Good AMD Setup? Around £750-£900 system - are these parts suitable?

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PresidentDylan5

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I would like to know whether I could build a similar system for a cheaper price, to confirm that all of these parts are suitable and maybe even that I will have to spend more on some components.

The main things I am concerned about are the size of the gaming case and the power supply.

Processor: AMD fx 8350 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-FX8350-Edition-Processor-4-2GHz/dp/B009O7YUF6/ref=pd_cp_computers_2#productDetails
Motherboard: Gigabyte SKT-AM3+970A-D3 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005504RMC/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=11073227765&ref=asc_df_B005504RMC#productDetails
Memory: Corsair CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 Vengeance - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9-1600MHz-Vengeance-Memory/dp/B004CRSM4I/ref=pd_bxgy_computers_text_z#productDetails
Graphics Card: MSI Geforce GTX 660 ti OC- http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-N660Ti-2GD5-OC-NVIDIA-Graphics/dp/B009PWXUBK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1365412091&sr=8-4&keywords=msi+gtx+660+ti#productDetails
Power Supply: OCZ CXS500W - http://www.amazon.co.uk/OCZ-OCZ-CXS500W-UK-CoreXStream-Series-Supply/dp/B007SU2QRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367337978&sr=8-1&keywords=ocz+corextreme+500w#productDetails
Case: Cit Vantage Type R - http://www.amazon.co.uk/CiT-Vantage-Type-R-Gaming-Reader/dp/B0064LFTR8/ref=pd_cp_computers_3
Hard Drive*Western Digital Caviar Blue 500gb SATA III - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Caviar-SATAIII-Internal/dp/B00461G3MS/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
Optical Drive**: Samsung 24x SATA - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-SATA-Retail-Writer-Bezels/dp/B009DF373A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362365166&sr=8-3

Internethttp://www.amazon.co.uk/7dayshop-200Mbps-HomePlug-Powerline-Ethernet/dp/B004I67HQW/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp_url
KeyboardLogitech G110 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002ZLQ82G/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9550933389&ref=asc_df_B002ZLQ82G#productDetails
MouseAnker High Precision - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Upgraded-Software-Precision-Programmable-Cartridge/dp/B00AAQRNQ8/ref=pd_cp_computers_1
Mouse Mathttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Steel-Series-63004-SteelSeries-Surface/dp/B000UEZ36W/ref=pd_sim_computers_1


*I am also considering a solid state drive. If someone can show me where to get a 240gb drive for about £100 that would be helpful.
** Predictably, I'm not concerned about the standard of the optical drive; I just need it to install Windows 7 really.
 
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PresidentDylan5

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Do you think I will experience problems with the normal version of the power supply? The reviews seem good.
Also do you not think my current case will be able to fit all the components? Preferably I would like to get a stylish case with red LEDs. If I do get one of your suggested cases, though, I would probably get the Xigmatek Asgard ATX (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Xigmatek-Asgard-Without-Power-Supply/dp/B002T3D71U/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_1). If I were to get that case, do you think I would need to buy extra fans straight away? If so what ones?
 
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allanitomwesh

allanitomwesh

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It's just a so,so power supply,i was just recommending better options that are more efficient that's all.
Asgard is a good case go with that,might need a rear fan,only has a front one.You can get Scythe Gentle Typhoon,moves lots of air. I am yet to have a good experience from a CiT case,they are rather delicate,but if you want lights how about cooler master haf 912?.
 
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PresidentDylan5

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I may just stick with the current power supply; the better versions look a bit expensive (unless you can find one that is only £40 or so). Does it really matter if the case is delicate? Surely if either of them fell of the desk or something they'd by severely damaged anyway? Also, the Type R seems very good value for money as it comes with four fans and a bunch of features. Do you think that the video card would fit in nicely?

 
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PresidentDylan5

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Well I'm sure the case isn't that bad quality so it creaks and falls apart, but I have just found one that looks promising, the Zalman Z9 Plus (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zalman-Z9-Plus-Midi-Tower/dp/B004FPQL0E/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t). It seems to be bigger than the other case but I don't think it comes with any fans. Would I need to buy at least one fan, making it quite a bit more expensive?
Also, are you sure that the 450W power supply would be able to cope with all the components I am getting at the moment (and some upgrading in the future; I think it would be a better processor cooler), especially since I think it recommended that you always stay about 100 watts from your maximum power consumption? I can see that it is a good quality psu with 85% efficiency (I'm quite sure that is very good).
Finally, I have just found a motherboard that is £20 cheaper than the previous. It is the Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-M5A78L-M-USB3-Motherboard-Socket/dp/B0054U7HIO/ref=pd_bxgy_computers_text_z#productDetails). I think it has all the same features as the Gigabyte board but it doesn't support SATA III; is there much of a difference at all between SATA II and SATA III? If not I will probably save money with the Asus board but I can't find where it says what graphics ports it supports. It probably supports my graphics card but I want to be sure. Speaking of the graphics, I have decided that I am most probably going to get the Msi GTX 660 TF OC instead (http://www.waeplus.co.uk/item/304252/N660-TF-2GD5OC---Graphics-card---GF-GTX?ref=gooad&gclid=CPqAhsyY-LYCFdDJtAod7BEAow) as it is much, much cheaper and from what I've seen around the internet there isn't much of a performance difference between it and the 660 ti, and also because it has the Twin Frozr feature.
 
