Help on an AMD build

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Many of you may know of me, anyway, I've decided to build an upper end AMD rig, it will be used in part to help people here on the forums with AMD rig problems as well as being a rig for use in my shop.....I'd like to ask what the community would suggest for a AMD rig, I'm specifically looking towards a AM3+ rig - CPU, Mobo, DRAM and GPU (AMD)....other like PSU, CPU cooler, etc will determined after the core components. Would like it to be versatile, i.e. can be OCed and if need be clocked down to imitate problem systems that come up. Would also appreciate comments as to why you chose the components you suggest.

Thanx
Tradesman1
 
Solution
Something like this then

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kvpbVn
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kvpbVn/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 4 79.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($81.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($102.98 @...
FX 6300
Because there are only 6 cores running you will have fewer heat issues when overclocking , and thus often very good headroom on even a modest cpu cooler like the Hyper 212

I dont believe its worth using FX for a multi gpu build . So a 970 series chip set board . Gigabyte make at least one model with decent power phases .
But having said that I can hit 4.8 Ghz on an Asrock 970 extreme4 with only 4 + 1 , if I turn my fans up to high . How long would it last? No idea , temps are good even at that speed
If you do use a more basic board the top choice would be ASUS M5A97 [ or if you can get one the M5A97 EVO ]

An R9 270x , GTX 760 , or because Im sure you will still get the full performance from one then use a GTX 970
 
Thanks for the input, was thinking an 8 core, to where I could disable cores if desired to emulate to a degree the 6 core CPUs, also a higher end GPU as it will be used for work also, probably primarily rendering and imaging type projects, should have mentioned that above
 
Something like this then

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kvpbVn
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kvpbVn/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Scythe Mugen 4 79.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($81.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $881.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-05 20:25 EDT-0400
 
Solution
990 and 970 are the same silicon . Some 970's may have disabled features . Others appear to be higher binned but sold at 970 spec . Asrock 970 extreme4 and the MSI G46 can both SLI at x8/ x8 on a 970 , which is theoretically impossible , but they do it anyway .

With an 990FX chipset board you can have x16/x16 graphics slots [ which would be the same total bandwidth as an intel board running pci-e x16 3.0 at x8/x8]
Then Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 $120
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a99fxpror20
The sabertooth is better . It also costs $60 more

I dont think there is a hardware difference between any of the octo-cores . Some people seem to think you can get slightly higher OC's with an 8320 than you can with an 8350 .Either way I wouldnt pay more for a higher clock when you can reset that yourself so easily .
The 8370e might be interesting though if lower power consumption is a requirement
 
That was sort of my thought, possibly the e model and have been looking at the Sabertooth as well as the Crosshair, just sort of looking for additional thoughts, I know I work on a lot of AMD rigs with troubleshooting/repairs and upgrades but seldom have one available for more than a couple or three hours at a time, but thinking it would be handy for helping others here and getting more in depth on them. The dual x18 is something else I should have mentioned (it's been a long.... day. 😉 )