First Computer Build. Feedback/Advice Please

mattjb86

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Dec 4, 2014
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Hello Everyone

This is going to be my first computer build and just want some feedback on the parts I chose. I hope they are all compatible with each other. However there was a "compatibility note" at the bottom of the parts list saying:

"Some AMD 970 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Vishera CPUs." Is something to be concerned about?

My goal is to order all the parts from one place which I chose Newegg. I know some parts might be cheaper if I bought from other sites but I just wanted to keep it simple.

I also want to use the Newegg Special Financing which is 12 month interest free which I think is Awesome. It should help build some credit too haha. I was thinking about signing up for the Newegg Premier 30 Day Free Trial before I place the order. Has anybody signed up for this? Any good?

The build is something that I want to keep around $1000 and preferably a little under after rebates and other special savings. If there are any more Newegg promo codes that you're willing to share I would greatly appreciate it. I've been looking around for some more but haven't been lucky to come across any that are active.

Anyways here are the parts

Link: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/RhKbdC

CPU | AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor | $99.99 @ Newegg

CPU Cooler | Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler | $29.99 @ Newegg

Thermal Compound | Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste | $8.99 @ Newegg

Motherboard | ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard | $94.49 @ Newegg

Memory | Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $83.98 @ Newegg

Storage | Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $59.99 @ Newegg

Video Card | Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB DirectCU II Video Card | $169.99 @ Newegg

Case | Antec Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case | $69.99 @ Newegg

Power Supply | Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | $63.98 @ Newegg

Optical Drive | Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer | $26.97 @ Newegg

Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) | $102.98 @ Newegg

Monitor | ViewSonic VA2246M-LED 60Hz 22.0" Monitor | $129.99 @ Newegg

Keyboard | Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse | $32.98 @ Newegg

Total | Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $974.31

Thanks for any feedback.

Matt
 
Solution
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($188.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.99 @ Micro Center)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($8.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk X110 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.95 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.65 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.98 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($26.97 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: ViewSonic VA2246M-LED 60Hz 22.0" Monitor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($32.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $992.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-04 11:52 EST-0500

20 bucks more than your old list and way more powerful.

Got you a 280, a more powerful PSU, and intel board and CPU.

This intel board is a H97, they will support the soon to be released 5th generation cores, I couldn't fit in a higher I5, but this will still get the job done :).
 

mattjb86

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Dec 4, 2014
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I think I might stick with AMD but I do appreciate the feedback. I would also like to buy all components from one site (newegg).

Hey Wisecracker so you think there would be compatibility issues with the FX-6300 and the ASRock 970 EXTREME4 mobo?

You think I should switch out the ASRock mobo with the Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P AM3+ and the FX-6300 with the FX-8320?
 

RazerZ

Judicious
Ambassador
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair Air 240 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($102.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($32.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $965.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-04 12:18 EST-0500

My suggestion. I would go Intel. It will game better than AMD on the majority of current titles and comes down to around the same price.
 

mattjb86

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Dec 4, 2014
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Hey RazerZ. Thanks for the response I switched out the power supply and monitor. But still debating whether to switch to intel CPU and mobo. For a while now I just had AMD CPU set in my mind just because of budget concerns
 

jaloko

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Mar 26, 2012
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Trust me, after building many PCs and owning an AMD for a long while... go with Intel. It's far more powerful, AMD is ok if you want to OC, but Intel for gaming right now is better. Of course this is YOUR pc, everything we give you are suggestions.
 

mattjb86

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Dec 4, 2014
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Here is the parts list updated:

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8VqXFT) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8VqXFT/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54440) | $169.99 @ Newegg
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rrb10212pg1) | $29.99 @ Newegg
**Motherboard** | [MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z97pcmate) | $91.98 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmz8gx3m2a1600c9b) | $83.98 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $59.99 @ Newegg
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvr928wf3oc3gd) | $164.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Antec Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-case-ninehundred) | $69.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b10750vr) | $49.99 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-optical-drive-sh224dbbebe) | $19.99 @ Newegg
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $102.98 @ Newegg
**Monitor** | [Acer G246HLAbd 60Hz 24.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/acer-monitor-umfg6aaa01) | $119.99 @ Newegg
**Keyboard** | [Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-keyboard-sgb3010kkmf1us) | $32.98 @ Newegg
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $979.84
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-04 16:14 EST-0500 |

What do you think?
 

