Considering a new PC build

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Since my topic on Iris graphics on the Haswell chipset pretty much says no to gaming I am looking at building a nice little computer to run relatively quietly:

 

Graphics:
Not bleeding edge but gaming should be acceptable?

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/graphics-cards/1302940/amd-radeon-r7-260x

 

Case:

Nice and attractive, but not huge

http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/chassis/phenom-micro-atx#specs

 

Processor: An i5 Haswell

 

Ram: 16gb

 

Hard drive: SSD

 

Mobo: Something relevantly size and modern with all the win8 bells and whistles.  Starts up quickly, etc

 

Sorry, not been in this position for years.  Care to advise?

[+Fahim S. MVC]

What do you consider huge when it comes to a case?

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

i think it'd be best to get your budget too. the 260X is fine, but ho-hum.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Sorry, budget, I guess to about ?600?  Maybe a little more?

 

Gaming is not my main impetus, but would be a "nice to have" for some occasional fun.  That said, the stark honesty is that I don't have time to game.

 

Case... Well I would like quiet and small-ish (like that one pictured), certainly not a full tower or midi tower.

 

For note: I was considering a Mac Mini recently - based upon the silence of running one and their unobtrusive nature.

[+PeterUK MVC]

If you want a small case you could go mini-ITX
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2012/09/19/fractal-design-node-304-review/1
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fractal-design-node-304-black-mini-itx-case-with-usb-30-w-o-psu-(std-atx)
Cooler Master VS Series 550W
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/550w-cooler-master-vs-series-v550s-hybrid-modular-92-eff-80plus-gold-single-railquiet-120mm-fan-eps-
Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-h87n-wifi-intel-h87-s-1150-ddr3-sata-iii-sata-raid-pcie-30-(x16)-dvi-i-hdmi-mini-itx
Intel CPU i5-4570
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel-core-i5-4570-s-1150-haswell-quad-core-32ghz-36ghz-turbo-1150mhz-gpu-32x-ratio-84w-retail
Corsair Memory Vengeance LP Black 16GB
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/16gb-(2x8gb)-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-low-profile-jet-black-pc3-12800-(1600)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-
Samsung 840 EVO 120GB
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/120gb-samsung-840-evo-desktop-kit-7mm-sata-3-3core-mex-controller-read-540mb-s-write-410mb-s-256mb-c
Gigabyte Radeon R7 260X
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-gigabyte-radeon-r7-260x-oc-windforce-28nm-6500mhz-gddr5-gpu-1100mhz-boost-1188mhz-896-streams-dp

This is for under ?700

You could go micro ATX 8GB of RAM and a HDD to bring it down or just use the Intel graphics and add a card in later.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

And that system would be fine for average gaming?

 

Nice, cheers.  I always assumed mini-itx was for low spec systems?

[+PeterUK MVC]

And that system would be fine for average gaming?

It can play Crysis 2 going by the link you posted so it should do well.

 

 

Nice, cheers.  I always assumed mini-itx was for low spec systems?

Well it can only have one card and limited depend on the case overclocking can be limited along with cooler size depending on case and PSU limits to which that case can fit a long card plus a PSU could be 650W depending how long it is.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

It can play Crysis 2 going by the link you posted so it should do well.

 

A game released 3 years ago... ;)

[Odom Member]

I think it might help mentioning what monitor you have, or what resolution you run. It makes a difference for graphic card recommendations, whether you run in 1920x1080 or 2560x...

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Oooh ok.  Well currently I have a crappy Dell 21" touchcreen, but will be moving to dual monitors, no idea about resolution, nothing overly high.

 

My sticking point seems to the gfx card.  I want to find the best bang-for-buck really so I can game but not spend a small fortune.

[gohpep]

Here's what I got for you. It is ?659.54.

 

Here you go: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3hj6t

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

Here's what I got for you. It is ?659.54.

 

Here you go: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3hj6t

pretty good build. The only thing i'd change is the graphcis card and the PSU. 430W seems a bit low.

 

Also, i realize youre not trying to spend too much, but a GTX760 is going to be MUCH faster than the 750. In the end, though, the cost difference might be too much.

 

although, you could split the difference and get a 750Ti

[gohpep]

pretty good build. The only thing i'd change is the graphcis card and the PSU. 430W seems a bit low.

Also, i realize youre not trying to spend too much, but a GTX760 is going to be MUCH faster than the 750. In the end, though, the cost difference might be too much.

although, you could split the difference and get a 750Ti

I mean it is well above the estimated wattage. 750Ti would be worth it, or a 2GB 750.

[Astra.Xtreme]

If you want to go the small ITX route, you could consider this case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119261

 

I've used it for a couple builds and love it.  In one of them, I drilled out the rivets that hold in the hard drive cage and put in a water cooler radiator.  The hard drives I relocated to the 5.25" bay with an adapter.  It works awesome.

A single GPU will fit in there no problem.  It's amazing how much you can pack into such a tiny case.

[MillionVoltss]

What do i know but, Maxwell and Haswell Gowell.

I'd wait a bit.

[game_over]

I have a similar setup to what you are proposing.. i went from a Mac Mini to a PC... if you do want to do light gaming, avoid the Mac Mini.. i had mini+xbox and consolidated into one PC and couldn't be happier.

 

I found most of the noise to come from the stock fan, i also have an i5 Haswell and replaced it with this: http://www.quietpc.com/nh-l9i (Noctua Ni-L9i) and then replaced my case fans with 3 of these: http://www.quietpc.com/nf-s12a-pwm (Noctua NF-S12A PWM Ultra Quiet 120mm PWM Cooling Fan)

 

I think it cost me ?90+ for the cooling stuff but now the PC is whisper quiet, i can only hear the flow of air if the room is silent. It keeps the case so cool i barely even hear the GPU fan when gaming. worth every penny and can't recommend Noctua enough, truly a premium product.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Wow, such a small cooler and fan is so capable?

[game_over]

Wow, such a small cooler and fan is so capable?

 

I was pleasantly surprised, only went low profile because my case is tiny so you may have other options available to you, i also have a Radeon 7970 jammed in there and everything remains cool even during gaming.

[Max Veteran]

Here's what I got for you. It is ?659.54.

 

Here you go: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3hj6t

 

Samsung EVO 120GB (faster) can be had for ?60 at Amazon. They also sell a Seagate 2TB for ?57.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-120GB-Basic-Solid-State/dp/B00E391KA8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395954021&sr=8-2&keywords=samsung+evo

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-Barracuda-inch-Internal-Drive/dp/B006H32Q3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395954033&sr=8-1&keywords=2tb+seagate

[gohpep]

Samsung EVO 120GB (faster) can be had for ?60 at Amazon. They also sell a Seagate 2TB for ?57.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-120GB-Basic-Solid-State/dp/B00E391KA8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395954021&sr=8-2&keywords=samsung+evo

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-Barracuda-inch-Internal-Drive/dp/B006H32Q3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395954033&sr=8-1&keywords=2tb+seagate

I though EVOs were slightly slower than Pros. The hard drive that I got was a hybrid.

[Max Veteran]

I though EVOs were slightly slower than Pros. The hard drive that I got was a hybrid.

You're right, I missed the 'Pro' bit. The difference I don't think is too much between them if I remember rightly, but cost quite a bit less.

[Luc2k]

The difference I don't think is too much between them if I remember rightly, but cost quite a bit less.

The Pro's memory does have better endurance and comes with 2 extra years of warranty.