ATX vs. Micro ATX? + Opinions on my build, please!

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firebird365

New Member
I've decided to sell my laptop and buy a desktop for games (PS: if you're interested in buying a gaming laptop, let me know! :D). In any case, here's what I have in mind right now:

ASUS Black IDE CD Burner $23.50
Hitachi Deskstar T7K250 160GB 7200RPM 8MG Cache $80.00
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2x512) PC3200 RAM $76.25
ASPIRE ATX AS520W $59.99
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice $201.00
XFX Geforce 7800GT 256mb $299.00

Now, my choice is this: which motherboard/case combo should I go with?

ABIT KN8 Ultra $99.99
AND
ASPIRE X-Cruise Black Computer Case $69.00

or

BIOSTAR TForce MicroATX $75.00
AND
ASPIRE X-QPack Black Computer Case $80.00

I'm basically only going to be gaming with this computer (plus the basics like word processing, etc.) and I'm trying to stay around $900ish, give or take. I'm not going for all-out performance in all aspects of the system, but I would like reliability -- how are these parts in terms of those standards?

Also, I go to friends' houses relatively frequently to play videogames, thus my decision between the MicroATX and ATX cases/motherboards. Would I be sacrificing anything if I went with the smaller case (huge temperature differences, reliability problems, incompatibilities, etc.)? I'm a novice computer builder, and I'd prefer not to have to troubleshoot anything during the building process.

Finally, what do you guys think of this monitor? I only have a 15" at home, and I figured why waste so much processing power on such a small screen? :D

Thanks very much, and feel free to critique my choices if there is a better setup that I can put together!
 
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what i would do is get an atx case and a micro atx mobo, so if you ever decide to get a micro atx case, you would not have to get a new mobo.
 
That's an interesting idea, but I think I'd straight out choose the MicroATX system as long as there aren't any huge performance issues, like overheating with a Geforce 7800GT.
 
Finally, what do you guys think of this monitor? I only have a 15" at home, and I figured why waste so much processing power on such a small screen?
Click to expand...
CPU power and monitor size are in no way related.

Biostar isn't the best of motherboard makers (just like ECS) I'd go with an MSI, ABIT, ASUS, DFI, or Gigabyte (pretty sure you can find a micro-ATX board from most/all of them). Why don't you just get a normal mid-tower and just get a carrying kit for it (like a backpack but you can carry your case and stuff).
 
firebird365 said:
That's an interesting idea, but I think I'd straight out choose the MicroATX system as long as there aren't any huge performance issues, like overheating with a Geforce 7800GT.
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shouldn't be any performance issues if you do not overclock(much:P ) and have a few fans
 
Lord AnthraX said:
CPU power and monitor size are in no way related.
Click to expand...

Well, my monitor only supports 1024x768, so I figured I could get a monitor that supported a higher resolution (1280x1024 is the resolution of the 19" on the link) so I wouldn't "waste" any of the computer's potential, so to speak. :)

Lord AnthraX said:
Biostar isn't the best of motherboard makers (just like ECS) I'd go with an MSI, ABIT, ASUS, DFI, or Gigabyte (pretty sure you can find a micro-ATX board from most/all of them). Why don't you just get a normal mid-tower and just get a carrying kit for it (like a backpack but you can carry your case and stuff).
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks; I'll check out my other options. On Newegg the results are limited (since I'd like to go with SATAII, and most of the other MATX baords from those manufactuerers don't have that option), but I'll do some googling and see what I come up with.

As for a normal mid-tower, that's a possibility, but it's my fall-back option. For me, the smaller, the better. ;)
 
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