Thoughts on gaming build -- Crossfire eventually

vinchinzo

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Mar 3, 2014
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Let me know your thoughts on this set up and what you would change or have done differently. Also if you were stuck with these parts, what wold your upgrade path be? CPU first? Another GPU? Watercooling? etc.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/33p7t
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/33p7t/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/33p7t/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($154.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper N520 43.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($41.16 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($134.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($92.42 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($63.73 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($509.98 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($95.61 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 1200W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($235.04 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($104.10 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1462.23
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 12:18 EST-0500)

Thanks for any comments.
 

animal

Distinguished
Even though you are looking at a CrossFire setup eventually, your PSU is oversized. A setup using two 280X's only requires ~ 900W according to here:

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

However, their recommendations do not take any overclocking into account, so since it appears you will be oc'ing, I suggest adding 50-100W onto their recommended wattage. Additionally, go with a quality PSU from a top tier company such as Seasonic, XFX, Corsair (except their CX series) or Antec. Also, there are better CPU coolers out there than the one you selected, it just depends on how hard you plan to overclock and how much you are willing to pay.
 

vinchinzo

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Mar 3, 2014
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4,510
Just found this site - http://www.hardocp.com/ - and read up on what you said about the top tier PSU and this Thermatake being not one of them. Thanks for the advice. I should be able to exchange it for this one which I am thinking is better/cheap for eventual 2x crossfire. I was looking to 3x with this 1250 but quality over trying to future proof too much I guess. Thanks again for the reply.

Review on my original PSU
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/12/15/thermaltake_toughpower_grand_1200w_psu_review/9

Any thoughts on this one as a replacement?
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/11/30/corsair_hx1050_1050_watt_power_supply_review/9



 

tcb1005

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Feb 11, 2014
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18,860


That is a great PSU. Also look at what Seasonic offers.