ITX Build Feedback Needed

[Spooky_07]

Hello!

I currently have full ATX, but since it is pain to carry this around, I decided to build a mini-ITX so I can possibly carry it around.

At this time, I am only looking for core components, as I will be making the case by myself.

 

1. Budget & Location
- United States
- This will be a long-term project, so it will be an open-budget, except core components
     = Core Components: $700, but not limited to $800
     = Case: ~$100, to buy frame to hold components
     = Peripherals: $200 (For OS and other peripherals, if necessary)

 

2. Aim (From high to low priority)
- Easy to carry for field work(ie. indoor workshop)
- To be used with my screen tablet
- 60% of usage will be drawing and photo editing(ex. Photoshop)
- 30% of usage will be programming and minor 3D works(ex. Autodesk Inventor)
- 10% of usage will be gameplay(ex. Cities: Skyline, PAYDAY2, Rainbow Six: Seige, 30~60FPS?)

 

3. Monitors
- For gaming and general usage
     = 1x Display panel (1280 x 800, HDMI Connected) (Will be turned OFF if connected to my 23" monitor)
- For programming/3D works
     = 1x Display panel (1280 x 800, HDMI Connected)
     = 1x 23" LED IPS Monitor (1920 x 1080, DVI Connected)
- For drawing/photo editing
     = 1x Display panel (1280 x 800, HDMI Connected)
     = 1x Wacom Cintiq 12WX (1280 x 800, DVI Connected)

 

4. Peripherals
- None

 

5. Current Build Setup (Pending)
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H170N-WIFI (H170 Chipset, LGA 1151)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 (3.2GHz, LGA 1151)
- Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) (DDR4 2400)
- GPU: EVGA GTX 960 2GB SC (02G-P4-2962-KR)
- PSU: CORSAIR SF450 (450W, Fully Modular)
- Storage: Crucial BX200 2.5" 240GB SSD (SATA III)

 

6. What I Need Feedback On
- Still concerned about PSU, Memory, and storage

 

Thank you for reading!

[TheProfessionalAmateurs]

Because you do a lot of work with photoshop, I would reccomend at least 16 gigs of ddr4 ram, (you can use any kit) but, if you need more, 32 gigs wouldn't hurt. Also, along with your ssd, I would reccomend a secondary 1tb hard drive for mass storage. Also, your power supply is perfect with plenty of headroom for upgrades to your pc.

[Spooky_07]

2 minutes ago, TheProfessionalAmateurs said:

along with your ssd, I would reccomend a secondary 1tb hard drive for mass storage

Thanks! As far as mass storage goes, I'll be using my external HDD.

Do you have any idea if the SSD(Crucial BX200) is stable(that is, compare to other 240GB SSDs)?

[TheProfessionalAmateurs]

The BX 200 is a great sata ssd, and compared to other ssd's, the only way to get better performance for sata would be to get something like a samsung 850 pro, which is about $50 more for marginally better read and write speeds.

[Spooky_07]

51 minutes ago, Spooky_07 said:

- CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 (3.2GHz, LGA 1151)

Thinking of changing this to Intel Pentium G4500(Dual-core, 3.5Ghz), or Intel Core i3-6xxx, whichever one cuts down more on my core component budget; maybe not enough for gaming, but enough for drawing/photo editing?

I can always play my games on my old rig really

[Spooky_07]

So I came up with two more options, total of 3 possible options for core components;

=Option 1(http://pcpartpicker.com/list/X8WTHN) ($710.83)=

- Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H170N-WIFI (H170 Chipset, LGA 1151)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 (3.2GHz, LGA 1151)
- Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) (DDR4 2400)
- GPU: EVGA GTX 960 2GB SC (02G-P4-2962-KR)
- PSU: CORSAIR SF450 (450W, Fully Modular)
- Storage: Crucial BX200 2.5" 240GB SSD (SATA III)

 

=Option 2(http://pcpartpicker.com/list/7kCnnn) ($654.83)=

- Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H170N-WIFI (H170 Chipset, LGA 1151)
- CPU: Intel Core i3-6300 (3.8 GHz, LGA 1151)
- Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) (DDR4 2400)
- GPU: EVGA GTX 960 2GB SC (02G-P4-2962-KR)
- PSU: CORSAIR SF450 (450W, Fully Modular)
- Storage: Crucial BX200 2.5" 240GB SSD (SATA III)

 

=Option 3(http://pcpartpicker.com/list/RBQ2RG) ($597.83)=

- Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H170N-WIFI (H170 Chipset, LGA 1151)
- CPU: Intel Pentium G4500 (3.5GHz, LGA 1151)
- Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) (DDR4 2400)
- GPU: EVGA GTX 960 2GB SC (02G-P4-2962-KR)
- PSU: CORSAIR SF450 (450W, Fully Modular)
- Storage: Crucial BX200 2.5" 240GB SSD (SATA III) 

 

As far as I see, if I go with option 2/3, means I have to give up on gaming performance?

[Spooky_07]

So decided to expand my field and thinking of having an option with AMD processors. Problem is, I never built a rig with AMD processors.

So here I tried my best to plan out a build with AMD processors.

 

=Option 4(http://pcpartpicker.com/list/THyd6X) ($500.82)=

- Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-USB3 (Micro ATX)

- CPU: AMD FX-4300 (3.8GHz, AM3+)

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

- Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB

- GPU: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 2GB ITX Compact

- PSU: SeaSonic 520W (Fully Modular)

- Wi-Fi Card: GIGABYTE GC-WB867D-I (PCI-e)

 

So far I like this setup(mostly because of the total price), at this point I really don't mind if the rig cannot run games.

[Spooky_07]

I have combined all the possible builds and compared each other.

I'm assuming the $425 build would be sufficient enough to do at least graphical work?(ie. Photoshop)

 

LINK                                                       PRICE ($)
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/X8WTHN      710.83
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/7kCnnn        654.83
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/KmGJ3C      631.04
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/RBQ2RG      597.83
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/QLDsJV        544.94
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/THyd6X        500.82
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/9DCWXH      451.93
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/Dc6bjc          425.94