Best new "for fun" build?

[VirtualLarry]

Anyone have any suggestions?

Trying to sell off my E-350 rigs. Got bored with them, and they're a tiny bit sluggish, it seemed. Perhaps that was due to the SSD installed in them (30GB Agility w/Barefoot), because I'm typing this on a C-60 netbook (with a Barefoot II 120GB), and it's not that sluggish (well, unless I run Skype, then it bogs down pretty hard.)

Looking forward to the new AMD low-power quad-core Jaguar-based APUs. Hoping to see some mini-ITX boards with them in them soon.

Had the idea to build with an IB CPU, and an ASRock Z77E-ITX board, which comes with a mini-PCIe wifi module, and has an mSATA slot on the back side of the board.

Throw out some suggestions, nothing too expensive, not trying to build an uber all-out rig.

Something smaller and fun to mess with.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Celeron G1610 2.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($34.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($99.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Plextor M5S Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($86.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Antec ISK 300-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply ($77.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $358.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-29 20:22 EDT-0400)

Uber small, super fast (sorta)

You can always cange the 1610 for a i3

 

[Sleepingforest]

Maybe tinker with a SFF color coordinated build and do a case mod to make a window?

 

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131878

what about this asus h61 itx board? no need for wifi or overclocking. although, with the right case, usb3.0 would be useful.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Maybe tinker with a SFF color coordinated build and do a case mod to make a window?

Do they make transparent mini-itx cases?

here's a real tiny one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811154090

newegg had a combo with that h61 mobo and an i3-2100.

But that cpu has a 65w tdp. And the psu that comes with that case is only 60w.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Oh, I thought you needed wifi.

That ASUS would do just dandy

 

[VirtualLarry]

Oh, I thought you needed wifi.

That ASUS would do just dandy

Well, it has an mSATA slot, which I thought was nice because I could use a smaller case, if I didn't need a cage for a HDD (or DVD).

Plus, Newegg had it listed with a free 8GB of RAM. So if the RAM was worth $62, then for $140 + ship, the board would only be like $80 of that, which is the same price as that H61 board.

Here's the Antec mini-ITX case with 90W PSU and Vesa mount:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129185

Pros: * Good ventilation mini-itx server
* Small footprint (about size of dictionary in depth, smaller than a normal book in height)
* Power supply compact and 90W (energy use) and doesn't emit noise (hum or otherwise)

Cons: * provided cable from PSU to motherboard is just barely long enough for my layout (asus mini itx 1155), was a bit of a snug fit (N82E16813131878)
* PSU on my MB is right next to RAM which combined with short size of cable makes rams with larger footprint impractical in this case. my ram used had no heatspreaders (N82E16820233270)

Other Thoughts: pay special attention to RAM used with this build. RAM with large heat-sinks will be a battle.

90W power is not a problem with the components I used below, YMMV. Default CPU and heatsink as 35W CPU take very little heat (I think the 90W power supply is generating more heat than the 35W CPU).

Motherboard:
ASUS P8H61-I R2.0 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

RAM:
CORSAIR 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMV16GX3M2A1333C9

CPU:
Intel Core i3-3220T Ivy Bridge 2.8GHz LGA 1155 35W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 BX80637i33220T

SSD:
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MX MKNSSDCR120GB-MX 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Overall good benchmarks

 

[T_Yamamoto]

That works too.

 

[monstercameron]

intel nuc?

 

[VirtualLarry]

intel nuc?

Contemplated that too. It's a bit more expensive than an mini-ITX build, and it has less in the way of I/O ports and expansion. (no USB3.0, no speaker/mic jacks)

 

[monstercameron]

Contemplated that too. It's a bit more expensive than an mini-ITX build, and it has less in the way of I/O ports and expansion. (no USB3.0, no speaker/mic jacks)

I know you mentionsed IB but you also mentioned your (undying love?) interest in amd parts so maybe a sapphire vs8 with amd a8-4555m apu

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=6&gid=1186&sgid=1190&pid=1747&lid=1

usb 3 and plenty of i/o

 

[VirtualLarry]

I think I'm going to wait for Gigabyte's BRIX units with a quad-core Kabini to come out before purchasing any new rigs for myself.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Still no quad-core Kabini Brix units on the market that I've seen. And AMD just released their AM1 platform. Who knows if we'll ever see Brix with Kabini.

 

[mfenn]

Still no quad-core Kabini Brix units on the market that I've seen. And AMD just released their AM1 platform. Who knows if we'll ever see Brix with Kabini.

AM1 is Kabini, so I don't see why the release of AM1 would be detriment to a BRIX with Kabini? If anything its the perfect platform for one.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Pretty hard to recommend a low-end build when you can pick up an Inspiron 660 with an Ivy i5 for under $400 when Dell Outlet has a sale.

 

[NewYorksFinest]

The title said "for fun."

Is this even real?


Edit: I can smell a warning or infraction in the future...

You got it.

mfenn
General Hardware Moderator

 

[Essence_of_War]

The title said "for fun."

Is this even real?

What's with the attitude?

Everyone's definition of fun is different.

 

[mvbighead]

Pretty hard to recommend a low-end build when you can pick up an Inspiron 660 with an Ivy i5 for under $400 when Dell Outlet has a sale.

From what I've seen, that is a standard sized desktop. Not a mini anything. Considering he is looking for Mini-ITX, I don't think something like that fits the bill at all.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The original purpose of this thread is long gone, sorry, I posted a follow-up, but I guess it was bad to Necro some of my old threads. So if the mods want to close this thread to prevent confusion, so be it.