Got the Build Bug: Mini ITX

[Armenius]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, Blu-ray movies, VPN for work (programming, troubleshooting), photo editing, illustration
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$1,000 USD, +/- $200 (including tax and shipping)
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Ft. Myers, FL, USA
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Case, motherboard, CPU, RAM, power supply, non-volatile storage (SSD or HDD), Blu-ray drive, wireless keyboard & mouse
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
ASUS STRIX NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
6) Will you be overclocking?
No
7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
1920x1080, 55" (TV); 2560x1440, 27" (monitor)
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within the next month
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
USB 3.0/3.1, SATA III, WiFi integrated is preferred
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
No. Need a new license for this build.

Looking to make a build to keep out in the living room for everyone and possibly move into my sister's room when needed. She lives with me due to her disability. Would like to hook it up to the TV for games and movies. Would like a mini ITX to be able to carry around with me, if needed. My 25-kg full tower is just a little unwieldy.

This is what I have, but I know there are some expensive luxury items I probably don't need. I really like the design of the case, and I'm not sure I want to compromise on it, which in turn limits options. But I'm open to suggestions. I have an extensive Blu-ray library that I don't have the time or inspiration to convert to digital, so I need a Blu-ray drive. I have a retail key for Corel WinDVD 11 Pro.

This will be my first SFF build, so I'm ready to be educated .

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690S 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($217.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! SHADOW ROCK LP 87.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($39.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Savage 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Red Pro 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($134.29 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (Purchased For $0.00)
Case: Silverstone FTZ01B Mini ITX Desktop Case ($127.87 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Silverstone Strider Gold 450W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Silverstone SST-SOB02 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($109.95 @ B&H)
Case Fan: Silverstone AP122 42.6 CFM 120mm Fan ($5.99 @ Directron)
Keyboard: Logitech K750 Keyboard Wireless Slim Keyboard ($59.99 @ Logitech)
Mouse: Logitech G700s Wireless Laser Mouse ($63.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1178.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-21 16:38 EDT-0400

 

[Dangman]

Ditch the 4690S. It's just a lower clocked Core i5 CPU that's been rated for less heat dissipation. In other words, you could go with the cheaper Core i5 4590 CPU and get the same exact power usage and performance.

Storage wise, get a SSD man. No one should be using a regular hard drive these days for the OS/main applications drive. I recommend this SSD at a minimum:
$98 - Samsung 850 Evo Series 250GB SSD

If you do go for the cheaper CPU and the SSD, you still have room in the budget for a secondary hard drive like this:
$48 - Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s Hard Drive

 

[StoleMyOwnCar]

I suggest the G602 rather than the G700s. I have one and the battery life on it is ridiculous (like batteries once every 2 months ridiculous). Last I heard the G700s runs out quite quickly. The G602 is also optical rather than laser.

Other than that, I'm surprised how expensive these small form factor systems are. Case is really overpriced for a small box. For comparison, I got the gigantic Core X9 for like 25 bucks more. PSU is overpriced for a low wattage, small PSU, motherboard is high priced for a tiny, cut down motherboard. I mean in another topic I could put together a build where he had to buy the 970 and a windows license for 800$. Then again you got some HDD's and more RAM, but still. I can understand the PSU being somewhat expensive because it's fully modular and in small form factor, but the case doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[Dangman]

I suggest the G602 rather than the G700s. I have one and the battery life on it is ridiculous (like batteries once every 2 months ridiculous). Last I heard the G700s runs out quite quickly. The G602 is also optical rather than laser.

Other than that, I'm surprised how expensive these small form factor systems are. Case is really overpriced for a small box. For comparison, I got the gigantic Core X9 for like 25 bucks more. PSU is overpriced for a low wattage, small PSU, motherboard is high priced for a tiny, cut down motherboard. I mean in another topic I could put together a build where he had to buy the 970 and a windows license for 800$. Then again you got some HDD's and more RAM, but still. I can understand the PSU being somewhat expensive because it's fully modular and in small form factor, but the case doesn't make any sense to me.

In general yes, mITX doesn't really cost that much less than a normal ATX setup. Often times it costs more. Since there is a demand for smaller parts but there isn't exactly heavy competition to meet those demands or those demands aren't high enough, manufacturers tend to charge a bit more for mITX setups. Plus making something smaller means using slightly better heat tolerant parts since there's a lack of cooling or space to maintain decent temperatures.

