New sim racing / gaming build. Ordering today hopefully. Need last minute thoughts

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CFD3Captain

CFD3Captain

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Aug 22, 2013
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Well I was originally planning to do a "budget" build but we all know how that ends up. So I am still somewhat on a budget but I pretty much doubled my old one :)

Here is what I am about to pull the trigger on.

Gaming will be a lot of sim racing but I want to play some FPS (Battlefield CoD etc...) as well as I used to be a console gamer. I wanted to stay around $1K (preferably below) and I already have OS (win7 64bit) and I will add a monitor later (or give me a good recommendation for 25-27") Just to add, I will eventually be running a Triple Screen setup for racing, but may continue to play FPS and other games on the center monitor.

Thanks in advance!!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KM0V

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KM0V
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KM0V/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1KM0V/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($153.61 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($146.50 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.59 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill N900PCE 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Gunmetal/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $970.61
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-04 13:28 EDT-0400)
 
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thepinkanator95

thepinkanator95

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Jul 28, 2013
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($189.98 @ Outlet PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.59 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($279.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill N600PCE 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($25.77 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Phantom (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $1066.24
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-04 15:17 EDT-0400)

This is what I came up with.

I got you a new PSU, you won't need 750w.

I upgraded you to the 8350 with the money I saved.

I gave you a Full Tower case. The number one rule in gaming is COOLING. The full tower ATX will give you the maximum possible airflow.

I changed your GPU to one that is cheaper and has a higher clock speed.

I also downgraded your wireless card to only what you need for gaming. It supports a 5GHz signal.
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Jul 27, 2011
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I gave you a Full Tower case. The number one rule in gaming is COOLING. The full tower ATX will give you the maximum possible airflow.
Click to expand...

You don't need a full tower case to get good cooling, it all depends on how you set up your fans. Read this article, it explains everything: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cooling-airflow-heatsink,3053.html

$1K on a gaming rig I would suggest an Intel build. AMD has its' uses but anything over $1K and you should deifnitely consider Intel, especially if you plan on running multiple displays:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($32.09 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($73.93 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($71.30 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1022.25
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-04 13:49 EDT-0400)

Slightly over budget but I included the latest NVIDIA card, a great, low cost SSD for booting, and the newest Intel Haswell CPU.
 
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CFD3Captain

CFD3Captain

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Aug 22, 2013
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ok, while I understand what both of you did (and sort of why) I don't like downgrading the PSU especially for the future proofing of the system (what if I want to add another card?) The case I am fine with either way. I am liking both the NZXT and Corsairs.

As far as the Intel build, I find it's all subjective. I see some that say the 8 core 8320/8350 are great and are fine over the i5's and I have read otherwise. What I don't understand is why you essentially down graded the GPU (the most important piece) to add an i5. There is no way the gtx760 compares to the 7970 in all that I have read.

So thanks for your inputs, I will consider and weigh it all, but I am waiting to see some more replies :) Also, I am OK with going over the budget a LITTLE. I mean I started out on 500-600 budget and I am now at a grand LOL
 
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thepinkanator95

thepinkanator95

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Jul 28, 2013
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The CPU shouldn't be your top priority, the GPU should be. And yes, the 7970 does beat the GeForce 760 as you can see here.

Also, you shouldn't worry about CrossFire or SLI. It really isn't worth it. By the time you need to CrossFire or SLI, there will be a single card that can outperform a CrossFire/SLI machine. A general rule to finding CrossFire/SLI power is that it will be your current card plus half of the secondary card.

I also updated my build above to include an SSD for loading your operating system and other aplications that require a lot of read/write speed, (not necessarily games).
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Well that won't make a rig "future proof". In short, nothing will. The only way a higher wattage power supply would "future proof" a rig is if you plan to add a second GPU down the road.

As far as the Intel build, I find it's all subjective. I see some that say the 8 core 8320/8350 are great and are fine over the i5's and I have read otherwise. What I don't understand is why you essentially down graded the GPU (the most important piece) to add an i5. There is no way the gtx760 compares to the 7970 in all that I have read.
Click to expand...

Benchmarks say otherwise. The FX comes close to the i5-4670K, but doesn't necessarily beat it in tests. Gaming usually favors Intel, the console fanboys are drooling all over themselves since Sony and Microsoft are both using AMD processors (read: APUs) in their new consoles, they act as if it's some kind of life altering game changer, like a $400 console is somehow now equivalent to a $1000 - $1500+ gaming system. It isn't. A console is still a console.

So thanks for your inputs, I will consider and weigh it all, but I am waiting to see some more replies :) Also, I am OK with going over the budget a LITTLE. I mean I started out on 500-600 budget and I am now at a grand LOL
Click to expand...

That will happen.:lol:
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Not true again, I have pointed out how you can easily afford an unlocked Intel CPU and at least a GTX 760, and an SSD for under $1K, and if you don't get the SSD that you can upgrade to a Radeon 7970 or GTX 660TI and still come in under budget.
 
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