I'm in the process of upgrading my old gaming PC since more and more games are becoming unplayable. Right now, I'm using an i5 4690k and a GTX 1070, and I'm planning to build a micro ATX system. My budget is around $1000, and I'm looking for something that will last a while, as my current setup has served me well. I also want it to be small and quiet. I've never built a mini PC before, so I'd love to get some opinions on this planning stage. What should I consider?
2 Answers
Considering you're building a micro ATX PC, I would suggest swapping out an air cooler CPU tower for an AIO cooler. The limited space in mini builds can make cooling less effective, so an AIO cooler would be a better fit. Brands like Arctic, Thermalright, and Deepcool offer great options. It sounds like you're almost there with your parts list, so just adjust that cooler, and you should be good to go!
You should definitely look into your memory setup. It seems like you're currently using a single channel RAM configuration, which can hurt performance. If you plan on upgrading to 32 GB later, consider going for 2x8 GB now instead. Also, I suggest the 9060 XT graphics card, as it's a solid option for your budget. Just make sure you're happy with the quality of the power supply too. Trust me, it’s worth it in the long run!
Thanks for the tip! I'll probably go with the 2x8 GB set up. The 9060 XT does sound appealing. I appreciate the advice!