mATX Gaming build?

[Jack6114]

After Christmas I plan on building a gaming mATX computer and i was wondering what parts would be best? so,could you guys please help me...my budget is £790.I know for a fact that i won't be spending that much,as i haven't seen any Sli/crossfire Mobo in mATX format...
I don't need a HDD (i have an 80GB & 640GB) but i need everything else (as in case,mobo,OS RAM etc)

well,thanks in advance.

[staffsMike]

Silverstone TJ08B ~£55 (Antec P180 mini ~£60 but it's midi tower size)
enermax 425W modu82+ ~£50
DFI P45 Jnr (yes it is xfire uATX ) ~£95
Intel E5200 ~£60 + Xigmatec Cooler ~£25
4GB PC6400 ~£38
HD4870 1GB ~£200
Blu Ray ~£60

Just under £600 but the graphics are a bit overkill for under 1920 x 1200. You could also fit a Q9550 quad into the budget.

I wouldn't personally go for a cube case if you want high end graphics, uATX towers are the way.

[Jack6114]

Silverstone TJ08B ~£55 (Antec P180 mini ~£60 but it's midi tower size)
enermax 425W modu82+ ~£50
DFI P45 Jnr (yes it is xfire uATX ) ~£95
Intel E5200 ~£60 + Xigmatec Cooler ~£25
4GB PC6400 ~£38
HD4870 1GB ~£200
Blu Ray ~£60

Just under £600 but the graphics are a bit overkill for under 1920 x 1200. You could also fit a Q9550 quad into the budget.

I wouldn't personally go for a cube case if you want high end graphics, uATX towers are the way.

Thanks for the reply !

Yeah about the graphic's card..I'm using a 19" screen so i don't need a top of the line card...Maybe ATi HD 4670 in xfire? also i didn't see a blue ray for £60..if you have please link me xD.tbh..I like that built plus vista HP which is another £83 i'm well under my budget.

[staffsMike]

the drive is on scan today only but its this one
http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductId=23264

I've just got one and although its a long and noisey beast when its spun up (much like most) it's perfectly silent/quiet when running movies.

I wouln't bother with HD4670 xfire tbh, better off just getting a decent single card with the option of xfire if you want it. £90 gets you the HD4830 (on ebuyer) which is a strong performer. This in xfire is rediculous performance wise if you need any more grunt.

[Jack6114]

the drive is on scan today only but its this one
http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductId=23264

I've just got one and although its a long and noisy beast when its spun up (much like most) it's perfectly silent/quiet when running movies.

I wouln't both with HD4670 xfire tbh, better off just getting a decent single card with the option of xfire if you want it. £90 gets you the HD4830 (on ebuyer) which is a strong performer. This in xfire is ridiculous performance wise if you need any more grunt.

Yeah i see what you mean for an extra £15 quid i might as well..this is going to be my first build () i was things of getting some cheapo parts and seeing how easy it will be to build my own...what do you think?

then build my gaming PC?

[staffsMike]

Well the TJ08 has a removeable motherboard tray which makes it very nice to build with anyway. The PSU in question is modular so you only need to use the cables you need to use. This makes keeping it tidy very easy.

The one problem with the case is the standard fans. They are very noisey unless you throttle them back. Most motherboards will do both quite happily but I changed them in mine. I also suggested the Antec P180 mini which is a fantastic case I bought this week. Problem with that is it is Midi tower size not uATX even though it only takes uATX boards.

The last Case to consider is the Antec NSK3480. This actually comes with a nice PSU which will power the above system with ease. It's quiet and if you add 1 or 2 92mm fans to the front of it, offers fantastic cooling and noise. The best bit is, it's only £53 on ebuyer. So it's cheaper than both and comes with the PSU

It's hard to get wrong, honestly. Get yourself one of the many step by step guides and take your time (reading carefully) and there isn't much to get wrong so I wouldn't bother with cheap stuff.

[Jack6114]

Well the TJ08 has a removeable motherboard tray which makes it very nice to build with anyway. The PSU in question is modular so you only need to use the cables you need to use. This makes keeping it tidy very easy.

The one problem with the case is the standard fans. They are very noisey unless you throttle them back. Most motherboards will do both quite happily but I changed them in mine. I also suggested the Antec P180 mini which is a fantastic case I bought this week. Problem with that is it is Midi tower size not uATX even though it only takes uATX boards.

The last Case to consider is the Antec NSK3480. This actually comes with a nice PSU which will power the above system with ease. It's quiet and if you add 1 or 2 92mm fans to the front of it, offers fantastic cooling and noise. The best bit is, it's only £53 on ebuyer. So it's cheaper than both and comes with the PSU

It's hard to get wrong, honestly. Get yourself one of the many step by step guides and take your time (reading carefully) and there isn't much to get wrong so I wouldn't bother with cheap stuff.

I think i may have fallen in love with that Antec p180 mini..

also is there any step-by-step guides you prefer?

[staffsMike]

also is there any step-by-step guides you prefer?

Moi? I learned from making my own mistakes and blowing things up

Been doing this a long time though

The only difficult part is the thermal compound for the CPU. I would suggest getting some arctic cooling silver 5 or MX-2. I apply it by point a small blob (SMALL blob) on the CPU heat spreader and then spread it round to make a thin layer. Stick the cooler on, and thats the difficult part done.

Everything else only goes in one way in one hole ..so to speak

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=...=1&sa=N&tab=wi

The first one is Webby's from here, and the second one is my TJ08.

and this is my P180 mini.
http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...ml#post1588037

[Webby]

You vanish for a week and what happens people find your images on google

Anyway here is the image so you don't have to rely on the google results not changing!

[Antagram]

Is it the perspective that gives the graphics card a warped appearance, or it's properly sagging?

[Webby]

It was the perspective (was because it is no longer in that case or for that matter with that cooler, Water Cooling FTW ) and possibly the camera everything looks a little screwy, a bit fish-eyed but anyway it was not warped.