~$400 Build for My Friend

[byalexandr]

BUT! There's a catch! I want to modify my NES to be a small gaming PC since I wanted to do so for a long time and I'm sure my friend would enjoy it, so don't include a case in the budget, but the PSU has to be a PicoPSU or Flex ATX.

 

I was thinking of an APU system but I can fit a half height 750 Ti or something. A decent size SSD or a 2.5" HDD will do.

 

I'm more interested in what I should go with here then specific parts, this isn't a 'give me your PCPartPicker list' type of planning.

[byalexandr]

He said the most graphically intensive game he plays is probably MGSV, but he plays a lot of American Truck Simulator and stuff like that.

[PlayStation 2]

Have fun getting a motherboard that can power everything from a flat power source, or a PSU that would fit inside a Nintendo Entertainment System's shell.

[JefferyD90]

3 minutes ago, byalexandr said:

BUT! There's a catch! I want to modify my NES to be a small gaming PC since I wanted to do so for a long time and I'm sure my friend would enjoy it, so don't include a case in the budget, but the PSU has to be a PicoPSU or Flex ATX.

 

I was thinking of an APU system but I can fit a half height 750 Ti or something. A decent size SSD or a 2.5" HDD will do.

 

I'm more interested in what I should go with here then specific parts, this isn't a 'give me your PCPartPicker list' type of planning.

I'd just get a A10-7870k and use it.

[byalexandr]

Just now, Dan Castellaneta said:

Have fun getting a motherboard that can power everything from a flat power source, or a PSU that would fit inside a Nintendo Entertainment System's shell.

 

Like I said I can fit a half height 750 Ti and a Pico PSU or I can use an APU platform and a Flex ATX PSU.

[byalexandr]

1 minute ago, JefferyD90 said:

I'd just get a A10-7870k and use it.

Actually, I'm genuinely curious, how do the APU graphics compare to say a 750 Ti?

[PlayStation 2]

Just now, byalexandr said:

 

-snipe-

Like I said I can fit a half height 750 Ti and a Pico PSU or I can use an APU platform and a Flex ATX PSU.

I'd personally go the 750 Ti route as it likely won't be as much of a bitch to find small ass coolers than it will Flex ATX PSUs and bothering to cable manage.

[JefferyD90]

1 minute ago, byalexandr said:

Actually, I'm genuinely curious, how do the APU graphics compare to say a 750 Ti?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9307/the-kaveri-refresh-godavari-review-testing-amds-a10-7870k

[byalexandr]

1 minute ago, Dan Castellaneta said:

I'd personally go the 750 Ti route as it likely won't be as much of a bitch to find small ass coolers than it will Flex ATX PSUs and bothering to cable manage.

It'll be a bitch to find a Pico PSU like that one though. I think the one in the photo is 220W, normally they are like 140W or something.

[PlayStation 2]

Just now, byalexandr said:

It'll be a bitch to find a Pico PSU like that one though. I think the one in the photo is 220W, normally they are like 140W or something.

Then go whichever route's easier.

[NumLock21]

A website dedicated to pico computing

http://www.mini-box.com/site/index.html

[byalexandr]

Just now, Dan Castellaneta said:

Then go whichever route's easier.

The APU route would be much easier, but I don't have an idea on the graphical power. @JefferyD90 linked an Anandtech test but I can't tell to be honest. From the looks of it the 285 wrecks it of course, but I'm wondering about a 750 Ti.

[byalexandr]

Just now, NumLock21 said:

A website dedicated to pico computing

http://www.mini-box.com/site/index.html

I'm well aware of this site, I'm the SFF guy

[PlayStation 2]

Just now, byalexandr said:

The APU route would be much easier, but I don't have an idea on the graphical power. @JefferyD90 linked an Anandtech test but I can't tell to be honest. From the looks of it the 285 wrecks it of course, but I'm wondering about a 750 Ti.

I believe the APU's GPU power is about 45-55% of the 7850, and the 7850 literally = 750 Ti.

[NumLock21]

Just now, byalexandr said:

I'm well aware of this site, I'm the SFF guy

Knew that site a while back as well.

[byalexandr]

Just now, Dan Castellaneta said:

I believe the APU's GPU power is about 45-55% of the 7850, and the 7850 literally = 750 Ti.

Yeesh, just took a look at some videos and it barely does 40FPS, high settings at 720P on pretty demanding titles. I'll talk to my friend and if he's okay with it then I guess why not. I might just have to do a regular build for him, save my NES for something more... Powerful...

[byalexandr]

This is what I have so far for around $400:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7870K 3.9GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($133.95 @ Amazon) 
CPU Cooler: Silverstone AR06 40.2 CFM CPU Cooler  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A78M-ITX+ Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard  ($66.98 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory  ($39.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: Athena Power 350W 80+ Bronze Certified Mini ITX Power Supply  ($75.66 @ Newegg) 
Total: $420.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-02-20 21:40 EST-0500

 

Will fit easily into the NES, quick job actually. I'll see what my friend thinks of the APU, if he's meh with it then I'll do a regular build (still mini ITX, though, gotta live up to my title) as I don't like Pico PSUs very much.

[byalexandr]

How is the stock cooler for the 7870K? Any reason I shouldn't get the AR06?