Intel or AMD Based Gaming Computer (Need advices)

[Bromeh]

I hope i posted this in the good section, if not just tell me.

Hi everyone, today i create this thread to get some advices for my new build. I figured out what would be the "perfect" build to play games like Far Cry 3, Crysis 3, Black Ops 2 etc. at the highest graphics possible. I just want to say that my budget is at 1500$ (approx.).

So at first here's the Intel build i "created" basing myself on reviews, tests, benchs, graphs etc. Forgot to mention that i already have a Coolermaster HAF 912, a DVD Drive and SATA mechanical hard drive.

Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
Processor : Intel Core i7 3770k
RAM : CORSAIR Vengeance 1600Mhz DDR3 16GB CL10 Kit
Power supply : Cooler Master Extreme II Power 725W
CPU Fan : Antec Kuhler H20 620
HDD : Crucial SSD m4 64GB SATA3
Fans : - 2x 200MM Cooler Master Mega Flow Red
- 120MM Cooler Master Red
Video card : GeForce GTX680

Overall total price : 1525$

Motherboard is a great quality Gigabyte board which supports SLI and CrossFire for a future SLI between 2x GTX 680, supports 32GB of Ram at 1600MHz but i'm only gonna buy 2 sticks of 8GB for now which i guess is enough. Then, a powerful i7 unlocked for crazy overclocking in a year or so. Also buy a Antec Kuhler H20 620 to help with overclocking. Power supply is 725W and don't have enough 6-pin plugs for SLI between GTX 680(only 2 plugs available on the supply). This is kind of my main problem. I also figured out that a SSD wouldn't be that bad and since my board has some empty fan slots, why not to fill them with some fans ? Anyway , this is my Intel build. Next my AMD build which is less costy (around 250$ less). It's pretty much the same excepted for the MB, CPU and Graphic card.


Motherboard : Asus M5A97 LE R2.0
Processor : AMD FX-8150
RAM : CORSAIR Vengeance 1600Mhz DDR3 16GB CL10 Kit
Power supply : Cooler Master Extreme II Power 725W
CPU Fan : Antec Kuhler H20 620
HDD : Crucial SSD m4 64GB SATA3
Fans : - 2x 200MM Cooler Master Mega Flow Red
- 120MM Cooler Master Red
Video card : Radeon HD 7970

Overall total price : 1300$

So this is it. I want you guys to tell me which one you would take and what you would change to make it better, etc.


Fell free to consider other motherboard brands , other coolers i give you white card.


Sorry for my english i'm french canadian so i may have some mistakes.

Thanks

 

[Wolfshadw]

For a gaming PC, I'd definitely go with an Intel build, but not necessarily yours. Games tend to be GPU driven (and I'd go with the GTX 680 over the HD7970 for games - just my personal preference). Those few games that are CPU dependent, generally do not benefit from more than two or four cores, so an eight-core processor would be wasted at this time (and for the forseeable future).

Additionally, the Intel CoreI7 CPUs tend to be more application/business driven. There is no (or minimal) gain over the CoreI5 series of CPUs. I'd probably drop down to a CoreI5 3570K processor.

Concerning power supplies, I'd only look at power supplies from Corsair, Antec, PC Power and Cooling, Seasonic, and FSP (Fortran Source). Look for one that has all the power connections you want/may need, damn the cost. This is the one area you do not want to skimp.

Finally, I don't think a 64GB OS drive is large enough. I just recently ran out of space on my 80GB drive after about four years (tried downloading SW:TOR). I'd consider 128GB to be my new minimum.

-Wolf sends

 

[zared619]

For gaming, Intel definitely has the edge. And like Wolf said, the 3570k is equivalent to the 3770k when gaming. I will put together a build for you.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.79 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.79 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($154.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($479.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 850W 80 PLUS Silver Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($119.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($14.89 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1283.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-07 09:23 EST-0500)

If you have any questions on anything, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Bromeh]

Thanks for your quick replies guys

At first, i figured out that a i5 would be better in my case as you guys said.

Then for the cooler, i looked at the Cooler Master Evo 212 but i need something that is gonna keep my computer cool under high overclocking (except 4.5Ghz or More) and i guess the Antec H20 620 wouldn't be that bad if i add another fan on (cooler master fan which came with my case). If you can give me some arguments that can change my mind, then go ahead.

Since i'm not buying anything from internet i don't really have a big choice of motherboards and the Gigabyte Z68x-UD3H-B3 is the best for quality/price in the store i buy my things.

I also changed my SSD for a OCZ Agility 3 SATA3 and it's 120GB (only for windows and some games). I already have another 500GB (mechanical) for my games.

I deleted a fan from the list because i already a great fan that i don't use but still keep the 200mm to enjoy the high airflow of my case :3.

Switched to a Corsair 8GB kit XMS3 1600MHz because 16GB is too much for nothing if we talk about gaming.

I will take a Thermaltake TR2 TR-600 since i will not do some SLI-CrossFire so 600W i enough for a single card i guess. But i'm still not sure following what you said Wolf ... i think i'll consider a Corsair CX600 or maybe a little more research. If you have a good 600W Non-SLI unit just tell me i'll go take a look.

I also changed my video card for a GTX 660Ti ... i know everyobne say it'a a bad card nanana but it's only thing i can get if my build is a 1000 bucks build.

Already have the case, mechanical hdd and dvd drive. Anyway here's the new plan :

Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 - 135$
Processor : Intel Core i5 3570k - 220$
RAM : CORSAIR 1600Mhz DDR3 8GB C9 Kit XMS3 - 50$
Power supply : Thermaltake TR2 TR-600 - 65$
CPU Fan : Antec Kuhler H20 620 - 70$
HDD : OCZ SSD Agility 3 Series SATA 3 120GB - 105$
Fans : - 2x 200MM Cooler Master Mega Flow Red - 40$
Video card : GeForce GTX660Ti - 315$

I've putted the prices of each parts in my store to help showing you what is going wrong.

