New "Tiny" PC Build

Rouxenator said:
Why go i3 when you can go Athlon 5350? I actually have a Athlon 5350, plus board, RAM and your choice of case (Lian-Li PC-Q07 or CM Elite 110) with power supply. Just saying, if you are interested...
Click to expand...


I thought about AMD but I prefer Intel so gonna stick with them.
 
That will be overkill, even the 5350 does 4K video with it's APU graphics.
Intel is overpriced and does not perform as well as AMD.
 
Rouxenator said:
That will be overkill, even the 5350 does 4K video with it's APU graphics.
Intel is overpriced and does not perform as well as AMD.
Click to expand...

I want it for future proof as well. Not 100% sure what else I will use the pc for at a later stage - might use it to play XBOX One games when the update comes out too so want to go as powerful as possible without spending too much.
 
Anyone got any suggestions on motherboards?

I also saw PotterH sells the i5-4590 for R1600 - would it not make more sense to go for that? Is there anything else I will need if I go for that one?
 
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-h81i-series-intel-h81-lga1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-h97i-plus-lga1150-m-2-socket-mini-itx-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asrock-z9...z97-lga1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z97i-ac-intel-z97-chipset-socket-1150-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/gigabyte-...150-haswell-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z87i-...socket-1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-z97i...socket-1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z97i-...socket-1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z97i-gaming-ac-lga1150-haswell-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-maxi...socket-1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-maximus-vii-impact-rog-z97-mini-itx-gaming-motherboard.html

Look at the specs/features and pick one. The first & cheapest one should do the job unless you need integrated wifi.
 
ponder said:
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-h81i-series-intel-h81-lga1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-h97i-plus-lga1150-m-2-socket-mini-itx-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asrock-z9...z97-lga1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z97i-ac-intel-z97-chipset-socket-1150-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/gigabyte-...150-haswell-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z87i-...socket-1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-z97i...socket-1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z97i-...socket-1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/msi-z97i-gaming-ac-lga1150-haswell-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-maxi...socket-1150-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
http://www.wootware.co.za/asus-maximus-vii-impact-rog-z97-mini-itx-gaming-motherboard.html

Look at the specs/features and pick one. The first & cheapest one should do the job unless you need integrated wifi.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links.

With regards to the CPU - should I go i3 or order the i5 from PotterH? They are the same price but not sure what they mean by "tray CPU" - do I need anything else etc?
 
weelzSA said:
Thanks for the links.

With regards to the CPU - should I go i3 or order the i5 from PotterH? They are the same price but not sure what they mean by "tray CPU" - do I need anything else etc?
Click to expand...

tray cpu means no retail box with cpu cooler....so you'll need a cpu cooler. Any el cheapo heatsink+fan will do the trick since you're not looking to overclock the non-K cpu. I would take some time to find a quiet one though which leads me to my next question...why does it need to be tiny if you're using it as a media server? I would have thought you could do a normal build and stick it in a room somewhere rather than in the lounge.
 
Neoprod said:
tray cpu means no retail box with cpu cooler....so you'll need a cpu cooler. Any el cheapo heatsink+fan will do the trick since you're not looking to overclock the non-K cpu. I would take some time to find a quiet one though which leads me to my next question...why does it need to be tiny if you're using it as a media server? I would have thought you could do a normal build and stick it in a room somewhere rather than in the lounge.
Click to expand...

I am currently using the N40L HP Micro Server and I prefer the small form factor so it is easy to hide out the way. I will be using the Coolermaster Elite 130

If it maybe works out cheaper or better for future I could possibly go normal size. Just along as the costs don't go up alot and there still space for a few HDD's.
 
weelzSA said:
Thanks for the links.

With regards to the CPU - should I go i3 or order the i5 from PotterH? They are the same price but not sure what they mean by "tray CPU" - do I need anything else etc?
Click to expand...

Sorry just saw this now, yes get the i5 from PotterH.

Tray CPU means it came in a bulk tray so you will have to get a cheap CPU cooler as it does not come with one.
 
weelzSA said:
If it maybe works out cheaper or better for future I could possibly go normal size. Just along as the costs don't go up alot and there still space for a few HDD's.
Click to expand...

Will be about the same price.
 
weelzSA said:
If it maybe works out cheaper or better for future I could possibly go normal size. Just along as the costs don't go up alot and there still space for a few HDD's.
Click to expand...

Do you see yourself using that number of hard drives for awhile? If so that's cool...I think media server builds need space to grow though in terms of 3.5" drive bays.
 
ponder said:
Will be about the same price.
Click to expand...

Ahhh OK so it won't matter then if I decide to go full tower as I see they bigger cases allow for more HDD's - I currently have 4 HDD's which will need to be added.

If I setup the new "server" in my office and connect to Plex via WiFi then I don't mind going full tower but if that causes problems or not recommend then I will need to go mini-atx and have it in my lounge connected via lan directly to router.
 
Neoprod said:
Do you see yourself using that number of hard drives for awhile? If so that's cool...I think media server builds need space to grow though in terms of 3.5" drive bays.
Click to expand...


I currently have 4 HDD's with a plan of adding more. I was going to replace the 2tb with 4tb but if I can just buy new 4tb or 2tb and add them then I think that will work better which is why I am thinking of full tower.
 
weelzSA said:
If I setup the new "server" in my office and connect to Plex via WiFi then I don't mind going full tower but if that causes problems or not recommend then I will need to go mini-atx and have it in my lounge connected via lan directly to router.
Click to expand...

I honestly cannot comment on the WiFi part, no idea how well it will work.
 
ponder said:
I honestly cannot comment on the WiFi part, no idea how well it will work.
Click to expand...

Yeah I currently have it connected via LAN but plan on moving it into our office and connect to Roku via WiFi for Plex content. Our WiFi signal is quite good in the room and mostly ply 720p - 1080p content but will ask around in the Roku thread.

Just need to know what all I need if I go the tray CPU route.
 
weelzSA said:
Ahhh OK so it won't matter then if I decide to go full tower as I see they bigger cases allow for more HDD's - I currently have 4 HDD's which will need to be added.

If I setup the new "server" in my office and connect to Plex via WiFi then I don't mind going full tower but if that causes problems or not recommend then I will need to go mini-atx and have it in my lounge connected via lan directly to router.
Click to expand...

I would say full tower with ethernet throughout the house...I know it's more work but WiFi is inconsistent and drove me mad when I tried it. Ethernet is some once-off effort to get the cables run and then it just works versus one day your neighbour sets up his WiFi on the same channels as you and you start getting interference out of the blue.
 
Neoprod said:
I would say full tower with ethernet throughout the house...I know it's more work but WiFi is inconsistent and drove me mad when I tried it. Ethernet is some once-off effort to get the cables run and then it just works versus one day your neighbour sets up his WiFi on the same channels as you and you start getting interference out of the blue.
Click to expand...

I currently stay in a flat so ethernet is not really possible and our WiFi seems to work quite well. If it were to become a problem I can always make a plan.

My main concern is what components to get if I go the i5 from potterH.
 
weelzSA said:
I currently stay in a flat so ethernet is not really possible and our WiFi seems to work quite well. If it were to become a problem I can always make a plan.

My main concern is what components to get if I go the i5 from potterH.
Click to expand...

If you go for the i5 you just need to buy a CPU cooler extra, just keep in mind when choosing a motherboard to check the amount of SATA ports. Also do you already have the case, the Cooler Master you mentioned only has room for three 3.5" HDD's.
 
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