Thoughts on this budget build? ($650)

[CrypticBox]

Budget range: $650 dollar max

System use: Gaming and recording games

Do I need OS? Yes

Location: FL, U.S

Sli/crossfire: no

Overclocking: maybe later, if I really need too, but not now

Resolution: 1920 x 1080p

so I'm looking to build my first pc on a fairly tight budget here. I've done a lot of research and this is what I've come up with. How does it look?

By the way, the one area I am uncertain of here is the motherboard. However, I don't need much. I won't be using Crossfire, and I'll probably be ditching both this mobo and cpu in a little over a year for an i5 from whatever Intel's latest cpu line is at that time. As long as this mobo won't fry or die on me in general, it will be just fine.

Here's the build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mBI3

Tell me what you think!. Any advice is appreciated

 

[g-unit1111]

Definitely not a bad start, I think I would change a few things around and get something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($107.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($190.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $670.76
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

It's a bit more but stronger CPU, full ATX motherboard, better case, and PSU.

 

[Augray37]

Definitely not a bad start, I think I would change a few things around and get something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($107.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($190.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $670.76
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

It's a bit more but stronger CPU, full ATX motherboard, better case, and PSU.

Just out of curiosity, why do you suggest the fx-6300 rather than the 4300?

 

[iForum33]

go with the apu 10 5800k, you'll render videos faster and it also has a powerful integrated graphics

 

[CrypticBox]

Just out of curiosity, why do you suggest the fx-6300 rather than the 4300?

Probably only 10 dollars more for an extra core and module...

 

[g-unit1111]

go with the apu 10 5800k, you'll render videos faster and it also has a powerful integrated graphics

Not for gaming. If this were an HTPC I'd say yes, but not on a gaming rig.

Just out of curiosity, why do you suggest the fx-6300 rather than the 4300?

Better overclocking potential should you decide to do so.

 

[platenix]

ive heard the fx series is bad at gaming

 

[g-unit1111]

ive heard the fx series is bad at gaming

Debatable. For the price the FX-6300 is better than the i3-3220, but yeah you're better off going Intel but their higher end CPUs are much more expensive.

 

[platenix]

ok but i havent got the money to buy a i5 3470 shoud i buy a fx

 

[g-unit1111]

ok but i havent got the money to buy a i5 3470 shoud i buy a fx

If you want to go FX definitely get the new Piledrive CPU (FX-6300) like I listed, avoid Bulldozer (FX-6100).

 

[varriform]

--How are you planning on purchasing everything? All together, same day, in a few weeks, or could it be over a couple weeks?

--Given the time of year, black friday and all, you can save money by watching for deals. Make sure you sign up for newegg and ncix mailing lists.

--watch slickdeals.com

--Cases and power supplies are easy to get cheap if you watch for them. Especially if mail-in-rebates are okay. Last week I got a rather cheap, but perfectly fine, case for $50 dollars with 2 rebates equaling $50, essentially making it free. That's pretty rare, of course, and a bit of a risk, but I see at least 1 or 2 descent mid tower cases for $20 every month on newegg. Power supplies work the same way to a slightly lesser degree.

--Whenever you buy anything go to fatwallet first and find their link to newegg. They offer cash back by using their hotlinks. It's reliable and you get about 3% back. It takes about a month after each purchase before you are eligible to transfer the funds to a paypal account.
http://www.fatwallet.com/?referral=varriform
That is a referral link from me, but it is not necessary to be referred by anyone. If you find this information useful than by all means use it, we both benefit from it. Completely up to you

--Don't rule out the Intel i3-3220 or i3-3225
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fx-4170-core-i3-3220-benchmarks,3314-8.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-3.html
It's only 55 watts, meaning you could save money on a power supply. And it's better in many respects compared to similarly priced AMD offerings.


--I'll do a very quick build just to give an idea parts at current prices. Keep in mind that today (Monday) is probably the worst day for deals at newegg. Least amount of overlap since weekend deals and previous week deals have ended.

Corsair CX500 - $30 after code and $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Intel i3-3225 cpu and Asrock Z77M motherboard combo - $206.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1098640

Rosewill Redbone Case - $32 after code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147159

Optical drive, well there's almost always one for $16.99

Ram, honestly a bad day for it. Later in the week should see an 8gb (2x4) 1600 1.5v kit for $30ish

Video card (prices change rapidly)
Sapphire 7770 (or any 7770) - $112 after rebate
or
XFX 7850 (or any 7850) - $170 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150619

OS - watch deals closely because prices are expected to hit at least $50 for Windows 7 during black friday deals. With windows 8 out Microsoft is trying to push 8 like crazy and clean out 7

--Note: the reason I suggested a Radeon 7770 is that video cards are easier to upgrade than processors and motherboards, in my opinion. The resale value is descent and it's only a matter or switching the card out. Plus, the 7770 is not a bad card and can play any modern intensive game at high settings (could be a couple exceptions). Just something to consider. I would choose the 7770 and spend the saved money on a cpu if it was my only computer. As a gaming machine you would definitely be better with a 7850 though

New AMD benchmarks since October performance driver release:
http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph6393/51047.png
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6393/amds-holiday-plans-cat1211-new-bundle

 

[varriform]

Debatable. For the price the FX-6300 is better than the i3-3220, but yeah you're better off going Intel but their higher end CPUs are much more expensive.

Agreed. OP, do keep in mind the FX series is going to use about 100w more during load. The FX will perform better for general pc usage compared to an i3 3220.

What it comes down to is efficiency. Intel makes a far superior, perhaps intelligent, processor at a premium price, compared to AMD. They're able to pack impressive performance in to a dual core 55w processor. Games, generally only using 2 threads, make fanastic use of this efficiency

AMD is basically doing the opposite, dishing out a 1 GHZ increase and 100w load increase on an unlocked processor. It's not nearly as efficient though. Applications and general OS usage generally benefit from this sort of powerful processor

 

[aznshinobi]

Check out my $650 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore#module146695821
Puts you up to the level of the 7870 in graphical performance which is pretty much most important in any graphically intensive game.

As for the power consumption, it's not a HUGE deal, maybe a few more cents on top of your current energy build if you went Intel quite honestly. Keep in mind, the FX-6300 can overclock, the i3 3220 can't. Also, in gaming, the i3 3220 usually just benches next to the FX-6300/4300 so... Yeah. In normal apps the 6300 is better.

Plus, w/o changing your motherboard, you'll be set for the next few generations from AMD as they will stick with AM3+ for Steamroller as well.

 

[Augray37]

Just out of curiosity, why do you suggest the fx-6300 rather than the 4300?

Better overclocking potential should you decide to do so.

Hunh? i'm not trying to be a butt, i'm really not, but if you get a chance could you post some links that say that? I didn't know that.

 

[Augray37]

Debatable. For the price the FX-6300 is better than the i3-3220, but yeah you're better off going Intel but their higher end CPUs are much more expensive.

Agreed. Vishera is a much better option in the i3-3220 price range IMO.