Hi, I'm Veladem. I'm building and asking for any advice :)

[veladem]

I'm buying and building a AMD desktop gaming PC first chance I get . . . If I can make up my mind. I'm willing to spend $850 after tax and fees. I'm going to be using this PC for, well, gaming, file downloading, and social networking. I'm going to use my HDTV as I have in the past. It's a Sony 55" HDTV, if that matters . . . I'm open to any suggestions that you, @tomshardware, may have for me. Within budget of course, and excluding Macs. Sorry, just don't like them. I have my brand new Win 7 Ult and a new Win 7 HP disks ready, most likely going to install Win 7 Ult. I don't use Ebay but I will use Newegg and Fry's Electronics. I don't have a parts preference other than I'm not going for Intel Mobo/CPU. I would like to OC my CPU someday, and want to run Crossfire/CrossfireX.

I run the listed games:

Fallout 3
Fallout New Vegas
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Half Life 2
DEUS EX: Human Revolution
Portal 2
Call of Duty: MW3
Call of Duty: Black Ops

And I plan to play:

Far Cry 3
Crysis 3
Resident Evil 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Assassin's Creed 3
Dishonored
Elder Scrolls: Online

I live in Roseville, CA. USA. I look forward to any advice that this site can bring to me, Thank you in advance. Keep in mind this is my first, ever, desktop build.

List of parts chosen thus far:

AMD ASRock Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157266

AMD CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103960

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161402

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145312

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

Optics (x1): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144251

 

[obsama1]

+1 to what kajabla said.

 

[kajabla]

You should change your RAM to a $50 8gb 1600mhz kit. You can put the extra $70 into a better CPU (Intel) and GPU. Also, change your motherboard to an ASRock Z77 Extreme4 at $10 less than your current one. Do you live anywhere near a Microcenter? You can get hold of a 3570K for $190 at their physical store. With the extra $80 you'll now have, get a $200 GPU: the 7850's pretty great.

 

[mocchan]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($212.55 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $843.45
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-06 19:20 EDT-0400)

Option #2 if he doesn't have the Microcenter option, I know Fry's tends to overprice a few things...-shivers at local prices-

 

[veladem]

Nobody can read anymore huh? I'm sorry but I asked for help and stated, No Intel Mobo/CPU. Thanks though.

 

[mocchan]

Nobody can read anymore huh? I'm sorry but I asked for help and stated, No Intel Mobo/CPU. Thanks though.

We read the no Intel CPU/Mobo statement it's not worth the money going with an AMD CPU at the moment. BD is a big flop; i5's just pummel them in almost any task. Also, with the release of Piledriver so close, why invest in a BD now of all times?

 

[obsama1]

Yes, you are shooting yourself in the foot. You're gaining a lot by going Intel.

 

[mocchan]

#1 I said no Intel, any mention of Intel is therefore off topic.
#2 There isn't going to be a flame war, I like AMD, others like Intel, kool, lets walk away.

1) Stating Intel is a better value isn't off topic, I was adding input to potential options you could have for your rig.
2) I wasn't trying to start a flame war, nor other people on this thread, we're just saying what is the better value for your money.
3) I'll make a parts list to fit your preference of AMD CPU's.

 

[veladem]

#1 I said no Intel, any mention of Intel is therefore off topic.
#2 There isn't going to be a flame war, I like AMD, others like Intel, kool, lets walk away.

 

[mocchan]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8150 3.6GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($91.35 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($312.55 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $849.81
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-06 19:33 EDT-0400)

 

[obsama1]

That AMD build is pretty good, but the Intel is better. But, go with whichever one makes you happy.

 

[mocchan]

That AMD build is pretty good, but the Intel is better. But, go with whichever one makes you happy.

Yeah, OP can't go wrong with either one IMO.

 

[obsama1]

I mean, good build. But, I still recommend Intel. But, if the OP wants AMD, then OK.

 

[mocchan]

I mean, good build. But, I still recommend Intel. But, if the OP wants AMD, then OK.

:lol: only if the Phenom II X6's were still decently priced....

 

[veladem]

How the heck do you build these so fast? And yes they are both great builds.

 

[mocchan]

How the heck do you build these so fast? And yes they are both great builds.

PCPartPicker Saves us a lot of time! :lol:

 

[veladem]

Why does it show two AMD fx-8150's?

 

[mocchan]

Pictures on the PCPartPicker site may not always show different ones, so it's probably just that.

 

[veladem]

They only have this on newegg, couldn't find the other for some reason.

MSI R7950 Twin Frozr 3GD5/OC Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127667

 

[mocchan]

Well they're almost the same anyway, if I remember correctly, one has a slightly higher OC.

 

[veladem]

For the mobo on the AMD build should I get the Win 8 ready Asus M5A97 LE R 2.0 or the Asus M5A97?

 

[veladem]

Dang, Amazon says one price at their site but doesn't actually have it for that price.

 

[mocchan]

That sucks, however, almost any modern motherboard is Win8 ready, so you shouldn't really worry.

 

[veladem]

I think I need to filter just new egg, plus I can go to fry's and they'll meet my price.

 

[mocchan]

I think I need to filter just new egg, plus I can go to fry's and they'll meet my price.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8150 3.6GHz 8-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($107.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($322.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $913.32
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-06 20:55 EDT-0400)

Newegg only list, a little more pricey.