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Hardware PC Hardware Buyer's Guide: August/September 2012

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by brumgrunt, 31 Aug 2012.

  1. brumgrunt

    brumgrunt What's a Dremel?

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  2. YEHBABY

    YEHBABY RIP Tel

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    I'm glad to see you have added a mini ITX recommendation. But a section on HTPC's would be nice as I finding the choices a little bewildering and could do with some guidance on what to buy.
     
    Landy_Ed likes this.
  3. Pookie

    Pookie Illegitimi non carborundum

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    Surprised that the i30 fits on the Asus mini itx board
     
  4. Digi

    Digi The not-so-funny Cockney

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    Hah, I could have garunteed the usual 'HTPC' comment but coming as it did, in the first comment, made me grin.

    Nice to see the gaming workhouse, which more or less is what I purchased 2 months ago, recommending the same parts. Vindication of hours of slaving over spec and being paranoid over this or that choice!
     
  5. adam_bagpuss

    adam_bagpuss Have you tried turning it off/on ?

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    personally id opt for the i3-2120 over the 2100 since its 200mhz faster and exactly the same price
     
  6. docodine

    docodine killed a guy once

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    The Prodigy really fits a 660ti with the top cage in?
     
  7. YEHBABY

    YEHBABY RIP Tel

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    Thanks. I always aim to please. ;)

    Sent from my BlackBerry 9300 using Tapatalk
     
    Teelzebub likes this.
  8. RealWeaponX

    RealWeaponX What's a Dremel?

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    I'm building a new system from scratch on a reasonably tight budget, but I'm willing to stretch the budget and wait another month to build if need be. I was going to build an AMD A8 system and dual-graphics mode it at a later date, but would I be better off spending a little more and going the route of an LGA 1155 system with discrete graphics?
     
  9. Combatus

    Combatus Bit-tech Modding + hardware reviews Lover of bit-tech Super Moderator

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    Don't forget the Zotac 660 Ti 2GB we've recommended is the super-short PCB version...
     
  10. Combatus

    Combatus Bit-tech Modding + hardware reviews Lover of bit-tech Super Moderator

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    The AMD A-8 3870K is quite overclockable - certainly enough for it to give the Core i3-2100 a run for its money. However, getting the Intel CPU and a discrete graphics card will always be the better option - the 2100 is far more power efficient and an LGA1155 system has far more upgrade potential. Socket FM1 is really only for those on a very tight budget, or for HTPC systems that need a bit of gaming grunt over the usual poor on-board graphics. If you can afford it, go for the LGA1155 option.
     
  11. GuilleAcoustic

    GuilleAcoustic Ook ? Ook !

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    Nice ITX rig, but the prodigy is still too fat for me considering it as "ITX" case. A Lian Li PC-Q08 can house ATX PSU, Corsair H60, 300mm GPU, 4x 3.5" + 1x 5.25" + 1x 2.5". Even if you get rid of the 2 HDD bays, the optical bay can still hold a full fat optical + 1x 2.5" HDD / SSD ... but that's only my personnal preferences regarding the "ITX" rig label :D
     
  12. Combatus

    Combatus Bit-tech Modding + hardware reviews Lover of bit-tech Super Moderator

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    I've actually just swapped this to a Corsair H80, which I know fits both the board and the case without sacrificing drive bays - something I hadn't considered. A Noctua NH-D14 does fit on the P8Z77-I Deluxe though!
     
  13. docodine

    docodine killed a guy once

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    Could you post a photo sometime?
     
  14. RealWeaponX

    RealWeaponX What's a Dremel?

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    Thanks, I think I'll hang on the extra month or so and go Intel then. :)
     
  15. GuilleAcoustic

    GuilleAcoustic Ook ? Ook !

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    [​IMG]

    OM nom nom, it would fit a PC-Q11 perfectly :D

    EDIT : It would also fit a PC-Q08 with the 2 HDD bays installed :D
     
  16. docodine

    docodine killed a guy once

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    I know that card, I saw the Bit review of it recently, I meant a pic of the card in a Prodigy if possible, sorry if I wasn't clear :(
     
  17. mystvearn

    mystvearn any-may

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    Kudos for the mini-ITX build guide:)
     
  18. GuilleAcoustic

    GuilleAcoustic Ook ? Ook !

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    I found a pic of this card on an ITX mobo (maybe the shroud will block the lower HDD caddy (nothing a dremel can't fix)

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Tyrmot

    Tyrmot Minimodder

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    Great to have the mini-ITX added! Thanks!
     
  20. MrJay

    MrJay You are always where you want to be

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    Loving the mini-ITX addition : )

    However the Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe is overkill, much cheaper variants for the Z77 about.

    Also i have herd allot of bad things about the build quality of that case.

    But hey I'm fussy.
     
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