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Building a gaming PC

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  • Gaming
  • Intel
  • AMD
  • Components
  • Asus
  • Radeon
Last response: in Components
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September 6, 2014 6:01:51 AM

So im building a gaming PC with... Well i have 2 options, the first one is AMD FX-8350 and ASUS Radeon R9 290X DirectCU II or Intel core i5 4690k and XFX AMD Radeon R9 280X Double Dissipation. So the question is which one ís better at 1080p (Maybe in the future for 1440p).
Other specs:

AMD
CPU: AMD FX-8350
Mobo: Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0
GPU: ASUS Radeon R9 290X DirectCU II

Specs for both platforms:

Ram: Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) Vengeance Dual Channel Kit
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 200R
HDD: Seagate 1TB Barracuda
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
PSU: Corsair CX750

Intel
CPU: Intel core i5 4690k
Mobo: Gigabyte Z97P-D3
GPU: XFX AMD Radeon R9 280X Double Dissipation

So which one system should i get?
I want to get the most performance out of new games, and if i get the fullout amd system im going to overclock.

Thanks in advance!

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September 6, 2014 6:32:19 AM

If gaming is your main goal then without doubt the 290x is the better option. Plus, the 8350 overclocks better. At stock configurations the i5 performs better but the 8350 is a better overclocker. Obviously, the i5 WITH the 290x would be a better solution but if that's not an option I'd go with the AMD rig.
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September 6, 2014 6:48:26 AM

But would my PSU be able to handle the AMD system with the processor overclocked?
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September 6, 2014 6:50:53 AM

If it's only for gaming I will go with the FX processor and 290. However a 4690K is much newer processor, consumes a lot less power, and runs much cooler and if you consider only the CPU it has better performance than the FX. Both are good combination. Only for gaming go with the FX with the 290 and for a more balanced system go with the intel with the 280X.

Btw I suggest not to use the CX. Better use a EVGA B2 750 or XFX pro 650. Both much better than the CX for a gaming system.
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September 6, 2014 6:55:05 AM

Thepixel02 said:
But would my PSU be able to handle the AMD system with the processor overclocked?


Theoretically it should be fine. It has more than enough watts/amps to power the system you describe with an overclock. The problem is the quality of the build of the CX lineup. They aren't designed for high end gaming systems especially if they will be overclocked. The CX is perfect for low-mid end builds, but not for the beast you are wanting to build. You need a PSU to match the level you are putting together. The CX has some cheaper capacitors in it to cut costs. When a cheap capactor gets hot (under load) it causes the PSU to put out unstable power which results in an unstable system.

If you are in the US, here are a few good deals on high end PSUs

Antec HCG750M $64.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg750m

XFX PRO750W Core Edition $69.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1750snlb...
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September 6, 2014 6:55:11 AM

But would the FX-8350 bottleneck and can you run that amd system on a 650 watt psu?
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September 6, 2014 7:02:42 AM

Thepixel02 said:
But would the FX-8350 bottleneck and can you run that amd system on a 650 watt psu?


FX8350 125W
R9 290X 290W
That's 415W. I like to go about 200W over the TDP. A 650W would be perfect. Most would say 750W is too much, and they'd be right, but that's what I'd personally do. Either way, you're fine.
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September 6, 2014 7:55:49 AM

But would my ATM power supply be enough to run the system or would shut down sometimes
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September 6, 2014 7:56:14 AM

And would the R9 290x bottleneck the FX-8350?
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September 6, 2014 8:00:06 AM

You already have the CX750? Theoretically it should be enough. It has the watts/amps to power your system with room to spare. As mentioned above it does have some low quality capacitors, and that PSU is not recommended in a system that will be overclocked. You need a very stable power supply for overclocks and when the CX gets hot it can put out some fluctuating power.

