Building PC for college and 1080p gaming

[chattychad2]

So I want to get a computer for the next coming school year. Since this is my first time actually building a pc. Is there anything I should change with this build? Also, my friend suggested that if I wana go a bit cheaper I should go with the FX-6300 instead of the 8320 to save a few bucks, but is the performance loss worth the price reduction?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($154.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($125.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: AMD Radeon R9 Gamer Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($70.38 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($80.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($334.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Asus VX238H 23.0" Monitor ($157.58 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 39.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($24.15 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($19.11 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($19.11 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1241.22
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-26 10:17 EDT-0400)

 

[NiCoM]

The FX-8320 is great and i wouldn't replace it with the 6300 unless you can't afford the 8320.

If you're going for a silent pc (with all those silent fans), you shouldn't ruin it with a hefty 3-fan gpu cooler. Rather take the MSI GTX 770 GAMING, their cooler is one of the quietest at load & idle. It doesn't even cost you more than the gigabyte, and it's also way more popular (which normally is a good thing)
Link: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-n770tf2gd5oc

 

[chattychad2]

Is the MSI one really that much more silent? I read somewhere that they are both very silent. I picked the gigabyte one because I like the way it looks and I have read good reviews on it.

 

[RazerZ]

Looks great to me. Personally I would get cheaper fans and invest in a 750 or 850W PSU so you can sli the 770s later on. Also get the cheapest 770, they all perform around the same. Just make sure it's not the stock version.

 

[chattychad2]

I was planning on selling the 770 later to get a newer single gpu when I need to upgrade, do I still need a higher W PSU for that? And would you recommend PNY as a reliable company? Their stuff is the cheapest but I havent seen many reviews on them or their quality :/

 

[Zombie615]

If you are only going to be doing 1080P gaming there are a ton of cheaper options than what you have presented before us. First off you could go for a much cheaper CPU an still be able to run games like BF4 on Ultra if you choose the right GPU. Example would be the FX8150 which is only %15 less powerful than a brand new FX9590. Your GPU could also be knocked down a few to like the 760 or anything cheaper. That $300+ price tag for 1080p gaming is an overkill. I would do more research I know you could get a much cheaper build that would perform just as well at 1080p.

 

[RazerZ]

I was planning on selling the 770 later to get a newer single gpu when I need to upgrade, do I still need a higher W PSU for that? And would you recommend PNY as a reliable company? Their stuff is the cheapest but I havent seen many reviews on them or their quality :/

Oh well if you're planning on upgrading to a new gpu later on, the 620W will do fine. PNY is decent in my book, nothing wrong in going with them. But for $9 more you can't go wrong with the MSI GTX 770, it seems to have a better cooling system.

 

[Avenger Jason]

Hey RazerZ could you look at my recent thread and help me with anything?
That would be great. See ya later, gaming expert!

 

[RazerZ]

Hey RazerZ could you look at my recent thread and help me with anything?
That would be great. See ya later, gaming expert!

Sure, just pm me the link to your thread

 

[Avenger Jason]

ok

 

[chattychad2]

If you are only going to be doing 1080P gaming there are a ton of cheaper options than what you have presented before us. First off you could go for a much cheaper CPU an still be able to run games like BF4 on Ultra if you choose the right GPU. Example would be the FX8150 which is only %15 less powerful than a brand new FX9590. Your GPU could also be knocked down a few to like the 760 or anything cheaper. That $300+ price tag for 1080p gaming is an overkill. I would do more research I know you could get a much cheaper build that would perform just as well at 1080p.

I dont just want a budget build that can just play most games on ultra at 1080p. Sorry for not stating this in the first post but I dont plan on upgrading anytime soon, so I want my machine to last until then. I feel like the 770 and the 8320 is a good price for the performance that will last longer before I have to upgrade them.

