Building Mini ITX Computer

[zolo30]

So I am building a mini ITX computer for my girlfriend. She will be using the computer to edit her blog, use photoshop, and light gaming(she just doesn't know that part yet). She is very new to computers so I am trying to start her out slow but have the room for growth because i know her interest will grow and she will want to do more. What I have posted below for a proposed parts list is what I need.(if it is not posted I already have that item.) Please let me know any suggestions you would have to make the build more efficient.

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xZ8Bzy

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xZ8Bzy/by_merchant/

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($59.99 @ Micro Center) 

CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($79.99 @ Micro Center) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($118.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($141.30 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate  1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive  ($77.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($79.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 

Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($21.99 @ Amazon) 

Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($21.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $662.21

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-24 23:55 EDT-0400

 

Also check out her blog at http://speakgoldenjune.blogspot.com/

[Clyne]

Using HD graphics isn't that great.

Hold on, i make another build, if you want it to be cheaper then ditch the ssd

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($118.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Team Dark Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($144.98 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($59.98 @ OutletPC) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.91 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($131.98 @ Newegg) 

Case: BitFenix Phenom Arctic White Mini ITX Tower Case  ($79.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($29.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $718.78

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-25 00:07 EDT-0400

[brob]

@zolo30,

 

Could you update your build to show the parts you have. Once added, doesn't have to be the exact model, edit the line and mark as purchased or $0. Otherwise we have no way of knowing, for example, if you have a gpu.

[FloRolf]

i would go the extra mile for the i5 tbh. the pentium will not cut it if she's editing.

[zolo30]

@zolo30,

 

Could you update your build to show the parts you have. Once added, doesn't have to be the exact model, edit the line and mark as purchased or $0. Otherwise we have no way of knowing, for example, if you have a gpu.

 

If it is not posted I don't need it such as a GPU I actually dont't need

[Clyne]

If it is not posted I don't need it such as a GPU I actually dont't need

having cuda would be better in photoshop

[brob]

If it is not posted I don't need it such as a GPU I actually dont't need

 

You are saying that you do not want a gpu in the build? Because it sure can make a difference with Photoshop and many games.

[zolo30]

You are saying that you do not want a gpu in the build? Because it sure can make a difference with Photoshop and many games.

I already have a MSI R9 270x GPU

[soaringchicken]

 

Using HD graphics isn't that great.

Hold on, i make another build, if you want it to be cheaper then ditch the ssd

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($118.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Team Dark Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($144.98 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($59.98 @ OutletPC) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.91 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($131.98 @ Newegg) 

Case: BitFenix Phenom Arctic White Mini ITX Tower Case  ($79.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($29.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $718.78

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-25 00:07 EDT-0400

 

This one looks good.

[dizmo]

having cuda would be better in photoshop

Erm. No. Photoshop doesn't use Cuda.

[JAKEBAB]

would get this over that pentium if shes going to be using photoshop and stuff maybe ad an ssd if u like.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: ASRock B85M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($77.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($141.30 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate  1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive  ($77.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($79.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $612.24

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-25 00:34 EDT-0400

[brob]

I already have a MSI R9 270x GPU

 

I would suggest going with an i5 on an H97 motherboard with stock cooler. 8GB of memory using the savings to get an ssd. The ssd will make a big difference in performance.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($182.78 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($92.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($69.30 @ Newegg)

Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  (Purchased For $0.00)

Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($79.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Amazon)

Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($21.99 @ Amazon)

Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm  Fan  ($21.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $641.93

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-25 00:35 EDT-0400

[Clyne]

Erm. No. Photoshop doesn't use Cuda.

whoops, i thought it did use Cuda

[dizmo]

whoops, i thought it did use Cuda

I think you were thinking AutoCAD

[brob]

I think you were thinking AutoCAD

 

Or an older version of Photoshop. If I recall correctly up until recently some features were only accelerated with CUDA gpu.

[dizmo]

Or an older version of Photoshop. If I recall correctly up until recently some features were only accelerated with CUDA gpu.

Must have been pretty old..I don't think the last 2 used it at all.

[zolo30]

Here is my new proposed build which I think has a little bit mroe fire power and saves money. Let me know what you think. At the moment she does not play games but i think that will change if she has a card that is capable of playing games which i already bought. She is mainly blogging and doing some photo shop things today. But in the future she may expand into more interest with computers so I am trying to have a good system to spark her interest without just shelling out money.

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vZMWJx
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vZMWJx/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($159.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: MSI H81I Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($66.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($78.30 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  (Purchased For $0.00)
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($79.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $554.23
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-26 17:43 EDT-0400