Building mini itx pc

[mickmcpaddy]

I think its time to upgrade the HTPC at my TV, currently have a Gigabyte Brix but its one of the first ones with a low spec Pentium in it so now struggles with a few things. A few years ago I built a mini ITX PC but just used the on board graphics for a PC but this time I would like to fit a GPU card in it. But if I get one of the slim type cases like this how does the graphics card fit into it, if at all?

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/akasa-galileo-t-co...

It will obviously have a slot for the card but would need turning sideways and would then be in the way of other stuff would it not. I'm not sure a cube type case will fit in between the shelves, I will have to get measuring.

Also how do the i7 type NUCs compare to a fully fledged PC with a decent GPU card in it, say a GTX 1060?

[mickmcpaddy]

Ok cheers, maybe a dedicated GPU is a bit much. I have put together a list of things I would like, if anyone could take a couple of minutes to have a look and tell me where I could improve things I would appreciate it. Even choosing the correct RAM was a mission with all the different types and voltages etc.

Case

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/silverstone-sugo-s...

Mother board (no preference for this its just one of the cheapest)

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/asrock-h110m-itx-i...

CPU (don't think I need anything more)

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel-core-i5-6500...

Low profile fan for CPU (think it needs it for the PSU to fit)

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/akasa-ak-cc7122bp0...

SSD (again no preference, just the cheapest - I don't need big storage)

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/120gb-sandisk-ssd-...

RAM (I think 8GB is enough)

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-(1x8gb)-corsai...

Power supply (not the cheapest but it will fit the case and is modular)

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/500w-silverstone-s...

I've no preference for using scan, however its just down the road and I can pick it all up, I do have a prime account at amazon but I find the PC stuff on there lacks a lot of information, like getting the correct RAM etc.

Thanks.

[mickmcpaddy]

I want a higher end cpu just because they work and the fact that I may add a decent graphics card at a later date and use it as a gaming PC. I have had several lower end CPUs before and I wouldn't say they struggle but sometimes aren't as quick at opening demanding web pages and playing 1080 videos, sometimes my current HTPC is a bit jumpy on some Youtube videos or opening a web page with loads of pictures, yet the overclocked i5 PC in my office does anything you ask of it without problems.

[mickmcpaddy]

Yes windows 10, I don't just use it as a HTPC though, I brows the web a lot on it, maybe look at a few excel files or PDFs etc. When I do use it as a home theater its usually something on XBMC. I like W10 as you can do all the above but also things like go on Reddit and get a HD football stream and watch it without any problems, I've tried to do similar on android devices and its clunky to say the least, Windows 10 just works, so maybe needs the extra oomph.

[mickmcpaddy]

Just thinking ahead here for future proofing, the i5 7600k is only £30 or so more expensive and I have a GTX 650 card knocking about, I know its not the latest graphics card but would it be an improvement on the GPU inside the i5?

I know I would need a different motherboard for this i5.

[mickmcpaddy]

In the end I followed advice and went for this, couldn't justyify the extra cost when you look at how cheap a PS4 is, the money saved can go towards a decent GPU for my more powerful office PC.

Case

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/cit-mtx-007b-black...

Motherboard

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-b250i-pro-inte...

CPU

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel-pentium-g460...

SSD

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/120gb-sandisk-ssd-...

RAM

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-corsair-ddr4-v...

All in about $300, would have been a bit cheaper but the didn't have the 4560 in stock so I had to go for the next one up. I must say it works absolutely fine as a HTPC, nothing extra is needed.

[mickmcpaddy]

mikef said:

What PSU did you go with? I just caught up with this and noticed the Silverstone Strider 500. If you get that for a mini-PC, also order the short cable set: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/silverstone-sst-pp...

The case came with one, 180W I think, looks more like an integrated laptop charger shoved down the side of the case, it had a cloverleaf socket on it anyway, didn't have many leads off it either.