Advice on Christmas Gaming Rig?

[rayne2330]

So i have this new build and since this is my first time, i wanted to ask peoples opinions about it.
Here it is:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($20.70 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($199.99)
Case: Apevia X-HERMES-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $739.58
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-19 00:52 EST-0500)

Im really hoping to get a little bit better ram for a cheaper price, they were on sale for a while, and now all the prices seem to have gone up right now. Im also hoping to overclock the cpu atleast to 4.0 and hopefully 4.5 if possible.
The 760 is on sale for around $200 and even though i thought the game sale was over, apparently it still comes with 2 free games.
Taking a risk on the case since i think its new and not much reviews, but comes with 5 fans and looks awesome.
My main concern is my psu, will 500w be enough? especially with the amount of fans and the 760?

 

[rayne2330]

Forgot to mention, but please keep the price down to low $700s if possible (which is why i went with the tx3 instead of the 212 plus or EVO), this build is for gaming and i live in AZ.

 

[Rammy]

Pretty disappointed that "Christmas Gaming Rig" doesn't involve some LED tinsel or 5.25" inflatable Santa.

A lot of the prices have changed and will continue to change, it's that time of year. You just have to keep hunting and try to spot the good deals at the right times.

I'd go for 1600Mhz memory in most circumstances as it's fast enough but also likely to have greater compatibility and cost effectiveness. Right now memory seems in a pretty awkward state, you just have to jump on the right deals.

I'd probably swap in the Hyper 212 Evo, as it's not an awful lot more expensive and quite a lot better at cooling. I don't think the TX3 makes a lot of sense economically.

500W is plenty. The EVGA is ok-ish if the price is right. It's always worth shopping around though, the XFX Core 550 is very good and not terribly expensive, the Corsair CX500/600M are pretty competitively priced and often heavily discounted too.

I'd have reservations about the case too. It's really not that cheap and I'd want a bit more guarantee of quality. I wouldn't base your decision on the number of fans as they are quite likely to be cheap, noisey and not very effective. Good picks in the ~$50 bracket might be the Antec Three Hundred Two or Bitfenix Shinobi. You might get a Fractal Design Core 3000 too, they've commonly been pretty close to that price level.

 

[rayne2330]

Pretty disappointed that "Christmas Gaming Rig" doesn't involve some LED tinsel or 5.25" inflatable Santa.

A lot of the prices have changed and will continue to change, it's that time of year. You just have to keep hunting and try to spot the good deals at the right times.

I'd go for 1600Mhz memory in most circumstances as it's fast enough but also likely to have greater compatibility and cost effectiveness. Right now memory seems in a pretty awkward state, you just have to jump on the right deals.

I'd probably swap in the Hyper 212 Evo, as it's not an awful lot more expensive and quite a lot better at cooling. I don't think the TX3 makes a lot of sense economically.

500W is plenty. The EVGA is ok-ish if the price is right. It's always worth shopping around though, the XFX Core 550 is very good and not terribly expensive, the Corsair CX500/600M are pretty competitively priced and often heavily discounted too.

I'd have reservations about the case too. It's really not that cheap and I'd want a bit more guarantee of quality. I wouldn't base your decision on the number of fans as they are quite likely to be cheap, noisey and not very effective. Good picks in the ~$50 bracket might be the Antec Three Hundred Two or Bitfenix Shinobi. You might get a Fractal Design Core 3000 too, they've commonly been pretty close to that price level.

yea, im kind of waiting for deals on the ram. ill look into the 212's, but again even $10 is enough to make me not want it, if i see a good deal, ill take it for sure.
same with the psu, im just waiting to see if theres anything better on it.
Ill look into the cases you recommended, but i think $50 is prob around the cheaper part of cases, i know there are some cheaper ones, but most i see below that arent that great.

 

[Rammy]

You can go cheaper on cases. Something like the Antec One is only $30 and the GX700 is $35 after rebates. You won't fit a Hyper 212 Evo in the One, but I think you will in the GX700.

EDIT - The TX3 will fit in the Antec One, and the Hyper 212 Evo will fit in the GX700.

 

[rayne2330]

yea, took a look at both of them, the gx700 really doesnt look apealing to me asthetically, and if im gonna be looking at my pc for the next couple years, i want it to look nice atleast. Antec one looks pretty nice though, im considering it, looks good for the price

 

[rayne2330]

well my main concern now is still probably the psu, i keep hearing mixed reactions with a 500w for this build. i dont wanna just choose the cheapest one cuz i heard this is probably what you dont want to cheap out on.

 

[Rammy]

Yeah I can't say I'd buy the GX700 either, but the price is very appealing. As for the Antec One, there isn't much not to like, it's pretty inoffensive looking and very well priced.

I don't know who is telling you 500W isn't enough. Sure, AMD processors can get pretty power hungry when you start playing overclock lottery, but even allowing for that it should be pretty comfortable.

