Hardware for mini-pc


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Hi guys,

 

I want to purchase the following hardware to use them for nentwork monitoring, IPAM and netflow at home. I wasn't sure if the MB would fit into the case or not so I wanted to ask that then if someone could help me find a powersupply as well.

 

Case: Rvz01 Raven Mini-ITX

Cooler: Corsair Hydro H90 CPU Cooler

MB: Gigabyte GA-B75N Mini-ITX OR MSI B75MA-P45 M-ATX (which one is better)

Processor: Intel Core i3 3220T / 2.8 GHz

RAM: DDR3 8GB

HDD: 500GB (i think it's a WD i have laying around somewhere)

OS: i haven't decided yet, but probably it will be Windows as the netflow I am using is only useable on Windows for now.

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What RAM are you getting? 1333/1600? brand?

 

Is it a WD Blue, Red, Black?

Don't really know, I have those at home laying around somewhere and I will be using them. These stuff are not so important for me as this machine is going to be only for monitoring stuff at home. The important things is the MB, case, power supply (didn't find one for that case or in other word I don't know what kind of PS suits that case).

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Answers:
- MSI motherboard has Micro-ATX size, which is bigger than Mini-ITX size and your mentioned Chassis only support Mini-ITX as written, so MSI one is out of the scope.
- I think your mentioned Chassis only support SFX standard PSU, although Silverstone do make them, for safe side, I would recommend you to go for: http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Tek-Modular-Active-SX600-G/dp/B00MO675S8 or you can get 450 Watt 80+ Gold one as well
 
Recommendations:
- If your usage involve any graphic then I would recommend you to go for Intel Haswell which has better Integrated GPUs and also if you can wait, then Intel Broadwell is also on the way or AMD Carrizo APU.
- 1600 MHz RAM would be good choice since your processor memory controller support it, so it would improve performance better.
- If you change Chassis, you could have more PSU choices and motherboard form factor support like Micro-ATX but size kind of increase as well. See some more HTPC cases from this link: http://www.newegg.com/HTPC-Media-Center-Cases/SubCategory/ID-690
 
See picture for Motherboard form factors - http://www.orbitmicro.com/company/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/motherboards_form_factors.jpg
More read on PSU standards - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-specifications-atx-reference,3061-4.html

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Thank you Zlip972, I will keep your recommendation in mind and get back to you once I have a bit more time for this project. Busy at hell right now at work so I have to put down this project for a couple of days from my priority list. :(

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I guess it would but since I am going to run Windows and some other applications such as virtualbox and some others so I need a little bit better resources. A Linux os would be better but the netflow I am using is for Windows only for now.

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There's a NUC/Brix for most every spec level up-to i5 Haswell with 16GB DDR3 (as mine is - even more with Gigabyte Brix).  Not slow at virtualising anything.

I didn't know about Intel NUC and now that I looked it up, I will definitely compare the two (building my own and this one) and see which one will be better for my use. As stated before I have to pause for a while with this project but I will do some comparison soon when I get a little time. Updating once I decide which one I will purchase. Thanks guys for the help! :)

 

Edit: Looks so nice much better than the case I choose and it is even smaller which is another +.

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I didn't know about Intel NUC and now that I looked it up, I will definitely compare the two (building my own and this one) and see which one will be better for my use. As stated before I have to pause for a while with this project but I will do some comparison soon when I get a little time. Updating once I decide which one I will purchase. Thanks guys for the help! :)

 

Edit: Looks so nice much better than the case I choose and it is even smaller which is another +.

 

Intel NUC would be definitely a good to go if you want something small in size + mini power house although I don't think it would upgrade-able easily in hardware customization but it would serve you several years easily with its hardware so that's no issue IMO. If it cost cheaper than current option. Go ahead pull the trigger whenever you have time.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/overview.html

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I guess I will buy Intel NUC D54250WYKH. This comes without HDD and RAM and and both I have at home laying around and the upgrade is not that difficult so there wont be any issues either. Is this better than the building my own with the provided/recommended hardware?

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I guess I will buy Intel NUC D54250WYKH. This comes without HDD and RAM and and both I have at home laying around and the upgrade is not that difficult so there wont be any issues either. Is this better than the building my own with the provided/recommended hardware?

 

- It consume lesser power due to using U series processor. It will save you quite a bucks annually in electricity bills.

- It has better GPU as compare to Intel Ivy Bridge GPU you mention in Opening Thread but since its basically mobile like so can't compare performance with desktop level IGPU.

- Longer warranty (3 year), in my country we get hardly get 1 year warranty on stuff. It used to be 10 months for PSUs. So its better IMO.

 

Concerns:

- JUST SO To let you know, it will only support 1.35 V RAMS... So make sure one you have laying around in home is of DDR3L 1.35 Volts.

- It has mini-HDMI if it matters..

- Its has i5 Dual Core processor which shouldn't be too shabby IMO but if you do some serious multitasking stuff then it would be of concern.

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