Early adapter syndrome: Help with my FX-8350 setup

[ocmusicjunkie]

So I really am thinking that it's time to move on from the X4 965 processors that I am running in my two current desktops. Looking at a new build, but need to have someone look over this list of proposed parts and help fill in a couple of blanks. Mostly am worried about the power requirement of an overclocked CPU and GPU here...

Case: Thermaltake Commander Snow
Mobo: Asus M5A99X-Evo
PSU: Seasonic M12II 620w (already have it sitting here if usable)
CPU: FX-8350
GPU: Asus HD7870 (not looking to go much above this pricepoint on GPU...)
Memory: (suggestions welcome for brand/model 4x4gb of 1866mhz memory)
Cooer: Xigmatek Gaia with push/pull config
Fans: (suggestions for five HIGH flow 120mm fans for push/pull, front, rear, top?)

I think that's everything-

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the week

Budget Range:Lets keep it reasonable; not looking to spend top dollar for diminished returns, but am open here.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: This one is being built for fun, but will end up overlapping both my video/image editing machine and all the normal home desktop duties. Am thinking about getting into gaming, but haven't really went that road yet. Mostly want to build this to kick the tires on the new hardware.

Parts to Upgrade: Fresh build

Do you need to buy OS: Maybe?

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon

Location: Orange County, CA

Parts Preferences: Asus, Seasonic

Overclocking: Yes- will be maxing out the new CPU

SLI or Crossfire: Not planned

 

[Poltregeist]

You should be good with that power supply, unless you overclock that 8350 to 5Ghz, which in that case I would get an XFX 750W. Also for the GPU, try the XFX 7870, its $230 before and $210 after rebates, with a lifetime warranty! 😀 (On Newegg, try there you get GREAT deals + combos) Try G.SKILL RAM, they are very popular and well priced. Try their Ripjaws X series if you have the clearance (not using an high end CPU cooler, which I recommend the Noctua D14 for due to how hot the FX series gets, especially overclocked). If not, try their Ares series, low profile and very good performers. Any fan for your case will work out fine, just avoid CM, I think that Xigmatek makes great case fans with amazing air flow for their silent nature.

 

[g-unit1111]

Heres a nice start

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lieU
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lieU/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/lieU/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100 92.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $709.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

What are you doing for storage? Optical drive? Also the noctua d14 is a solid choice too almost as cool as the h100 alot quieter.

Why would you get an H100 and 16GB of RAM on that kind of budget? No. Drop that and put that money in a better GPU.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $905.39
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[g-unit1111]

because he could use the higher overclock and thus higher cpu performance they provide more than he can the extra gpu power, of which the 7870 provides PLENTY.

Yeah but a 970 motherboard can't overclock as high as the 990FX, can it? If that's what you're going for I would not invest the money in the H100 and put that in a better motherboard.

 

[g-unit1111]

With all things else equal no, and that is certainly a worthy 20 dollar upgrade. However 990fx w/ nh-u9 will not reach anything REMOTELY close to 970+h100

I'm of the belief that if you're going to use liquid cooling, use a real radiator or don't use it at all. The thing about the H100 is that the fans included are very loud and very poorly constructed, and they wind up being replaced with Noctua fans anyways - and that can get very expensive. I don't advise people to buy something that requires you to buy other parts in order to make it work properly, that's never a good way to do things.

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

Wow, thanks for the help so far guys. I really appreciate it. For the record, does anyone actually know what an overclocked 8350 is estimated to consume under load? That might help me decide on the PSU, but even moreso, it might give me an idea if the Gaia cooler will be enough- it keeps my 4.3ghz Phenom 965 at acceptable temps, but I don't know if we're talking the same ~200w range or something way higher.

I definitely am going to use a 990-series mobo... the M5A97 I have right now really taught me a lesson on how much more work goes into a stable overclock when you skimp on the mobo. Same as for why I want memory that's rated at least 1866mhz at 1.5v- it just gives enough headroom for overclocking both the base frequency and multiplier without trying to do some ridiculous RAM timings.

