Which CPU and Motherboard would you pair with an R9 290?

[dsquareddyson]

I'm gonna build my first PC for gaming. I don't want to go ALL out, but I don't want to be real cheap. I think that AMD applies best to me, since I'm on a relatively tight budget. What do you recommend?

 

[GRUxTSAR]

FX 8320 + Good 990FX board + Hyper 212 EVO so you can overclock it past an 8350

 

[CTurbo]

We REALLY need a budget in order to make the best choice. I don't recommend AMD at any price range though.

Also what about the rest of the parts?

 

[fudgecakes99]

Depends on the budget, and whether or not you have pre existing items that you don't need to re-buy.

 

[dsquareddyson]

We REALLY need a budget in order to make the best choice. I don't recommend AMD at any price range though.

Also what about the rest of the parts?

Well, I guess that my budget and all of the other parts all depend on what I need for this GPU. From the research I've done, I think that this level of GPU is what I am dedicated to buying. So, my price range is the least amount of money it takes to build a PC that WON'T bottleneck this GPU. Get what I'm sayin?

 

[dsquareddyson]

Depends on the budget, and whether or not you have pre existing items that you don't need to re-buy.

Startin' from scratch. Budget is whatever it takes to build a PC that WON'T bottleneck this GPU

 

[CTurbo]

Just under $700 for the cheapest GREAT 290 build.

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($60.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($239.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $690.52
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-14 23:03 EST-0500

 

[fudgecakes99]

k
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BymHsY) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BymHsY/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646g3258) | $68.98 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [Biostar Hi-Fi H81S2 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/biostar-motherboard-hifih81s2) | $48.99 @ Directron
**Memory** | [G.Skill Value 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31600c11s8gnt) | $59.98 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/hitachi-internal-hard-drive-hua721010kla330) | $48.00 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [HIS Radeon R9 290 4GB IceQ X² Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/his-video-card-h290qmc4gd) | $239.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Thermaltake Versa H22 ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-case-ca1b300m1nn00) | $34.98 @ Directron
**Power Supply** | [Rosewill Stallion 450W ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-power-supply-rd4502sb) | $33.99 @ Amazon
**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24f1st) | $14.98 @ OutletPC
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $89.75 @ OutletPC
**Case Fan** | [Aerocool DS 120mm Black 81.5 CFM 120mm Fan](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/aerocool-case-fan-ds120mmblack) | $17.99 @ Mwave
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $677.63
| Mail-in rebates | -$20.00
| **Total** | **$657.63**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2015-02-14 23:08 EST-0500 |

Forgot to add a case fan, you're gonna need a case fan pushing air out of the pc at the very least i'd recommend getting two to be safe one pushing in and the other pulling out.

Pentium G3258 is overclockable, if you want i can recommend a decent aftermarket air cooler too.

 

[Thunderballs]

I ran a R9 290x on a Haswell pentium chip with an cheap H81 motherboard and it got pretty good scores in benchmarking vs my i5 3570k on a Z77 board.

But the trouble with OPs post is hes taking the piss.. without a budget one can't advise especially well.

What people building their "first" gaming pcs se as "cheap" are often not the things experienced PC builders see as "cheap".

Really you either want to spend as little as possible to get X performance or you want X performance with bells and whistles. Some peoples belsl and whistles are great looking cases or a quality power supply that will last 5 years instead of 6 months, a better screen or a bragging rights graphics card to boast about your FPS in certain games.

You can stick a $75 second hand graphics card on a $30 motherboard with a $40 chip on a basic HDD with a cheap power supply on a free milk crate and play most games at 1080p. you can also spend $3,000 plus for pretty much the same thing as far as your average gaming goes. Second hand CPUs and HDDs are usually fine ime. Motherboard you prob want new.

Windows 10 Technical Preview is free atm (but may be fun with some games ! )

With 4k screens at lower prices Broadwell and Skylake plus new graphics cards coming this year, now prob isnt the best time to be building a "new" gaming PC for gaming at 1080p on a single monitor IF you wont be in a position to spend it all over again in 6 months or so time.

 

[CTurbo]

The Pentium would be awesomely awesome in some games and terribly terrible in others. I do not recommend it for a 290.

 

[Thunderballs]

The Pentium would be awesomely awesome in some games and terribly terrible in others. I do not recommend it for a 290.

Sure but he could replace it IF that happened in the games he liked. If it doesnt hes save a lot of $$. A second hand pentium sells for not a lot less than a new one either.

If he is set on r9 290/x etc I would recommend he gets a crossfire capable board. Crossfire is much improved on r9 290/x and a second card is going to be peanuts in a few months time.

 

[dsquareddyson]

Just under $700 for the cheapest GREAT 290 build.

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($60.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($239.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $690.52
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-14 23:03 EST-0500

Wow, thank you so so much. Last two quick questions: 1) Why not AMD? (I'm sure there's got to be a reason) 2) Why is XFX cheaper than the other manufacturers? Thank you so much again

 

[iso4675809]

The i5 4690k is one of if not thee best cpu out right now for gaming and since its not multithreaded like the i7 4790k it doesn't produce as much heat so you could overclock it to much higher frequencies, and I would pair that with either an asus z97-a mobo or an msi gaming 5 both are great and are at reasonable prices. An i5 4690k, msi gaming 5 mobo and an amd r9 290 seems like a pretty awesome combo to me. However its going to be pretty pricey, but you'd be getting the best bang for your buck.

 

[fudgecakes99]

Just under $700 for the cheapest GREAT 290 build.

