SFF Gaming system

[no_control]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, web, work, etc.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Around $700

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
US SoCal I have MC and Frys

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.
mITX mobo, GPU, maybe RAM if I need LoPro

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
2500k
SUG05
2x4GB G.Skill Ripjaws
SS 450w PSU
256GB M4
750GB WD CB
H50/H60/Kuhler620 <- one of them

6) Will you be overclocking?
Sure

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
3 Monitors U3011 w/ 2x 20 PLP Gaming Resolution of 2560x1600

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Yesterday!

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.
Not picky whatever gets the job done.I don't need wifi or msata if that helps. Would prefer z77 over z68 but will consider it all

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes W7 Ultimate x64 eventually Win8Pro

 

[Dangman]

Go for the ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe and HD 7970 or GTX 670 and you'll be set.

 

[no_control]

That's what I was thinking. But wasn't sure a 7970/GTX670 would cut it. Now I just need to find one that will fit!

No opinion on the ASRock z77E-ITX?

What about H77/H67/H61 series? I know I lose overclocking but seems like everything else is there opinions?

 

[Dangman]

That's what I was thinking. But wasn't sure a 7970/GTX670 would cut it. Now I just need to find one that will fit!

Good luck with that.

No opinion on the ASRock z77E-ITX?

I generally don't recommend AsRock mobos and the price difference is only $38 between the Asus and AsRock mobo. So I'd rather recommend Asus in that case.

What about H77/H67/H61 series? I know I lose overclocking but seems like everything else is there opinions?

Well since you have a SSD, that effectively rules out all the H61 mITX mobos since those don't have SATA 6.0GB/s. So that leaves you with H77 or H67. Personally, I'd stick with H77 for native USB 3.0 capability. If you can forgo overclocking, that would save you $95:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131841

 

[tiraides]

The performance of ASRock boards in general are a mixed bag. People who have owned them for any length of time swear by them, but the [H]ard|OCP reviews show general inconsistency in the boards' overclocking performance. If you want a good overclocking mITX board, I second Danny's recommendation.

With all of the Intel 6-series chipsets, you won't have native USB 3.0 support and only four SATA ports (with two of them being SATA 6Gb/s) in most cases.

EDIT: Dammit Danny, you're too fast!

 

[no_control]

Thanks Danny! I can always count on you to set me straight.

EDIT: I wouldn't have native USB 3.0 anyway - 2500k is SB not IB therefore no on chip USB3 correct?

 

[wtourist]

The Asrock gets good reviews
H61 are budget boards, basically very few features and cheap. If you need or want extra USB ports,
USB3.0, more SATA plugs, costs extra.
Generally a basic H67 board is same cost and more features than an H61.

if you even might want to overclock get Z77 or Z68. If not do not need "K" processor except for better graphics.

 

[Dangman]

EDIT: Dammit Danny, you're too fast!

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