Review my new gaming setup

AmaanK

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Hello,
I am planning to put together a new PC. I already have Corsair 200R case, Antec 450 PSU, a 500GB hard disk and an optical drive. I am primarily making it for playing the newer games that are available. I am playing at 1024 X 768. I wish to play at 1080p but it's not necessary. I am good playing at current resolution too.
Here goes the build :

CPU : Intel i3 6100
http://www.amazon.in/Intel-Core-i3-6100-1151-Processor/dp/B015VPX2EO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477657969&sr=8-1&keywords=i3+6100

GPU : Asus R7 370 STRIX GAMING EDITION
http://www.amazon.in/OVERCLOCKED-256-Bit-Express-CrossFireX-Support/dp/B00ZPO8CYC/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1477662298&sr=1-1&keywords=r7+370

RAM Kingston HyperX Fury 8 GB DDR4 2133MHZ
http://www.amazon.in/Kingston-HyperX-Fury-Black-2133MHz/dp/B01D8U27YU/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1477660162&sr=1-1&keywords=8gb+ddr4+ram

MOBO: MSI H110M PRO VD
http://www.amazon.in/MSI-H110M-PRO-Generation-MotherBoard/dp/B01649FUXM/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1477659067&sr=1-3&keywords=lga+1151+motherboard

Tell me what do you think of this. Should I get this or not? Should I switch some parts or not?
Budget is Rs 30000. I can stretch it to Rs 35000.

Thanks :)
 
Solution
The motherboard ram QVL list documents ram that has been tested and is known to work.
They can't test everything.

If you find a kit that has the specs you want, go to the ram web site and access their ram configurator.
Enter your motherboard and you will get a list of supported kits.

And, while the motherboard may say 2133 speed is supported, 2400 speed and faster will also work. All DDR4 ram has a default 2133 speed.

manddy123

Admirable
Two sticks of RAM are better than just one, it's a little more expensive but the Dual-Channel it will provide is worth it, also those are faster:
http://www.amazon.in/G-SKILL-Ripjaws-2400Mhz-Desktop-F4-2400C15D-8GRR/dp/B00XNADM8Q/ref=sr_1_15?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1477664352&sr=1-15&keywords=8gb+ddr4+ram

That GPU is very pricey IMO, without a doubt i'd recommend the RX 470. It's better and just a little more expensive:
http://www.amazon.in/MSI-RADEON-470-GAMING-2Displayport/dp/B01JS9F9K4/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1477664497&sr=1-1&keywords=rx+470

With both changes, there'll be already a nice performance upgrade on your rig.
It'll result in a final price of: Rs 34753
 

AmaanK

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I understand the Dual Channel. But I guess upcoming games would require more RAM in the future and I would be able to add one more 8GB stick when needed. Also the RAM you linked is 2400 MHZ and the mobo supports only 2133 MHZ. Would I need a new PSU or is the current one fine?
 

manddy123

Admirable
Yeah my bad with the RAM... I didn't look further in the mobo specs, just it's chipset
8GB of RAM is kinda too little to play newer games , but if you plan to upgrade in the near future you could keep that single stick then, just make sure, when you upgrade, to get the exact same brand/speed and everything should be fine.

It deppends heavily on the model/brand of it. But it probably is fine, as it's 450W and your system's power requirement isn't big.
 

AmaanK

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http://www.amazon.in/Antec-VP450P-450W-Power-Supply/dp/B006TM8XPW
This is the PSU I have. Would you please take a look?
 
Agreed, a 2 x 4gb kit of ddr4 ram will let you run in faster dual channel mode.
Buy the cheapest kit you can find. Ram speed is largely irrelevant when using discrete graphics.

On graphics, be savvy about shopping for R7, R9, and RX cards from amd.
They will be discounted shortly to meet the upcoming competition from GTX1050 and GTX1050ti.
Even today, you may find that a similarly performing GTX950 is cheaper,
Tom-s hierarchy chart may help you compare the merits of graphics cards:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html

 

AmaanK

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Been told RX470 is far better. Can you list a particular GTX 950 I should use.
 
