<750$ Gaming Build Please Critique!

[KingFlaco34]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the week
Budget Range: <750$
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming>Internet>Video Editing
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: No
Additional Comments: Going to be my first build. I've been debating different parts endlessly for the last few weeks and I think i've finally decided on a system. Going to use my 1080p TV for the monitor. Any recommendations or does everything look solid?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rIQP

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=47459&vpn=HDZ955FBGMBOX&manufacture=AMD

SilenX EFZ-92HA3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226049&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

ASRock 970 Extreme4
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0058HUQJ0/?tag=pcpapi-20

Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3-1600
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=59431&vpn=CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B&manufacture=Corsair&promoid=1306

Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=63468&vpn=ST500DM002&manufacture=Seagate&promoid=1306

Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202004&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Corsair Carbide 300R Windowed
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139016&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

XFX 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Sony DVD/CD Drive
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029RUBNS/?tag=pcpapi-20

Windows 7 Home Premium
http://www.outletpc.com/c5740.html?utm_source=c5740&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker

Logitech K400 Wireless Slim w/Touchpad
http://www.outletpc.com/xf5269-920-003070-logitech-k400-wireless-keyboard.html?utm_source=xf5269-920-003070-logitech-k400-wireless-keyboard&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartp

 

[butremor]

Here's some alternate:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Grey 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.95 @ B&H)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($174.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($20.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $760.84
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-09 18:50 EST-0500)

 

[KingFlaco34]

Here's some alternate:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Grey 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.95 @ B&H)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($174.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($20.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $760.84
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-09 18:50 EST-0500)

Any real performance difference? the FX-8320 is a newer, faster processor with more cores but my understanding is that most games don't utilize more than 4 cores anyways right? And I could always overclock to get the 3.5 Ghz.

 

[aznshinobi]

I like the build but you can do better per your budget honestly.

Check out my $650 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore#module146695821
The most important thing in gaming is the GPU, and with my $650 build you get a better 7870 vs the 7850. Plus the FX-6300 is a better chip in general in comparison to the 965/955, the FX-6300 can multi-thread better but also can overclock much better as well.

Although games don't utilize all 4 or more cores, some games at least, it's not exactly the same for AMD. AMD doesn't go for per core performance but rather more cores more performance aspect, at least for Piledriver/Bulldozer that's what the strategy was.

 

[KingFlaco34]

I like the build but you can do better per your budget honestly.

Check out my $650 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore#module146695821
The most important thing in gaming is the GPU, and with my $650 build you get a better 7870 vs the 7850. Plus the FX-6300 is a better chip in general in comparison to the 965/955, the FX-6300 can multi-thread better but also can overclock much better as well.

Although games don't utilize all 4 or more cores, some games at least, it's not exactly the same for AMD. AMD doesn't go for per core performance but rather more cores more performance aspect, at least for Piledriver/Bulldozer that's what the strategy was.

How do you suggest I get a fx-6300 and a hd 7870 and still fit in my budget? It comes out around 800$ without changing anything else http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rJU3

 

[aznshinobi]

I didn't tell you to get all those parts though, I think at this point you don't need HSF for sure. Use the stock heatsink right now and when you decide to overclock you can stick it on.

CHECK OUT MY BUILD GUIDE HERE:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore#module146695821
I mean I linked it and everything... Just click on it and it'll take you to the parts I suggest. The total should be well within your budget...