My Build ($650 budget) Micro ATX. Better PSU? Aftermarket CPU Cooler? Please help me improve and point out flaws/ problems.

josephlu

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My Current Build in Progress

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($55.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 380 4GB Video Card ($214.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: DIYPC DIY-F2-W White SPCC MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $634.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-04 23:15 EST-0500

I'm getting really close to my budget and don't have CPU cooler, but I know there is a stock one. I'm not planning to do any overclocking so yeah, I hope everything is alright. I also opted for a non-modular PSU, which I'm not completely thrilled about working with, but upgrading to modular may force me to go over my budget. I'm also looking for space upgrade so that's why I have a 600w PSU. If someone could find a PSU that's modular and around or above the current wattage, still around my priceline, that would be amazing. Also feel free to look for flaws and other pointers you could give me. I am willing to swap out components in order to improve my build.
 
Solution
I would never buy that ASRock H97 board they use about the cheapest caps made.
You can do so much better than a i3 drop the SSD that is a luxury item and has no place I a low budget gaming PC.
A WIFI card just to be honest sux. Get this instead. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704165
The rest of the PC right at your budget after rebates, no need for a CPU cooler the stock one will work just fine.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QdHyGX
The 10 extra bucks for the 4590 processor is worth the extra 0.3 turbo speed.

QuadRings

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Good thing, youd fry that motherboard if you tried. I dont think an 8320 will even work on that board. Never build MATX with an FX CPU. Swap to an FM2+ and Athlon 860K if you need that. Never mind the fact that FX processors are completely useless unless you overclock them.

Everything else looks fine
 

josephlu

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My friend runs an FX6300 on the same mobo and doesn't seem to have problems. FX processors aren't too good for overclocking anyways, so I'm planning to just have it as the base until I get a good CPU cooler. I DID, however, upgrade my MOBO as these ASUS brand mobos don't seem to work too well.

I swapped out the ASUS one for the: ASRock 970M PRO3 Micro ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard.
I've seen many mATX builds with FX processors, but I will switch to intel if anything bears a huge problem, otherwise, thank you for helping take note of that and I will do more research as this is my first mATX build.
 

lodders

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I suggest you get a skylake i3 processor and motherboard, using the stock cooler.

For most applications the i3 will be faster than the 8320, while consuming less power and producing less heat.

In a couple of years, you can upgrade the i3 to an i5. If you go AMD, you cannot really upgrade it.
 

josephlu

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Can you please suggest a combo of CPU+Mobo that will not exceed my budget? I'm looking for USB 3.0 and DDR3.
I'm also looking for mATX.
 

QuadRings

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Skylake cant use DDR3. I'll bring up a build with Intel a little later. And as for saying FX processors dont overclock well, you would be very wrong. Most don't use them WITHOUT an overclock, as cores are weak. Theyre meant for overclocking.
 

lodders

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Asrock h170M Pro 4 $95
Intel i3 6100 $129
G Skill Ripjaws 2133 8Gb $45

Which has gone a bit over your budget... But it is well worth it if you can save up a little more cash. If you buy AMD, you will probably have to buy an aftermarket cooler, which brings the cost almost as high as the intel solution....
 

josephlu

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but will it bottleneck my r9 380?

also, I read about the new i3 6320, is that any good?
 

QuadRings

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Well, this loses your SSD, but will be good for 1080p gaming until the NEXT Processor generation (By that I mean new motherboard chipsets and stuff as well). Even if it gets too weak for 1080P in the coming years, just toss a new GPU or add a CPU upgrade, or drop to 720P. While Haswell, its easily the most powerful thing posted on this thread yet. Case and stuff can ve swapped, just chose one at the same price as yours. And that Wi-Fi adapteris excellent (Unless you get a dud. But that could happen with everything) Here ya go!:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($67.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 380 4GB PCS+ Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Edimax EW-7811UAC 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($24.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $640.82

3.7 GHz on Turbo Boost.
 

josephlu

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Zerk2012

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I would never buy that ASRock H97 board they use about the cheapest caps made.
You can do so much better than a i3 drop the SSD that is a luxury item and has no place I a low budget gaming PC.
A WIFI card just to be honest sux. Get this instead. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704165
The rest of the PC right at your budget after rebates, no need for a CPU cooler the stock one will work just fine.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QdHyGX
The 10 extra bucks for the 4590 processor is worth the extra 0.3 turbo speed.
 
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lodders

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Bottleneck depends on the game. Some games perform best with a really really fast CPU like an i7, many others will be fine with an i3.

Others on this thread have suggested going for a previous generation i5 instead of an SSD.
As you can see from my signature I am also running a previous generation i5 on a PC I built recently, and I am very very happy with it, and it is really good value for money.
Only thing is, an SSD makes your computer boot much faster, install programs much faster, and open programs instantly. I absolutely love having one. Also upgrading later to an SSD sometimes causes a bit of hassle.

I recommend a Skylake i3 with an SSD, but only if you intend to replace it with a skylake i5 in a couple of years (before skylake gets replaced with something else). Since you are on a budget, just get the cheapest i3 and use it for 2 years


 

QuadRings

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Because the 1 minute boot times, 15 seconds to open a program, and the occasional slow download warrant a worse CPU for an SSD. Believe me, a previous Generation i5 is better than an SSD. i3s CANNOT play new games on good settings, as GTA V, Fallout, and others need more than 2 cores. Installing an SSD isnt that hard, just screw it into a drive bay and run a wire to the motherboard. 5 minute install that hard?
 

Zerk2012

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Some Skylake can use DDR3 it depends on the motherboard and for overclocking the FX processor it's done to get the stink out.
Fallout 4 the i3 beats all the FX processors even the 9590
http://www.techspot.com/review/1089-fallout-4-benchmarks/page5.html
GTA V the i3 still runs it just fine.
http://www.techspot.com/review/991-gta-5-pc-benchmarks/page6.html
A SSD is not a good choice for a low budget build that money could be put into the CPU and video card to improve the actual gaming performance who really cares if your PC boots in 10 seconds if it plays games like crap.
 

lodders

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Connecting a wire to an SSD is easy, BUT some disk cloning software causes windows to identify your OS as non genuine.
These problems can be solved, but hassle is sometimes involved - plenty of examples on this forum.
The easiest time to install an SSD is on a new PC
 

Zerk2012

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Not really true you can add a SSD anytime very easy but a SSD for a low budget build is a very bad Idea.
The best way to add a SSD is to actually do a fresh install of the operating system but their are a few good software's that usually work.
 

lodders

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So, to summarize what zerk said
1. an i3 is better than an AMD 9590 and will play fallout 4 and GTA V
2. The best way to install an SSD is do a fresh install of windows, which means reinstalling your drivers, antivirus, google chrome, spotify, VLC player, set up all your passwords and re install all your games..

Now you can see why I advised you to get an i3 and an SSD.
But like I said, it only makes sense if you are going to upgrade to a fast i5 a couple of years later while they are still compatible with your motherboard.
If you are not going to upgrade, then get an i5 and no SSD to start with.