SFF pc help

[BudaBomb]

Ok so im thinking about building an SFF pc and am just looking for some advice. i dont need a cutting edge pc and would rather not spend alot of money. This will also be my first pc so i dont want anything too complicated. i was thinking about going the amd route instead of intel and im looking at the micro-atx form factor. this pc would be used for general use (web browsing, watching video, text editing, slight gaming). i would like to use a discrete graphics card and one hard drive, nothing too fancy. so im just looking for some suggestions and like ive said itll be my first pc.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The sticky in General Hardware has a good set of questions to answer.

What do you mean by "slight gaming", and at what screen resolution? Do you have a specific video card in mind?

What kind of budget are you hoping for, not including the monitor? Do you need a Windows license?

You could make a mini-ITX build instead of micro-ATX if you want it even smaller, but that would add ~$100 to the cost if you want a discrete video card, for a case like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163169

 

[Zap]

It would help your "slight gaming" concerns if you tossed out a couple game titles for us to chew on.

 

[BudaBomb]

I play counter strike, portal, and league of legends if that helps and i want to be under 800 excluding windows and peripherals. i would like something that has some decent power but i dont need the best of the best stuff.

 

[Zap]

BTW, welcome to AnandTech Forums.

those games you've mentioned don't require a whole lot.

Quad core AMD CPU $100
random motherboard $100 (someone else will have to help, I'm not versed in AMD gear)
4GB DDR3 $25 (any dual channel kit)
1TB 7200RPM HDD $60 (I'd recommend Samsung F3)
optical drive $25 (any)
case $45 (I'd recommend Cooler Master Elite 341)
500W+ power supply $60+ (whatever is on sale and decent, brands like Antec, Corsair, SeaSonic, etc.)
GeForce GTX 560 Ti or Radeon 6950 $200+

Hmmm, under budget even. At this rate you can go Intel (Core i5-2500K) and still be within budget.

 

[BudaBomb]

So dave got me thinking about the mini itx form factor and im just wondering about how good of a processor i could put into something that small without running into heat issues. Lian Li has some cases ive been looking at that seem nice and im just wondering about what i can do for a processor then what gpus would be good because i couldnt get a very big one and would i need to have a 500w power supply.

i was looking at this case from newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112265

but i saw a link for this case http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/produc...ex=585&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=64&g=f

which is another lian li case and is kind of similar to the other but it seems alot nicer and alot more portable but its not out yet for purchase so well see but any suggestions are welcome and any info is helpful.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

I really like the PC-Q08. Anything from a 5670 up will run CS and Portal at 1080p smoothly. Not familiar with the other title you mention. For those two games and general use an i3-2100 will be fine. A good 300W PSU will handle an i3-2100 and 5670. Don't overspend when your needs are modest.

 

[BudaBomb]

yeah i like the lian li stuff but i want to do and AMD build rather than intel

 

[Zap]

So dave got me thinking about the mini itx form factor and im just wondering about how good of a processor i could put into something that small without running into heat issues.

You can put in the fastest consumer gaming processor money can buy, a Core i7-2600K.

yeah i like the lian li stuff but i want to do and AMD build rather than intel

Why? I guess it'll depend on budget, but your quoted budget can afford a 2500K, which no current AMD processor can touch for gaming.

Of course... when will you be doing this? If not right now then you have a chance to wait for Bulldozer. Rumor is that it will be out really soon. Next week?

 

[BudaBomb]

yeah its not like im going to buy everything this instant im still working out what i want to do and everything so theres no set deadline and i wont have heating problems with a high end processor for example a six core phenom 2 or anything because i would be relying on the one fan for cooling and i dont kno if ill be able to fit any other type of cooling hardware in the rig.

 

[DaveSimmons]

An i5-2400 is faster than an X6 1100T BE while using 40 watts less power:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/203?vs=363

I built a bunch of AMD PCs in the socket 939 days and they were great, but it's been a long time since AMD has been competing, and Sandy Bridge was the final nail. Maybe Bulldozer will change things, but you shouldn't pick an inferior CPU out of blind loyalty.

 

[ITXGamer]

If your stuck on AMD, patience is your only option right now. The current stock on AM3 mini-ITX motherboards is slim and even the best six-core Phenom will be beat easily by a midrange Sandy Bridge.

If you want midrange AMD, consider Llano. It's got more than enough power to run what's on your list. $230 for the motherboard and processor. Add in a discrete card when the budget allows.

Don't worry about the cooling. Any processor you put in an ITX case that's capable of holding a dual-slot GPU will have plenty of cooling and room for an after market heatsink, although they are not required.

Use a Lian-Li PC-Q08 and a Corsair H50 if you're concerned about heat.