mobo for ITX and i5-4460

[fakebun]

Hi guys

I have a MSI R9 280 and Thermaltake 750w PSU with i7-920 and a gigabyte mobo i don't remember the model.

Right now my CPU fan is dead and I can't remove it from the mobo. The screws are stripped and way too tight. So I am thinking about changing a mobo and a cpu as well as a smaller case (preferrably ITX).

I really like the Fractal Design Node 804 ITX case and I was wondering if you guys can recommend some mobo that is for ITX case and can support i5-4460 and my already owned component nicely. I am not an overclocker and I play skyrim and thief sometimes but mostly diablo 3 and wow. I watch a lot of 1080p movies on my desktop.

Thank you.

 

[Charlie98]

The Node 804 is an mATX case, the Fractal mITX case is the 304... and I agree, it's a neat case.

As far as a NIB socket 1155 mITX board, you are at the mercy of what's in stock. You don't overclock, so that helps... Newegg lists a few 1155/mITX boards, the ASRock H61 is the least expensive but doesn't have USB3; I like Gigabyte, too, so they have the GA-H61N-USB3 that has rear USB3 ports, just no mobo header.

Edit: I just had it in my mind that the i5 4460 was Ivy Bridge... not Haswell. Disregard that nonsense above.

I need more coffee...

 

[fakebun]

Ah yes. the 304. Thank you I'll look into it. I was thinking AMD but their mITX boards only uses AM2+ instead of the AM3+

 

[Charlie98]

Ah yes. the 304. Thank you I'll look into it. I was thinking AMD but their mITX boards only uses AM2+ instead of the AM3+

Just make sure whatever board you pick has the features you want. At that level (H61/B75, et al...) some of them can really be stripped down. A need for USB3 or a PCIe slot may make or break your selection.

 

[fakebun]

Yes thank you. I am really trading convenience for performance in terms of motherboard huh...

 

[dave_the_nerd]

AsRock H97M-ITX

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Ah yes. the 304. Thank you I'll look into it. I was thinking AMD but their mITX boards only uses AM2+ instead of the AM3+

They use FM2(+) for ITX boards. Which means that you'll have to use one of their APUs. Socket AM2(+) (launched 2006) is old and only for use with DDR2 memory. There were a very few AM3(+?) ITX boards on the market, but I haven't seen any of those for years and I doubt if any are compatible with FX CPUs...

 

[fakebun]

I see. Thank you guys. I'm not pro at these computer stuff, but is my sacrifice to go with H97 chipset instead of the normal Z77 or z97 very noticeable?

And consider I'm using H97 chipset, would i5-4460 be an overkill? Recommend any other CPUs for my usage?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I see. Thank you guys. I'm not pro at these computer stuff, but is my sacrifice to go with H97 chipset instead of the normal Z77 or z97 very noticeable?

As a general rule, no.

Z-series board are targeted at overclockers, so they are sometimes a little fancier in other ways (maybe more USB ports, a couple higher-quality components to handle extra power draw, etc.) But this varies between motherboard manufacturers and models, and there's no reason a premium consumer H97 board can't have as many or more goodies as a premium overclocker Z97 board.

But the core chipset capabilities are the same. H97 is just a Z97 without overclocking.

 

[fakebun]

Ah I see. Thank you very much

 

[mfenn]

As a general rule, no.

Z-series board are targeted at overclockers, so they are sometimes a little fancier in other ways (maybe more USB ports, a couple higher-quality components to handle extra power draw, etc.) But this varies between motherboard manufacturers and models, and there's no reason a premium consumer H97 board can't have as many or more goodies as a premium overclocker Z97 board.

But the core chipset capabilities are the same. H97 is just a Z97 without overclocking.

Agree. Since you're looking at the i5 4460, you can't overclock anyway, so it doesn't make sense to go out of your way to get a Z97 board if an H97 will do what you need. In the absence of more detailed requirements, I'd go with the ASRock H97M-ITX/ac for $80 AR.

 

[fakebun]

Thank you for the clearup.

Are there any i5s that you guys recommend? I'm pretty sold on the ASRock mobo you guys recommended and now looking at it the 4460 is a little pricey. Still within budget but would like to lower it if possible

 

[mfenn]

Thank you for the clearup.

Are there any i5s that you guys recommend? I'm pretty sold on the ASRock mobo you guys recommended and now looking at it the 4460 is a little pricey. Still within budget but would like to lower it if possible

i5's pretty much cost what they cost due to a complete lack of competition from AMD. The i5 4440 is about $20 less than the 4460 and only loses 100MHz of clock speed.

 

[fakebun]

I see. Am I sacrificing too much if I go i3? Feels like a huge step down from my first gen i7-920 to i3 now haha

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I see. Am I sacrificing too much if I go i3? Feels like a huge step down from my first gen i7-920 to i3 now haha

If you game, I'd probably want to get a quad core. Should be a teensy bit more future proof.

 

[ShintaiDK]

i5's pretty much cost what they cost due to a complete lack of competition from AMD. The i5 4440 is about $20 less than the 4460 and only loses 100MHz of clock speed.

They would cost the same anyway. There would just be 2 at that pricepoint/performance to choose from.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I see. Am I sacrificing too much if I go i3? Feels like a huge step down from my first gen i7-920 to i3 now haha

Long term you want the i5. Dont save a few $ just to regret it later.

 

[fakebun]

Great. Thanks guys. I think imma go with the 4460 and ASRock.

Any recommendations on RAM? I don't know what I have right now in my pc (it's been at least 4 years) and if i can use it on the new mobo

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Great. Thanks guys. I think imma go with the 4460 and ASRock.

Any recommendations on RAM? I don't know what I have right now in my pc (it's been at least 4 years) and if i can use it on the new mobo

Check first. Intel CPUs will run with most speeds of DDR3, but it has to 1.35v or 1.5v (No 1.65v.)

 

[mfenn]

Check first. Intel CPUs will run with most speeds of DDR3, but it has to 1.35v or 1.5v (No 1.65v.)

Though most 1.65V can be at 1.5V with slightly lowered speed and/or timings.