Please evaluate my $500-$600 gaming build

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TheMantle

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Dec 15, 2013
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So I did a bit of research and hashed out a build with a fellow redditor (see my thread: http://goo.gl/cIIwWP) and ended up with this: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kB8z

I'd like to get second opinions from you guys before I pull the trigger. I'm open to change for the sake of performance. I should mention that I'm obviously no expert and that you should not be afraid to flat out tell me the build is sucks. I don't want to drop ~$550 on an illogical build.

It should be noted that I'll be using this computer for school (CS major) and want to be able to play games like bf4 on high settings and get decent to decent+ fps rates. Also, monitors/keyboards/mice are not needed.
 
Solution
Novuake
Biostar and MSI 970 chipset boards are NOT known for their quality and reliability.

Anyway. Get 2 sticks of RAM no matter what.

Anyway. You are missing the rebate, combos and promotions, if you make use of those, you can get the build suggested.

But if you HAVE to choose, then go for the better graphics card.
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Novuake

Novuake

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Aug 27, 2011
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Made some changes for the better.

1. MUCH better quality board for around the same price because of combo deal.
2. Added cheaper RAM and 2 chips instead of one, this allows the RAM to run in dual channel which is much better.
3. These changes allowed for a better graphics card for only 10$ more.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kBUO
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kBUO/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kBUO/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($205.66 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $548.59
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-15 05:27 EST-0500)
 
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TheMantle

Honorable
Dec 15, 2013
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Three things:

1. Why is the asus mobo better? I don't know enough to see a meaningful difference in the specs.

2. I was forced to pick the single 8GB of ram because the G.Skill ares and G.Skill sniper are both out of stock (both are 2x 4GB)

EDIT: I found this 2x 4GB set: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f317000cl11d8gbxl

3. Your pcpartpicker link lists ~$580 as the total. I've taken my rose colored glasses off and realized that ~$550 is really the fence that I want to push my budget to. With that said, should I switch to the asus mobo and keep the 660 or keep the biostar mobo and switch to the sapphire gfx card?
 
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Novuake

Novuake

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Aug 27, 2011
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Biostar and MSI 970 chipset boards are NOT known for their quality and reliability.

Anyway. Get 2 sticks of RAM no matter what.

Anyway. You are missing the rebate, combos and promotions, if you make use of those, you can get the build suggested.

But if you HAVE to choose, then go for the better graphics card.
 
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Solution
T

TheMantle

Honorable
Dec 15, 2013
6
0
10,510


Okay so I switched to two sticks of RAM, switched mobos, and discovered that switching from the 6300 to the 4300 will only yield a $2 price change due to a $15 combo deal on the 6300. As far as I can see there's nothing I can do about the gpu. All the 7870s and R9 270Xs are an extra $20 bucks. I've looked at the benchmarks and the 270Xs and 7870s are clearly better than the R9 270 I have chosen, but what salient differences am I really going to see while playing games?

Will the following be worth pulling the trigger on ?

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kDPA
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kDPA/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kDPA/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $557.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-15 08:20 EST-0500)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kDPA

 
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Novuake

Novuake

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Aug 27, 2011
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The difference is considerable in games. About 20%.

perfrel_1920.gif
 
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Vic 40

Vic 40

Titan
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Oct 22, 2013
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From what i get from the next is that the biostar board is not that bad,at least for overclocking.
http://www.overclock.net/t/946407/amd-motherboards-vrm-info-database
I don't know how it will do in the long run,but any board can malfunction,even the better brands.

I looked at the next,

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kEPU

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2kEPU/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Biostar TA970 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($68.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270 2GB Video Card ($183.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $541.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-15 09:06 EST-0500)

I chose this r9 270 because it needs two pcie/peg powerconnectors which just basically makes it,even physically,a lower clocked r9 270X.The normal r9 270's are also lower clocked versions of the r9 270x but have only the need for one peg connector which prevents them,but that's what i think,from higher overclocking.This one doesn't have that disadvantage.
Not the flashy case,but you have to cut somewhere.
 
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T

TheMantle

Honorable
Dec 15, 2013
6
0
10,510


Ah, okay. Hearing that is such a relief. I'll take the gpu change into serious consideration. Other than that, am I good to go to start buying?

 
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