Spec Check and some other questions

[Stouty]

Here's a rough spec of a mini gaming PC that I'm looking to buy:

Case
COOLERMASTER 120 ADVANCED CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-3770 (3.4GHz) 8MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® P8H77-I: Mini-ITX, LG1155, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM)
16GB SAMSUNG DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz (2 X 8GB)
Graphics Card
2GB AMD RADEON™ HD7870 - DVI,HDMI,2 mDP - DX® 11, Eyefinity 4 Capable
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
120GB KINGSTON V300 SSD, SATA 6 Gb (450MB/R, 450MB/W)
2nd Hard Disk
1TB 3.5" SATA-III 6GB/s HDD 7200RPM 32MB CACHE
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Power Supply
350W Dual Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan
Processor Cooling
INTEL SOCKET LGA1155 STANDARD CPU COOLER
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £976.00 including VAT and delivery.

Unique URL to re-configure: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/quotes/intel-gaming-mini-pc/6fz36_SuvM/
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I'd be very grateful to any suggestions on how to improve this build or if I've gone too high up on some of the parts.

Also, I've noticed there seems to be differences between the mini PC's that are available from the sections "Top Spec Mini PCs" and "Gaming Mini PC's". Is there a reason to why I can't access the cases "The Inwin Mini-ITX BM643 Case + 120W PSU" and "Thermaltake Element Q Mini-ITX Case + 200W PSU" on the Gaming PC section? Also why is the 3GB AMD RADEON™ HD7970 available for Top Spec Mini PCs but not Gaming Mini PC's?

If any tech wizard could please shed some light on the matter it would help a lot.

 

[keynes]

I'd be very grateful to any suggestions on how to improve this build or if I've gone too high up on some of the parts.

i5 + 8gb memory will be plenty for gaming, I would consider upgrading the gpu instead. I assume the reason why you are restricted with the mini gaming and top spec is the PSU may vary

 

[Stouty]

I would consider upgrading the gpu instead. I assume the reason why you are restricted with the mini gaming and top spec is the PSU may vary

Thanks for the quick feedback!
What gpu would you advise to upgrade to?
And also, seeing as for the Gaming Mini PC's section you can increase the power supply surely there should be an option to choose the 3GB AMD RADEON™ HD7970 for the graphics card? I can understand the restriction in selecting a case if some don't allow a high enough power supply but not the graphics card

Thanks again

 

[keynes]

What gpu would you advise to upgrade to?

It depends on your budget and the games you play. Would a desktop be an option or it has to be a mini-pc?

 

[Stouty]

Would a desktop be an option or it has to be a mini-pc?

I plan on taking this to Uni next year so portability is key. I guess a desktop could be viable as long as the case is easily transportable

 

[keynes]

I would consider the spec below, if you can push your budget you could consider a 650w PSU. I would suggest taking the SSD out and upgrading to the GTX 670, an SSD is not essential and you could add one later one.
Case
COOLERMASTER HAF XB GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-3570 (3.4GHz) 6MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® P8H77-I: Mini-ITX, LG1155, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM)
8GB SAMSUNG DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz (2 X 4GB)
Graphics Card
2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 670 - 2 DVI, HDMI, DP - 3D Vision Ready
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
1TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD1002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Power Supply
450W Quiet 80 PLUS Dual Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan
Processor Cooling
Corsair H40 Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler (£39)
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £995.00 including VAT and delivery.

Unique URL to re-configure: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/quotes/intel-gaming-mini-pc/wknC_kbeuB/

 

[Stouty]

I'll take that into consideration, thanks for all your help!

 

[Stouty]

Just got an email back from them, they've now added the 7950 and 7970 cards to the Gaming PC section. Would this setup be OK? I'm unsure as to whether I should upgrade to a higher power supply if 350W can do the job.
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Case
Silverstone SG02B-F Mini-ITX Case (Black)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-3570 (3.4GHz) 6MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® P8H77-I: Mini-ITX, LG1155, USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs
Memory (RAM)
8GB KINGSTON HYPERX BEAST DUAL-DDR3 2400MHz X.M.P (2 x 4GB KIT)
Graphics Card
3GB AMD RADEON™ HD7950 - DVI,HDMI,2 mDP - DX® 11, Eyefinity 4 Capable
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
180GB INTEL® 330 SERIES SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 500MB/sR | 450MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk
500GB 3.5" SATA-III 6GB/s HDD 7200RPM 16MB CACHE
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
4x BLU-RAY ROM DRIVE, 16x DVD ROM (£27)
Power Supply
350W Dual Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan
Processor Cooling
INTEL SOCKET LGA1155 STANDARD CPU COOLER
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £980.00 including VAT and delivery.

Unique URL to re-configure: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/quotes/intel-gaming-mini-pc/6mRyZaB6Bg/

 

[keynes]

I'm unsure as to whether I should upgrade to a higher power supply if 350W can do the job

If you don't get any warnings from the configurator then it should be fine however it might limit your choices when you wish to upgrade your graphics card.

 

[Stouty]

OK, thanks again!