I should have mentioned- I am planning to have the OS/apps on a 256gb Samsung 830 or Plextor M5S; I'm yet to decide which looks to be a better device. Probably will throw in a WD Caviar Blue 1tb for storage- or even just a 500gb considering how much redundant data backup I end up doing externally anyway. Optical drive I might actually opt to add a Pioneer BD-R burner of the same model I use now. It's just so nice to be able to move 25gb of data on a $1 disc.

I keep seeing deals on the GTX 560ti graphics cards- considering I am okay now with a HD 6870, I am really okay with anything that is on par or above that level, unless the difference between a $165 card and $225 card is now 100% on paper.....

 

[g-unit1111]

I definitely am going to use a 990-series mobo... the M5A97 I have right now really taught me a lesson on how much more work goes into a stable overclock when you skimp on the mobo. Same as for why I want memory that's rated at least 1866mhz at 1.5v- it just gives enough headroom for overclocking both the base frequency and multiplier without trying to do some ridiculous RAM timings.

The one thing you have to keep in mind too is the voltages on AMD motherboards and CPUs can be very tricky to deal with. I got a 1055T and an 870 board and wound up frying the board because the voltages didn't match.

I should have mentioned- I am planning to have the OS/apps on a 256gb Samsung 830 or Plextor M5S; I'm yet to decide which looks to be a better device. Probably will throw in a WD Caviar Blue 1tb for storage- or even just a 500gb considering how much redundant data backup I end up doing externally anyway. Optical drive I might actually opt to add a Pioneer BD-R burner of the same model I use now. It's just so nice to be able to move 25gb of data on a $1 disc.

You can't go wrong with either SSD - the Samsung 830 is excellent and the Plextor M5S is excellent as well.

I keep seeing deals on the GTX 560ti graphics cards- considering I am okay now with a HD 6870, I am really okay with anything that is on par or above that level, unless the difference between a $165 card and $225 card is now 100% on paper.....

Neither one are worth purchasing at this point as the Radeon 7850 - which beats them both - is currently hovering around the ~$195 range. Some even have rebates which puts it on par with the $165 560TI.

 

[g-unit1111]

The gaia might not be compatible with AM3+ thats the first thing to check. THat being said it would probably enough to get you by but if you want to crank on the overclock there are plenty of good cheaper options. Like the coolermaster v8 or hpc 812 or noctua c12.

It'll work with AM3 no problem but there's better coolers you could go with. I seriously hate Xigmatek coolers - the Gaia has lots of tiny parts that are very easily lost and hooking the fans into the heat sink is beyond frustrating. Not to mention the fan includes incredibly cheap thermal compound. The Hyper 212 is a far better value in that regard.

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

It'll work with AM3 no problem but there's better coolers you could go with. I seriously hate Xigmatek coolers - the Gaia has lots of tiny parts that are very easily lost and hooking the fans into the heat sink is beyond frustrating. Not to mention the fan includes incredibly cheap thermal compound. The Hyper 212 is a far better value in that regard.

If anyone is going to build a rig with literally the newest CPU on the market- well, I would say that not planning on buying a tube of A5S or similar quality TC would be the definition of cutting corners. 😀

In all seriousness though, I only mention the Gaia because it's on sale for $20 at Newegg, I already have experience of installing one and it's really just a platform for me to throw two higher power 120mm fans onto. That said, I imagine that there are many better coolers out there, and it would probably be wise to get something with a bit more solid reputation for being able to handle heavy loads. Although, I don't see how the 212 Evo would (speaking from a design standpoint) offer much more efficiency. I would imagine that if I am going to look at CM coolers, I would probably go with whatever their flagship model is at the moment (which I will have to check their site for after I finish typing this).

@jrgong: Does that SSD use a Sandforce or Marvell controller? I was looking at the Samsung and Plextor after a long history of using Intel 330 and 520 drives just to compare the supposedly less evident performance deterioration with reduction in free space....

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

One more quick question. I suppose it should have been the preface to the entire post to begin with actually, but at any rate...

Just out of curiosity, using just the ballpark cost that this system will cost to build- would that same dollar figure buy me a better performing Intel system? Or am I still right in thinking that to build a ~80th percentile performance machine, AMD is still the more cost effective choice?

