Build Analysis Request: Old Guy Semi-Gamer

[northtexas55693]

I've been running the same build for coming on 7 years now. It has served me well, but performance has been going downhill recently and I think its time for a new build.

I've put together a build (see below) that I think will meet my needs for the next 5+ years.

My needs:

1) As much ability for future upgrade of processor socket, graphics card(s), RAM
2) Quick startup/wake up from computer sleep
2) Quick file transfer speeds from SSD to HDD and from USB 3 phone and external HDD to SSD's
3) Power efficiency
4) Quicker loads of software (excel, word, outlook, GIS, Mozilla (12 tabs on homepage))

I'm not a dedicated gamer, but I do game about 5-15 hrs / 7 days so I don't need multiple GPU's

I am more worried about having a system that runs with snap while drawing just enough power to keep it all running healthfully.



CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($163.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($118.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Intel 530 Series 180GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.95 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F1 DT 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($172.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO ATX Desktop Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($105.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Full (32/64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
Case Fan: Cougar Vortex PWM 70.5 CFM 120mm Fan (Purchased For $0.00)
Case Fan: Cooler Master Megaflow 110.0 CFM 200mm Fan (Purchased For $0.00)
Case Fan: Rosewill RFA-120-K 74.5 CFM 120mm Fan (Purchased For $0.00)
Case Fan: Rosewill RFA-120-K 74.5 CFM 120mm Fan (Purchased For $0.00)
Fan Controller: Lamptron FC-FC2-B Fan Controller (Purchased For $0.00)
Monitor: Dell U2412M 60Hz 24.0" Monitor (Purchased For $0.00)
Monitor: Asus MT276HE 27.0" Monitor (Purchased For $0.00)
Keyboard: SHARKOON Skiller Wired Gaming Keyboard (Purchased For $0.00)
Mouse: Logitech G9x Wired Laser Mouse (Purchased For $0.00)
Speakers: Creative Labs Inspire S2 33W 2.1ch Speakers (Purchased For $0.00)
Other: Maxtor OneTouch 250GB External HD (Purchased)
Total: $861.60
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-04 12:05 EST-0500

Samsung 850 EVO will be for OS and games/programs
Kingston and Intel SSD's will be for "non important" file storage

Thanks for your input.

 

[logainofhades]

If you care about upgrading the CPU, don't bother with AMD. AM3+ is a dead platform. Intel's 1150 socket isn't far behind, as skylake will be out, I believe this summer. Weeded out, the best I could, everything you had marked as purchased, and changed parts that you have yet to purchase. This would be a far better setup, for the money spent.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($187.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Xtreem Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($75.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $857.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-04 12:25 EST-0500

 

[northtexas55693]

Thanks for your reply and the info on the socket phaseouts.
What socket from Intel or AMD might have the best chance of surviving in the next 5 yrs?

Thank you also for paring down my list that was my master list that I should have slimmed down

I like the build you put together here with two exceptions that may or may not be overcome.

1) I don't care for ASRock boards. Several of my "real gamer" friends fear them like the black plague and I have been told to stay away.
2) I feel like going $310 on a GC would be a waste of money for me. It would provide a large amount of "future proofing" but I would rather go around $150-$175 now for a good one, and several years later buy another $150-$175 card. I've run a GTS 250 for 7 years I can handle a less than top notch card

I chose the R9 280 (recommended in another thread I started) because it has the highest bandwidth/ram/clock speed/processor cores/price.

 

[logainofhades]

I own a P67 Extreme4 and a Z77 Extreme4. Intel is your better choice. FX 8350 is already 2+yrs old. GPU matters most in gaming. Since you are more concerned about CPU, than CPU, for longevity sake, here is another option for you. This will give you i7 4770 performance, for not much more than a 4690k. Changed the motherboard too, due to your concern with Asrock.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($242.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($93.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Xtreem Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Tri-X Video Card ($243.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($75.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($52.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $863.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-04 14:08 EST-0500

 

[northtexas55693]

Awesome. Thanks for the input. I'll do more research now.