AMD Gaming computer for my son

[shelaker]

So I am building a gaming pc for my son. He has a 32" 1080 LED television we will be using to do most of the gaming, plus I am hooking up some type of monitor to use more for "computing". Anyway, I really like my build. I've already got the case, really like the board for features and upgradeablity. (I plan on using the m.2 ssd in a near-future upgrade.) I just plain want the 3tb hard drive, and I want to try out an AMD processor. My big concerns are the graphics card and power supply. My original budget was only going to be about $500, but I'm now thinking a bit more. I figure I have about another $250 in addition to the list from PCPartpicker to spend on a graphics card and power supply. I'd maybe like to upgrade to a twin video card setup in the future to drive a couple monitors or whatever. I think I'd like to go crossfire, but I'm not too sure. Oh, and I will probably overclock sometime in the future, and am wondering if the stock cooler for the processor is good enough to use until I eventually get a better one and OC.
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ZBVWyc) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ZBVWyc/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd8320frhkbox) | $126.00 @ Newegg
**Motherboard** | [ASRock 990FX Killer ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-990fxkiller) | $114.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [Mushkin Stealth 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/mushkin-memory-997164s) | $89.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/hitachi-internal-hard-drive-0f12456) |-
**Case** | [Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc902xbkkn2) | $69.99 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [Pioneer BDR-209DBK Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/pioneer-optical-drive-bdr209dbk) | $54.99 @ Newegg
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $455.96
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-07 21:34 EST-0500 |

 

[turkey3_scratch]

But a $12 optical drive, they're really no different, at least not worth the difference. Optical drives are barely used today. Then put the money toward a CPU fan because the retail AMD ones are poor.

 

[frag06]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($126.00 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Killer ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($189.25 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $692.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-07 21:48 EST-0500

I added an 850W, which isn't really needed if you don't CF sometime, but it is only $10 more than the same 750W model.

I dropped the Blu-ray player, just because it isn't needed unless you need to play a Blu-ray disk. If you plan on doing so, re-add it.

I wouldn't use the stock AMD cooler.

 

[thekyle64]

you don't have a video card

never get a no name brand power supply and get 500 watt +

the stock cpu cooler will be good enough to use until you oc but it is very loud

you need to get a os

if/when you go crossfire you may want to upgrade your power supply or you can get a overbuilt ps now (800 watt +)

 

[Kohwali]

I added an 850W, which isn't really needed if you don't CF sometime, but it is only $10 more than the same 750W model.

I'd suggest the G2 model instead ($90 after rebate): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438018
JonnyGURU likes it: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=377

 

[RaDiKaL_]

You'll be wasting that money on an AMD CPU for gaming, especially if you plan to eventually crossfire anything, AMDs offerings can't simply handle modern GPUs, let alone crossfired/SLI'd no matter how much you get to OC the CPU.

Better go with a i3-4330 and some decent Haswell mobo so you can upgrade later to a better CPU when crossfire/SLI comes into play, though if budget allows it go now with a i5-4690k or similar.

If you insist on testing AMD however follow turkey's advise for an aftermarket cooler, you'll certainly need it.

 

[frag06]

I added an 850W, which isn't really needed if you don't CF sometime, but it is only $10 more than the same 750W model.

I'd suggest the G2 model instead ($90 after rebate): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438018
JonnyGURU likes it: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=377

The B2 is nearly as good. I normally suggest the G2 series, but not when budget is a factor (i.e. not on budget rigs). The B2 will perform very well. It's made by Super Flower and comes with a five year warranty (register it).

 

[Kohwali]

The B2 is nearly as good. I normally suggest the G2 series, but not when budget is a factor (i.e. not on budget rigs). The B2 will perform very well. It's made by Super Flower and comes with a five year warranty (register it).

Fair enough, Super Flower is excellent.

 

[shelaker]

I bought a Windows 8 license, so I should be good there. Is somewhere around $50 adequate for a aftermarket cooler? I guess I would like to keep it on the quiet side. I plan on putting in a few fans eventually as well, so I plan on setting up some type of fan controller or whatever. I agree on the power suppy concept of 800 watts. Definately want more than less.
So would something like a $150 video card be worth using? Also, I've kinda heard that the R9's are really good. I'm not exactly sure what it means, though, or if its in my price bracket or what.

 

[frag06]

I bought a Windows 8 license, so I should be good there. Is somewhere around $50 adequate for a aftermarket cooler? I guess I would like to keep it on the quiet side. I plan on putting in a few fans eventually as well, so I plan on setting up some type of fan controller or whatever. I agree on the power suppy concept of 800 watts. Definately want more than less.
So would something like a $150 video card be worth using? Also, I've kinda heard that the R9's are really good. I'm not exactly sure what it means, though, or if its in my price bracket or what.

A 212 EVO will do good, it's cheap but effective.

The 280 I linked would be a good card. You'll get high - ultra settings, depending on the game. A 280X would be better, for about the same price.

 

[Kohwali]

If you have the budget, I'd recommend this build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($126.00 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Killer ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($189.25 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDR-209DBK Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $816.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-07 22:15 EST-0500

You'll want a good power supply especially for a Crossfire setup (you said you're interested in one in the future). So I still suggest the EVGA G2 850W. Read JonnyGURU's review because he certainly knows a lot more about PSUs than me and he rated it 9.9/10. He does stress tests and stuff: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=377

I own a Phantom 410 and it has excellent airflow. Great build quality and it comes with good case fans. I'd recommend it.

Switched to low profile 1600 RAM because its more convenient and there's no performance increase in gaming when going above 1600/1866. There's actually a decrease: http://youtu.be/dWgzA2C61z4

 

[shelaker]

I looked at the power supply links you suggested, and I'm pretty sold. They look really awesome.
I have considered going intel, but I plan on building a video editing pc in the near future, and am going to go intel on that one. I plan on spending a lot of money on that one. ($2000 basic setup, which is a lot of money to me.) When I do my Intel build, its going to be a total different mindset than this build. Basically, I want my son to have a computer he can use as a sort of a media pc and do some gaming like Skyrim and Destiny when it comes out. And do some normal computer stuff like some photo editing, simple video editing, youtube, netflix, etc.
He's 10, so I am gonna put a couple light up fans and stuff in there too, to make it look cool. Any ideas about that would be appreciated as well.

 

[Kohwali]

I'd love to help with your $2K build! I'm hoping to do a build in that price range sometime in the near future, so I do the most research for components in that price range! When do you plan on doing that build?

As for LEDs, Linus likes the Bitfenix Alchemy lighting strips, here's a video from him: http://youtu.be/jcYqwkyAHYw

The Corsair AF120/140 LED fans are good case fans you should consider: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=corsair%20af%20led