Budget build gaming PC Parts list and RAM questions.

KiL3MaNjAr0W

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Sep 27, 2016
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This is my first post here so if it's in the wrong location I apologize. So, this will be my first build outside of a college classroom setting (A+) and I'm on a budget so if I mess anything up I don't really have the money to replace my screw up immediately. Essentially my first question is about my parts list as a whole http://pcpartpicker.com/list/fwpNzM I feel I have selected the best available parts that come in around my budget of $1000, are there any suggestions as to anything I should consider replacing on that list? Secondly, I have selected 1333 RAM instead of an OC 1866 because even though my mobo will support 1866 from what I have read the FX series processors have a native 1333 memory controller an that I must first boot the system with a stick of old/alternative ram enter BIOS change the settings to 1.7V and 1866 then shut down the system and then insert the new sticks. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this, if this was correct, if I could boot with the 1866 stick in initially and they would clock at 1333 until I changed the settings or if I would be stuck in some kind of boot loop? That's pretty much it, any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions are all welcomed and I'm hoping to be ordering parts this Friday... Thanks Ladies and Gents.
 
Solution
Current AMD AM3+ CPUs can hold their own in gaming but fall behind in apps. Skylake is definitely better overall performance right now.

However, AMD Zen is right around the corner and looks to be much more competitive. If you prefer AMD and can wait til Q1 2017, AMD will have better options to offer at that time.

Current AM3+ platform is simply aging out. I prefer AMD myself, but would not recommend it at this time.
45$ over budget but worth it

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($198.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte G1.Sniper B7 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: GeIL EVO POTENZA 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Intel 540s 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.71 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC GAMING Video Card ($404.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($80.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1044.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-09-27 14:07 EDT-0400

generally I'd stay away from the FX series and spoiling money on a liquid cooler
also no need to spend 1000$ on outdated tech like DDR3 RAM or a Radeon R9 300 series
also you won't need 4 additional case fans. if temps aren't satisfactury, get one additional fan, preferably by Noctua or bequiet
 
since you have the water cooler might as well go overclock.

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/list/CDsspb) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/list/CDsspb/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/gx648d/intel-cpu-bx80662i56600k) | $239.99 @ Newegg
**CPU Cooler** | [LEPA AquaChanger 240 103.6 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/hQ7CmG/lepa-cpu-cooler-lpwac240hf) | $73.99 @ Newegg
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z170MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/m6RFf7/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz170mxgaming5) | $135.66 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/ydCrxr/gskill-memory-f42400c15d16grr) | $68.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [SK hynix SL308 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/w6DzK8/sk-hynix-sl308-500gb-25-solid-state-drive-hfs500g32tnd-n1a2a) |-
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/7RKhP6/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1060-6gb-windforce-oc-6g-video-card-gv-n1060wf2oc-6gd) | $249.00 @ Amazon
**Case** | [NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/tD38TW/nzxt-case-cas340wbr1) | $80.98 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/qYTrxr/evga-power-supply-220g20550y1) | $90.98 @ Newegg
**Case Fan** | [Corsair Air Series AF120 Red 52.2 CFM 120mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/ZFzv6h/corsair-case-fan-co9050015rled) | $16.80 @ Amazon
**Case Fan** | [Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/YLtCmG/corsair-case-fan-co9050017rled) | $12.99 @ Newegg
**Case Fan** | [Corsair SP120 57.2 CFM 120mm Fans](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/bVtCmG/corsair-case-fan-co9050029ww) | $32.44 @ Amazon
**Case Fan** | [Corsair SP120 57.2 CFM 120mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/product/JTvRsY/corsair-case-fan-co9050019ww) | $12.79 @ Newegg
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| **Total** | **$1006.61**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2016-09-27 14:33 EDT-0400 |
 

KiL3MaNjAr0W

Reputable
Sep 27, 2016
358
0
4,960
Okay so now looking at these part lists you guys have compiled, why the dislike of AMD processors? If I'm not mistaken only the I7s offer their hyper-threading feature right, so aren't I really getting more out of a more competitively priced CPU out of the 6350? Yes, I know they are louder and produce more heat but that's why I went with the liquid cooling to offset that. As to the 380x it's been out for a year, should I really not even consider it an option? I was looking to keep the GPU around the $200-$250 price range, I see the 1060 does that but hasn't that been out a year or more as well as having two predecessors now, what makes it a better option? And my last inquiry is about the DDR4, I know it's going to produce higher speeds, lower voltage, less heat but at what noticeable cost to return? It seems DDR4 is more of a luxury item at the moment when $1000 is more of my ceiling and I'd prefer to come in under budget than over and DDR4 being more beginning of life rather than DDR3 being complete end of life.

As a note about the case fans on my list. The AF140 and AF120 are exhaust fans while the three SP120's are intakes, two to replace the stock fans on the radiator and a third for the internal facing side of the radiator, I cant run for four fans on the radiator in the NZXT S340 because the cable management bar blocks the fourth internal fan on the top.
 
Current AMD AM3+ CPUs can hold their own in gaming but fall behind in apps. Skylake is definitely better overall performance right now.

However, AMD Zen is right around the corner and looks to be much more competitive. If you prefer AMD and can wait til Q1 2017, AMD will have better options to offer at that time.

Current AM3+ platform is simply aging out. I prefer AMD myself, but would not recommend it at this time.
 
Solution
the 1060 was released in July. The 1070, 1080 are not replacements those are the next two tiers up in performance.

nvidia generations go by the first number. So the current 10xx series is the replacement of the 9xx series. The 2nd set of number represents its tier in relationship to each other from 50 (weakest) to 80 (best).

The price between DDR3 and DDR4 is is essentially equal now.

More cores and more Ghz does not equal better performance when compared across generations and brands. Skylake is two generations newer, plus the already inherent Intel single core superiority over AMD which fell behind years ago. It simply completes more tasks per cycle than the current AMD CPUs do, so even with fewer cores it still gets more done. The one exception would be for any job that actually uses all cores at once in parallel (like video rendering).