Switch to Mini-ITX - Unsure of Pathway

I want to move to a mini-ITX platform for my computing needs, as an evaluation of my usage doesn't really need any more than that. I surf the internet, play games (the latest game I play is probably Civ V or Skyrim), watch movies and do protein folding, that's about it. A mini-ITX case has a smaller footprint, not to mention looking very sleek, so I want to move towards that direction.

I currently have:
CPU: i7 2600K
GPU: GTX 670
Case: CM 690 II Advanced
Mobo: Asus P8Z68 Gen 3 V-Pro (I think)
SSD: Samsung 830 256Gb
HDD: 3x 2Tb (2 in RAID0, 1 as backup)
PSU: Antec True Power 750

My plan is to get:
Case: Silverstone FT03 Mini
Mobo: UNSURE
CPU: UNSURE
HDD: 1x 3Tb
PSU: Silverstone SFF 450W (the 80+ Gold one)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60

The SSD and GPU will be definitely moved across, and I can easily clean out the junk in my HDD and squeeze it into a 3Tb drive.

The only thing I'm unsure of is the CPU and Mobo. In terms of performance, sure, the Haswell CPUs are better, but is it better *enough* to warrant a $400 upgade including the motherboard?

Alternatively, I could just get a LGA1155 mini-ITX motherboard from eBay and continue using my 2600K, which is still more than enough for what I do. This is a lot cheaper, but it feels like I'm taking a step back, or, at most, a side-ways step in terms of 'upgrading'.

What's the better choice, in this regard? Thank you very much for your advice!

Since i saw you use a $ sign i assume you are from the US? Should point that out as many on here are from Europe(not me)

So here are 2 motherboards i would recommend.
Gigabyte z87 mini-itx
or Msi z87I mini-itx

About same price and will suit you just fine. If you don't need the 4770k then just pick up the 4670k.

Ahh, apologies for the confusion. I put the $ as I'm living in Australia now. If I were to go towards the new cpu route: I'd probably get a 4670K as I don't see the extra cpu grunt necessary for my usage needs.

I'd go for a P8Z77-i Deluxe and keep the 2600k tbh.

I'd go for a Prodigy rather than the Silverstone case though - or wait for some of the newer Bitfenix ITX cases to come out.

The whole idea was to keep it as small as possible. Alternatives I've considered included the Prodigy, but also the Node 304 and the Evga Hadron. I've also thought about an mATX mobo so that I could install a dedicate sound card.

jamesriley94 said:

I'd go for a Prodigy rather than the Silverstone case though

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I was going to say the same thing, the prodigy's are awesome.

GaryC said:

The whole idea was to keep it as small as possible. Alternatives I've considered included the Prodigy, but also the Node 304 and the Evga Hadron. I've also thought about an mATX mobo so that I could install a dedicate sound card.

Click to expand...

Node 304 isn't as tell but is longer.. All personal needs and IMO i think it's the best looking one and will easily handle whatever you want. All personal choice though.

Yeah, that's what's been vexing me. Too many choices! Other than the newly released Maximus VI Impact, are there other decent mITX motherboards with good onboard audio, but not that pricey? The VI Impact is almost $340 here

Onboard audio is more or less all the same. Shouldn't be a sole reason to choose one over the other. Find one that has all your needs and get it.

Isn't the onboard audio supposedly much better on the Maximus VI Impact?

"supposedly" yes. You would be better off going with a soundcard but in a mitx build that's pretty impossible with a gpu in there. If you really want better onboard audio then going to have to pony up some money for a higher end board.

Hmm.. In that case. I need to re-think my options here. I may have to go for an mATX case, after all.

Give this a try: ASUS Maximus VI GENE Motherboard

Yeah.. After looking around I think I'll completely change my build and go for a mATX build in a Corsair 350D. Fitting what I need into an mITX case is just not feasible.

Colin, the Gene is an mATX motherboard, but the pictures show an Impact.

Fractal Design cases IMO are better than anything corsair has at the same price point. Might want to check them out.