Budget Build $400 G3258 vs. FX 8320E

sdage8 · Mar 9, 2015

Hey guys! So I'm new to building computers and I need some advice. I'm building a gaming computer to last me a few years that can play most games on high, but I mostly play LoL and Hearthstone. I already have a HDD and an optical drive so I wont be needing to buy those. I found some pretty good bundle deals on microcenter so I made two builds. I'd like to hear the pros and cons of each build against each other and any other advice/input for them.

Build #1 G3258
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/w4CcP6
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/w4CcP6/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.87 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($131.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($27.85 @ OutletPC)
Total: $493.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-09 20:08 EDT-0400

But microcenter offers the CPU + mobo for 90$, so after the bundle and rebates the price would be $439. I went with a more blue oriented build here.

Build #2 FX-8320E
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VKk3Mp
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VKk3Mp/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8320E 3.2GHz 8-Core Processor ($136.85 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($131.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($27.87 @ Amazon)
Total: $486.67
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-09 20:09 EDT-0400

But at microcenter the CPU + mobo cost $120 together, making the cost of the build (after rebates) $409. http://www.microcenter.com/site/products/amd_bundles.aspx I went with a more red oriented build here.

Are there any improvements I can make to either build? Which build is better overall for gaming and for the future? I plan to install Windows 8.1. Also, I plan to overclock which ever build I go with so would I need any additional cooling or anything? All help is appreciated, thanks guys!

spentshells · Mar 9, 2015

8320 is a no contest winner here, overclocked as far as it will go the 8320 will still walk around it in all games that are multithreaded.

sdage8 · Mar 9, 2015

Well before rebates the 8320 is at $455. I still have $90 left in my budget. I saw this http://gpushack.com/collections/all-gpus-for-sale/products/asus-directcu-ii-r9-270x with a -$20 discount making it the same price as my current GPU so I could replace that. What else should I do with the left over money? Do I need aftermarket cooling if I were to overclock? Should I upgrade anything or add anything?

Dark Lord of Tech · Mar 9, 2015

sdage8 :

Hey guys! So I'm new to building computers and I need some advice. I'm building a gaming computer to last me a few years that can play most games on high, but I mostly play LoL and Hearthstone. I already have a HDD and an optical drive so I wont be needing to buy those. I found some pretty good bundle deals on microcenter so I made two builds. I'd like to hear the pros and cons of each build against each other and any other advice/input for them.

Build #1 G3258
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/w4CcP6
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/w4CcP6/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.87 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($131.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($27.85 @ OutletPC)
Total: $493.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-09 20:08 EDT-0400

But microcenter offers the CPU + mobo for 90$, so after the bundle and rebates the price would be $439. I went with a more blue oriented build here.

Build #2 FX-8320E
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VKk3Mp
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VKk3Mp/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8320E 3.2GHz 8-Core Processor ($136.85 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($131.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($27.87 @ Amazon)
Total: $486.67
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-09 20:09 EDT-0400

But at microcenter the CPU + mobo cost $120 together, making the cost of the build (after rebates) $409. http://www.microcenter.com/site/products/amd_bundles.aspx I went with a more red oriented build here.

Are there any improvements I can make to either build? Which build is better overall for gaming and for the future? I plan to install Windows 8.1. Also, I plan to overclock which ever build I go with so would I need any additional cooling or anything? All help is appreciated, thanks guys!

http://www.overclock.net/t/1500086/why-you-should-not-buy-an-evga-430-500-500b-600b-psu
Why you should not buy an EVGA 430 / 500 / 500B / 600B PSU

sdage8 · Mar 9, 2015

Hmm interesting read, what PSU would you recommend then?

Dark Lord of Tech · Mar 9, 2015

XFX 550.

Sig2525 · Mar 9, 2015

8320e better all rounder than the g3258

spentshells · Mar 9, 2015

Oh wow, the evga psu's are fine, not what id buy but to keep prices down they are just fine as are the cx series from corsair.

Even the 500b has more than enough power to run that system without a hitch. 158 watts at load for the cpu 177 watts for a 270x less so for a 270 30-40 watts for the rest of the system

360 watts draw on a 500 watt psu is fine even if the psu is not top tier quality. The system will rarely be at full load so the consumption on average will be far less.

I wish more than anything we could have a review here at toms for efficiency and actual performance of these psu's which are constantly brought into question I've used most of em and for the most part all the bad hype boils down to a poor model in each line. Or common duds which I admit are far fewer in "top tier" psu's

power consumption over the last few years has fallen like a rock. Does a budget build need a 55 dollar psu when a 35 dollar one will do?

Come on Toms

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Budget Build $400 G3258 vs. FX 8320E

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