First Computer Build, Advice Needed

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LILWHITETRASH

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Mar 16, 2013
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Hey guys, i am going to be building my first computer this summer. I have been researching parts for about 2 months now and this is what I could find for my $900 budget. I want to build this computer to run battlefeild, far cry, minecraft, skyrim, ect. I plan to oc up to 4.5GHz. I also have an old optical drive that should work fine. I have a few questions too, Will the MB be able to pick up the FX chip, or will I need a newer BIOS?, Will my GPU be "good enough" or should I invest in a Nvidia? If you have any other advice for me i will gladly accept it. thanks a lot

-Drew

Case:

Rosewill R5 Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Case, comes with 2 x front fans, Fan Controller, USB2.0 & USB3.0 front ports, Removable top and lower front filter panels

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147161

Hard Drive:

Western Digital WD Blue WD10EZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

Motherboard:

ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131873

GPU:

SAPPHIRE 100355OCL Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card OC Version

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102999

PSU:

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

CPU:

AMD FX-8350 Vishera 4.0GHz (4.2GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Eight-Core Desktop Processor FD8350FRHKBOX

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284

Memory:

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBXL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455

Water Cooling:

CORSAIR Hydro Series H55 Quiet CPU Coolers

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181029
 
Solution
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Assuming you don't need an optical drive since you didn't list one:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($135.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case:...
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stickmansam

stickmansam

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I would do some minor tweaks to get more graphics perf

AMD build
Get a decent air cooler rather an a AIO liquid cooling unit
Even put in an SSD if a tad bit over $900
7950 Boost

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($189.13 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.84 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Sandisk 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $908.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-16 22:06 EDT-0400)
 
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realchaos

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Assuming you don't need an optical drive since you didn't list one:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($135.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $895.79
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-16 22:08 EDT-0400)
FX-8350 + 990board + hyper 212 evo = Easy 4.5ghz, can probably go up to 4.8-5ghz.
NZXT Phantom is a really nice case, but you could switch it out for any case you like, it's your tastes not mine.
A nice psu to run this set-up and allow overclocking, but it won't allow crossfire.
Sapphire 7950 is cheap and provides great performance.
 
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maxalge

maxalge

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May 31, 2012
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.69 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($97.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($47.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $864.60
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-16 22:15 EDT-0400)


Much better rig, especially for skyrim and minecraft.

 
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ARICH5

ARICH5

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you wont be building this till summer? i wouldnt set that budget in stone. prices fluctuate and new tech is introduced in that time.

i just p[urchased my 7770 and had a facepalm moment when i read that the new 7790 is coming in april.
 
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CarolKarine

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until the next-gen console ports start coming out, seeing as both the new box and PS4 will have 8 cores (AMD 8 cores at that), devs will come to expect higher core counts, meaning much nicer optimization for multi-core.

I don't see intel's CPU dominance continuing for long - unless they can drop down to something below 22nm within the next 2 years... unless AMD is serious about it no longer thinking a speed race is necessary.

speculation aside, this is the best build I see:

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($135.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($269.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $895.79

realchaos's post above beat me too it, although I'd say get a cheaper mobo than that (no need to go above 100 USD unless you need something special) and a gigabyte or sapphire 7950. both are very good - I just prefer gigabyte's cooler.

if you get a cheaper mobo and an FX 6300 instead of the FX 8350, you might be able to squeeze a decent size SSD in there (but of course, this isn't crucial) the FX 6300 is my processor (and 2 of my friends's) and I am very satisfied with it. I see no reason to go to intel.

damn, when did RAM get expensive?
 
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realchaos

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A FX-6300 is a nice, cheaper cpu. With the FX-8350, he could potentially get a 970board and overclock to 4.5ghz easily, but with a fx-6300 he won't be able to get to 4.5ghz without a 990board. For some reason, RAM is increasing now. Average prices for 8gb went from $50 to 60 in a month. Not sure what's going on there.
 
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LILWHITETRASH

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Hey guys thanks so much for all of the replies and feedback. I have been thinking and I want to do an amd build. I will deffently look into a better graphics card. I am not too familiar with motherboards. When reading reviews some people say that their boards do not come with the BIOS to support the fx series. Should this be a concern of mine?
 
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realchaos

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Most boards should support it now. Since you're planning to overclock, grab a 970 or 990 motherboard. The 990 motherboard overclocks better but if you're getting a fx-8350, a 970 board can get to 4.5ghz easily. If you're getting the FX-6300, I would suggest a 990 motherboard if you still want 4.5ghz. If you're fine wtih 4ghz, a 970 board is fine. All 970/990 should support the Vishera by now.
 
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stickmansam

stickmansam

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You can flash the bios without any issues
The board may or may not support out fot he box, it is a newer bios revision that is required but may ship with it from the factory now

970 is pretty good with OC, chip set doesn't influence OC too much

From ASUS website for the m5a97
"USB BIOS Flashback offers the most convenient way to flash the BIOS ever! It allows overclockers to try new UEFI BIOS versions easily, without even entering their existing BIOS or operating system. It even works without key components such as the CPU and memory installed. Just plug in any USB storage and push the dedicated button for 3 seconds. The UEFI BIOS is automatically flashed using ATX standby power. Worry-free updating for the ultimate convenience!"

AMD can upgrade to steamrooler in the fall too :)

 
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