 

[rayne2330]

one more questoin though, when is the best time to buy parts? im sorta scared for waiting after christmas to order them cuz they might go up, but i also hear people say its usually sort of random.

 

[Guest]

If you're really worrisome about the PSU, go ahead and spend the money on it! You don't want to have to be worrying about it because that's the heart of your build. I personally have a CX 600W and I have no problems powering my overclocked build.

Corsair, XFX, EVGA, Seasonic are some good companies just to name a few.
500W seems to be fine powering your build at stock, but if you want to be on the safe side and have overclocking overhead room, go ahead and jump up on the wattage; but 500W should be sufficient.

Spending extra money on the PSU is smart, don't go cheap!

edit: I wouldn't wait for a good time to buy parts. If you wait, better parts come out or the price doesn't drop for the part you want. They usually just stay around the same price but drop and rise randomly. Buy it now!

 

[rayne2330]

ok, is cooler master a good company for psu's? i also see some raidmax ones with good price and fairly good ratings, but everyone keeps telling me to stay away from those as well. Im thinking of going with the antec one and useing th money to get the evga 600w psu instead

 

[rayne2330]

If you're really worrisome about the PSU, go ahead and spend the money on it! You don't want to have to be worrying about it because that's the heart of your build. I personally have a CX 600W and I have no problems powering my overclocked build.

Corsair, XFX, EVGA, Seasonic are some good companies just to name a few.
500W seems to be fine powering your build at stock, but if you want to be on the safe side and have overclocking overhead room, go ahead and jump up on the wattage; but 500W should be sufficient.

Spending extra money on the PSU is smart, don't go cheap!

edit: I wouldn't wait for a good time to buy parts. If you wait, better parts come out or the price doesn't drop for the part you want. They usually just stay around the same price but drop and rise randomly. Buy it now!

if i do overclock and the psu reaches its limit, itl just power down right? if it totally implodes cuz i went over the max voltage, ill for sure get a better psu

 

[Guest]

Just make sure they're certified. They're not stellar performers but they do produce some fine PSU's. I'm honestly not much of a fan for Raidmax/Cooler Master PSU's.

 

[rayne2330]

ok, well ill probably go for the antec one case and the cooler master i600 or evga 600w, any other feedback?

 

[Guest]

If you're really worrisome about the PSU, go ahead and spend the money on it! You don't want to have to be worrying about it because that's the heart of your build. I personally have a CX 600W and I have no problems powering my overclocked build.

Corsair, XFX, EVGA, Seasonic are some good companies just to name a few.
500W seems to be fine powering your build at stock, but if you want to be on the safe side and have overclocking overhead room, go ahead and jump up on the wattage; but 500W should be sufficient.

Spending extra money on the PSU is smart, don't go cheap!

edit: I wouldn't wait for a good time to buy parts. If you wait, better parts come out or the price doesn't drop for the part you want. They usually just stay around the same price but drop and rise randomly. Buy it now!

if i do overclock and the psu reaches its limit, itl just power down right? if it totally implodes cuz i went over the max voltage, ill for sure get a better psu

It can be very disastrous; possibilities of a fire, destroyed parts/PSU all together, etc.
I would be safe and buy one that you feel comfortable with powering your rig.

 

[Guest]

ok, well ill probably go for the antec one case and the cooler master i600 or evga 600w, any other feedback?

I've heard some bad things about the i600 and how its sometimes DOA or blows up after a few months.
I'd be more comfortable with the EVGA PSU.. and the Antec One case sounds fine 🙂 if you like it, get it! It's your rig so it should be built around your preferences.

 

[Rammy]

The EVGA is (for the price) pretty decent. There's a few very conclusive reviews-
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=351
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/12/16/evga_500b_500w_power_supply_review/1#.UrKScvlT6_F
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/500B/
It's made by HEC, who are usually an OEM to avoid, but for the price it's certainly worth consideration.
You are primarily competing with discounted/rebated Corsair CXs, which similarly are pretty mediocre units at very good prices. I'd always be tempted to try and step up to an XFX550 (I actually did), but on a tight budget they are pretty solid.
Also, buying a PSU based on brand is a bit ...pointless. 90%+ of companies don't make their own products and use a variety of OEMs, it can mean great products at great prices, but it can also mean huge inconsistency across product ranges.

 

[rayne2330]

yea, ill go atleast 550w now, is that power supply 80+?

 

[Rammy]

Coolermaster are pretty horrendous as a PSU brand, like I said above, lots of different OEMs and lots of different quality units.

Even the most basic entry level PSUs from brands these days are 80Plus Bronze, there isn't really a reason to buy one that isn't, it's actually a very easy standard to achieve, which is why so many crappy PSUs have it too. It's simply an efficiency rating, so while it may well have an impact on the quality of internal components, it can't guarantee anything like that.