Working on a Mini-ITX build for the first time, looking for advice on the build / part suggestions for the European market (my first time building in the EU, 4th PC build).
Budget: €2250 (preferably lower, open to buying some parts used / waiting for sales)
Current part mix: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KwGW9K
Use: Primarily gaming, the ethos is I’m trying to get the Steam Machine that I really wanted with AM5 and RDNA4. Not trying to hit actual Steam Machine targets / budget. Will put Steam OS on it.
Fun other things: If people have suggestions on HDMI-CEC or getting a Steam Controller to turn on the machine, I’m all ears.
Open questions:
- Any suggestions on CPU / GPU mix to hit 4K 60 with minimal FSR?
- Any thoughts on keeping it quiet, since this will be next to my TV?
- Any tips on actually doing a Mini-ITX build?
If you’re doing mini-ITX as opposed to the more-common ATX, it’s presumably for a reason. You might want to list a rationale, since it’d help people make suggestions, as there are different reasons someone might want to go down that path.
Like, a while back, I was looking into doing a mini-ITX build because I wanted a machine that I could lug around as a laptop alternative. For that, being small in volume (even relative to typical mini-ITX systems) and durable is important.
A different person might want a cheaper case. Or just to use less desk space.
Any thoughts on keeping it quiet, since this will be next to my TV?
I looked into this a while back. Very quiet builds are kinda restrictive (especially for gaming systems).
You may have luck just putting it in a (ventilated in the rear) cabinet. Maybe stick some sound-absorbent foam on the inside.
Or just move the PC elsewhere, if you can run an HDMI cable to your TV and a USB cable for input devices into the room. You can get (pricy, stiffer) cables with more shielding, or (also pricy) ones with fiber optic cable inside and a transceiver at each end that permit for much-longer-than-normal cable runs, if you can’t manage it with regular cables.
Fair. I’m thinking about a mini-ITX build partially for the fun of it, partially because space is at a premium in my setup. I don’t need to move this around much, but do care about the design a bit.
Otherwise, fair points on the sound management. I don’t think it needs to be super quiet, but relative to a PS5 at full blast, thinking that’s the sound limit.
You might be able to find a compromise in M-ATX form factor.
Smaller than normal ATX, but less of a price premium than ITX, easier to find … spatially compatible higher end GPUs, and people do make more compact M-ATX cases.
https://www.gamingpcbuilder.com/motherboard-size-guide-e-atx-atx-matx-itx/
EATX, ATX, MATX, ITX.
Now your taste in cases may be different than mine, and I’ve no idea what EU prices look like, but…
Asus Prime AP201
Jonsbo D30
ThermalTake Tower 300
… if you want to be a bit of a show off, haha.