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($60.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($239.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $690.52
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-14 23:03 EST-0500

Wow, thank you so so much. Last two quick questions: 1) Why not AMD? (I'm sure there's got to be a reason) 2) Why is XFX cheaper than the other manufacturers? Thank you so much again

This is without an o.s. or any external fans.

 

[CTurbo]

AMD has nothing that can compete. The FX cpus are going on 3 years old now. There's just no reason to get one. They have no advantage.

This is without an o.s. or any external fans.

The case comes with one 120mm exhaust fan and the cpu also comes with a fan. The case supports up to 8 fans. Fans are like $5 each. I don't see how this is an issue.

 

[Archgaull]

The biggest disadvantage AMD has is that they just have a completely shite upgrade path. When you get an AMD, Really the absolute top you can get is the FX 9590, which is an AM3+ socket, and costs $240. The FX 9590 is around the area of the Intel i5-4690K, which leaves a huge area in the top tier (Intel i7, Xeon, etc)

The AM3+ socket is right now, pretty limited in scope. The cheapest thing you can get from Newegg is the FX 4300, which is outperformed by an Intel i3-4150, which costs $20 more. Like I said, the highest you can go on AM3+ is the FX 9590, which is outperformed by the Intel i5-4690K, which is the same price.

However, on the intel side, you have the LGA-1150 socket, which supports about 30 more processors than the AM3+ socket does. This goes from budget Intel CPU's like Pentiums which cost around $90, all the way up to the strongest CPU's like the Intel i7-4790K which cost around $320

This means you can buy a i3 or pentium processor, which are on the cheaper side, and be comfortable in the knowledge that if you ever have the money and want to upgrade, you can go straight up to the i7 series without needing to buy a new motherboard as well.

 

[Thunderballs]

The i5 4690k is one of if not thee best cpu out right now for gaming and since its not multithreaded like the i7 4790k it doesn't produce as much heat so you could overclock it to much higher frequencies, and I would pair that with either an asus z97-a mobo or an msi gaming 5 both are great and are at reasonable prices. An i5 4690k, msi gaming 5 mobo and an amd r9 290 seems like a pretty awesome combo to me. However its going to be pretty pricey, but you'd be getting the best bang for your buck.

Most games are not CPU dependant such that you wont see much/any benefit from that chip over an older generation equivalent. Broadwell and Skylake are being released this year too. So it will be 2 generations behind the newest generation in 12 months time.

Asus boards are expensive and most people dont get any significant benefit from higher end boards either.. I have owned Asus mid/high ends and they fail as often as any others. Most people dont need most of the extras on motherboards , they are also not running enough stuff to use the extra features on newer mortherboards.

Personally I just think buying a new Haswell chip and the board to go with it is silly given what on the immediate horizon (unless you dont care about the cash and dont mind having an older generation PC a few months after buying it new...(a lot of us have been there)

Granted Broadwell and Skybolloxs wont push things forward that much but when people are talking about overclocking a new Haswell i5 on a new Asus motherboard for the current generation of games on single 1080p monitors using a year old graphics card bought new....it is patently NOT the best option and it isnt bang for your buck.

 

[iso4675809]

The i5 4690k is one of if not thee best cpu out right now for gaming and since its not multithreaded like the i7 4790k it doesn't produce as much heat so you could overclock it to much higher frequencies, and I would pair that with either an asus z97-a mobo or an msi gaming 5 both are great and are at reasonable prices. An i5 4690k, msi gaming 5 mobo and an amd r9 290 seems like a pretty awesome combo to me. However its going to be pretty pricey, but you'd be getting the best bang for your buck.

Most games are not CPU dependant such that you wont see much/any benefit from that chip over an older generation equivalent. Broadwell and Skylake are being released this year too. So it will be 2 generations behind the newest generation in 12 months time.

Asus boards are expensive and most people dont get any significant benefit from higher end boards either.. I have owned Asus mid/high ends and they fail as often as any others. Most people dont need most of the extras on motherboards , they are also not running enough stuff to use the extra features on newer mortherboards.

Personally I just think buying a new Haswell chip and the board to go with it is silly given what on the immediate horizon (unless you dont care about the cash and dont mind having an older generation PC a few months after buying it new...(a lot of us have been there)

Granted Broadwell and Skybolloxs wont push things forward that much but when people are talking about overclocking a new Haswell i5 on a new Asus motherboard for the current generation of games on single 1080p monitors using a year old graphics card bought new....it is patently NOT the best option and it isnt bang for your buck.

Yeah i agree, games rely more on the gpu but the cpu does make a big difference and right now for the money i believe the z97 platform is best for gaming, you don't much benefit from upgrading to the x99 platform, in most instance the z97 outperforms the x99 in the realm of gaming although the x99 has benefits of its own amongst other things.

However i would wouldn't worry to much about broadwell and skylake they were supposed to be released last year during november but have had quite a lot of issues, now idk even know when the hell they're going to be released. One thing you could count on is thats is going to be expensive when it does hit the market and i doubt it'll offer a significant performance leap from devils canyon cpus, also keep in mind that smaller architecture is more sensitive to electricty but lets stop wondering about the unknown.

The R9 290 performs on par with the gtx 970, the gtx 970 having a slight advantage 80% of the time. However now you could get an R9 290 for around 250 bucks, that about 100 dollars cheaper than a 970-depending on the model and brand; So if you ask me its about being a smart consumer and getting the most for your money, which at the present moment in my opinion is the R9 290 specially in light of nvidia falsely advertised gtx 970.

Just foo for thought "dsquareddyson" if you havent purchased the R9 290 yet I recommend you wait a bit longer, amd should be releasing their new gpu lineup really soon, it should shake up the market a bit, and you probably end up getting a way better deal.