I got a lot of help in SBA so far, but my topic died for some reason. I've got it down to two different builds, both costing about the same, and both being competent and compact gaming machines. I can't choose between the two, but perhaps I'm being a little blinded by the aesthetics of one. Those aesthetics require a little compromise in the performance department, although it may turn out that the more powerful choice won't be sufficiently powered by its PSU anyway. Here's the two options:
Option A (The Powerhouse)
CASE: Silverstone SG05 w/ 450W SFX PSU
MOBO: ASRock H67M-ITX
CPU: Intel Core i5-2400
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 6870
RAM: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB
DVD: Lite-On Slim DVD Burner
Option B (The Looker)
CASE: Silverstone SG07
MOBO: Asus M4A88T-I
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 840
GPU: Same as A
RAM: Rendition 4GB DDR3 1333 SO-DIMM
HDD: Same as A
DVD: Same as A
See what I mean? I LOVE the sophisticated yet aggressive look of the SG07 as opposed to the bland, unexciting SG05. I also like the fact that it has a 600W PSU as opposed to a 450W one. There's also a bit more room in the SG07 which bodes well for airflow. On the other hand, I would LOVE to have an i5 and 8GB of RAM. I mostly play FPS games, and my intentions are to play BF3 at as high quality settings as possible. Right now I have a 22" Chimei at 1680x1050, but come Christmas I plan on splurging for a nice 24" 1920x1200 MAYBE IPS panel. I also dabble in MMOs, and I'm particularly interested in The Old Republic. I'm sure I'll take some heat for including aesthetics in my decision making, but hey, I want my system to look as good as it performs. I guess the SG05 can be prettied up a bit with an LED fan in the front, but it still won't come close to the beauty of the SG07. Please help.
Oh, one more thing (Jackie Chan's uncle, much?). Would it be wise to invest in an aftermarket cooler for either one of these builds? The cooler that AMD includes with its processors seems fairly decent, but that tiny little pile of scraps that Intel ships with theirs concerns me. I also don't like the fact that the airflow is being directed across a cooler who's fan blows down. Something there just doesn't add up. I know there wouldn't be many options anyway due to the cramped space, but if anyone has suggestions please let me know. I'll gladly fork up another $20 or $30 to ensure my system gets sufficient cooling. Thanks!