If you want the site of the store (where i used most of the time on this build) here it is : http://www.microbytes.com/

Thanks again i'll go take a look at those corsair supplies

 

[zared619]

You would probably have some issues with the z68 and your ivy-bridge i5. If you want to overclock you need to get a z75 or z77. Other than that, you should be okay.

Why is that RAM kit so expensive. Everything else is basically the same as online except that.

 

[Bromeh]

I will take note about that because i didn't know it. I guess i'll go with Asus (maximum oc). I don't kinow why it×s so different, on internet it's like 35$ and in the store i go it's 50$ ....

Maybe take a look at 8Gb kits, you could tell me which one is better : http://www.microbytes.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=ddr3%208gb&page=1&sort=5a&osCsid=be500c3021550ec85f4c0aebd6db92cf

(i guess the first one, the g skillz seems ok but just wanna be sure)

Also which one of these supplies should i take ? http://www.microbytes.com/index.php?cPath=1_2&sort=&filter_id=15

I don't know how much to take according to my system but ... yeah

Thanks

 

[Bromeh]

I guess i'll go with a Corsair CX500, at least if 500W is enough. If not CX600

 

[zared619]

The 500 watt should be enough, and the Ripjaws set will be fine, that's what I have.

 

[Bromeh]

Yeah Ripjaws look awesome

Finnally i'm gonna go with 600W to get some headroom and maybe in a year, 2 at max add another 660Ti using the molex-to-6pin adapters which come with the graphic card.


Hey Zared was there a sticker with your Ripjaws ? I build a computer with my friend this summer and he used Ripjaws and there was a little sticker with it so it would be cool to get it

I say that because every of my parts except the fans and my water cooling have a sticker which i'm gonna stick on my beautiful HAF 912

 

[Bromeh]

Just wanna add : What is your build Zared ? Just wanna compare because you seem to have a build close to the one i wanna build so you could give me some tricks or stuff you know anyway.

 

[zared619]

It does come with a little G skill sticker.

This is my build, but it was cheaper when I bought it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($201.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($51.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($68.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.89 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $688.79
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-08 10:04 EST-0500)

 

[Bromeh]

And what is the score of the ram in windows ?

How high fps you got in the newer games ? (Battlefield 3 and Skyrim included)
Just gessing how high my system will run the new games

 

[zared619]

I don't have access to my computer right now, so I can't check the RAM score, but I can play BF3 around 50 fps with settings maxed, and Skyrim is around 80 FPS on max settings. I just got Far Cry 3, and the one time I played it, I was getting around 45-50 FPS maxed out.

 

[Bromeh]

Seriously ? Damn i wasn't excpecting that performance from a single 7850 and a fx-6300

That's really great for a 600$ build


Read some articles, bench and stuff and i would be having pretty much the same with a i5 3570k and a gtx 660Ti which is more expensive ... gotta take another look at this card ....

 

[zared619]

Its a really good card. To be honest, most any CPU can game well, but Intel has the edge.

I don't understand people that Crossfire 7970's or 670's. You don't really need it.

 

[Bromeh]

So i should consider buying a HD7850 rather than a gtx 660ti ?

 

[zared619]

If your price range is around a 660ti, I would get a 7870 Hawk.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127681

Very nice card. Would have got it, but mine worked out to be 160 after mail in rebate

 

[Bromeh]

I'll definitely go with AMD and i have a 325$ budget for a graphic card ....

As i was searching on my store's website for the HD7870, i saw this : http://www.microbytes.com/product_info.php?products_id=40946&language=en&osCsid=17025e86cc14ab760137ff7ccd4940b2

Should i go with it or stick to the 660Ti ? I don't want to be upgrading my video card in 2 months ....

I think the video card is the last thing i gotta make sure about, then, it's time to build my pc.

Just a list to remember parts and to be sure everything's good ....

Motherboard : Asus P8Z77-V LX
Processor : Intel Core i5 3570k
RAM : G.SKILL RIPJAWS 1600MHZ DDR3 8GB KIT CL9
Power supply : Corsair CX600
CPU Fan : Antec Kuhler H20 620
SSD : 120.0 OCZ SSD AGILITY 3 SERIES SATA3
HDD : 1TB Seagate 7200RPM SATA3
Video card : Gigabyte HD7950

Yeah that's pretty much it .....

 

[zared619]

I'll definitely go with AMD and i have a 325$ budget for a graphic card ....

As i was searching on my store's website for the HD7870, i saw this : http://www.microbytes.com/product_info.php?products_id=40946&language=en&osCsid=17025e86cc14ab760137ff7ccd4940b2

Should i go with it or stick to the 660Ti ? I don't want to be upgrading my video card in 2 months ....

I think the video card is the last thing i gotta make sure about, then, it's time to build my pc.

Just a list to remember parts and to be sure everything's good ....

Motherboard : Asus P8Z77-V LX
Processor : Intel Core i5 3570k
RAM : G.SKILL RIPJAWS 1600MHZ DDR3 8GB KIT CL9
Power supply : Corsair CX600
CPU Fan : Antec Kuhler H20 620
SSD : 120.0 OCZ SSD AGILITY 3 SERIES SATA3
HDD : 1TB Seagate 7200RPM SATA3
Video card : Gigabyte HD7950

Yeah that's pretty much it .....

That my friend is an awesome build. I hope it all works out for you!

 

[Bromeh]

Thanks again for all your help Zared

I hope our paths cross again

 

[zared619]

Thanks again for all your help Zared

I hope our paths cross again

Glad I could help