FX 8120 build!!!!

[mailpranshu]

Hi Guys,

It's time for a new build again.

I am getting a FX 8120 for $110 from a friend. He is sadly breaking his rig due to cash issues and the poor guy needs our prayers. I have managed to pull some cash together and have decided to build a new rig around the FX. I just needed some quick advice. The FX is a steal for $110.

I already have a Corsair 750W PSU. And I don't need a keyboard, mouse or a screen( Razer + 32" TV). My budget is limited and I have shortlisted the following parts. Can you please give your thoughts?

The objectives are:
1. Heavy gaming
2. Media content.
3. Heavy overclocking.
4. Ram intensive Financial programs. ( SDC Platinum and Thomson One)

The parts are:
1. Asus M5A97 EVO ( Cant afford a 990 board and I don't need crossfire. Single card only)
2. CM 690 II or a Phantom NZXT Black.
3. Corsair H100, H80 or Kuhler 920.
4. Ram?????? (I need 8 GB @ 1600 MHZ)
5. Which graphics card? I cant spend more than ~ $300. ( The 7870 has not come to India yet so was thinking of a 6950. 1920x1200 resolution)

Questions:
1. Is the mo-bo good for overclocking?
2. Which of the water coolers will fit in those cases? Which case is better? PLEASE DO NOT SUGGEST DIFFERENT CASES!!
3. What Ram at what frequency should I pick up?What timing?
4. Also this is a one time buy. I cannot upgrade later.

Please post your thoughts. I have a week and will pick up everything next Friday. Links and pictures would be brilliant. Parts are the same price in India but there is usually a month or two delay in availability.

Thanks in advance boys!!!!!

 

[cdiscoll2012]

go with the CM 690 ii and in terms of RAM go with Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226099
For a graphics card go with a 560 ti 448 cores
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127615&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-MSI-_-14127615

 

[EzioAs]

Everything is pretty good, 6950 is a good card to add. I'd recommend the 7850 though if you can find one, performs similar to the 570 but costs less and lower power consumption. If you can find the 7870 though, get the 7870. But if you can't find them now, a 570 can be found below $300 as well and that is a pretty good card too

 

[maxinexus]

I would also suggest GTX570. You can find some even at $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162075

If you live in India you definitively need a water cooling for overclocking. Go with H100, if it is not going to fit your case you can drill the holes on the side of the case. You can easily push your CPU to 4.6 Ghz levels anything beyond is not worth it because performance is perhaps 1% higher at 4.9

FX has 1866 standard so I would suggest 1866 not 1600 but any good 1600 can run at 1866. I would go with Patriot
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220484

 

[mailpranshu]

Guys will the H100 fit in a Phantom? I know it will fit on the bottom of the CM 690 but I dont want to kill my HDD by blowing heat on it.

 

[mailpranshu]

ALso what about the mo-bo?? Is it good enough?

 

[Outlander_04]

I'd go with the Antec 300 two case , but of your choices the CM

The M5A97 evo is an awesome overclocker and the best single card AM3+ mb IMO

The RAM must be 1.5 volt or less . For games timings are not so important but for application speed it may help to have lower timings . 1600 Mhz at cl8 would be my choice 2 x4 gig is what you need .

Id just buy a large air cooler like a scythe mugen or Rasetsu

 

[striker410]

Correct me if I'm wrong but AMD CPUs can support 1.65v, no? If this ram is available in India, it's without a doubt what you want: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147096 Overclocks to 2133MHz for most people. That's a steal.

Anyway I concur with most of the suggestions above. I don't think an H100 is necessary but to each their own. A simple air cooler would get you to 4.2GHz, me thinks.

 

[BuBzXXL]

I'd go with Corsair Vengeance for 8GB you can get some for $54 I think

 

[BuBzXXL]

Also if you are gonna get a H80 or H100 get the H100

 

[g-unit1111]

Really? 9 replies and I'm the first to point out that the FX-8120 is beaten by the $70 Pentium G620? http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120.html

 

[azeem40]

You seem to have missed the OP.

I am getting a FX 8120 for $110 from a friend. He is sadly breaking his rig due to cash issues and the poor guy needs our prayers. I have managed to pull some cash together and have decided to build a new rig around the FX. I just needed some quick advice. The FX is a steal for $110.

He is helping out a friend. The build is fine as is. Sometimes you have to put others over yourself.

 

[g-unit1111]

You seem to have missed the OP.


He is helping out a friend. The build is fine as is. Sometimes you have to put others over yourself.

Oh I didn't see that, but there's a lot of things I wouldn't recommend that have already been recommended on such a rig like the H100 or overclocking your RAM, that can lead to bad things.

