Small pc

[phillyman36]

Hey I'm looking to build a 2nd pc. I'm looking for something in a small form factor. It will be used to play a game once in a while(C&C and Batman). Other than that it will just be light duty video encoding. What equipment would you all recommend?

1) Mobo
2) Cpu
3) Case
4) Psu
5) Gpu (if integrated graphics isn't enough)

Want to stay under 500 ish for now but i may up the budget.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

i3 2100
H77
8gb ram
430 watt psu
6850

 

[lehtv]

Please answer all the standard questions. Also - what's your current hardware? What are you upgrading from?

 

[phillyman36]

Please answer all the standard questions. Also - what's your current hardware? What are you upgrading from?

1) Used for gaming and video encoding(not heavy usage more of a back up)
2) $500 ish
3) US
4) I mostly use Intel stuff but i don't have a brand preference.
5) I do have a Core 2 quad sitting around but i figured i would sell and get updated equipment
6) No overclocking
7) 1920x1080
8) Withing the next month

This isn't going to be my main rig. Just a back up and a pc others can use to play games

 

[lehtv]

So is your $500 budget only for the parts listed in the original post, or do you also need a Windows copy, drives and RAM?

Selling the C2Q is a good idea, there's not much point in buying an LGA775 motherboard at this point.

 

[phillyman36]

Just the parts listed. I have drives, os and memory. Say $500 to $600 range if need be. Also thanks for the replies. Much appreciated

 

[lehtv]

Alright.

I'd recommend going with the cheapest good quality case and PSU in order to maximize CPU and GPU performance. You can go with either an i3 dual core with HT or an i5 quad core - the former could allow you to afford a 7850 2GB which is nice for 1080p, while the quad core would probably last longer before you needed another platform upgrade. The video card is always easier to upgrade.

Mobo Asrock H61iCafe $65
CPU i3-2120 $123 ($115 in amazon) or i5-2400 $190 (or i5-2500 $195 AP, ends today)
GPU HD7850 2GB ~$250 (preferably Sapphire but it's out of stock) or 560 Ti $190 AR
Case Antec 300 Illusion $45 AR AP (if you mind the LEDs, then HAF 912 $50 combo'd with another NCIX product for free shipping)
PSU Corsair CX500 $40 AR, OCZ ZS550 $45 AR, XFX 450W $45 AR, or Seasonic S12II 520W $70 (if you don't do MIR)

$520 AR with i3 and 7850; $530 AR with i5 and 560 Ti

If you want to spend less, especially without rebates, then buy i3 and 560 Ti or i5 and 6870.

Deals come an go though, so these (cases and PSUs in particular) may not be the best bang-for-buck choices by the time you're ready to buy.

If you live near a microcenter, you could get the CPU for cheaper (i5-2400 $140), and possibly get a discount on the motherboard. I'm not sure which CPU and mobo combos are eligible for the discount though.

Your RAM is DDR3 1333mhz or 1600mhz at 1.5V, correct? How many gigs? And the drives are SATA II (3gb/s)? 🙂

 

[phillyman36]

Ddr 3 1600(Corsair Vengeance) 8 gigs
I have a 1.5tb Western digital green drive. I may just use a Samsung 830 128gig for the os and a laptop drive as a storage drive. I do live near a Microcenter.( i just got a 3770k for my main rig) Im looking for something a bit smaller(size wise ie micro atx). But this will point me into the right direction

 

[T_Yamamoto]

H77 matx mobo
Fractal Design Core 1000

 

[lehtv]

Ddr 3 1600(Corsair Vengeance) 8 gigs
I have a 1.5tb Western digital green drive. I may just use a Samsung 830 128gig for the os and a laptop drive as a storage drive. I do live near a Microcenter.( i just got a 3770k for my main rig) Im looking for something a bit smaller(size wise ie micro atx). But this will point me into the right direction

Then just get the Core 1000, it's a nice and affordable microATX case. Pair with Asrock H61U3S3, it has similar price and specs as the other Asrock, but microATX form.

From microcenter, i5-2400 $140 or i5-2500K $170 paired with a Z77 mATX motherboard discount if possible.