Need Advice, Mini ITX System Builders

[J. Hammond]

So I've been thinking about building a system with a slim Mini-ITX form factor, probably in the Silverstone RVZ01B case. I'm kind of hyped but my brain is telling me that I'm going to regret it.  

 

I don't go to LAN parties, upgrading it is going to be difficult, airflow will be hampered by the tiny space, specialty parts will cost extra, the list goes on. My needs would be more than met with a nice mid-tower case.

 

But oh hell, I'm absolutely loving the tiny size. A PC just a little bigger than an Xbox One, yet with a GTX 980 Ti stuffed in it? Yes. Just, yes.

 

Still, the negatives that were mentioned are still sitting in the back of my mind. You can fit a Mini-ITX board in an MATX case, and you can fit an MATX board in an ATX case, but you can't fit anything else in an ITX case. Once you go ITX, you... Well you never go back, at least not with this case. I've only ever built a system in a full tower case before, but I'm willing to try to go small this time around.

 

So, ITX system builders. While I'm sure the build was "fun," is it something that you actually want to stick with? Did you feel like you could/should have gone with something different? 

[Noyu]

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/378828-sentry-console-sized-gaming-pc-case-project/
dunno about you, but if I had the funds, I'd auto-buy this..


 

[ForsakenLive]

Why'd you go RVZ01, when you can get the RVZ02?

 

I moved to mITX in my last build and I love it

[J. Hammond]

Why'd you go RVZ01, when you can get the RVZ02?

 

I moved to mITX in my last build and I love it

 

 

Because I think the RVZ02 looks butt-ugly. Call me vain, but I am not waking up to that... thing...

[Necrodead]

I've just built an ITX computer in an mATX case and I don't think i'll regret it. Unless you want the extra pci-e slots for expansion, and I guess thats what you're worried about, you only need an ITX. Sound cards can be replaced by external units and most ITX boards come with wifi so you really only need the expansion slots for GPU's if you want them, so the real question is, do you want SLI in the future or not?

[Misanthrope]

What about Fractal's Node 202? 

 

[J. Hammond]

I've just built an ITX computer in an mATX case and I don't think i'll regret it. Unless you want the extra pci-e slots for expansion, and I guess thats what you're worried about, you only need an ITX. Sound cards can be replaced by external units and most ITX boards come with wifi so you really only need the expansion slots for GPU's if you want them, so the real question is, do you want SLI in the future or not?

 

By the time I'll have to SLI the GTX 980 Ti, I'll probably have a different case anyways. Or I'll get married and have kids and have nothing left for myself.

 

Haha. Either way, no, no SLI.

 

I'm starting to think an ITX system may actually be a good idea.

 

 

What about Fractal's Node 202? 

 

Snip

I've thought about the 202, but the dealbreaker was the lack of a 3.5" bay. But gawd... That case looks amazing...

 

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/378828-sentry-console-sized-gaming-pc-case-project/

dunno about you, but if I had the funds, I'd auto-buy this..

 

 

It it was available, I would buy that in a heartbeat. 

[ForsakenLive]

Because I think the RVZ02 looks butt-ugly. Call me vain, but I am not waking up to that... thing...

What about the FTZ01?

[Misanthrope]

I've thought about the 202, but the dealbreaker was the lack of a 3.5" bay. But gawd... That case looks amazing...

 

If you need long term storage, 2.5 inch mechanicals are a bit more expensive but still reasonably cheap, you might need to "settle" for a 2gb 5400rpm 2.5 inch laptop mechanical drive but it's really not that big of a deal imho.

 

Plus it gives you an excuse to also build a NAS

[Guest]

Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX is a great case for an ITX system and would recommend it 100% of the time, and I don't regret going with ITX. Only downside is, there's no option to SLI, which I would probably never do anyway. 

 

 

200mm fan in front as stock. 

[J. Hammond]

Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX is a great case for an ITX system and would recommend it 100% of the time, and I don't regret going with ITX. Only downside is, there's no option to SLI, which I would probably never do anyway. 

 

Snip

 

200mm fan in front as stock. 

 

I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of cube or desktop ITX cases. Sure there's good functionality and more room, but I'm more into console or slim HTPC form factors. 

 

What about the FTZ01?

 

...I completely missed that case. Welp, looks like I'm going with the FTZ01 instead! Thanks for the tip!

 

If you need long term storage, 2.5 inch mechanicals are a bit more expensive but still reasonably cheap, you might need to "settle" for a 2gb 5400rpm 2.5 inch laptop mechanical drive but it's really not that big of a deal imho.

 

Plus it gives you an excuse to also build a NAS 

 

I don't know how legitimate they are, but 2.5" HDDs seem to have more reports of failure compared to 3.5" drives. It could be total BS for all I know, but I think I'm going to stick to 3.5" HDDs, 2.5" and M.2 SSDs.