If that's the case I'll suggest this build:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99 ($10.00 MIR)
PSU: Seasonic M12 II 620W - $89.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 - $144.99 ($15.00 MIR)
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB 1333MHz 1.5V - $42.99
HD: Samsung / Seagate Spinpoint 500GB - $79.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 - $359.99

Total: $830.92 - $25.00 MIR = $805.92

It's the same board I have and it works great, and you get the same GPU I have which is also great and you don't even break $900 on this build.

 

[azeem40]

The above build is great! I'd use it.

 

[BuBzXXL]

Oh I didn't see that, but there's a lot of things I wouldn't recommend that have already been recommended on such a rig like the H100 or overclocking your RAM, that can lead to bad things.

If that's the case I'll suggest this build:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99 ($10.00 MIR)
PSU: Seasonic M12 II 620W - $89.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 - $144.99 ($15.00 MIR)
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB 1333MHz 1.5V - $42.99
HD: Samsung / Seagate Spinpoint 500GB - $79.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 - $359.99

Total: $830.92 - $25.00 MIR = $805.92

It's the same board I have and it works great, and you get the same GPU I have which is also great and you don't even break $900 on this build.

Whats wrong with the H100?

 

[azeem40]

It is not worth it. Only custom water coolers are worth it.

 

[BuBzXXL]

Hmm.... Aren't they quiet? I dunno... There has to be something good about them

 

[azeem40]

No, they are not quieter.

 

[BuBzXXL]

Then is there anything good about them? Lol

 

[azeem40]

Not really. They are beaten by a cheaper air cooler called the Noctua D14/Silver Arrow.

 

[mailpranshu]

I'd go with the Antec 300 two case , but of your choices the CM

The M5A97 evo is an awesome overclocker and the best single card AM3+ mb IMO

The RAM must be 1.5 volt or less . For games timings are not so important but for application speed it may help to have lower timings . 1600 Mhz at cl8 would be my choice 2 x4 gig is what you need .

Id just buy a large air cooler like a scythe mugen or Rasetsu

Hey outlander long time no see!!!!

I am sticking to the M5A97 as it is cheaper. Cash is a concern. I simply cant afford a 990 based board. Its almost double here!!!!!

The Rasetu is very very rare. I have looked for it but have had no such luck. I need to stick to water as its really hot here in Bangalore throughout the year. And weirdly enough the H60/70/100 is cheaper or equal to price of the mugen???? (WTF!!!)

For RAM I am sticking to the usual Mushkins.

Thanks a lot for your help.

 

[mailpranshu]

Oh I didn't see that, but there's a lot of things I wouldn't recommend that have already been recommended on such a rig like the H100 or overclocking your RAM, that can lead to bad things.

If that's the case I'll suggest this build:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99 ($10.00 MIR)
PSU: Seasonic M12 II 620W - $89.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 - $144.99 ($15.00 MIR)
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB 1333MHz 1.5V - $42.99
HD: Samsung / Seagate Spinpoint 500GB - $79.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 - $359.99

Total: $830.92 - $25.00 MIR = $805.92

It's the same board I have and it works great, and you get the same GPU I have which is also great and you don't even break $900 on this build.

Sorry mate but I cant afford the board. Sticking to the M5A97. Nor the HAF 912. Its freaking expensive here. Almost double the price.

I dont need a PSU or a HDD as mentioned in my query.

And the 7870 is not available here yet as mentioned in my query. That's the reason I am leaning towards the 6950 which I can just unlock anyway.

Thanks for your time though.

Cheers mate!!!!

 

[mailpranshu]

Not really. They are beaten by a cheaper air cooler called the Noctua D14/Silver Arrow.

Links would be helpful.

Also note that day temperature here goes up to 45 Degree Celsius( 115 Fahrenheit) in the shade. An air cooler moving hot air over already heated components is not such a good idea.

That's one reason a lot of guys use water cooling here.

 

[azeem40]

Yeah, then I'd go with WC. I missed the India part.

 

[g-unit1111]

Not really. They are beaten by a cheaper air cooler called the Noctua D14/Silver Arrow.

But even then on a budget those coolers are very expensive and can eat into what other items you're able to purchase - notably the CPU. You're better going with an inexpensive air cooler like the Evo or the EVGA one I have - they're far safer than any liquid cooler - even a closed loop like the H100.

Sorry mate but I cant afford the board. Sticking to the M5A97. Nor the HAF 912. Its freaking expensive here. Almost double the price.

Where do you live then? And is there a store you buy from? Knowing local availability would help to suggest parts.