htpc HTPC and Light Gaming Build - Repost with Updates

[manual mode]

I'm building a PC to use as an HTPC and a system for light gaming (League of Legends, CS:GO, Borderlands/2, etc.)

 

I've got two options. One would be a mATX and the other would be a mITX build. The mATX is only about 10 cents cheaper in the end. I am probably going to add a GTX 950. Eventually I'll be upgrading to an i7 and a powerful graphics card, but that definitely won't be until at least Kaby Lake is released.

 

Here are both of the builds:

 

mITX:

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/k9MDpg
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/k9MDpg/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H110I Pro Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($35.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($47.97 @ Amazon)
Total: $311.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-21 02:59 EDT-0400

 

mATX:

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/P36LvK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/P36LvK/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2H GSM Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($62.99)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($35.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Core V21 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($59.87 @ Amazon)
Total: $311.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-21 02:59 EDT-0400

 

I want to know if there are any particular pros/cons to owning one or the other before I decide on which I will end up purchasing and building. Thanks in advance.

[Ajaydev Singh]

10 minutes ago, manual mode said:

I'm building a PC to use as an HTPC and a system for light gaming (League of Legends, CS:GO, Borderlands/2, etc.)

 

I've got two options. One would be a mATX and the other would be a mITX build. The mATX is only about 10 cents cheaper in the end. I am probably going to add a GTX 950. Eventually I'll be upgrading to an i7 and a powerful graphics card, but that definitely won't be until at least Kaby Lake is released.

 

Here are both of the builds:

 

mITX:

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/k9MDpg
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/k9MDpg/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H110I Pro Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($35.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($47.97 @ Amazon)
Total: $311.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-21 02:59 EDT-0400

 

mATX:

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/P36LvK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/P36LvK/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2H GSM Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($62.99)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($35.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($88.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Core V21 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($59.87 @ Amazon)
Total: $311.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-21 02:59 EDT-0400

 

I want to know if there are any particular pros/cons to owning one or the other before I decide on which I will end up purchasing and building. Thanks in advance.

You dont really need a i7 for gaming its more for like video editing or 3d. i5 should really really for light gaming. You may be fine with i3 or Pentium for lighting gaming and maybe later on add a gpu like gtx 950 I would normally go with mATX or + because I think you can do more with it like more sata ports or pcie

[manual mode]

Just now, Ajaydev Singh said:

You dont really need a i7 for gaming its more for like video editing or 3d. i5 should really really for light gaming. You may be fine with i3 or Pentium for lighting gaming and maybe later on add a gpu like gtx 950 I would normally go with mATX or + because I think you can do more with it like more sata ports or pcie

Yeah, that's exactly why I'm getting an i7. It's a light gaming build for now, but as I expand my library and work with Creative Cloud (Adobe) I'm going to need an i7.

[Ajaydev Singh]

17 minutes ago, manual mode said:

Yeah, that's exactly why I'm getting an i7. It's a light gaming build for now, but as I expand my library and work with Creative Cloud (Adobe) I'm going to need an i7.

Wouldn't you waste money on that  Pentium if your really going to upgrade to i7?

[manual mode]

14 minutes ago, Ajaydev Singh said:

Wouldn't you waste money on that  Pentium if your really going to upgrade to i7?

Uh yeah. The Pentium is $65 and the i7 is $350.