Need help with first build.

[Rogue_S1]

I have a list of parts at http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xFwjCJ that I am working on. This will be my first build. I wanted to use a Intel 4690K cpu and an Asus Maximus miniITX but the cpu voltage wasn't high enough to reach max RAM speed for the motherboard. I then switched to an AM3+ processor but there are no miniITX AM3+ motherboards. If someone could point out a good AM3+ microATX motherboard and processor that would be awesome. Also a different case, I don't really want to use the bitfenix prodigy. I'm also going to dual boot windows and OS X, maybe android and iOS. Any other comments and suggestions are very welcome.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Let's take a step backwards. What do you want to use the system for and why does it matter that you cannot get to 3000Mhz on memory. 2400Mhz is likely to be plenty. If you are relying on the note from PCPartpicker about CPU voltage and memory, that can be overcome manually by XMP tuning.

Here's how you could get to 2800Mhz on that board. http://rog.asus.com/305032014/overclocking/video-guide-how-to-overclock-to-2800mhz-ddr3-with-a-maximus-vi-motherboard/

 

[Rogue_S1]

The computer is for gaming. I don't play very demanding games but I am hoping to be able to play No Man's Sky and a few others so yeah...

I agree that 2400 is a good speed, that's my standard. Unfortunateley the highest speed on that mobo that was compatible with the CPU was 2133. The reason for the high speed is that if I'm going to get a board with that capability I want to use it and for $200 that's especially true.

I know it's possible to adjust voltage but I heard that it shortens the lifespan of the CPU, not sure where I heard that but... Anyway, I don't want to spend 200 on a mobo so I switched to AMD

 

[DonkeyOatie]

It's your money, so you get to make your choices. Just like we do not measure cars by r.p.m. alone, we do not measure processors by Ghz. There are reasons to choose AMD processors, but the ability to run 2400Mhz memory is not one of the for a gaming system.

An APU like the one you have selected is improved by faster memory because it uses the system memory for graphics too. That will not be the case in your system because you have a separate discrete GPU that will handle all the graphics. There is no point getting and APU if you plan to add a powerful discrete GPU. You would be better served starting with an Athlon X4 860K.

This is a more powerful build that will play games better, using an Intel processor.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($178.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($96.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VX228H 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($139.99 @ Best Buy)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($27.87 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($58.00 @ Amazon)
Headphones: Corsair H1500 7.1 Channel Headset ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $999.62
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-14 05:12 EDT-0400

AMD based

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($72.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.95 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($94.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VX228H 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($139.99 @ Best Buy)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($27.87 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($58.00 @ Amazon)
Headphones: Corsair H1500 7.1 Channel Headset ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $962.68
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-14 05:16 EDT-0400

For the gaming you want to do, you do not need 16Gb or memory.

 

[Rogue_S1]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dcwcvK
I've come up with another part list, how is it?
Could you find something on over clocking the RAM on this board.
Thanks

 

[Rogue_S1]

I already knew about the APU being useless while using a GPU but I figured I could buy the GPU later and still be able to use the computer.
There is actually a way to combine AMD integrated graphics withwith the AMD GPU. I think its a program.

On your AMD list that's the mobo I kept ending up with, over and over. The problem with it is there aren't enough fan connectors and I couldn't find a case and fan controller I liked.

I want to have lots of power so that I don't have to upgrade for a while and I am keeping my first build forever. It's history!

I am planning to do video editing and rendering and I don't want to have to upgrade the RAM later. Also, I would like to do overclocking so I need that K model processor in my new list. If you can suggest another CPU that has a better stable OC I'll see about it. Or if you could suggest an awesome AMD FX series CPU with good overclocking and also a good motherboard that has at least 2400 RAM I would consider that.

Is the GPU good on this list? http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dcwcvK
Or should I go with the one on your AMD list.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Here's a forward looking mATX based system.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($226.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.95 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M OC Formula Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($140.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Fan Controller: BitFenix Recon (Black) Fan Controller ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VX228H 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($139.99 @ Best Buy)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($27.87 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($61.49 @ Amazon)
Headphones: Corsair H1500 7.1 Channel Headset ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1168.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-14 19:11 EDT-0400

mini-ITX systems will all have too few fan headers for you. This build includes a great digital fan controller.

There are no mini-ITX or mATX boards that I would use to overclock a FX 8320. (or any other FX chip)

 

[Rogue_S1]

Thanks so much for your help! I decided on this for my build. Here it is:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TgT7Q7
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TgT7Q7/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 45.0 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($0.00)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Cooling MX4 4g Thermal Paste ($0.00)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII GENE Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($120.00)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($0.00)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($88.00)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($0.00)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($0.00)
Case: Corsair 350D Window MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($75.00)
Power Supply: Corsair RM 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($100.00)
Total: $602.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-02 01:47 EST-0500

All the parts with $0 I am going to buy later but I've gotten everything else except the processor. Here is some more about my build, don't know if you might want to read it, it's on my site.
some stuff 'bout my build
about the parts, slightly outdated
My Dad is taking forever buying the last part even thought it's my money he's using. I'll link a post when the rig is fully operational
Thanks again

 

[DonkeyOatie]

Thanks for the feedback It's always good to hear for new builders. Here's something to look through. What we do at school.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2625445/build-log-consolidated-middle-school-builds.html

 

[Rogue_S1]

Yeah, I'm in high school, not middle school. I know my way around a computer. I just needed to know a way to OC the processor to make the RAM work because it was cheaper than getting 2133 RAM.

 

[DonkeyOatie]

A simple overclock is straight forward and we do that at school too .

 

[Rogue_S1]

A simple overclock is straight forward and we do that at school too .

yup, thats why I picked the first reply as the solution