mITX Gaming build advice

[rob4001]

Hi

I am looking to downsize my Fractal Design Arc midi to something smaller.
Looking for an ITX size gaming PC I will keep my card which is ATI 7950.
I've not really overclocked my i5 2500k so if I do change chip I will probably be looking for a non k haswell.

Does an H87 motherboard make sense here?

Case wise was looking at Fractal Design Node or coolermaster elite 130 some itx cases seem to be massive like the prodigy.

Thanks

[Willzzz]

Is this for portability or aesthetics?
H87 or B85.

[DavidM]

I am very tempted by the Stacker 915 - two of them in a tower config could give a reasonable amount of storage space.

[Honosuseri]

Well you could get a Z77 mini-itx and reuse the 2500K. If you are buying a non K Haswell CPU then the H87 is fine for that.

I've used the CM 120 which is very similar to the 130. The 130 case is very short so this limits your choice of coolers unless you want to use a 120mm rad CLC at the front. It's also quite long so maybe not as small as you are thinking when you see it in the flesh.

Have you looked at Corsairs 250D too?

[rob4001]

More aesthetics just want a nice relatively small cube case that can fit my GFX and hx750 psu. I don't know the difference between H87 and B85.

[rob4001]

Well you could get a Z77 mini-itx and reuse the 2500K. If you are buying a non K Haswell CPU then the H87 is fine for that.

I've used the CM 120 which is very similar to the 130. The 130 case is very short so this limits your choice of coolers unless you want to use a 120mm rad CLC at the front. It's also quite long so maybe not as small as you are thinking when you see it in the flesh.

Have you looked at Corsairs 250D too?

I was thinking possibility of Z77 rather than changing cpu. Not sure if I'd get much benefit from upgrading to Haswell.

[Willzzz]

I don't know the difference between H87 and B85.

There isn't much difference, either would do fine.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I was thinking possibility of Z77 rather than changing cpu. Not sure if I'd get much benefit from upgrading to Haswell.

The Elite 130 has better cooling than the Elite 120.

[aidanjt]

I was thinking possibility of Z77 rather than changing cpu. Not sure if I'd get much benefit from upgrading to Haswell.

Not really, no.

[Honosuseri]

More aesthetics just want a nice relatively small cube case that can fit my GFX and hx750 psu. I don't know the difference between H87 and B85.

B series is essentially for Business orientated systems, H is for home I suppose The Z series is the most feature rich chipset which also offers the overclocking options for the K CPUs.

I was thinking possibility of Z77 rather than changing cpu. Not sure if I'd get much benefit from upgrading to Haswell.

Ivy and Haswell have better integrated graphics and are faster clock for clock, Haswell also has improved power saving states providing the PSU supports them. Ivy and Haswell run warmer though, google about the IHS and delidding. Sandy doesn't have the same problem so can OC better to claw it's way back into the fight., providing you improve the stock cooling supplied.

Don't quote me on it but I think most of the cheaper Z77 mini-itx mobos didn't allow voltage adjustment which limits the max overclock. The dearer Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe had a riser board for power added to improve overclocking.

Have you looked at the HTPC cases styled like Pro audio amplifiers? They can take ATX mobos so you could essentially just swap the case and cop a decent low profile heatsink perhaps?