx-pc-case for size and the cooling options it posses. plus its cheaper.

 

In a couple of days ill repost the new build after i finish researching compatibillity and components.

Edited April 29, 2014 by BonTenshi

[panjang110]

I've been looking for some deals on the 780 but have yet to find one cheap enough to be worth it. Ill start looking for the Workstaion cards on craigslist then if I can find one for that good of a deal ill buy it but it seems unlikely in the time i have to purchase it.

 

I also wound up changing the case http://www.corsair.com/en-us/obsidian-series-350d-micro-atx-pc-case for size and the cooling options it posses. plus its cheaper.

 

In a couple of days ill repost the new build after i finish researching compatibillity and components.

 

actually 350d is quite big for a micro atx case since it was optimised for watercooling , i was going to get it but after seeing it in person i decided to go with cooler master n200 which is much snaller and also good for watercooling( and cheap too ).... you should also look at silverstone tj08 it looks way better than 350d and the build quality is great, since your not going to watercool the system and space is a priority i don't see a point buying the 350d unless you're in to the looks.

[BonTenshi]

I dont think the 350d looks all that bad to be honest. The main reason is for the excess fan slots as watercooling is out of the question. Also the dimensions are fine as i measured the spot in the desk where it will be hidden and theres plenty of room left.

[KillaCam]

Sounds like most questions have already been answered, so I'll answer the PSU question.  The HX650 will be more than enough for any single GPU at stock voltages.  You'll even have headroom for CPU overclocking.

[panjang110]

I dont think the 350d looks all that bad to be honest. The main reason is for the excess fan slots as watercooling is out of the question. Also the dimensions are fine as i measured the spot in the desk where it will be hidden and theres plenty of room left.

 

it's your call i'm just giving some other choice since you say space is priority... but if 350d size is fine with you then go for it, i really like the 350d btw it's just that i'm used to small case ( SG09 before this N200) and 350d doesn't fit my size preference hehehe