RazerZ

Judicious
Ambassador
I would change a few things so you could get a better graphics card to pair with the i5:

- Go with the cheap Ares in my build, just as fast.
- If you don't use CDs/DVDs you could drop the optical drive and install the OS via USB
- Could go with a cheaper case that is still decent for the price. Maybe a Source 210 or Corsair 200r
- That Z97 is really stripped and has the same functionality as this H97: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-h97performance
 

mackswelll

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Dec 3, 2014
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4,660
Amd is better performance per dollar IMO, and aftermarket CPU coolers are a good idea in general. some really good AIO liquid coolers/ Air coolers for cheap that will cool much better than stock heatsink(and look better too!)

AMD 6300 at 100$ is a crazy deal, with even a slight overclock they run as well as the i5's for games and even better for some other applications. the difference would be minimal imo, watch some comparison videos on youtube(just make sure the channel is not sponsored by one or the other or you may get a biased review) Yes more than not the intel runs a few fps more, but some people cant justify 70$ for just a couple extra frames.
 

jaloko

Honorable
Mar 26, 2012
39
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10,540


Yes but for you to OC to get to the level of the i5 the i5 can OC and beat it... I used to think the same as you but i have an i7 right now and the performance compared to an OC AMD is substantial. It is good if you want to have a budget PC but spending extra for an Intel seems better to me.
 
...It's far more powerful...
:sarcastic: Hyberbole.

An "i7" is not a "locked" i5-4440. Stop moving the goal posts.

Hey Wisecracker so you think there would be compatibility issues with the FX-6300 and the ASRock 970 EXTREME4 mobo?

You think I should switch out the ASRock mobo with the Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P AM3+ and the FX-6300 with the FX-8320?

There will not be compatibility issues.

The GA-970A-UD3P AM3+ with the FX-8320 is $215 before $10 rebate. It's gone up in price $10 in the last 24 hours. The Gigabyte is an 'Ultra-Durable' motherboard with 8+2 PWM (power delivery) versus 4+1 PWM with the AsRock motherboard. Because of the added stability of the 8+2 PWM, the Gigabyte is a better over-clocking motherboard.

The FX-8320 is a 'higher-binned' CPU than the FX-6300 (which is a fine chip, BTW). The FX-8320 will OC nicely, and trade blows with any Intel CPU.

The overwhelming majority of games are 'GPU-bound' meaning the more video card power you throw at them, the higher your results will be.

Trolling AMD build threads seems to be a 'self-esteem' booster for Intel Fans who use words like 'destroy' '10 times better' and 'much more powerful'. The fact is, paying 20-30% more for an Intel CPU/mobo may only gain you a handful of frames, and you are better off spending that extra cash on a more powerful GPU ...

Or, an SSD.





 


"Intel Fangirl" *cough* yes I must agree with you, I do love intel more than AMD, BUT you do not know me sir :) I have built AMD rigs for myself and friends in the past and present. I recommend both sides to people for what they need. If they want a light gaming rig for Minecraft or the like I give them APU's, if they want something more powerful I go INTEL! :).

A 8350 OC'd to 4.5 ghz will in fact trade blows with a I5, but a locked stock I5 that doesn't need any OC will trade blows with a OC'd 8350.

Now they are both great chips! I have built AMD builds for myself in the past using the Sempron, Athlon x3 and Phenom ii x4 965 BE and I loved each and every single one of them. I use Intel based systems now because they are cooler and take less power to run.

You sir, sound like a AMD fanboy, spouting nonsense to me and my colleagues about how we "love" intel, well I always see you spout AMD builds so I might as well call you a "AMD FANBOY."

As well, you said "ANY" Intel CPU, heh.. a I3-4330 can handle a R9 295X2 Better than the 8350 OC'd to 4.5 ghz.

But, I am not to hard headed, I will agree with you that it loses overall, but, in the long run, Intel runs longer(Especially the new future proofed H97/Z97 boards)
 
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