 

[redeemer]

H100 is amazing especially the newer models, the bad rep comes from the first generation. I hope you can clock the 8350 to 5.0ghz, that new Vishera chip is a beast and so cheap$$

 

[giltyler]

Vertex 4 uses INDILINX everest 2 controller
Fans look at Aerocool shark fans

 

[g-unit1111]

@jrgong: Does that SSD use a Sandforce or Marvell controller? I was looking at the Samsung and Plextor after a long history of using Intel 330 and 520 drives just to compare the supposedly less evident performance deterioration with reduction in free space....

Vertex 4 actually uses a new controller called Indilinx which is a variant of the controller used in the Crucial M4.

In all seriousness though, I only mention the Gaia because it's on sale for $20 at Newegg, I already have experience of installing one and it's really just a platform for me to throw two higher power 120mm fans onto. That said, I imagine that there are many better coolers out there, and it would probably be wise to get something with a bit more solid reputation for being able to handle heavy loads. Although, I don't see how the 212 Evo would (speaking from a design standpoint) offer much more efficiency. I would imagine that if I am going to look at CM coolers, I would probably go with whatever their flagship model is at the moment (which I will have to check their site for after I finish typing this).

I had one and it's now sitting on my desk as an expensive paper weight. After installing this thing I got CPU temperature read errors left and right, and finally lost a motherboard because of it. Almost lost the CPU too. I swapped it with a Hyper 212 and have been problem free ever since.

If anyone is going to build a rig with literally the newest CPU on the market- well, I would say that not planning on buying a tube of A5S or similar quality TC would be the definition of cutting corners. 😀

That's debatable. I think A5S is overrated myself, I'd rather go with a non-conductive MX-4, that's where you'll really get results!

 

[redeemer]

Oh AS5 is for noobs

 

[g-unit1111]

Oh AS5 is for noobs

Definitely. :lol:

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

Oh AS5 is for noobs

Okay so I know I'm missing some better thermal compounds, but one tube of AS5 has lasted so long I was a n00b when it was purchased 🙁

 

[chase3567]

Right now don't go with 970 extreme 4 motherboard. Having major problems with the bios overclock of the 8350. It has no problems running at defaults. When I was running a different bios version with my 6100 I had no problems with overclocking as I even went with a 1ghz oc over stock speed. When I change settings or attempt oc's the bios hangs and windows won't even load with the 8350. While it does run great at stock speeds we don't just buy it for the stock speeds(lol). So I'm gonna wait to see if there is another bios update in the coming weeks or maybe get a new motherboard in the 990 series. Btw I was running 2.2 bios with this board. *edit-- I was able to get a stable OC to 4.7 on this board and it runs very smooth and fast 🙂

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

Right now don't go with 970 extreme 4 motherboard. Having major problems with the bios overclock of the 8350.

I definitely am going with a higher-end mobo the more than I think about it. Actually, right now I am debating between the M5A99X-Evo, M5A99FX-Pro, or the Sabertooth 990FX. I don't know if anyone can speak to how much difference there would be between these three boards in terms of overclocking potential on a given CPU. I don't plan on using any PCI slots except for a single GPU, so in my case I won't see the benefit of differences to do with crossfire potential or the like.....

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

The Crosshair a great board from the specs and reviews, but that's going from the $130-$175 range of the three boards I was considering up to $220+..... having always built on budget boards regardless of other components, I guess I'm lost on determining the point of diminished returns when it comes to moving up the hierarchy of AM3+ boards. I know there is a definite purpose to going with a 990 board over a 970, but what is the actually difference in possible performance between a simple M5A99X-EVO and a Crosshair V Forumula Thunderbolt 990FX?

 

[ocmusicjunkie]

Freaking shipping delay on the CPU is killing me here. Aiya...

In the meanwhile, I keep going back to the Sabertooth 990fx and considering if it's worth the extra $45 over the M5A99X-Evo. The Sabertooth has the same power phasing as their Crosshair boards, from what I have read. It at least is a step forward from the 6+2 of the M5A99x or M5A99FX.....

 

[a39232]

I have a build that i just built of my fx 8350 cpu I might be able to help.

 

[a39232]

I'm using a h60 with 2 SP 120 mm corsair fans and on idle i get 34c but on full load I get about 54c I woud reccomend these fans with an H80 or antec 920 I think that would let you overclock well I have a ASUS Sabertooth 990fx R2.0 motherboard.