What graphics card you use may well be determined by your amd vs, nvidia bias.
In tom-s charts, there is relatively little difference between adjacent tiers.
When looking at GTX960, or any other card for that matter, I would opt for a factory overclocked version, but not one of the massively overclocked versions.
You also need to be aware that your psu has only one 6 pin pcie graphics connector.
That will ultimately limit the strongest graphics card you can use.
I have no problem with the psu. Antec generally makes good quality products.
Here is a chart for the psu requirements of other graphics card options:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

Read some reviews on the GTX1050 and GTX1050ti.
It looks like it will handily beat the RX460 and GTX950 at a lower price point.

I3-6100 and the motherboard supports integrated graphics. If you are undecided on what graphics card to buy, consider the option of using the integrated graphics at first. The integrated HD530 graphics will do all you want at the desktop and perhaps even play some games decently. (dual channel ram is important for integrated graphics)
This review will give you some idea of the limits of integrated graphics:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10543/the-skylake-core-i3-51w-cpu-review-i3-6320-6300-6100-tested


On ram, if you ever want 16gb, buy it up front.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when 4 sticks are involved.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.
It is safer to get what you need in one kit.
But, it is a bit more expensive because of the added matching of all the sticks to insure compatibility.
Your motherboard has only two ram slots, so decide accordingly.
Usually DDR4 2400 speed costs about the same as 2133 speed. It will always run at 2133 which is the default and many motherboards will allow you to use the ram xmp settings to run faster.
In the end, more ram trumps faster ram.
If you do not have the budget for 16gb now, do not plan on buying a single 8gb stick and adding another.
Consider what you would do if it did not work.
 

AmaanK

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Looked for the dual ram kit and it is significantly expensive for a 16gb kit. Can't stretch my budget by that much.
I had heard that it didn't matter in most cases that if I bought the sticks together or not. Looked at that PSU chart and RX 470 requires a 450 power supply and 1 PCIE 6 pin..So I guess, I'm good there?
 
I think you are good on the psu.
Antec is good quality.

On the ram, if you do not have the budget, you can't buy.
8gb is usually just fine.
Just realize that adding a second 8gb stick is not guaranteed to work.
If it does, fine.
If it does not, and you still want 16gb, you will need to return the 8gb stick you bought, sell your old 8gb stick and buy a 2 x8gb kit.

What I think I would do is buy a 2 x 4gb ram kit now so you get the performance of dual channel.
When the time comes for 16gb, keep the original kit as a spare or sell it and buy a compatible 16gb kit.
 

AmaanK

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Okay. I understand what you think. I had another idea today which was to not go for a new build but to add a better GPU and more RAM to my existing setup to play games at 1024 X 768 resolution monitor. (I mean anything less than 1080p resolution)
My existing setup is following :

CPU - Intel pentium G3220 3.0 Ghz
GPU - Sapphire R7 250X 1GB GDDR5
RAM - GSkill RipjawsX 4GB DDR3 1333Mhz
MOBO - ASRock H81 PRO BTC

So now I am thinking of making the following additions,
GPU : MSI GTX 750 Ti TF
http://www.amazon.in/MSI-GeForce-TF-2GD5-OC/dp/B00I602S92/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477809409&sr=8-1&keywords=msi+gtx+750ti
RAM : Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Kit
http://www.amazon.in/Crucial-Ballistix-PC3-12800-240-Pin-BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00/dp/B006WAGGUK/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1477809515&sr=1-4&keywords=crucial+ballistix+8gb

Do you think I should go for this?
 
I would agree with doing a graphics upgrade first. It can always be carried forward to a new build.

On the ram, if your os is 32 bit, you can not make use of more than 4gb.

Regardless, see how the graphics card upgrade does first . Likely the ram will not be a big issue unless you are multitasking a lot.
 

AmaanK

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I have a 64-bit OS. I'll be getting both the GPU and RAM together. Because I'll be backed out if I don't upgrade my low speed RAM.
Can you help me out on this one last bit? I found this 8GB kit from Crucial (Ballistix Sport) but when I went to check it's compatibility on my motherboard's website I could find no data about it. Could you help me somehow to check if this would work or not? The link to my RAM is in a reply above. I also mentioned my motherboard.
 
The motherboard ram QVL list documents ram that has been tested and is known to work.
They can't test everything.

If you find a kit that has the specs you want, go to the ram web site and access their ram configurator.
Enter your motherboard and you will get a list of supported kits.

And, while the motherboard may say 2133 speed is supported, 2400 speed and faster will also work. All DDR4 ram has a default 2133 speed.

 
Solution