Would like to know which build is superior

exodasius · Jul 4, 2013

Please refrain from any suggestions on changing the parts, I've done months of research for this, and I highly doubt there is a way to make this better while staying roughly approximate to budget.

Date of Purchase: Some time this month
Where will it be bought Chapel Hill, NC
Any parts you DON'T need I don't need an OS, I sail the wide seas'

Anything else: I do travel quite a bit, so that's the only reason I considered the 2nd build
What will you use this build for: I plan on doing a lot of things. The heaviest thing I can think of doing is playing a game like Crysis 3, recording it w/ fraps, and streaming it in full 1080p while on skype.

First build:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($144.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G43 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Avexir Budget Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($32.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer S201HLbd 60Hz 20.0" Monitor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $662.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-04 15:19 EDT-0400)

So I'm considering that AMD build due to having more VRam and more cores, but should I get this instead:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8H61-I R2.0 Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($80.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Avexir Budget Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($32.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($25.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Monitor: Acer S201HLbd 60Hz 20.0" Monitor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $671.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-04 15:27 EDT-0400)

This one has stronger cores, albeit at the cost of 1GB vRam

exodasius · Jul 4, 2013

I'm purposely making a 2nd post since people won't read this @ the end of the first post. Is there anything better I could do w/ the builds w/o going any more over budget?

Sakkura · Jul 4, 2013

You've got a single-channel memory configuration on both builds, which cuts memory bandwidth in half. And the memory is slow in the first place; 1333 is obsolete, you ought to be getting 1600 at least.

The first system has a weak motherboard that won't let that 8320 overclock well. That also means that the Core i5-3350P in the second build will perform better in games.

dannyboy2233 · Jul 4, 2013

exodasius :

Never doubt the power of Toms! This build has a six-core CPU, as well as a great GPU.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($56.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Diamond Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $668.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-04 15:35 EDT-0400)

saint19 · Jul 4, 2013

Hi.

I suggest you:

1) Change the RAM from 1x8GB to 2x4GB or 2x8GB. Single channel will not be good for the rig. Maybe if you can go with 1866+ or above, go ahead.
2) I personally have bad experience with that WD Caviar Blue series, I would prefer a Spinponit F3 from Samsung.
3) You need a better PSU, both are good, but I would prefer a better model (TX, HX, AX) or different manufacturers like XFX, Seasonic, Antec. 600W or more.

After that suggestions/changes, I would go with the Intel rig.

exodasius · Jul 4, 2013

Apologies for insulting the members of Tom's; didn't mean to.
I did do a little more work, and for the 1st build, should I do this instead:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($144.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($67.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Avexir Budget Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($32.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($25.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer S201HLbd 60Hz 20.0" Monitor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $660.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-04 15:37 EDT-0400)

exodasius · Jul 4, 2013

saint19 :

Alright then

Intel it is

dannyboy2233 · Jul 4, 2013

saint19 :

But this still leaves him with a 1GB 7850...

saint19 · Jul 4, 2013

dannyboy2233 :

I don't saw that...spend a little more and get the 2GB version, you will need it.

You don't have to apologize, you don't did something wrong or insulting somebody.

Enjoy your rig and let us know the results

exodasius · Jul 4, 2013

dannyboy2233 :

Meh, it's alright. It's not like having a 7850 will doom me to 720p, esp. when the 1gb version is tough enough to max crysis 3 out averaging 57 fps

Sakkura · Jul 4, 2013

saint19 :

Nah, 2 GB isn't needed at 1600x900. Heck, even at 1920x1080 it's really very rarely needed today. Over the next couple years it'll become necessary at 12920x1080, but 1 GB should last for a while on 1600x900.

saint19 · Jul 4, 2013

Sakkura :

saint19 :

Nah, 2 GB isn't needed at 1600x900. Heck, even at 1920x1080 it's really very rarely needed today. Over the next couple years it'll become necessary at 12920x1080, but 1 GB should last for a while on 1600x900.

Not with the requirements of the today's games. 1GB could run good, but could be a problem with future games like BF4, FIFA 14 or similar.

Sakkura · Jul 4, 2013

saint19 :

Yeah at 1920x1080. Not 1600x900 any time soon.

dannyboy2233 · Jul 4, 2013

Sakkura :

Still, it can't hurt to be careful.

exodasius · Jul 4, 2013

Haha, I'm not gonna stop upgrading this machine till DDR3 is the dinosaur of the present

I'm planning on grabbing a 7870 XT for my birthday next year (yes, I'm a spoiled, 15 year old brat

)

dannyboy2233 · Jul 4, 2013

exodasius :

Haha, I wouldn't call that spoiled; believe me, I know plenty of kids who are more spoiled than that

Sakkura · Jul 4, 2013

There should be new graphics cards available next year, so you can probably get an even better deal than the 7870 XT.

exodasius · Jul 5, 2013

dannyboy2233 :

I compare myself to asian kids in Harvard (I'm Indian, so I'm not being racist here), and a lot of them do better things then me w/ less resources

Therefore, I consider myself spoiled

Sakkura :

Maybe

But looking @ the 6xxx series, the prices are pretty much the same as the 7xxx equivalent or weaker.

dannyboy2233 · Jul 5, 2013

exodasius :

dannyboy2233 :

I compare myself to asian kids in Harvard (I'm Indian, so I'm not being racist here), and a lot of them do better things then me w/ less resources

Therefore, I consider myself spoiled

Sakkura :

Maybe

But looking @ the 6xxx series, the prices are pretty much the same as the 7xxx equivalent or weaker.

The prices are the same, but the lower cards perform better; e/g/ the 760Ti will perform almost as well as the 670 (if not better) for $100 less.

Would like to know which build is superior

Honorable

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Illustrious

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Polypheme

Honorable

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Honorable

Polypheme

Honorable

Illustrious

Polypheme

Illustrious

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Illustrious

Honorable

Honorable

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