600$ build

[Hool]

CPU = I3-3225
MOBO = ASRock Z77M
PSU = RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W
RAM = CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB)
CASE = NZXT Guardian ATX Mid Tower
GPU = GIGABYTE HD 7870

Will all this work with my MOBO? Also will I be able to overclock with my psu only being 530w?

 

[strife_ff7]

I'd go with this psu it's much better antec neo eco 520 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030
I know it's only 520w but it has more power on the +12v than the raidmax and thats where you'll need it when overclocking the hd 7870. Also raidmax psu are no good. The antec 520w should be more than enough for that system with the hd 7870 overclocked.

*edit
This is a little better psu xfx 550w http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=59615&vpn=P1550SXXB9&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1257
It's $64 but it does have a $10 rebate.

 

[zared619]

Raidmax anything is garbage, they really are. I would avoid them at all costs.

Secondly, you can't overclock the i3-3225. If you want to overclock a processor that is in the i-series, the unlocked processors have a K after them (ie. 2500K, 3570K)

I will put together a $600 build for you.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 PRO3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($77.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($23.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $580.47
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-20 21:01 EST-0500)

 

[Hool]

Raidmax anything is garbage, they really are. I would avoid them at all costs.

Secondly, you can't overclock the i3-3225. If you want to overclock a processor that is in the i-series, the unlocked processors have a K after them (ie. 2500K, 3570K)

I will put together a $600 build for you.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 PRO3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($77.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 DVD/CD Writer ($23.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $580.47
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-20 21:01 EST-0500)

but can i overclock the GPU with out overclocking the CPU? I already have a HDD that i pulled from my old computer so i think i would put some of that money back into the GPU

Thanks for making me that build man. I was considering getting the i3 though so i could upgrade in a few months to an i5-2500k so an AMD processor isn't the direction i want to go. Also are wifi cards that expensive?

 

[aznshinobi]

If you're willing to spend just a little bit more, about $20 over your budget, you'll have a MUCH BETTER, system. Many people think that Bulldozer/Piledriver sucks *** balls, but they're quite wrong.

My build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore#module146695821

Now let me explain, the FX-6300 in my build is much better than the i3 3225, I will tell you right now, much better especially in multi-threading and in gaming like BF3 you won't really see the difference. Any high-end game requiring heavy GPU, the CPU matters less than the GPU.

Here's the proof:
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/1598/pg6/amd-fx-8350-processor-review-battlefield-3.html
As you can see, at 1080P, the FX-8350 performs AS well as a i5 3570K, I use this comparison because many people say that the FX-8350 is utter crap.

Another example: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2055/6/
Again: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2055/7/
Again: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2055/4/

Wifi cards aren't expensive at all they're just about $20 for a usb wi-fi adapter.

 

[Hool]

If you're willing to spend just a little bit more, about $20 over your budget, you'll have a MUCH BETTER, system. Many people think that Bulldozer/Piledriver sucks *** balls, but they're quite wrong.

My build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore#module146695821

Now let me explain, the FX-6300 in my build is much better than the i3 3225, I will tell you right now, much better especially in multi-threading and in gaming like BF3 you won't really see the difference. Any high-end game requiring heavy GPU, the CPU matters less than the GPU.

Here's the proof:
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/1598/pg6/amd-fx-8350-processor-review-battlefield-3.html
As you can see, at 1080P, the FX-8350 performs AS well as a i5 3570K, I use this comparison because many people say that the FX-8350 is utter crap.

Another example: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2055/6/
Again: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2055/7/
Again: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2055/4/

Wifi cards aren't expensive at all they're just about $20 for a usb wi-fi adapter.

thanks for the reply and it looks like that fx-6300 is pretty solid! So I can overclock it right? how much better would overclocking make the CPU and would the PSU be enough to OC the CPU and the GPU (sorry for such noob questions) trying to read all over to get answers as well

 

[aznshinobi]

Yep, The CPU will probably get to.. around 4GHZ? On the stock HSF. If you use an aftermarket heatsink like the Hyper 212 Evo, you can probably get about 4.8ghz at least.

As for the PSU, it should be enough, the 520 Neo Eco is a solid power supply, but hey these are good questions. If you want to be safe, a 600w can be used. The CX600 is an nice cheap one:
(Honestly I'd go with a 600w just to be safe, but you don't need to. Let me calculate why: The FX-6300 gets about 60 watts more onload after an OC to 4.6GHZ, so that's 155w. Then you got roughly 200w for an overclocked 7870. That's roughly 355w, now the system may take about 50w AT MOST including the HDD.

So... You're looking around 405w total wattage on the system. It's honestly good enough to have the Neo Eco 520w, but again if you want to be safe:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028
Only $50 so it would be a better deal!

 

[zared619]

aznshinobi is pretty much right. The only issue is that overclocking the 6300 to super high clock speeds draws a lot of power, so you would either need to increase your PSU or just limit speeds to the 4.4 GHz area. However, that is something you could find out when you are overclocking.

To answer your question from earlier, you do not have to overclock your CPU when you overclock your GPU. They are separate entities inside your computer. Your statement would be true if we had for example a trinity processor such as the 5800K. If you wanted to increase your graphics performance there, you would have to increase both the CPU and the GPU, but that is only with integrated graphics.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hool]

Yep, The CPU will probably get to.. around 4GHZ? On the stock HSF. If you use an aftermarket heatsink like the Hyper 212 Evo, you can probably get about 4.8ghz at least.

As for the PSU, it should be enough, the 520 Neo Eco is a solid power supply, but hey these are good questions. If you want to be safe, a 600w can be used. The CX600 is an nice cheap one:
(Honestly I'd go with a 600w just to be safe, but you don't need to. Let me calculate why: The FX-6300 gets about 60 watts more onload after an OC to 4.6GHZ, so that's 155w. Then you got roughly 200w for an overclocked 7870. That's roughly 355w, now the system may take about 50w AT MOST including the HDD.

So... You're looking around 405w total wattage on the system. It's honestly good enough to have the Neo Eco 520w, but again if you want to be safe:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028
Only $50 so it would be a better deal!

Dang you honestly have made me rethink my build! I like what you have shown me so I believe im going to go with the processor and MOBO you have shown. Also that Corsair power supply is 600w and is 5-10$ cheaper than the 550w xfx so i don't see what it wouldn't be better to just go for the 600w.

 

[Hool]

Best answer selected by Hool.