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allanitomwesh

allanitomwesh

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Sata 3 is important for your drives and ssd's
Zalman Z9 is a good case,go with that,and it's 4 fans.
Twin frozr is good
The ocz will give the same amount of power since its less efficient,so no difference.If it concerns you,there's a 550w version of the XFX,which should be more than enough even if you overclock.
 
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PresidentDylan5

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So do you mean that SATA III is worth the extra £30 (taking £10 off the price of the hard drive as well)? Would I have reasonably faster loading times if I used SATA III?
Where does it say that the case has four fans? Apart from a review I saw by chance, I can't see that anywhere in the description, although that's probably because it's in a different language! Also, can you see if this supports cable management and if it doesn't will that be a problem? I just found yet another case that more clearly shows what it supports, and it has a transparent side panel, SSD slots, and other stuff! (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/nzxt-m59-classic-series-black-mid-tower-gaming-case-with-side-window-w-o-psu).
Do you have any idea if the 450W psu will be able to run the components as described in my last post? The 550W version you said about seems to be discontinued... (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/550w-xfx-pro-series-core-edition-p1-550s-ukb9-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-fan-atx-v2). Do you think it would be able to run sli even in the future (not any time soon, not much of an issue)?

One more thing, if I have a bit more money I might buy a compatible motherboard that could run sli in the future so I wouldn't have to get a new one (does that involve reinstalling the OS?). What is the cheapest motherboard you know of that has all the features of the Gigabyte one while also having sli support (and maybe 3.0 graphics ports)?
 
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PresidentDylan5

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I will probably get the Zalman case, then (does it have room for sli). Is the PSU easy to replace when I get another gtx 660, in which case I could get the 450W version now and then replace it when the time comes? However, I can't find the 550W version, as I posted before it has been discontinued at least on that website. Could you perhaps post a link to one, please? Thanks for the motherboard; I am tempted to get it.
 
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PresidentDylan5

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Now I've seen the actual price I will probably get the 550W version as it is only about £5 more; thanks for the link. Looks like I will go with the Zalman.
I don't really understand some of the things in the specifications of the motherboard you sent me. What does 'hybrid sli' mean? This apparently isn't supported. Also, if you go to 'Memory Type (R/U):' then it says there are only three 'PCIe 2.0 x16' ports while a single GTX 660 takes up two slots. Are you sure this would support two graphics cards?

By the way, could you possibly find me a SATA III solid state drive for about £100 that has as much space as possible (hopefully 240gb)? I don't think it would matter if it was pre-owned. Also, do you use this 'scan' website for all of your components? Would I get better prices?
 
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PresidentDylan5

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I just did a little search myself, actually, for the solid state drive on hot deals uk and found this: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/240gb-ocz-vertex-3-25-sata-iii-6gb-s-sandforce-2200-mlc-flash-read-550mb-s-write-520mb-s-85k-iops-re. As usual, I want to be absolutely sure that this will be compatible with my system. Also, what is RAID? This is supported. If you can find a better deal then that would be good but I think this is quite good (it isn't actually discounted).
 
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allanitomwesh

allanitomwesh

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Hybrid SLI isn't something you'll miss
Two cards will fit,a legacy PCI port won't be missed.
Yes,it is compatible with your system (remember that sata 3 port?)
Raid is a two or more hard disk config where one is a backup,I.e two 240gb ssd's but your total storage is 240gb. It's more useful for mechanical drives really.
Vertex 3 is a good one,or sandisk extreme. Most others aren't as cheap,or there's a performance hit,like Solid 3 also by OCZ or Kingston 200+. But really, all SSD's are fast even sata 2 ones are faster than hard disks. Still nice to have a super fast one though.
Scan has good prices,as do WAE+ and Aria(sales) and Amazon sometimes
 
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PresidentDylan5

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OK, thanks for the information. I will probably search all my components on these websites to see if I can get them cheaper. I don't think I have any more questions... for now. :)
 
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PresidentDylan5

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I am back! :) I don't know if you still track this thread but something has come up. A friend of mine told me that AMD processors use lower quality silicon than Intel chips so they degrade faster; after two years apparently the fx 8350 would be much less powerful than it was to begin with. Is this true, and if so should I change to Intel? I intend to keep the processor for at least a few years before upgrading!
Thanks in advance for your time.
 
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PresidentDylan5

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So if I have a better cooling system it will increase the life span? And do you know if it is true that AMD chips have lower quality silicon?
 
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