PC Building

[GreatnessRD]

*In my The Rock voice* Finally! I'm about to finish my living room HTPC build, but I'm torn on the path I should follow far as aesthetics go. I need RED TEAM to help me with my dilemma. Might be a bit of a ride, but follow me on this journey.

Ok Boom, so I received this case for Christmas from my sister. As I wanted this for the living room build

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811197018?Description=sama%20im02&cm_re=sama_im02-_-11-197-018-_-Prod...

The SAMA IM02 - Wanted something cheap and I liked the look of the case. Was planning to build this HTPC in January, but life life'd and I couldn't get things done till now.

Between that time, I fell in love with this case, the Fractal Ridge and think it would be a nice centerpiece in the living room instead of the bulky mATX case of the SAMA IM02

https://www.newegg.com/Black-Fractal-Design-Ridge-Mini-ITX/p/11-352-201

Now the hard part. Of course mATX parts are usually a lot cheaper than ITX parts. So here I'll post the two PcPartpicker prices of what it would look like if I decided to go one way or the other.

So my problem comes in completely because of aesthetics. I can recoup some of the money on the ITX build if I sold the SAMA IM02 case for $50-60. Also the prices reflect discounts, a newegg gift card and some maneuvering. So, I'm looking to purchase this stuff sometime this week. Now my fate is in the hand of RED TEAM. Do I save the $150ish dollar and continue with the mATX Build and SAMA case? Or do I spend that bread and go the ITX build route with the Fractal case? Both are in budget, but just thinking out loud on what to do. Thanks for watching and the help! 😆

[eebiii]

I like the Fractal case. Thats a killer price on the 6700 too.

[GreatnessRD]

After I posted this, I ended up purchasing the Ridge. You and my cousin solidified I made the right choice, lol. @eebiii 

[Axxemann]

Stick with the Sama. I have a seething hatred of all things SFF. 😛

[eebiii]

@Axxemann, look at this little guy and it packs a punch too. 6.7" x 6.7". Can fit in almost any design.

Although I prefer working with ATX and bigger form factor. They are painless to build for the most part.

[GreatnessRD]

Why do you hate SFF? lol @Axxemann 

[Axxemann]

I feel claustrophobic when working on them. 

[GreatnessRD]

@Axxemann That's one of the reasons I decided to go with the ITX. I've never built in a small case, so wanted to try.

[Wally_AMD]

I think the SAMA case is purty, but that Fractal is so sleeeeek. Kind of torn, but I think sticking with the SAMA would be best - you can put any excess money toward something else! Maybe a game or two? 

[GreatnessRD]

I really do like the SAMA case, but something about the Fractal case got me in a chokehold, so I went with that. Parts are starting to come in, so I'll make an update post when everything gets here! @Wally_AMD 

[Wally_AMD]

Totally fair! Looking forward to seeing the finished product. 

[petosiris]

I'd say go with the SAMA case.  The other is maybe more wife-friendly but the SAMA case is roomy and better to work with in comparison.  And you get to mount the MB horizontally.