Hello all!
I am currently trying to build a mATX PC for HTPC/medium gaming. The problem is I don't have much experience with smaller form factors and I am limited in my choices because of where I live. I am trying to get the best value (ie cheapest without losing much power) and have come up with this so far:
Case :THERMALTAKE VF6000BWS - 99$
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133044&Tpk=THERMALTAKE%20VF6000BWS[/url]
(my other choice was AEROCOOL QX-2000 (for 89$) [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811196038&Tpk=AEROCOOL%20QX-2000[/url] , but I wasn't sure of the quality)
MoBo: ASUS P7H55-M LX 100$
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131664&cm_re=ASUS_P7H55-M-_-13-131-664-_-Product[/url]
CPU: Intel Core i3 530 139$
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=Intel+Core+i3+530&x=25&y=33[/url]
GPU: ZOTAC GTS 250 ECO 145$
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500152[/url]
RAM: KINGSTON 2GB DDR3 44$
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134812&Tpk=kingston%202gb%20ddr3[/url]
HDD: WD Caviar Blue 500GB 45$
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=WD+Caviar+Blue+500GB&x=24&y=29[/url]
Obviously the prices are not Newegg prices but what they are over here.
Right now I am looking for a decent and cheap PSU that will power these and leave room for slight upgrades in the future. The thing is I don't know what will fit in to the case, so I need some suggestions, I also have to check for availability.
Also do you see any incompatibility issues here, something that won't fit in? I am slightly concerned about the GPU not fitting into the case and MoBo so any suggestions are welcome. I also would like to hear comments on the choices.
I will mostly be doing gaming (nothing heavy, usually on low/medium) and watching videos/listening to music. Any suggestions on where I can shave off a few bucks and if a part is overkill.
Thank you very much!
Get one of these instead.
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=samsung_f3-_-22-152-181-_-Product[/url]
[editline]16th October 2010[/editline]
It's faster
[QUOTE=thf;25442533]Get one of these instead.
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=samsung_f3-_-22-152-181-_-Product[/url]
[editline]16th October 2010[/editline]
It's faster[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the suggestion but unfortunately I cannot find it here.
What I really (and perhaps only) need right now is a decent and cheap PSU that will fit into the mATX case and will be powerful enough to run the components. Any suggestions?
Corsair or OCZ PSU's are the way to go.
Antec also makes good PSU's.
I decided to go with AEROCOOL QX-2000 ([url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811196038&Tpk=qx-2000[/url]), it is cheaper (89$) and the same size as Thermaltake.
Also I couldn't find any Antec PSUs and Corsair/OCZ's seemed a bit expensive so I was wondering if Cooler Master 500W RS500-PCAP-A3 ([url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031&cm_re=RS500-_-17-171-031-_-Product[/url]) be a better choice? The case specs state that it supports full size ATX PSU, with up to 140mm depth and the dimensions PCAP-A3 is 150 x 86 x 140 mm so it fits. Anyone have any experiences with CM PSUs?
Finally I was wondering if there is a easy way I can measure and find if everything (especially the GPU) would fit into the case. Also should I buy a exhaust fan just in case?
Replace the GTS 250 with [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873&cm_re=5770-_-14-102-873-_-Product]this[/url], it's considerably more powerful while requiring less power and less space, but other than that, your build looks pretty solid.
I found a HD5770 for 167$, cheapest. Would it be worth it? I have a great gaming PC, this is for my own room. I also found HD5750 for 143$ but am not sure about that too. I could spring for the 22$, but I wouldn't want the CPU to be a bottleneck.
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