The Best $1500 Mini-ITX Gaming PC Build

On the spec sheet, it offers a 96MB L3 cache and offers a 4.7GHz boost clock.

The Ryzen 5 7600X3D brings 6 cores and 12 threads, a 4.7GHz maximum boost, 96MB of L3 cache and a 65W rating, and it accounts for 17% of the parts total. It ships without a cooler, so the build pairs it with the AXP120-X67. Its integrated graphics stay available as a backup display output.

Both the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the B650I Lightning are AM5, so the chip fits the board without adapters. A newer processor on an older board can need a BIOS update, so the support list is worth a look. DDR5 is what the B650I Lightning and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D share, and the TEAMGROUP Elite DDR5 kit is DDR5. The two memory generations do not fit each other's slots, so this is a hard match rather than a preference. The AXP120-X67 lists AM5 support (AM5, AM4, Intel), so its mounting kit fits the Ryzen 5 7600X3D. If the budget is tighter, the Ryzen 5 7500F offers 6 cores against 6, roughly 21% cheaper than the Ryzen 5 7600X3D; it keeps the same socket, memory type and cooler fit.

ASRock's Challenger version is 249mm long and needs one 8-pin plug and a 650W PSU.

The Arc B580 Challenger gives the build 12GB of GDDR6, the Arc B580 chip, a 2-slot cooler, a 249mm length and 1 x 8-pin power, and at 23% of the parts total it is the biggest line in the budget. Its chip's maker recommends a 650W supply for the whole system.

415mm is the longest card the A3-mATX lists, and the Arc B580 Challenger is 249mm, so there are 166mm to spare. The Arc B580 Challenger is an Arc B580 card, and its chip maker recommends a 650W system power supply. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W is 850W, which leaves 200W for the processor, drives and fans. The Arc B580 Challenger lists 1 x 8-pin, and the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W lists one 12V-2x6 connector, so match the cable to the card's socket. To spend less, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is the Arc A580 with 8GB of GDDR6, against the Arc B580's 12GB, roughly 45% cheaper than the Arc B580 Challenger; the power-supply and case checks still pass.

It suits budget small builds with a mid-range CPU.

For 12% of the parts total, the B650I Lightning adds Mini-ITX size, 2 M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5GbE LAN on the AM5 socket, and only DDR5 sticks fit its slots.

Both the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the B650I Lightning are AM5, so the chip fits the board without adapters. A newer processor on an older board can need a BIOS update, so the support list is worth a look. DDR5 is what the B650I Lightning and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D share, and the TEAMGROUP Elite DDR5 kit is DDR5. The two memory generations do not fit each other's slots, so this is a hard match rather than a preference. 2 M.2 slots on the B650I Lightning means the P310 1TB plugs in without an adapter, with a slot spare for later; check the manual for the slot that gets the fastest lanes.

It also offers a CL46 CAS latency and offers a 5600MT/s rated speed.

This kit is 16GB, DDR5, 5600MT/s and CL46 in two sticks and takes 21% of the parts total, a heavy slice because DDR5 is expensive when we checked.

DDR5 is what the B650I Lightning and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D share, and the TEAMGROUP Elite DDR5 kit is DDR5. The two memory generations do not fit each other's slots, so this is a hard match rather than a preference. Because the TEAMGROUP Elite DDR5 is a two-stick 16GB kit, the board manual's dual-channel slot pair is where it goes. To spend more, the Viper Elite 5 is 32GB at 6000MT/s, roughly 58% dearer than the TEAMGROUP Elite DDR5; the same memory generation keeps that row green.

It also offers a 7,100MB/s rated read speed and offers a 6,000MB/s rated write speed.

The P310 1TB offers 1TB, PCIe 4.0 and up to 7100MB/s sequential reads and takes 12% of the parts total.

2 M.2 slots on the B650I Lightning means the P310 1TB plugs in without an adapter, with a slot spare for later; check the manual for the slot that gets the fastest lanes. A step up is the P310 2TB: 2TB on PCIe 4.0, roughly 47% dearer than the P310 1TB; the board's M.2 row is unaffected.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W is 850W, Gold rated, ATX 3.1, ATX format, fully modular cables and one 12V-2x6 connector and takes 6% of the parts total.

The Arc B580 Challenger is an Arc B580 card, and its chip maker recommends a 650W system power supply. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W is 850W, which leaves 200W for the processor, drives and fans. The Arc B580 Challenger lists 1 x 8-pin, and the Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W lists one 12V-2x6 connector, so match the cable to the card's socket. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W is a ATX unit and the A3-mATX lists ATX, SFX or SFX-L, so the supply has a mount.

ATX, SFX and SFX-L units are all listed.

The A3-mATX lists room for mATX, ITX boards, graphics cards up to 415mm and a radiator up to 360mm and takes 6% of the parts total.

The B650I Lightning is a Mini-ITX board and the A3-mATX lists mATX, ITX, so the board mounts on the standoffs without adapters. 415mm is the longest card the A3-mATX lists, and the Arc B580 Challenger is 249mm, so there are 166mm to spare. The Thermaltake Toughpower GT 850W is a ATX unit and the A3-mATX lists ATX, SFX or SFX-L, so the supply has a mount.

It is the value choice for small cases with a 65W or mid-range CPU.

The AXP120-X67 is a tower air cooler with 6 heatpipes, a 120mm fan, 67mm height and AM5, AM4, Intel mounting, and it takes 2% of the parts total.

The AXP120-X67 lists AM5 support (AM5, AM4, Intel), so its mounting kit fits the Ryzen 5 7600X3D. The AXP120-X67 stands 67mm tall, but the A3-mATX listing gives no cooler height limit, so check the case page for that figure before ordering. By price it is the eighth largest of the eight parts (Under $50 when we checked), which is about 2% of the total.