MicroATX Gaming PC

[Jambe]

I just wanted to run this past you all to see if I dun gooft anywhere. The PC needs to be a smallish build for gaming and 2D/3D editing. It will be used with a 1920x1200 monitor and needs 100GB or more storage on an SSD and USB 3.0 on the front. She wants to try OCing, too, so a CPU cooler is in order. "$1,000-ish" budget. I already have a Seasonic x660, a DVD burner and an extra 120mm fan for it. This is what I've come up with for the the rest.

Any problems? The mobo'd be nice to OC with and it seems to be the cheapest mATX 1155 board with USB 3.0 headers (no need for an add-on card or a pass-through style case). There's a newer "Gen3" version with PCI-E 3.0 support but I don't figure it's worth extra money. There's also $15 cheaper CAS 9 Mushkin RAM (and other brands that are cheaper still) but the 8 surely has decent headroom for tinkering.

eee, I'm excited to play with PC innards!

[Chrispy_]

Check out PSU to Optical drive clearance very carefully - My TJ08 forced me to swap to a shorter PSU from another machine.
Also, be prepared for a very awkward build with a cooler that big in the TJ08. I'm using a Noctua NH-U12 of some type and it's difficult to work in there with the cooler in place

You may find that any large cooler really makes installing 3.5" sata drives a complete PITA, but I don't see any in your shopping cart. Just FYI really.
Mine is all squeezed in pretty tight now, so I can't be bothered to change it, but if I were doing it again I'd get a Corsair H50 or similar.

[DPete27]

I doubt you'll see any noticeable differences between cl9 and cl8 RAM. I would feel more proud of taking a corsair brand 1600mhz, cl9 kit and overclocking it to cl8 and/or tighter timings and maybe even higher clock rate. (corsair generally overclocks well)

[Jambe]

@Chrispy_: yeah, it's a 160mm PSU. I think it should fit with my ~180mm burner based on this photograph and warning. Plus, the PSU is totally modular so I'll only have a few cords plugged into it. Since you mentioned the cooler issue, I might just purchase Xigmatech's Loki (smaller 92mm version of the Gaia) and keep it if I don't need to use it. The friend has a NAS box I set up, but I may go ahead and pop in one of the Samsung HDD's I have just for bulk local stuff. I'm alright with metalworking — I plan on tinkering with the case to eliminate whatever rattles or vibration there might be, anyway — so it's not out of the question that I'll chop up the drive cage if it annoys me!

Thanks for the advice.

@DPete27: probably not, but it's a $15 difference. Also, I just prefer Mushkin because they're an American company whose service is fantastic in my experience. I like supporting them!

Off to click the buy button!

[Jambe]

Imagine mfw there's a $70 instant rebate three days after the m4 for this is bought.

... it's pretty frowny-shaped.

Que sera sera, I guess.

[DPete27]

Meh, should have visited my forum thread on 120-128GB SSD price history first. No worries though, stuff like that always happens. The thing you buy always goes on a better sale right after you buy it.

[Ryu Connor]

Imagine mfw there's a $70 instant rebate three days after the m4 for this is bought.

... it's pretty frowny-shaped.

Que sera sera, I guess.

Most companies offer a price match for a product they sell within a narrow timeframe. You might poke NewEgg and see if they'll do right by you.