Will it work? Probably. I'm just saying I personally would not want that PSU, especially if I'm going to overclock.
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September 6, 2014 8:18:04 AM

But im going overclock in the future, not when a get the pc so i going to get a new power supply in the future but if i don't overclock would the system be stable AND would the R9 290x bottleneck the FX-8350?
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September 6, 2014 8:21:59 AM

Yeah, it should be ok then. If you were looking at buying it I'd steer you away from it, but as you already have it, it will run your system. Like you said, when it's time to overclock, if it's unstable you know the reason why. Probably that PSU. Many will tell you not to use it, buck up and pay for a new one, and they'd be right ;) 

And no, the FX8350 will not bottleneck that GPU.
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September 6, 2014 12:20:13 PM

Actually, if that PSU is being repurposed from another system I would not use it with that setup at all. Those components are high end and power hungry and if you take a PSU that's borderline when new and now add it used with possibly the better part of it's useful life behind it, it makes for a dangerous cocktail. It would be kind of like throwing a turbo charger on an engine that's running fine but already had 200,000 miles on it.
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September 6, 2014 9:57:43 PM

What would be a good PSU for that system then? 80+ silver? 850 watts?
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September 6, 2014 10:05:25 PM

Anything Tier 2B or above here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-su...

(Of compatible wattage of course. 620w-750w versions of any of those Tier 2b or up units would be fine. I prefer Seasonic, EVGA or XFX)
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September 6, 2014 10:42:27 PM

Would a XFX 650W XXX Edition be enough for the build and for little overclocking?
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September 6, 2014 10:49:26 PM

Yeah, absolutely. That's a very good PSU.
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September 6, 2014 10:53:56 PM

But would there be any problems like blue screens occassional shut downs an wold i be able overclock?
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September 6, 2014 10:58:20 PM

You would be able to overclock with no problems and at least insofar as exluding the possibility of getting a bad unit, which can happen no matter how much you spend on any hardware component, for our purposes we'll assume you DO NOT get a bad unit, then no, you should not experience blue screens or shut downs due to the PSU. You might get them due to other factors, but it won't be due to the quality of the PSU.
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September 6, 2014 11:01:59 PM

But how much would i be able to overclock with that PSU and my Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO? 4.2Ghz? 4.4Ghz?
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September 6, 2014 11:14:01 PM

4.2 no problem. 4.4 probably. As always there is no clear cut answer for what any particular chip may or may not be capable of. A lot depends on the board it's sitting on, the power supply and even the cooler you're using. If you get a good chip, and with that Sabertooth board and that XFX PSU I'd say you might go 4.6 or higher with the right cooler. Again, it depends on whether you have the luck of the draw and get at least an average if not good chip. Get a bad chip and it might get hot or be unstable at 4.4.

If you want to seriously go above 4.4 I would definitely get a higher end cpu fan and heatsink. If you will be happy with 4.2 to 4.4 then the 212 is probably perfectly fine although under high loads it will undoubtedly be louder than some higher end coolers. You also want to make sure you have plenty of case cooling and the bigger you can go with the fans the lower you can keep the noise level down so if your case will accept 140mm fans rather than 120mm ones, that's a good option. 200mm fans are even better but most cases don't allow using those.
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September 6, 2014 11:16:15 PM

But would a Asus M5A99X EVO R2.0 be good too for overclocking?
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September 6, 2014 11:34:55 PM

I don't think it's as good as the Sabertooth but it seems many people have managed pretty high stable OC's with it.
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September 6, 2014 11:52:58 PM

If going to overclock my sweet spot is around 4.2Ghz-4.5Ghz. So would i be able to go 4.3Ghz or more with that mobo?
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September 7, 2014 12:24:39 AM

I can't really tell you yes or no on that. I haven't personally used that particular board and I don't know the capabilities of your chip. In theory, it should be fine and others have done it but every case is different as I said before. One thing about that board is that if you use two GPU cards you'll only be able to use them at X8 speeds rather than dual X16 speeds on a lot of other motherboards.
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September 7, 2014 12:34:36 AM

I can stretch my budget so i could get a Intel core i5 4690 and a R9 290 or 290x would it be better? I can't overclock if i pick that one so which one should be better also if im going to pick the Intel core i5 4690 should a pick a h97 chipset mobo because that processor is not unlocked?
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