AMD build for Swtor/Gw2

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backtits

backtits

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Dec 3, 2012
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I'm mainly looking for something to run Swtor and Gw2 at med settings with 60+fps. I'd prefer if it had some decent future upgrade ability since my budget atm is fairly low. I was trying to make an Intel system as I prefer them over AMD, but AMD is so much more cheaper.

At the moment this is what I've come up with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($82.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock 760GM-GS3 Micro ATX AM3 Motherboard ($44.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Wintec Value 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($15.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7750 1GB Video Card ($95.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Apex PC-389-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($37.14 @ Amazon)
Total: $306.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-18 09:29 EST-0500)

I've no problem downgrading to the lowest parts possible, just as long as I'll be able to upgrade it later on. Is there anywhere I could save any money here, or is this about as basic as it gets for what I'm looking for? I'll also be planning on running games like Skyrim, Planetside 2, Simcity, etc. Incase anyone could use that information. I'm also excluding a HDD as Ive already got an old one from my previous system I plan on using.
 
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GW2 needs a capable CPU. The G860+HD7770 would probably outperform a 955BE, especially with the latter on a budget mobo without the capacity for significant overclocking. You'd need a 970 or 990FX mobo from Asus, ASRock, or Gigabyte (many of MSI's AMD mobos have weak VRMs that will pop if you overclock too much).
On a mix of mostly high settings, my 7770 does pretty well. Note that my 970BE is overclocked to a speed you might not be able to hit on a 955 with a budget board (at least not safely).
If you relax your quality setting and/or FPS requirement, you could get by with a lesser machine; this weekend I played a little GW2 on a system with a 3.0GHz 740BE unlocked to X4, with a HD7750, and it was enjoyable, BUT the resolution was...
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AMD Phenom II 965 and Raedon 7850 would be better for what you want to do. If you can spare the money and want to stay AMD get a AM3+ board and a FX 6300 and still the 7850 atleast.
 
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I'm not too picky about brand, though it seems like Intel has much more/better upgrade ability. I've already made an Intel system too, so I thought since AMD is pretty cheap and it's a new system perhaps I could try building one of those. Would going with a G860 and a 7750 be a viable option? I want the system to get me through until the next gen of CPU/GPU comes out, which is when I plan to upgrade.
 
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GW2 needs a capable CPU. The G860+HD7770 would probably outperform a 955BE, especially with the latter on a budget mobo without the capacity for significant overclocking. You'd need a 970 or 990FX mobo from Asus, ASRock, or Gigabyte (many of MSI's AMD mobos have weak VRMs that will pop if you overclock too much).
On a mix of mostly high settings, my 7770 does pretty well. Note that my 970BE is overclocked to a speed you might not be able to hit on a 955 with a budget board (at least not safely).
If you relax your quality setting and/or FPS requirement, you could get by with a lesser machine; this weekend I played a little GW2 on a system with a 3.0GHz 740BE unlocked to X4, with a HD7750, and it was enjoyable, BUT the resolution was 1600x900, not 1920x1080, and I was probably getting around 25-35FPS depending on area. I had a fair number of settings turned up but with no AA.
 
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Solution
Thanks all for the replies! Alright, so how about this for a build then?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G860 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-GL Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($54.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Corsair 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($14.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($100.00 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified TFX12V Power Supply ($40.49 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $285.45
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-18 20:14 EST-0500)

Perhaps I could just Xfire the 7770's as an upgrade later. I'm assuming then the 860 would bottle neck the cards though? In which case I'd probably hop up to the i5-2500k. I've not desire to OC, unless it's truly going to improve my performance a worthwhile amount. I'd really like to one day upgrade to an IB CPU, but then I'd need to upgrade the mobo again as well wouldn't I? I suppose I could just slowly and incrementally do these things. Or would it be better to just get a Ib capable mobo now?

::EDIT::

Does this seem like a decent build for me to aspire too?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($220.90 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-GL Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($54.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Corsair 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($14.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card (CrossFire) ($71.53 @ Amazon Canada)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card (CrossFire) ($71.53 @ Amazon Canada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $508.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-18 20:33 EST-0500)

It's got an IB CPU, and those GPU's seem pretty good from what I've looked up. I can get the 7850 now instead of the 7770, and then eventually replace the G860 with the i5. Then later on crossfire the 7850. Thoughts? I'm aware that GPU's won't start making decent use out of the whole IB thing until like 2014 and I read somewhere that only the higher end cards, that are like 500+ will actually benefit. I'm sure that when these cards start becoming available I'll have the budget to invest in one of them, and replace whatever GPU I'll have been using until then.

I'm not sure if I should bother with OCing, and if I'm not going to then perhaps I should just settle for the non "k" edition of the i5. It'd save me money on the mobo too, right? Since if I am going to OC, then I'll definately need to get another board for this build either from the get-go or later on as I upgrade the machine.

What type of performance could I expect from a machine like this?
 
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A couple of things. That H77 board isn't good for Crossfire; the second PCIe slot is v2.0 (not 3.0) and only runs at x4. If you think you might run multiple video cards (I never have), then get a Z77 board to start. H77 and Z77 boards should both support IB CPUs out of the box.
Second, your initial PSU choice is a TFX PSU; that's the form factor used in slim cases. It cannot be mounted in a standard ATX (or Micro-ATX) mid tower case. Although it probably has the +12V amps to run a HD7770, it doesn't have a PCIe power cable, and probably not enough other power connectors without using a mess of adapters. Start with your second listed PSU, or something like a 380W Antec Earthwatts or 450W Antec VP-450. Do not get a Corsair V2 Builder; they were made by CWT, not Seasonic, using some inferior Samxon capacitors from a line known to experience early failure.
Finally, get a 2x4GB pair of RAM sticks so you can run in dual-channel mode. The performance difference is probably on the wrong side of 5%.

 
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I've heard a lot of people say that xfire and SLI aren't as good as a single card. Like two 560's aren't as good as 1 570. I figured that if it might be cheaper to SLI then get one high end card I'd go that route, but in all honesty I prefer the idea of one high end GPU instead. So I'm not sure if I'll SLI/xfire or not. Im leaning more towards not doing it though.

Thanks for all the help everyone, it's very much appreciated. Just a couple more questions, say I don't xfire or SLI. What would be a good board for just a single GPU with a 3470/3570k? And what about OCing? Is it worth it?
 
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For those games? Well, my [stock] i5-3570K with a HD7870 has GW2 pretty much maxed; I think only LOD is on "High" rather than "Ultra."
OCing is worthwhile to get more performance out of a lesser part. For example, the OC (only to 3.8GHz) on my 970BE makes a visible difference in GW2. I haven't bothered to OC my i5 because I don't think it would make a visible difference; same with the HD7870. If I played Far Cry 3, reviews suggest an OC of the GPU would indeed be visible. Then again, I've also realized it isn't necessary to play with all settings on "SuperUltraMaxOhWOW!" to enjoy a good game.
 
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Yeah, that is true. I think I'll go with a 7770 for now. I don't need ultra settings. Just mid range, or even lower range. Right now im running on an IGP so it's only up from here right? I don't need OCing, and I'll just steadily work my way up to those Ivy CPU's and higher end GPUs.
 
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