$750 Build. Need some advice on compatibility.

GrimeyBeast910 · Mar 24, 2015

Hi everyone,

First of all thank you for taking your time to help me fine tune my build. Long time reader of this wonderful site, it helped me build my first computer, now its time for my second.

Its time I rebuild my computer from the ground up. Im taking some parts off my first build to save some money on my second build.

I currently have the 242 heatsink, the dvd drive, and thats about it. Everything else will not be able to satisfy the next build. I've been doing some research on my own and I have a few items on my mind that I would like on my next build but there are some items missing and I would like to see if you guys can fill in the blanks.

I can travel to a MicroCenter and do not mind ordering from Newegg or any other web site if the deals are there.

I have about a $750 budget in mind. I've allocated enough for mouse/keyboard/headphones..etc
so the $750 is for the build.

I went to partpicker.. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Dhh7Hx and input the items I want already, the parts that are empty are the items in which im unsure of getting or worried about compatibility.
I intend on overclocking the CPU but thats the only thing..

Give me a few ideas on cases, Doesnt have to be super shiny and have tons of lights but I'd like to have a little something if budget permits, again thank you for taking the time to give me some ideas and advice.

damric · Mar 24, 2015

Here's a couple ideas:

1) The build I would get.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($241.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($65.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($164.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Cougar MX300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Other: Windows 10 Preview ($0.00)
Total: $757.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-24 00:29 EDT-0400

2) More GPU heavy:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($65.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 290 4GB DirectCU II Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar MX300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Other: Windows 10 Preview ($0.00)
Total: $720.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-24 00:31 EDT-0400

3) If you really must AMD... (It still won't be as fast as the Haswells in gaming, even if you OC to 4.5GHz, but it's not so bad).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320E 3.2GHz 8-Core Processor ($122.55 @ Directron)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($147.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($70.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar MX300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Other: Windows 10 Preview ($0.00)
Total: $746.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-24 00:35 EDT-0400

TofuLion · Mar 24, 2015

if OS not needed

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($137.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($93.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.49 @ Directron)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($319.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $758.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-24 00:32 EDT-0400

with OS

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($137.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($93.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.49 @ Directron)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $758.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-24 00:37 EDT-0400

GrimeyBeast910 · Mar 24, 2015

I would like to keep the 8 cores and AMD build. I'm also on the sidelines for streaming and editing so I want that option. Later on if I want to change that idea, I can always frankenstein my last build and give it to my kid. Quick question, do I have to go to these sites individually and order them or just look at the items and find them at Microcenter and newegg respectively?

@Tofulion Love the futurama name.. Yes I do have the OS covered. Do I really need the 970 for that much? I thought the 280x for $168.99 @ Microcenter was a good catch.

damric · Mar 24, 2015

FYI the 4c/8t Xeon (basically an i7 w/o igpu) will be light years faster at gaming, editing, recording, and streaming than the 8c FX. While the Xeon CPU itself is expensive, it can be used with a cheap H97 motherboard. Serious overclocking on the FX-8core takes a strong motherboard with hefty VRMs (why I pointed to the UD5) which costs a bit and nearly evens the total price for an inferior CPU.

Bossyfins · Mar 24, 2015

I agree with Damric here. The 8 core FX is no where near as good as the 1231 for the price. If you want to have the ability to edit, my recommendation is to go with 1231 with a cheap h97 board, and you insure yourself easy editing

GrimeyBeast910 · Mar 24, 2015

I thank you. I just may go with option #1. Headed to MicroCenter later to price some things out, I live close and its like a candy store to me.

Bossyfins · Mar 24, 2015

Same ^.^ Microcenter is like the last day of school to me. I feel so empowered with all the parts around me LOL

damric · Mar 24, 2015

I've never been to a Microcenter

But back in the day I used to love going to Fry's warehouse!

Bossyfins · Mar 24, 2015

YOu can go to a Frys Warehouse O.O

MasterDell · Mar 25, 2015

In Canada our Fry's and Micro Center is NCIX

My closest one is 4 hours away though

I still get to go to it sometimes on trips but only like once a year.

Bossyfins · Mar 25, 2015

My Microcenter is about ~20 mins away, my frys is about 30~ mins away. but it is still to long to walk their. My plan was to walk there everyday LOL

GrimeyBeast910 · Mar 25, 2015

Mine is also about 20 mins away.. I love going there. I haven't gone yet I got called into work.. I've been looking online in the meantime
about the xeon and I do believe I like what I see.

TofuLion · Mar 25, 2015

the xeon would be far superior to the FX 8320, even if you could overclock to 5 GHz, but you wouldn't see much difference in just gaming. an i5 would be more than enough to run a 280x, and even consider the gtx 970. its a bit expensive, but for gaming at 1080p you couldn't do much better. it warrants the downgrade in cpu, depending on your system use of course

GrimeyBeast910 · Mar 26, 2015

well my last rig was made 4 years ago and with a $400 budget. Fast forward to now with a nice tax refund and a fresh start with components, I gots plans..

I need to stay within that $750 range. I want to record games, edit, Play games at 1080p with no hassles or stutters. I was looking at these 2 cards

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=-1&IsNodeId=1&Description=r9%20280&bop=And&CompareItemList=-1%7C14-127-789%5E14-127-789-TS%2C14-202-125%5E14-202-125-TS&percm=14-127-789%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B14-202-125%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

Both have rebates and theres only a $20 gap inbetweeen. Any thoughts??

MasterDell · Mar 26, 2015

I vote for the 280x.

Bossyfins · Mar 26, 2015

Same. My vote: 280x

damric · Mar 26, 2015

I'm thinking about getting the Xeon for myself

I've already got two 1150 boards, but with low end stuff like Pentium and i3.

Bossyfins · Mar 26, 2015

Xeon nice lol

I would get a 1231, but i have a 5820k. Ugh, Being 15 without ability to make my own money is tough :/ so much tech i want...

GrimeyBeast910 · Mar 26, 2015

ok seeing how you guys are online is awesome.. I've did my research off of Damrics specs on the first go (thanks Dam)

https://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

this is what i got. let that advice fly.. lol

Bossyfins · Mar 26, 2015

Post the perma link

You just posted a link that redircts to what I built

GrimeyBeast910 · Mar 26, 2015

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($259.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar MX300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($80.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $846.57
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-26 00:54 EDT-0400

Edit: changes made.

MasterDell · Mar 26, 2015

So that motherboard is very poor. I suggest the H97 PRO4. mATX or ATX.

As for the power supply, that unit is poor and way over priced.

You want this unit instead: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b20750vr

GrimeyBeast910 · Mar 26, 2015

any difference between the mATX and ATX?

Bossyfins · Mar 26, 2015

Not really, except size lol

$750 Build. Need some advice on compatibility.

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