Is this a good build?

[ptrelka]

Here is the build http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3G1n6 I was just wondering if there was any way to improve this build at all while keeping at or below the price it is now. Also, what do you guys think of reddit softwareswap? Is it trustworthy? Cause a $20 OS sounds good. also how big of a flash drive do you need to fit windows 8.1 on to? since i would like to get a OS code from reddit softwarswap, put it onto the usb drive, then install the OS to the pc. Lastly the adapter will have room to go into the mobo right?

 

[AMD Radeon]

yes it is, you but didnt include psu
i changed some parts

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($53.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($55.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $535.95
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-08 01:41 EDT-0400)

 

[lunyone]

It's okay, but the Mobo could be an issue, because it might need a BIOS update before you could use it with the FX 6300 (which means that you'd need a different CPU just to install the newer BIOS onto the Mobo, which means buying another CPU just to do this). Also you forgot to have a PSU in the build. So here is what I'd consider with similar parts from your build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($106.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($55.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $585.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-08 01:42 EDT-0400)

If you want to keep close to the $500-ish price range, here is another option:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($79.50 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus A88XM-A Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($77.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($55.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $525.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-08 01:46 EDT-0400)

 

[ptrelka]

forgot to mention that i already have a psu. Thank you though. So what do you guys think of r/ softwareswap? and what are the chances i will need an updated bios?

 

[ptrelka]

Also, to update my bios i would need another cpu?

 

[lunyone]

I'm not so sure about the software swap idea. It sounds too good to be true and I personally wouldn't trust it, IMHO. As far as the Mobo is concerned, I don't know if it will need an update to run your CPU, but is a possible concern. I just don't like recommending the 970 chipset for the 6300 CPU. The 990x or 990 FX chipsets are much better, IMHO. It's up to you, but that is what I would be concerned with.