Advice wanted for first gaming build with FX 8350

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

Hi, I am going to build my first gaming PC, which will also be my first ever gaming PC. Yes, I'm a complete noob. I have been researching for several weeks and have seen great commentary on this site so I just joined. I have seen similar, slightly different builds to this list that I have finally put together. Please let me know what you think about overall quality and compatibility for this build. This PC is only going to to be used for gaming, so I'm just getting an SSD drive. When it starts to fill up I'll just add a 2nd, possibly bigger SSD drive depending how quickly it fills up. Might want to eventually try a little overclocking but nothing too extreme. Also please let me know if I neeed to get a sound card or wired network card (I think the motherboard includes them both but want to make sure). Lastly, is it worth installing a wireless network card on a gaming PC? I live in the USA if that matters for parts/deals. Thanks in advance!

Here is my build from PCPartPicker.com

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($169.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($97.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280X 3GB TurboDuo Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair Graphite Series 230T Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Directron)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $890.87

NightAntilli · Nov 18, 2014

I would upgrade the motherboard, especially if you want to overclock,

sadams04 · Nov 18, 2014

CPU - The 8320 will overclock the same as the 8350. At a minimum, save the $50 and set the 8320 to the 8350 (which is perfectly safe).
MB - Changed to the tried-and-true ASUS below.
MEM - Changed to DDR3-1866 CL8 1.5v (low latency).
CASE - Fine and all, but check out the Corsair 200R.

Enjoy that rig!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($124.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $931.90

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

Thanks for the quick response! Any suggestions for motherboard?

sadams04 · Nov 18, 2014

Also, it is worth noting that at your budget level an Intel build may be a better option. Only the MB and CPU have changed in the build below. Only overclocking the AMD build would give it an edge over the Intel build..

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.77 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.09 @ Amazon)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $932.79

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

Thanks, looking forward to playing first game on it! I'll look into the pricing for the 8320 then. Probably going to wait until Black Friday sales since it's so close.

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

I have been debating back and forth whether I should go with Intel or amd.

Outlander_04 · Nov 18, 2014

NightAntilli :

The GA-970A-UD3P is an excellent overclocking board with more power phases than any other board with a 970 series chipset , and decent mosfet cooling .
Its only limitation is that you can only run one graphics card , and thats not an issue for 95% of gamers

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

Good to know. I'm not really planning on running 2 cards so that shouldn't be an issue.

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

sadams04 :

CPU - The 8320 will overclock the same as the 8350. At a minimum, save the $50 and set the 8320 to the 8350 (which is perfectly safe).
MB - Changed to the tried-and-true ASUS below.
MEM - Changed to DDR3-1866 CL8 1.5v (low latency).
CASE - Fine and all, but check out the Corsair 200R.

Enjoy that rig!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($124.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $931.90

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

thanks for the quick replies. So you think the asus directCU II video card is better than the powercolor turbo duo?

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

NightAntilli :

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

What motherboard would you recommend?

NightAntilli · Nov 18, 2014

Outlander_04 :

I checked. This seems to be correct. You can keep that motherboard. I was mistaking the D3 for the UD3. My bad.

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

NightAntilli :

Outlander_04 :

I checked. This seems to be correct. You can keep that motherboard. I was mistaking the D3 for the UD3. My bad.

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

No problem. Thanks for checking and replying back.

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

sadams04 :

CPU - The 8320 will overclock the same as the 8350. At a minimum, save the $50 and set the 8320 to the 8350 (which is perfectly safe).
MB - Changed to the tried-and-true ASUS below.
MEM - Changed to DDR3-1866 CL8 1.5v (low latency).
CASE - Fine and all, but check out the Corsair 200R.

Enjoy that rig!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($124.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $931.90

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

sadams04 :

CPU - The 8320 will overclock the same as the 8350. At a minimum, save the $50 and set the 8320 to the 8350 (which is perfectly safe).
MB - Changed to the tried-and-true ASUS below.
MEM - Changed to DDR3-1866 CL8 1.5v (low latency).
CASE - Fine and all, but check out the Corsair 200R.

Enjoy that rig!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($124.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $931.90

madmatt30 · Nov 18, 2014

honestly mate if your not planning on crossfire in the future ( & I woudlnt) then drop the board back to the gigabyte ud3p - itll save you $50 & is just as good - spend that $50 on a 1tb hard drive is my advice - once you start playing around on your new pc youll fill a 256gb ssd very very quickly

do you have a microcenter near you ,they are doing a promo with $50 off a motherboard when bought with a fx chip - this means you can get the 8320 & the gigabyte 970a-ud3p as a combo for the grand total of $155+tax, a fairly big saving

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

sadams04 :

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

madmatt30 :

honestly mate if your not planning on crossfire in the future ( & I woudlnt) then drop the board back to the gigabyte ud3p - itll save you $50 & is just as good - spend that $50 on a 1tb hard drive is my advice - once you start playing around on your new pc youll fill a 256gb ssd very very quickly

do you have a microcenter near you ,they are doing a promo with $50 off a motherboard when bought with a fx chip - this means you can get the 8320 & the gigabyte 970a-ud3p as a combo for the grand total of $155+tax, a fairly big saving

desertdogs · Nov 18, 2014

Thanks, but unfortunately there aren't any Microcenters in my state. I'm not planning on crossfire so don't want to pay extra if I don need to.

desertdogs · Nov 19, 2014

I'm probably going to go with sadams04 build except I might still get the FX 8350 if there is a good Black Friday deal for it. Otherwise I'll get the FX 8320. Thanks for all the responses.

Advice wanted for first gaming build with FX 8350

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