As for the case, you really got the X9 for ~$150? I'm guessing after rebate? Anyway, three main reasons for the cost of that Silverstone case:
1) Its body/cover/outside is made out of aluminium. If you know anything about cases, adding aluminium or making aluminum cases automatically significantly increases the price of the part. Your Core X9 is made out of steel which is relatively cheep.

2) It's a newly released case so it's actually close to its MSRP at the moment. Several months from now, that case should go down in price.

3) It's a relatively unique case for gaming PCs in terms of format/setup/size so there's a premium for that.

Without aluminium and more time on the market, you'll end up with this RVZ01 case with a very similar layout:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163252

Another factor is the inclusion of a riser card which could add anywhere from $10 to $30 on top of the price of the case.

 

[janas19]

The entire Core series (V1, V21, X9) is made out of flimsy mesh and plastic. The case feels and looks like shit, and all those little squiggly lines in the front will bend and break in a strong breeze. Had a case with a mesh front panel a year ago (Fractal Core 1000), will never buy mesh again.

 

[StoleMyOwnCar]

^ I kind of disagree with all of that considering I have one and it's not very flimsy at all. The HDD slots are made out of plastic, but it's fairly sturdy plastic. Much better than some of the plastic bays Corsair packs into their cases. The vast majority of it is metal. But that would derail this topic, and most of that is just your opinion. I think it looks fine, but then again I don't do PC fashion design shows either. I just make sure they work. They include a window on this, but I would have preferred they didn't even bother.

@Dangman: Yeah, but a bit inaccurate. With taxes it's a bit higher than that:
http://www.microcenter.com/product/443417/Core_X9_ATX_Stackable_Computer_Case
So a bit higher than 150. I'm guessing Aluminum conducts heat better in small spaces, so that kind of helps get some of the heat dissipation.

 

[Armenius]

Ditch the 4690S. It's just a lower clocked Core i5 CPU that's been rated for less heat dissipation. In other words, you could go with the cheaper Core i5 4590 CPU and get the same exact power usage and performance.

Storage wise, get a SSD man. No one should be using a regular hard drive these days for the OS/main applications drive. I recommend this SSD at a minimum:
$98 - Samsung 850 Evo Series 250GB SSD

If you do go for the cheaper CPU and the SSD, you still have room in the budget for a secondary hard drive like this:
$48 - Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s Hard Drive

The CPU I was trying to figure out the best way to go. At the time I put this list together both were around the same price. I admit ignorance when it comes to the S CPU.

I was going back and forth between SSD+Mechanical or just one big mechanical. I do think that after being on a SSD for so long that it would be a shock loading the OS off a mechanical again. I just went with a Black drive over the Blue for the warranty, as I've had a bad run of failures in recent history.

I suggest the G602 rather than the G700s. I have one and the battery life on it is ridiculous (like batteries once every 2 months ridiculous). Last I heard the G700s runs out quite quickly. The G602 is also optical rather than laser.

Other than that, I'm surprised how expensive these small form factor systems are. Case is really overpriced for a small box. For comparison, I got the gigantic Core X9 for like 25 bucks more. PSU is overpriced for a low wattage, small PSU, motherboard is high priced for a tiny, cut down motherboard. I mean in another topic I could put together a build where he had to buy the 970 and a windows license for 800$. Then again you got some HDD's and more RAM, but still. I can understand the PSU being somewhat expensive because it's fully modular and in small form factor, but the case doesn't make any sense to me.

I like that mouse you suggested.

Price is a compromise going small. But it is a new challenge that I've always wanted to do and have the means to do so at the moment. The next big build for me will come in the next two years with Skylake-E and Pascal.

Updated list. Price comes out about the same at the moment. Will probably order parts this week. Since it's first SFF for me I might do a build progress album.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! SHADOW ROCK LP 51.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($39.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Savage 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (Purchased For $0.00)
Case: Silverstone FTZ01B Mini ITX Desktop Case ($127.87 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Silverstone Strider Gold 450W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Silverstone SST-SOB02 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($91.75 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Silverstone AP122 42.6 CFM 120mm Fan ($5.99 @ Directron)
Keyboard: Logitech K750 Keyboard Wireless Slim Keyboard ($59.99 @ Logitech)
Mouse: Logitech G602 Wireless Optical Mouse ($52.97 @ Amazon)
Total: $1135.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-10 15:08 EDT-0400

It's such a shame the local TigerDirect closed...

 

[Dangman]

Looks fairly solid to me.