$1500 AMD Gaming Build

[mrwhit30ut]

Okay so, Here is my AMD gaming rig. I would like to know if this setup would be able to mostly max out games like Crysis 2, Skyrim, WoW, and get good frames on the higher settings of bf3 (I know it won't be able to max out until I CFX). Most important is Gaming, and I don't think I will be doing anything else a significant amount to factor in. I will overclock both video cards and CPU, and I will be getting a second GPU in the future to Crossfire. I have water cooling ambitions, but that is probably the last thing on my mind. I prefer Tiger Direct and Microcenter as I have both stores within walking distance of my house. Right now I will only be getting a 120 GB SSD because HDDs are just way to overpriced currently. And this computer is being build in the USA around Christmas time.

Here is the Build

CPU:AMD Phenom X6 1100t

Cooling:Corsair H100

GPU:MSI Radeon HD 6970 Lightning Edition

Motherboard:Asus Sabertooth 990FX

PSU:Corsair HX 850

RAM:Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8GB (2 x 4GB)

Case:Corsair Obsidian 650D

DVD Burner: Asus OEM 24x

SSD: Corsair Force Series GT 120 GB

Tell me if any of the links are broken and I will put in the correct link. They are all off newegg, because I just want a rough estimate before I spread all the parts out to different vendors. Are there any compatibility issues, and is that the best processor in that price range for gaming? Also I will take suggestions on any parts (I just would like to see what my options are).

 

[Outlander_04]

In that price range you get a better faster cooler computer with Intel

2500k
Z68 motherboard

 

[wintermint]

Okay here's your problem.. you're going with AMD for a $1500 build. At this price range, it is Intel all the way. You live close to a Microcenter. You should be able to grab a i5-2500k for $180 and $60 off intel motherboard (p67/z68). That will come out to around $220-$260 already and A LOT BETTER PERFORMANCE.

Change RAM to these if you need a little extra budget room:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

 

[Swolern]

^ second the i5 2500k and Z68 @ Microcenter. U can't get better than that right now for gaming.

With $1500 u should be able to get two 6970 for Crossfire and you PC will be blazing. I prefer Nvidia cards myself due to better GPU driver support. I like the EVGA GTX 590. But it's ur choice.

 

[cuecuemore]

Like the others have said, AMD is not a viable choice for a $1500 gaming rig. AMD doesn't make a CPU that can reliably unbottleneck a single 6970, say nothing of two. The 2500k will beat the 1090t in 100% of everything: games, rendering, multitasking, memory addressing, etc. Other than that it looks great to me.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

OKay so what are some mobo recommendations for an i5 Z68?

 

[steadywaters]

ASUS P8Z68-V LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Motherboard
ASUS P8Z68-V PRO LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Motherboard
ASUS P8Z68-V/GEN3 LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Motherboard
ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Motherboard

 

[mrwhit30ut]

I think I am going to go with an i5 2500k and the Asus P8Z68-V Pro. I don't know if I should just go with the normal or the new PCIe 3.0. Your thoughts?

 

[Outlander_04]

Its unlikely to make a significant difference .

Even when you have two graphics cards in in sandy bridge mother board , and the graphics slots are running at 8x [ the same as pci-e 1 x16] there is no noticeable restriction .

So if doubling it doesnt make the system run noticeably faster then doubling that again wont make any difference either .
I suppose it adds a measure of future proofing , but the returns will be tiny if any during the 2 years or so your system will be competitive

 

[mrwhit30ut]

Well on top of that i really like how the pro comes with 2 port internal USB 3.0 header which I can use inside the case by taking off the PCI bracket and connecting the two pass throughs on the case to it, So that is a plus. I think I am going to buy the case early and then mod it up, any ideas? I am a major hobbyist and love to paint and mod stuff, so if anyone has any inspiration tips please feel free.

