Media PC build

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
Hey guys, it's been a while since I've posted here, but I need all of your help again!

I'm about to graduate college and need to downsize my PC! The computer is primarily going to be used as an entertainment computer, hooked up to my 1440p monitor.

I decided that I'm going to pursue a micro-itx build, most likely using the Antec ISK 300-150 case.

I'm looking at this board (Asrock ITX FM2):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-157-357&Tpk=N82E16813157357

and this CPU(AMD A10-5800k): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113280

Does anyone have any other suggestions for cases (small, compact ITX cases). Also anyone have suggestions regarding a full build? Budgets probably around $600 (flexible)!

Also if anyone wants to buy any part of my current rig (speced below), please PM me!
 

PCunicorn

Active Member
I would get a MSI FM2, not a ASRock. A good case is the Coolermaster elite 120. Here is a good motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130664
Cooler Master Elite 120
MSI FM2-A75IA-E53
AMD A10 5800K
1866 (or 2133, higher MHz RAM helps the A10's GPU) 2 x 4 GB G.Skill or Corsair
Seagate Barracuda 1 TB
Corsair CX500M

Will come out around $500. Don't expect to really game to well with a 1440P monitor and a A10, but if it's just movies and stuff, it should work fine.
 

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
That motherboard is speced at 1080p max output, not 1440p. I wish there was an itx fm2 board with both wifi and 1440p output...

Also I would rather keep it more compact, and don't really need any full size expansion slots.
 

salvage-this

Active Member
I just built a media center with an mini-ITX board. It is nice and compact but it there is just no space for cooling. I didn't need much but with a 3.5" HDD, ODD and a non modular PSU I had almost no room for airflow.

I would keep the A10 but switch out the motherboard for

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157334

a bit bigger but more expandable if there is a need.

This is the case that I will be using with my media center build

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119261

Just for refrence this is what I built the last media center in when I barely had enough space

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147131

Just my thoughts.
 

PCunicorn

Active Member
That motherboard is speced at 1080p max output, not 1440p. I wish there was an itx fm2 board with both wifi and 1440p output...

Also I would rather keep it more compact, and don't really need any full size expansion slots.

Neither ASRock is speced for 1440p, and the MSI is better in terms of quality, support, and RMAs. The Cooler Master is very compact, saw it at micro center, should fit on nearly any desk.
 

salvage-this

Active Member
I'm not sure where he is getting that info but I figured he was going off the adapter. DVI-D single link will not output signal at 1440. DVI-D dual link should.
 

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
Neither ASRock is speced for 1440p, and the MSI is better in terms of quality, support, and RMAs. The Cooler Master is very compact, saw it at micro center, should fit on nearly any desk.

DVI-D dual link will output 1440p according to asrocks website. I hope to confirm this before building.

And I really want to stick to ITX. I've built a few matx computers before and they are larger than I want to deal with. I don't really need a powerful computer, as I will be doing no gaming. It just needs to be able to power a 1440p monitor and play 1080p videos without issues.
 

salvage-this

Active Member
Take a look at the post by NovJoe.

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=148103.0

It might be able to display it but I am not sure about the refresh rate.

The main benefit that I see for going for matx over mini itx is the extra expansion slots. Not for better GPUs but other stuff. Wireless cards, sound cards, TV tuners...

I get the bigger case point but the way I look at it is the extra room will let me get a quieter low profile cooler on it. So no noise and better temps because I had the room to do so.

It's completely up to you but that is how I look at it.
 

PCunicorn

Active Member
DVI-D dual link will output 1440p according to asrocks website. I hope to confirm this before building.

And I really want to stick to ITX. I've built a few matx computers before and they are larger than I want to deal with. I don't really need a powerful computer, as I will be doing no gaming. It just needs to be able to power a 1440p monitor and play 1080p videos without issues.

The msi is mitx and I can't fine anything stating that Asrock supports 1440p.
 

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
The msi is mitx and I can't fine anything stating that Asrock supports 1440p.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A85X-ITX/?cat=Specifications

it's stated on the specs page.

Take a look at the post by NovJoe.

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=148103.0

It might be able to display it but I am not sure about the refresh rate.

The main benefit that I see for going for matx over mini itx is the extra expansion slots. Not for better GPUs but other stuff. Wireless cards, sound cards, TV tuners...

I get the bigger case point but the way I look at it is the extra room will let me get a quieter low profile cooler on it. So no noise and better temps because I had the room to do so.

It's completely up to you but that is how I look at it.

I'll be running no GPUs (hence the AMD A10 chip), a low profile sound card, external USB tuner and USB wifi adapter. The only thing I'm concerned about is cooling, so I'll look around for some ultra low profile aftermarket heatsinks.


EDIT: Now looking more seriously at this case:
http://www.shop.perfecthometheater....Mini-HTPC-aluminum-chassis-HTPC-FC8-EVO-S.htm
 
Last edited:

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
Okay just ordered parts today! I'd like to thank the US government for completely funding this build with my latest tax return :D.

Anyways, here are the parts:

ASRock FM2 motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157357

AMD A10-5800k CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113280

G.Skill Ares 8GB DDR3 1866 memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550

Hitachi 1TB 2.5" 7200 rpm hard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145875

Antec ISK 310-150:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129081

and depending on how the build goes, I'm also highly considering a pico-PSU 160XT for the sake of cable management and low noise. I'll post pictures when the items arrive this week!
 

spirit

Moderator
Staff member
Do NOT get a Hitachi drive, they are some of the worst drives you can get. Get Seagate or wd.

Looks like it may be a bit late to say that now.

Looks like a nice build. Don't worry too much about the Hitachi drive if you've already ordered it. For the record, yes I tend to recommend Seagate and Western Digital hard drives, but I've got a 1TB Hitachi external HDD and it's been working fine for me. :)
 

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
Do NOT get a Hitachi drive, they are some of the worst drives you can get. Get Seagate or wd.

The particular one I got seemed to get universally good reviews. I'm not terribly worried about hard drive. It seems like every brand has their poor reviews and good reviews. I got a $40 Hitachi drive 7 years ago and it's still chugging along fine in my parents media PC. :)
 

PCunicorn

Active Member
Yes, but Hitachi has particularly bad reviews in general. As another member said, a member may give a good review, but if it breaks later, will they make another review? Probably not.
 

salvage-this

Active Member
I agree with diduknowthat. It certainly isn't the best drive but it will work. If he was going to use it as a server and a HTPC I would push for a better one, but it's fine for playing videos.
 

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
So I got the rig up and running! Here's a picture:

o2v07.jpg


Overall the computer is working pretty well. Windows 8 is weird, I'm not sure if I'm a fan of it yet. A better cooling system is arriving tomorrow, including a Scythe heatsink (checked online, it actually fits), Noctua 80mm fan, picopsu 160xt.
 
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