First time building a ITX System

D

Doomslayer

New member
Hey all,

In the next couple of weeks i'm looking to build a ITX system to replace my M-ATX system in my bedroom, The main use for the system will only be for playing back media.

I was wondering what would be a good price range to build the system.

I only thing will not need to buy is a SSD i can reuse one, I'm not really if i should stick with Intel or go with an AMD APU build.

I'm kinda confused.
 
Just for playing media anything will do really. An AM1 system will definitely be cheapest but if you go Intel you can for instance make it smaller/silent.

Will this just replace another media streamer or your main rig? Is streaming media all you're going to do with it? Then the above ones are fine. If not, let us know :)
 
Feronix said:
Just for playing media anything will do really. An AM1 system will definitely be cheapest but if you go Intel you can for instance make it smaller/silent.

Will this just replace another media streamer or your main rig? Is streaming media all you're going to do with it? Then the above ones are fine. If not, let us know :)
Click to expand...

I was also thinking since its just for media playback i could get away way onboard video, that is why i was thinking of a APU build cause of the "R" Graphics the only thing i would need to do is look for like 2133 or 2400mhz memory.

Also i don't mind if i had to go to multiple shops to get everything, for A$400 was my limit or could i build something good for $350.00
 
Feronix said:
Well for the $350-400 price range you should be able to get something like this, even if it's µATX (it is low-profile):
http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=69419

But honestly I don't even think you need that much power. I think you'd get away easily with either of the systems that I linked previously, even the £150 AM1 build.
Click to expand...

Yeah, The biggest problem i have is the range is limited so it's a matter of working out which one would be the best one for me.

Atm with the case there are only 3 that i like

1.BitFenix Phenom Mini ITX Case Black
2.Phanteks Enthoo Evolv Mini ITX Chassis
3.Raijintek Metis Mini ITX Case
 
It will be a big chunk of your budget on the case but ... the Enthoo evolv is pretty.

You shouldn't need to go mad with the hardware, my manager is just using a Pi 2 for his bedroom connected to his network using XBMC and a decent SD card (Samsung Evo). Obviously that might not be what you're after but there's an idea of the required power.
 
Seanwoolley said:
It will be a big chunk of your budget on the case but ... the Enthoo evolv is pretty.

You shouldn't need to go mad with the hardware, my manager is just using a Pi 2 for his bedroom connected to his network using XBMC and a decent SD card (Samsung Evo). Obviously that might not be what you're after but there's an idea of the required power.
Click to expand...

Yeah i know with the case it's A$129.00 unless i can find it cheaper somewhere i do like the layout compare to the other 2 but i might just have to go with the middle ground, I understand with ITX it should be about trying to make a decent system without blowing the budget, For OS i haven't even got that far yet i can't make up my mind to stick with windows or go linux.

Thanks for the advice
 
An AMD A4 apu would be a nice "middleground" between the A6APU and the AM1 athlons. They are fairly cheap and they pack enough cpu and gpu power for everything you need.
The go for around 30-50 Euros here depending on the model. Plus it is FM2, you should be able to find a cheap itx board on that socket or if you want you can buy an FM2+ board the apu will work fine on either.
 
Thelosouvlakia said:
An AMD A4 apu would be a nice "middleground" between the A6APU and the AM1 athlons. They are fairly cheap and they pack enough cpu and gpu power for everything you need.
The go for around 30-50 Euros here depending on the model. Plus it is FM2, you should be able to find a cheap itx board on that socket or if you want you can buy an FM2+ board the apu will work fine on either.
Click to expand...

Which FM2/FM2+ motherboard would you recommenced or really any brand is good enough
 
Out of those cases I'd go with the Metis. You really don't need a big and high-end case like the Phenom or Evolv for an HTPC that will eat away 1/4th of your budget.

And the Metis still is very solid quality!
 
Feronix said:
Out of those cases I'd go with the Metis. You really don't need a big and high-end case like the Phenom or Evolv for an HTPC that will eat away 1/4th of your budget.

And the Metis still is very solid quality!
Click to expand...

Yeah i do like the Metis case but to me it looks a bit cramped or it could just be my eyes, i guess you really can't tell from pictures.

I'm still not really sure on which APU motherboard and CPU i should get it's kinda confusing too me

I'm kinda of a idiot when it comes to building computers i always want high end stuff

Thanks again

Thelosouvlakia said:
I have three boards to recommend.
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=788
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A78M-ITX+/
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A88X-ITX+/

The two first are the same regarding the price. The last one has WIFI something that the other two dont. However the biostar board has a better audio implementation, and it's the cheapest.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that TBH i'm not sure if i can buy any Biostar boards here unless i buy from ebay.

Just checked ebay no Australian sellers are selling Biostar motherboard the only 2 countries are selling them is Italy & UK i'm not going to pay A$130-$140 that is just for the motherboard itself, That Biostar Board even had M.2 on it too
 
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I think when I get round to doing a media PC I might just get a NUC, we sell them pretty cheap at work. But there is always that temptation to have a watercooled over the top beast sat under my TV hahaha.

Talking of Ebay have you been looking in places like that in general, you might be able to pick something up if you don't mind second hand fitting your budget and exceeding your requirements
 
Seanwoolley said:
I think when I get round to doing a media PC I might just get a NUC, we sell them pretty cheap at work. But there is always that temptation to have a watercooled over the top beast sat under my TV hahaha.

Talking of Ebay have you been looking in places like that in general, you might be able to pick something up if you don't mind second hand fitting your budget and exceeding your requirements
Click to expand...

Na not really looking to buy second hand items i have been burned in the past, I have seen combos tho on ebay the M/B, CPU & Memory, The only issue is their all in the States tho
 
I have been thinking maybe instead of buying a whole new system maybe i should just look at fixing somethings that i don't like about my M-ATX build that i have.

Or instead of building a ITX system i could just look at building a new M-ATX system AMD or Intel
 
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