Thoughts on my first $700 Gaming Build!

GeorgeQiao · Jun 6, 2013

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/13Goo
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/13Goo/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/13Goo/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI FM2-A85XA-G65 ATX FM2 Motherboard ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($58.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.23 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($283.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $736.14
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Should I go through with these parts or should I reconsider? Thank you!

swifty_morgan · Jun 6, 2013

it sucks. $700 you should go for an Intel build not an APU build.

Onus · Jun 6, 2013

For a gamer, an APU is not the way to go. Check any recent game benchmarks, and you'll find these AMD CPUs at the bottom of the charts. If you have a strong preference for AMD, center your build on a FX-6300 or FX-8320. Otherwise, the strongest performance is provided by an Intel i5 or, for a very few well-threaded games, an i7.
I would not say that it sucks, but the Corsair CX line (except the modular ones) were made using inferior Samxon capacitors from a line known for early failure. They'd be fine in cool-running office builds, but I would not use one in a gamer. Check out Seasonic or Rosewill Capstone for two better alternatives.

jefrymarte · Jun 6, 2013

I preffer a FX CPU for a discrete GPU.

bigshootr8 · Jun 6, 2013

I feel the point of picking up a A10 processor is to use that when you throw in a dedicated card you are really wasting your money. Here is a configuration with a stronger CPU a good graphics card a stronger power supply. You will be happier with this build.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($75.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($58.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.23 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($184.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $688.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-06 16:15 EDT-0400)

Onus · Jun 6, 2013

bigshootr8 has posted a good build, but the graphics card he chose is weaker than the GTX660Ti (possibly to make budget). It is a much better foundation though, and will support a stronger graphics card, including the GTX660Ti. If your budget is higher than $700, then get that with a better card:
HD7850 <= GTX650Ti Boost Edition < GTX660 < HD7870 = GTX660Ti

bryonhowley · Jun 6, 2013

For a AMD gaming build I would go for a AM3+ socket with a FX CPU instead of a APU.

ballerslife · Jun 6, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.24 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($254.29 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $710.44
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-06 16:59 EDT-0400)

Much better CPU, the FX6300 is the best budget CPU.
Great video card. The 7870xt is basically a crippled 7950 and performs closely to it. Will run BF3 ultra without a problem.

The rest is more or less the same.

loops · Jun 6, 2013

bigshootr8 :

Go FX4300 or go Intel's i5 and see about the 7870xt...

At this point I would try and stay at a 7870 range and not below for a build in this range...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1325713
http://promotions.newegg.com/neemail/latest/index-landing.aspx: code: EMCXPXP25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202025&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL060613&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL060613-_-EMC-060613-Latest-_-DesktopGraphicsVideoCards-_-14202025-L0C

bigshootr8 · Jun 6, 2013

A FX4300 isn't a very good gaming chip the chip I listed the 3470 is just under the 3570k and the 3570k is comparable to the 8350. Plus Intel has a better chipset on there boards. The 7850 is more in line with the 660 and the 660Ti is slightly slower then the 7950 at stock.

If you live near a microcenter or can get to one as well you can get a 4670k the new i5 haswell unlocked chip and a motherboard for around 250-300 dollars with a motherboard bundled in which is a STEAL.

bigshootr8 · Jun 6, 2013

Onus :

Was very much to do with budget

But again its about setting a better overall foundation and a better overall well rounded system.

Onus · Jun 6, 2013

That's what I figured. I prefer better foundations myself (no more cheap mobos!), which is why I liked it.

burdenbound · Jun 6, 2013

I say don't go with the gskill ripjaws because the heat spreader is a little elaborate. If you ever plan to drop an aftermarket cpu cooler in your rig, which I highly recommend if only for noise reasons, it will be a tight fit. I built a rig for my friend and it is not possible to get that ram under the heatsink if your using the slot closest to the CPU.

It's really not necessary to have such a large heat spreader so I say go with something a little more low profile. Just my .02 from experience working with it.

Onus · Jun 6, 2013

That's a good point. I've had good luck with G.Skill Sniper, which is lower; then there's some Crucial with no heat spreader at all that has been good (and uses Micron chips).

bigshootr8 · Jun 6, 2013

burdenbound :

This is also true. If you go with a aftermarket cooler you may want low profile memory. However, if you go with a closed loop water cooler like the h80i, h90, h100i then you won't need to worry about the profile of your memory. (profile meaning how tall your ram modules are)

loops · Jun 7, 2013

bigshootr8 :

Your build is fine. At this point, given the new MS One/PS4, I'd try and aim for a 7870 level card. The 7850 is good card now but it will be bested by the new games sooner than later. IMO. The PS4 seems to be about where a 7870 would be if the predictions pan out. As for the cpu, an FX chip will do ok. I'd say it would be valid to go i5/7850 or FX/7870xt. The FX7870xt seems less worrisome a trade off given where gaming seems to be going ( the gpu > cpu).

ballerslife · Jun 7, 2013

Honestly, my build is ideal. While you fit in an i5, you are lacking in GPU power, which mine has. The 7870XT is a pretty much a crippled 7950. The FX6300 is also more than capable, OC it, and you have an i5 right there.

bigshootr8 · Jun 7, 2013

loops :

bigshootr8 :

Your build is fine. At this point, given the new MS One/PS4, I'd try and aim for a 7870 level card. The 7850 is good card now but it will be bested by the new games sooner than later. IMO. The PS4 seems to be about where a 7870 would be if the predictions pan out. As for the cpu, an FX chip will do ok. I'd say it would be valid to go i5/7850 or FX/7870xt. The FX7870xt seems less worrisome a trade off given where gaming seems to be going ( the gpu > cpu).

As long as you went with a 6350 or 8350 fx chip the 4350 is a rather budget oriented cpu that won't perform amazingly in a gaming scenario like the 8350 and the i5/i7's will.

bigshootr8 · Jun 7, 2013

ballerslife :

I would say that you would run across bottlenecks quicker with the 6300 chip then you would if you went with the i5 but to each is own. I Intel's memory controller is light years ahead of what AMD offers as well. A 7850 is nothing really to scoff at. While I do believe the 7870xt is a great chip I would say if anything intel chips especially the i5's have done quite well weathering changes in graphics quite well.

Thoughts on my first $700 Gaming Build!

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