$1500 Build Opinions/Advice

Raeks · Jul 22, 2014

Ive come up with 2 builds from help of others, I'd like to know peoples opinion on what one and if it all runs good together.

CPU Intel = BX80646I54690K I5-4690K,3.50GHZ,4CORES,6MB CACHE,LGA1150 $275
CPU COOLER = Corsair H60 $95
GPU = Gigabyte R9 290 OC $469
MOBO = Gigabyte Z97X-Gaming 3 $195
MEMORY = Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 DDR3 $105
SSD = Samsung 120gb 840 EVO $89
HDD = WB Blue 1TB $63
Case = NZXT H440 Mid Tower Case - Red/Black CA-H440W-M1 $158
PSU = Antec 620W High Current Gamer Modular PSU $108
DVDRW = LG =$20

TOTAL = $1577

OR

CPU = AMD FX8350 $224
CPU COOLER = Corsair H60 $95
GPU = Gigabyte R9 290 OC $469
MOBO = ASRock 990FX-KILLER $176
MEMORY = Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 DDR3 $105
SSD = Samsung 120gb 840 EVO $89
HDD = WB Blue 1TB $63
Case = NZXT H440 Mid Tower Case - Red/Black CA-H440W-M1 $158
PSU = Antec 620W High Current Gamer Modular PSU $108
DVDRW = LG =$20

TOTAL = $1507

All input is appreciated
Thank you

manofchalk · Jul 22, 2014

Its the same build just swapping Intel for AMD, both will perform pretty much the same as the other.

Intel will have the better single-threaded performance (games) while AMD will have better multi-threaded performance (video editing and professional tasks). Even still, their both going to be pretty equal.

Novuake · Jul 22, 2014

Nice build choices except for the CPU cooler. Its horribly overpriced and underperforms.

You can also save a lot of cost in some places like motherboard.

Anyway...

I would choose the I5 setup, although technically they should perform very similarly with the I5 edging out a lead in most games by a small margin.

A lot better cooler at the same price by the way :
Noctua NH-D15.

Raeks · Jul 22, 2014

Novuake :

I was considering that cooler actually, How loud is it and how easy is the installation ? Also if you could recommend another mobo for the intel.

Thanks for the quick reply mate

Gunmetal_61 · Jul 22, 2014

The Intel is better for games like manofchalk said. The i5 has better per-core performance while the strength of the FX lies in its core count. Most games don't really use that many threads and cores that the AMD has to offer as of now, so it is the weaker choice in my eyes. This may change though as newer games start using more threads.

But I'd still go with the i5. It's on a newer chipset and platform while AMD's AM3/AM3+ socket is aging. The Z97 board will allow you to upgrade to Broadwell later on if you want to.

Raeks · Jul 22, 2014

manofchalk :

I did pretty much just swap cpu and mobo for the builds, It's a build for a mate, he wants it for gaming recording and video editing, if you have any recommendations please let me know.

Thanks for the help and quick reply

Novuake · Jul 22, 2014

The FX8350 shines when game recording is done. Get it.

Raeks · Jul 22, 2014

Novuake :

Thanks heaps mate, Does everything in the AMD build look ok to you, no comparability issues?

Again thanks for the help and fast reply.

Novuake · Jul 22, 2014

Just get a different cooler, the rest is perfect.

wildfire707 · Jul 22, 2014

Both systems are very nice, but as mentioned by others, the Intel system will usually perform better in games.

From my perspective, choosing the 250GB Samsung EVO would be much better than the 120GB unit. It will perform better, have more storage space, and be a better value as far as $ per GB.

The memory choice is also interesting. Most people building a gaming system would opt for at least DDR3 1866, frequently choosing DDR3 2133.

manofchalk · Jul 22, 2014

If recording gameplay is a concern, I would also be looking at an Nvidia GPU. ShadowPlay is a very useful feature given it saves you buying a dedicated capture card.

The memory choice is also interesting. Most people building a gaming system would opt for at least DDR3 1866, frequently choosing DDR3 2133.

Memory performance makes no noticeable difference to actual performance. Only in very artificial benchmarks and APU systems will you see a difference between 1600 and 2133Mhz.

Raeks · Jul 22, 2014

Novuake :

Would the difference from i5 to FX in games would it be noticeably different?

Novuake · Jul 22, 2014

Depends on the users tolerance, mostly no.

Raeks · Jul 22, 2014

Novuake :

Thanks mate, Helped heaps.

Answered all what I needed to know.

Raeks · Jul 22, 2014

manofchalk :

Thanks for you help mate, Answered all I needed to know.

Raeks · Jul 22, 2014

Novuake :

I got a question for you mate, Instead of making another thread.

The mobo for the AMD ( ASRock 990FX Killer) Is that decent for OC ?
Im not 100% on overclocking thats all just wondering if its a good board and relatively easy one to OC with.

Novuake · Jul 22, 2014

Asrock isn't that user friendly. But if research is done properly before starting to OC, then its a good board.

$1500 Build Opinions/Advice

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