 

[Outlander_04]

some cases have front USB 3 ports to connect to the internal USB 3 headers

 

[ToKiiNz]

theres lots you can do with that case my friend has one he removed 2 2.5in bays and put a free standing red led fan that lights up the whole case and hepainted it red with black racing stripes

 

[mrwhit30ut]

I know outlander, but the corsair 650d doesn't have that luxury, and that is kind of an added bonus of the adapter, now I don't have to sped extra money on one, I really hate wires coming out of my case just to plug into the back, I am kind of, no scratch that, a huge OCD cable management guy and everything must be neat and tidy or else I believe it looks like crap, and I have to redo it.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

I really think there is a better cpu cooling solution out there, I know there is the thermalright silver arrow, No NH-D14 it is the ugliest piece of effective cooling solutions I have ever seen.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

What are some other good cooling options, the h100 comes a little steep but it comes with a 30$ mail in rebate, and That makes it about $70ish, Would that be the best option for ocing? or is there something better.

 

[Swolern]

If your top priority is gaming I would get the best CPU cooler for the price the Cooler Master Hyper 212. I've seen it on sale for @ $25 - a $10 rebate. Use that money saved and put it towards your GPU budget, that's where you will get the largest gaming performance gains. I have the Hyper 212 and it was running on my i5 2500k @ 4.5ghz with temps 30s- 40s.

Although there is not much need to overclock the i5 2500k. I5 stock speeds will not bottleneck your system even if running 6970CF or GTX 590 running the most graphical games like BF3 & Crysis 2.

There was no gaming performance on the i5 overclock so I just turned my i5 back down to stock speeds so it will last. But the Hyper 212 is there if I need it in the future.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

So, If I can save money on my cooler, and get my budget down enough would it be wise to look into a gtx 580?

 

[mrwhit30ut]

Another thing would it be wise to order off amazon? I found the Asus MB I want on there for about $30 cheaper.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

Best answer selected by mrwhit30ut.

 

[Swolern]

So, If I can save money on my cooler, and get my budget down enough would it be wise to look into a gtx 580?

That would be wise. U can even use the stock Intel cooler right now and buy a CPU cooler later when the price and time are right. Like I said u won't need to OC right now, no gaming gains.

 

[Swolern]

Another thing would it be wise to order off amazon? I found the Asus MB I want on there for about $30 cheaper.

Yes any well known site would be good. Amazon and NewEgg are the best.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

I really don't think gtx 580 is worth the 50% price gain for a 5% performance upgrade, What do you guys think.

 

[Swolern]

I really don't think gtx 580 is worth the 50% price gain for a 5% performance upgrade, What do you guys think.

What r u comparing it to the 6970?


AMD 6970- http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/battlefield-3-graphics-performance,3063-12.html

GTX 580- http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/battlefield-3-graphics-performance,3063-7.html


6970 goes for average $350
580 average $500

Comparing FPS @ 1080p on BF3 on ultra settings, 580= 55fps, 6970= 44fps. (keep in mind those are average FPS, minimum FPS can drop @20fps depending on graphical intense maps). 580 offers @ a 23% inrease in performance compared to 6970. Price wise 580 is about average 40% more expensive. It is true you get more bang for your buck wih AMD. But Nvidia has better GPU support, better 3d support, & has PhysX(not many games use PhysX). So if 3d and PhysX gaming means a lot to u then go with Nvidia. If u want to play on highest possible graphical settings, with smooth as butter high framerate, and don't care @ 3d or PhysX then go with AMD. X2 6970s in crossfire is @ $600-$700 and will smoke a 580, but with less support.

I like Nvidia cards better, I've had less problems with them. But that's just me.

 

[mrwhit30ut]

What do you mean by support? Like customer service and drivers? The way I see it is, that is only in battlefield 3, I have 2 friends, one's an AMD fanboy and the other is an Nvidia fanboy (oOo lucky me right? wrong). They get into the biggest arguments, and the one thing my AMD friend always ends with is that A $380 card can beat a $500 card 30% - 60% of the time, and I don't even know if the %s are that high, I guess just saying a $380 card beats a $500 card which to me alone is enough to buy the cheaper one. It also seems the 6970 runs cooler and has a less power consumption, because If I got a 580, I am eventually going to cfx or sli whatever I get, so I would also have to upgrade my psu. That goes with saying an 850w psu is enough for 2 6970s, correct me if I am wrong please.

 

[TheEliteAurora]

An 850 watt psu could probably handle two 580s..