Hardware Mini-ITX Tower

[K3Nv2]

You know, if you don't mind hunting for parts (even used) you can easily build a Intel system comparable in price to AMD APU. Just the other day I built a HTPC using i3-2120 (used) + Gigabyte B75M-HD3 (brand new) and these two parts cost me only $140.

Sandy and Ivy based Pentium has about 80% of gaming performance than comparable Core i3 and they are sub $100.

APU will probably hold at leas 15% of GPU performance from HD7850.

Well when It comes to pc parts I like them new because of warranties

 

[trumpet-205]

Well when It comes to pc parts I like them new because of warranties

Understood, but keep in mind that CPU is one of those components that is very unlikely to fail, even more reliable than a SSD. I have only seen two instances where CPU does fail: improper overclock and improper installation (if you install it in the wrong way you can bent LGA pins on the motherboard, which in turn can short the CPU out when turned on).

 

[JustChillin1414]

Take a look at my mini-ITX build as a reference, the case is super small and supports a full sized card when you get a short PSU (like the strider). I would take trumpet's advice, just get an older intel setup used for cheap if you're really short on cash. Grab an i3, GTX 660, Gigabyte B75N.

 

[marcus134]

That entirely depends on your gaming resolution and single or multiplayer games.

actually, resolution adds load on the gpu, not the cpu as the rasterisation is done there.

the "penalty" is a game per game basis, some game are heavy on the cpu, while other are more on the gpu side
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-processor-frame-rate-performance,3427-3.html
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/343

or
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/dota-2-performance-benchmark,3481-8.html
vs
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/league-of-legends-performance-benchmark,3484-8.html

 

[PityOnU]

5770 is equivalent to 6770 which in turn is equivalent to 7750.

Hm. Would have thought that the 5770 would be total garbage compared to the latest cards. Who knew?

 

[marcus134]

Hm. Would have thought that the 5770 would be total garbage compared to the latest cards. Who knew?

hd6770 is a re-badged hd5770 while the hd7750 is a new design but is about the same
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

 

[K3Nv2]

hd6770 is a re-badged hd5770 while the hd7750 is a new design but is about the same
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

Higher numbers dont always mean better performance

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Can't answer your question but I don't think you'll find an average mid tower to be that big. I have one of the larger mid towers but you can get them much smaller.
Wouldn't recommend going any smaller simply because you won't have a lot of room for components.
Edit: The AMD APUs are pure shit by the way. Stay away.

 

[K3Nv2]

Taking measurements of my area may help so I'll do that and post back with them in a bit

But really I dont think a 7850 will lag entirely that much with an apu

 

[K3Nv2]

My measurements are about 2feet high 1ft wide doubt I find any close to that

 

[trumpet-205]

You can look at this post to see how well APU does when compared against other processors. They all use HD7950. There is no Core i3 or AMD Piledriver for you to compare though. I'll try to find one that does have them. The BF3 test on this post is single player.

http://techreport.com/review/23246/inside-the-second-gaming-performance-with-today-cpus/2

 

[marcus134]

My measurements are about 2feet high 1ft wide doubt I find any close to that

what about depth?
btw the Termaltake chaser is about 23" high and 9.3" wide, technically, it fits your requirement

 

[K3Nv2]

what about depth?
btw the Termaltake chaser is about 23" high and 9.3" wide, technically, it fits your requirement

It sticks out too much iI'll try and snap a pic might be better

 

[K3Nv2]

http://oi39.tinypic.com/2di2gcp.jpg

Ignore the mess doing some cleaning

 

[marcus134]

so it's more a question of aesthetic than size?
would something like that hit your fancy?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129177

 

[K3Nv2]

so it's more a question of aesthetic than size?
would something like that hit your fancy?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129177

Looks a bit cheap for the price and I like power buttons on the top of my case

Maybe I just need something taller and slimmer?

Good start keep em coming

 

[marcus134]

if the solo 2 is anything like it's predecessor, it's gonna have it's worth in steel alone, the design is minimalistic, yet luxurious and allows for an easy assembly of a very quiet computer.
Anyway here are a few cases
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163188
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352022

 

[K3Nv2]

Nice I kinda like the Fractal design case

 

[trumpet-205]

Nice I kinda like the Fractal design case

If you remove the top portion of HDD cages you won't have a GPU clearance issue.

 

[K3Nv2]

Think I'll go with the Fractal design case