 

[RazerZ]

If you are only going to be doing 1080P gaming there are a ton of cheaper options than what you have presented before us. First off you could go for a much cheaper CPU an still be able to run games like BF4 on Ultra if you choose the right GPU. Example would be the FX8150 which is only %15 less powerful than a brand new FX9590. Your GPU could also be knocked down a few to like the 760 or anything cheaper. That $300+ price tag for 1080p gaming is an overkill. I would do more research I know you could get a much cheaper build that would perform just as well at 1080p.

I dont just want a budget build that can just play most games on ultra at 1080p. Sorry for not stating this in the first post but I dont plan on upgrading anytime soon, so I want my machine to last until then. I feel like the 770 and the 8320 is a good price for the performance that will last longer before I have to upgrade them.

770 and the 8320 is a great combo, you can overclock the 8320 to speeds of an 8350. Also if you don't plan on adding a second video card, the 280x comes close to the 770 and saves you a few bucks as well.

 

[chattychad2]

Another question, since I wont be buying this desktop until the summer, do you suggest that I wait a while longer and get a 870 or just get a 770? And I heard that the I5 4670k for about the same price as the 8320 at microcenter so should I opt for that instead?

 

[4cloud]

Another question, since I wont be buying this desktop until the summer, do you suggest that I wait a while longer and get a 870 or just get a 770? And I heard that the I5 4670k for about the same price as the 8320 at microcenter so should I opt for that instead?

If you live near a Microcentre then definitely go for the i5 4670k over the 8320 fx! The difference in performance and longevity is grand. But along with that you'll need a different motherboard but keep the hyper 212. If you can wait another month or two that's when the new generation of intel CPUs first come out called haswell - e by then the price of all intel CPUs would drop and you could afford the i5 much easier.

 

[chattychad2]

So would this be good for an i5 build?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: AMD Radeon R9 Gamer Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($70.38 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($80.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Gunmetal/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($82.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Asus VS238H-P 23.0" Monitor ($134.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 39.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($24.15 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($19.11 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Quiet Edition 67.8 CFM 140mm Fan ($19.11 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1303.63
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-27 04:30 EDT-0400)

 

[4cloud]

The above Looks like a good build however I would change the RAM and the cabinet since your GPU will have a hard time fitting.

Hers just a suggestion:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3zkHk

If you live near Microcentre, they have the i5 for 50$ cheaper.

 

[RazerZ]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($126.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($80.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: AOC i2267Fw 60Hz 22.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1256.86
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-27 10:43 EDT-0400)

This is a better build for the money.

 

[Zombie615]

I'm assuming by parts list you have a genuine copy of an OS that you are going to be using with this system? If not I'd calculate in around another $100

 

[chattychad2]

Yes I do have an OS. And I don't know what features AMD GPUs have and have considered getting one, but I was pretty attracted to Nvidia because they have shadowplay and Geforce experience so I picked an 770 and got slightly better other parts. Is there any very good features that AMD GPUs have?

 

[4cloud]

Yes I do have an OS. And I don't know what features AMD GPUs have and have considered getting one, but I was pretty attracted to Nvidia because they have shadowplay and Geforce experience so I picked an 770 and got slightly better other parts. Is there any very good features that AMD GPUs have?

AMD GPUs have unlocked voltages so OCing them makes it easier. They have more VRAM which comes to advantage when one is playing heavily modded games and on multi monitors. They also have a higher bandwidth making them better at Anti aliasing, however NVidia has shadow play, inbuilt physx and have more pixel and texel rate which makes the visual effects and pictures more unreal, they also have TXAA.

 

[chattychad2]

Hmmm I think I will consider what the prices are during the summer and which to buy. Thank you for the information everyone, any other suggestions?

 

[bmwm3186]

Gtx 770 and r9 280x are both great cards the amd will have a slight advantage at 1440p gaming due to the extra vram. The 770 seems to perform better in most games at 1080p. Also check out the ASROCK FATAL1TY z87 mobo it has a ton of features for the price.

 

[chattychad2]

yeah but there is a asus gtx 770 for $300 so I think I'll be going with that. Thx for all the help guys