ITX mid range gaming build for a friend- looking for suggestions

[dmoney1980]

Hello everyone!

My friend is looking to upgrade his aging Athlon x4 PC. He's not a heavy gamer, but he would like something that could perform pretty well at 1080p - esp for BF4. He loves BF3 and currently plays it on his console - and hates it compared to the PC. He prefers to have a mITX form factor, and plans to reuse his PSU, HDD, and external optical drive. He asked me to help him put it all together since he's never assembled a PC before, so I'll use this opportunity to teach him!

Here is what we know:
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming, web surfing, music, movies

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread.
Around $700, with wiggle room to go a little higher

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
Newegg, amazon, and we have a Mirco Center nearby


5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
no pref

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Silverstone 500W psu, External DVD drive, 1TB WD blue drive

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
No overclocking needed

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
23" 1080p IPS (Dell)

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within 30 days
_____________________________

Case: So far he really like the Fractal Design Node 304, but I don't have any experience first hand of how it performs with dedicated GPU's. We also found another itx case on newegg, called the "DIY V3 plus", but it doesn't look like t offers any airflow, so that might be a no go.
Node 304 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352027
DIY V3P - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811353014

CPU + MB:here is where we are hung up on. Micro Center offers a nice bundle on an AMD Richland CPU. At MC, he can buy a A8 6600k cpu, and a MSI a75 itx mobo for $170 out the door.
AMD bundle
A8 CPU: http://www.microcenter.com/product/...on_39GHz_Quad-Core_Socket_FM2_Boxed_Processor
MSI a75 itx MB - http://www.microcenter.com/product/409684/A75IA-E53_Socket_FM2_mITX_AMD_Motherboard
note: why don't they make any AM3+ itx boards? An FX 8320 would be perfect for him, but they don't make an itx boards for this cpu!

Intel bundle
CPU – i5 4670k (need to buy K model to get bundle discount) - http://www.microcenter.com/product/413251/Core_i5_4670K_34GHz_Socket_LGA_1150_Boxed_Processor
MB – Asrock h87m itx - http://www.microcenter.com/product/417350/H87M-ITX_LGA_1150_mini_ITX_Intel_Motherboard
Price for both $265

Wildcard - Micro center currently has the EVGA z77 stinger itx board for $69 after rebate. I've read that the initial BIOS was very buggy, but EVGA had released a stable revision. Can anyone comment on this board? http://www.microcenter.com/product/409389/Z77_Stinger_LGA_1155_mITX_Intel_Motherboard
I’m thinking that he could bundle this board with a 3570k cpu, get the instant discount off the board, and pay $240 for both after rebate.

So the question is does he spend $100 more on the CPU platform, or stick with AMD? If anyone here has gaming expereince with a Richland CPU, please chime in. Also, he just purchased an Asus AC router, and i made him aware that Asrock makes a MB with AC wifi built in, but it costs a pretty penny ($160). Food for thought...

GPU - he will use his existing Nvidia GTS (not sure which model) card for now, until AMD release their latest cards. He will decide what to buy once the dust settles on that. I'm thinking that a 7950 comparable GPU would fit well here, at minimum. If not, maybe he can shop around for a used 4GB 680, or pick up a 760 for the right price.

Storage - he will reuse his existing 1TB WD blue drive $0. I told him about the added benefit of an SSD, but for now he may hold off, although spending $150 or so for a solid 256gb drive may be worth it.

ODD - he has an external usb2 dvd drive $0

PSU - reuse 500w Silverstone unit $0

OS - he will buy either w7 or 8 $90

Suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Torn Mind]

Richland is the same as Trinity architecturally, but the fabrication process has been improved, so it can have higher clockspeeds. But, a graphics processor cannot outperform the physical bounds that it has, and an A8 GPU will always be worse than a 6670. Fewer texture units, stream processors, and memory bandwidth are some of the things that an APU has less than a 6670.

If he truly has a "GTS card", then it is probably a GTS 240 or 250

 

[dmoney1980]

Torn Mind - thanks for the info. One of the main reasons why we are exploring this option is due to an article I read here at Anand. The article covered different CPU's for 1440p gaming, and the A8 cpu was recommended for anyone gaming with a single GPU. My only worry is the heat generated in these CPU's for an itx build. Also, I worry about the longevity of this cpu for demanding online FPS games like BF4 (where strong cores count). I would think that an FX 8320 would server him well, but it seems that they don't make an itx AM3 boards.

For his GPU, he only plans on using the current card while he waits for AMD to release their new GPU in October. The on chip graphics for the CPU's will not be a factor here.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

The fractal with the intel bundle would be SWEET! My vote big time. If you really want to do the AMD route (it IS cheaper...) maybe go with mATX and a mini tower case (bitfenix prodigy m....cooler master n200)?

 

[Torn Mind]

Some ITX cases have better cooling than others. In addition, some cases can hold taller aftermarket heatsinks while other can't. The Node 304 can hold CPU coolers up to 165 mm in height, which is quite tall.

In addition, it does well with a smaller, less effective cooler (Zalman CNPS8900). Good Delta T results in the following review.
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2012/09/19/fractal-design-node-304-review/3

I don't think thermals will be a major issue with the Node 304.

 

[mfenn]

For his GPU, he only plans on using the current card while he waits for AMD to release their new GPU in October. The on chip graphics for the CPU's will not be a factor here.

BF4 is not coming out until late October. I'd recommend holding off on assembling anything right now so that you can see what the whole landscape looks like. We at least need benches by reputable sites using release code before we have any idea of what the performance looks like.

Without that information, we can only recommend a generic "decent gaming PC", not one that's suited to BF4's peculiarities. And if BF3 was any indication, there will be peculiarities.