Help with ~800USD amd gpu build (heavily upgradable)(no OS/moniter)

[snooze107]

Spent some time scraping some parts together. Didn't check around for better prices on my parts. Making this for a friend, and I want it to be very easily upgradable in the future(better CPU/crossfire). Also have no idea about the CPU cooler. Planning to buy as I have the final build.

CASE: NZXT Source 210 Elite

MOBO: ASRock Z97 Extreme3

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258

COOLER: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO

RAM: G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1600

HDD: WD Blue 1tb

PSU: EVGA 80+ Gold 850W
ALT PSU: EVGA 80+ Gold 1000W

GPU: SAPPHIRE Radeon R9 280x

 

[numanator]

If you are planning on CF r9 280x then 850w from a reliable brand is sufficient, if you only plan on having a single r9 280x in your build then a 650w PSU is good. This is a good one for 850w:

Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ NCIX US)

Much better quality than the Cougar and comes with a 10 yr warranty. There is also a 1kw version if you are adamant about getting 1000w.

 

[snooze107]

If you are planning on CF r9 280x then 850w from a reliable brand is sufficient, if you only plan on having a single r9 280x in your build then a 650w PSU is good. This is a good one for 850w:

Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ NCIX US)

Much better quality than the Cougar and comes with a 10 yr warranty. There is also a 1kw version if you are adamant about getting 1000w.

Power consumption is a weak point of mine in part picking, so I tend to go high. I'll add that psu, and it gives me the money to add a Cooler Master Hyper Evo 212.

E: Newegg page recommends 1000W for that card in crossfire. If I bother with rebates I can still pick up the cooler within budget.

 

[numanator]

Manufacturers PSU recommendations are always based on people buying junk power supplies that don't ouptut how much they are supposed to, not an issues with the PSU posted.

Actual usage for a r9 280x is 200-260w Max (overclocked, stress tested)

So 2x r9 280x = 500w

CPU usage overclocked (assuming a i5 4690k, G3258 should be less) = 125w-150w

Brings you up to 650w for CF r9 280x but a rule of thumb (for me) is to run the PSU at les than 80% for max efficiency and longevity

650w/0.8= 812.5w

850w is perfect for this. The numbers I used are based on actual power consumption tests that toms hardware and other reliable reviews have run.

Edit: for a mild overclock the Cooler Master 212 Evo is a great choice ($30), for something more hefty the Noctua NH-D14 or D15 are amazing but huge (not sure if they would fit in the 210 Elite).

Also this is a great case for around the same price (after rebate) and should fit either the D14 or D15 if you went with them.

Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)