mini ITX build for mom

[kaiju_wars]

Budget (including currency): Less that $500 USD if possible

Country: United States

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: General web browsing, streaming content such as TV and movies, some small gaming (the most demanding game she plays is The Walking Dead)

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): This is the monitor she has currently, she just wanted as big of a monitor as possible at 1080p, I got this at Micro Center like a year or two ago on sale for less than it is currently listed as: https://www.microcenter.com/product/625067/lg-32mn500m-b-315-full-hd-(1920-x-1080)-75hz-led-monitor

She already has a mouse, keyboard, headset, and speakers also.  She's upgrading from a 2200G, using the iGPU on it.  I'm giving her my old 2700 since I upgraded, and that means I'll have to get her a dedicated GPU.

 

This is the current parts list I'm looking at for her though. 

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/RVk7rD

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700 3.2 GHz 8-Core Processor  (Purchased For $0.00)
• Motherboard: ASRock AB350 Gaming-ITX/ac Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard
• Memory: TEAMGROUP Vulcan 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-2800 CL16 Memory
• Storage: Silicon Power A60 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($34.97 @ Amazon)
• Video Card: *PowerColor ITX Radeon RX 6500 XT 4 GB Video Card  ($159.99 @ Amazon)
• Case: HYTE REVOLT 3 Mini ITX Tower Case w/700 W Power Supply  ($129.99 @ HYTE)

Total: $324.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-07-27 23:40 EDT-0400

 

 She has been using the ITX mobo in her current PC, but it's in an mATX case, and she'd like an ITX case so she can fit it on her desk.  I've only ever built one ITX build and it was with a much different case.

I'm giving her my old 2700, as that should be more than enough for her.  For a GPU I'm thinking of getting her a 6500XT, again, the most demanding game she plays is A Tell Tale's The Walking Dead.  I'm really liking the Hyte Revolt 3, with it's integrated PSU, and bumping up her 250GB SSD to a 1TB NVMe SSD. 

I've seen some reviews really talk about how you want a water cooler when using this case, but at the same time, in those reviews they're putting like 7950Xs and thermonuclear core i9 13900Ks in there.  Meanwhile I'm bumping her 2200G up to a 2700, a 65W CPU.  I'm wondering if it'll be fine to just use the included Wraith Spire it comes with?

 

Also is there anything else you'd change about this build?  It doesn't need to be balls to the wall, the CPU will do her fine, is there a different ITX case y'all recommend?  She really likes the design of the Hyte and the included carry handle and headphone stand.  Depending on how things play out, and if I can get her to try different games, I could maybe bump up the GPU to a RX 6600, or maybe something a little older but used that gives more performance than a 6500XT.  But for her use case, the 6500XT fits perfectly right now, and I like how small it is for something like this, being put into an ITX case.

 

 

This build will probably be actually built in a couple months, once I'm off the overnights rotation for work.

 

 

 

[kaiju_wars]

3 minutes ago, micha_vulpes said:

What I would change : Spend a little more and get a DRAM equipped SSD. If you exceed the SLC cache on that drive, it slows way way down to Hard drive like speeds... Samsung 970, Crucial p5, SK Hynix Gold 1TB drives were all about 50 dollars per TB the other week and well worth it IMO.

1. I am amazed on the pricing on the 6500xt, thats only 13 dollars more than the 6400.

 

2. If your Spire has the copper slug : its fine. If its the pure aluminum one, it should work, but it has a faster louder fan than the copper slug version.  For the Price though,  If your budget is less than 500, I would probably toss a 20-30 dollar cooler on there that would perform better or stay quieter ( maybe a ThermalRight AXP120x67, SI-100, or SS110, Or a ID cooling IS55 these are all around that 20-30 dollar range usually)

 

3. The Hyte Value is that is has a 700 watt PSU included. There are lots of other trendy cases in the ITX space that are all seemingly around 100 dollars on their own, and then you need to spend another 100ish on an SFX PSU. It seems to be a great value.

 

Other than the Drive and the cooler, it all looks pretty good to me if you are trying to come in cheaply. The walking dead is the TellTale Click-and-point game based on the 3d Sam and Max engine right? It should run on well, anything.

Yeah, the Wraith Spire I have has the copper slug.  As for the SSD, I completely forgot about that!

 

Apparently this ADATA SSD has DRAM cache?  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1J3C23?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1

[kaiju_wars]

4 minutes ago, micha_vulpes said:

That is a much better drive for not much more money.

 

And Like I said, I would also probably still look at a cpu cooler ( either a 92mm tower, or a 120mm top flow) just because those will probably be quieter than the stock cuSlug Spire, but its not really needed.

 

EDIT:
Id also probably look into adding at least one chassis fan, maybe two. Since the case supports it, and it will help with over all thermals.   I have fans I think are decent for the money ( Arctic P12, Scythe Kaze Flex, etc) are about 7-9 dollars each. Since its not a high power draw system id just set them to 800-1000 RPM where they are effectively inaudible.

The cooler I'm not too worried about with noise, especially if it'll be fine.  As for case fans, I know it can take an 80mm slim fan at the top, and I think 120mm fans on the side.  Might grab a couple of Noctua fans.

[SorryBella]

2 hours ago, kaiju_wars said:

 

Apparently this ADATA SSD has DRAM cache?  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1J3C23?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1

Initially. Adata has since swapped to DRAMless controllers for SX8200 and really for most Adata SSDs. Dont get Adata SSDs for the massive bait and switch and discrepancy.

[kaiju_wars]

10 hours ago, SorryBella said:

Initially. Adata has since swapped to DRAMless controllers for SX8200 and really for most Adata SSDs. Dont get Adata SSDs for the massive bait and switch and discrepancy.

Then what would you recommend that’s not overly expensive?

[SorryBella]

6 hours ago, kaiju_wars said:

Then what would you recommend that’s not overly expensive?

For 1TB class, i just wrote some recommendation for my friend on it 2 days ago. Should still be relevant.

 

Rock bottom pick (if you cant buy this, save up):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZGJVTZK Silicon Power A60 - 35$

 

Bang for the buck (the good stuff):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9Y3DB2K Team MP44L - 43$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R6V31K8 Mushkin Helix L - 43$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B25NXWC7?th=1 Crucial P3 Plus - 45$

 

Peak (going any further and id just consider 2TB drives):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098WL46RS Crucial P5 Plus - 50$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TLYWMYW Sabrent Rocket 4.0 - 60$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7CKVCCV Western Digital SN850X - 60$

[kaiju_wars]

2 hours ago, SorryBella said:

For 1TB class, i just wrote some recommendation for my friend on it 2 days ago. Should still be relevant.

 

Rock bottom pick (if you cant buy this, save up):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZGJVTZK Silicon Power A60 - 35$

 

Bang for the buck (the good stuff):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9Y3DB2K Team MP44L - 43$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R6V31K8 Mushkin Helix L - 43$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B25NXWC7?th=1 Crucial P3 Plus - 45$

 

Peak (going any further and id just consider 2TB drives):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098WL46RS Crucial P5 Plus - 50$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TLYWMYW Sabrent Rocket 4.0 - 60$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7CKVCCV Western Digital SN850X - 60$

Thank you, I'll keep these in mind