First Timer starting from Zero, Questions for the Experts

[Kiesterstash]

Good day all. After doing some research I've decided to build my own system, and I have a few questions based off of the parts below. If you disagree with something I would appreciate it if you let me know the thought process behind it. It would help me process and absorb the information. Thanks!

Approximate Purchase Date : Middle of next week at the latest

Budget Range: $900-1200 Before rebates, not worried about shipping costs

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Streaming/Recording, Gaming, Watching Movies, Internet Browsing

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Starting without anything except monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I've heard the most about newegg.com, but I'm willing to explore

Location: City, State/Region, Country - McAllen, Texas

Parts Preferences: by brand or type : No preference really as long as it suits what I need.

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: If one would significantly improve performance over the other please educate me. I was a little overwhelmed reading into the differences.

Your Monitor Resolution: 1440x900

Additional Comments: I have a XION XON-101 Black Steel Mid case already. I will be streaming/recording gameplay from - Guild Wars 2, Smite, ESO, Dawngame, League of Legends, CS:GO. Will most likely be using OBS, but I'm open to suggestions from anyone more experienced than myself.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: My current PC was a custom job many years ago, and I think it is time for an upgrade. I need to replace the PSU and will be keeping it for when guests/family visit.

AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd8320frhkbox

Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-sabertooth990fxr20

G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31600c9d8gao

Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB 3.5" 10000RPM Internal Hard Drive
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd1000dhtz

EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp43751kr

Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx600m

Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-optical-drive-sh224dbbebe

Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit)
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700404

Intel EXPI9301CTBLK 10/100/1000 Mbps PCI-Express x1 Network Adapter
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-wired-network-card-expi9301ctblk


My main concern as a first timer is that I may not be allocating my funds adequately. Would you suggest a CPU cooler with the build above? I was also thinking of adding a second monitor at the start of next year, and wanted an experts opinion about my choice of video card. Thanks in advance, have a good day all.

 

[Alpha3031]

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-100b10600kr
better PSU
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvr7265wf2oc2gd
better GPU
Don't need a Net Adapter
No need for cooler unless OC (can buy later)
Also, next time use System Build and click on the BB code mark up once you're finished and copy it here.

 

[ksham]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-GAMING 3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($113.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Superclocked ACX Video Card ($335.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec HCG M 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1131.49
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[BleedingEdgeTek]

Looking at a $1,000+ budget, you can do much better than an 8320 + 750 Ti.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($65.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: PNY XLR8 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Black Edition Double Dissipation Video Card ($269.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Silverstone PS07B MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer H236HLbid 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($129.99 @ Best Buy)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1116.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-20 10:52 EDT-0400


Gets you an SSD, a 280x to max out games on the included 1080p IPS monitors, and a great i5.

 

[DeanJW]

Gaming at that resolution you won't need anything more than a 750ti for sure, drop the fx 8320 also and get a fx6300, I imagine the card would ever so slightly bottleneck the 8320. Then factor in to the calculation the game's you've stated, alongside that resolution and your fps will be flying - more than you need. Actually you could downgrade even more but at least this will give you the option of playing more intensive games. Also your budget is way too high for this build, it should be around 600 dollars. Do not upgrade beyond a 750ti until you decide to go 1080p, seriously.

 

[Kiesterstash]

Sorry for the delayed show of appreciation to those who replied. One of my squigs got sick, and it has been a very nerve wracking week. Thank you for the replies I hope you all enjoy your week.

 

[Alpha3031]

Gaming at that resolution you won't need anything more than a 750ti for sure, drop the fx 8320 also and get a fx6300, I imagine the card would ever so slightly bottleneck the 8320. Then factor in to the calculation the game's you've stated, alongside that resolution and your fps will be flying - more than you need. Actually you could downgrade even more but at least this will give you the option of playing more intensive games. Also your budget is way too high for this build, it should be around 600 dollars. Do not upgrade beyond a 750ti until you decide to go 1080p, seriously.

No harm in getting a mid-high range build. It means he can put lot's of AA on.

 

[titanHUNTER]

You definitely are going to need an aftermarket cooler! The stock heat sink and fan will have your CPU at 50 idle and will shoot up to 70s! It will also scream like a banshee! Get the CM Hyper Evo 212. It will keep your CPU under 45 under full load! Also, the FX-8350 is only like $7 more, so I would get that instead. Moreover, I agree with above post regarding better GPU. The r9-280x recommended is a great choice. Just make sure that your case has adequate air flow with a side panel fan to keep your GPU(s) cool. And place the PSU fan down if your case has a filter at the bottom. This helps in cooling also. Lastly, consider a larger power supply. At least 750 watt so you can run a higher end card like the r9-280x. Just keep in mind that if you ever wanted to Crossfire or SLI, then you will need at least a 1000 watt power supply. This is something you should consider regarding your future upgrading plans (if any). Don't do like I did and have to buy another PSU twice! When I first built my system, then again when I Crossfired my two r9-270x!

Enjoy your Building!

 

[RedJaron]

Well, the extra cores from the 8320 will definitely come in handy while streaming. On the other hand, the games you listed aren't well threaded, so would a quad-core i5 get bogged down while doing both? I don't think it would, but I'm not sure. If you want more than four cores, I think going to a 6300 would be a wise way to save money.

The 750 Ti will be a solid card for those games as well, and very light on power draw. You could squeeze a more robust card into the budget if you wanted, say a 270 or so, just to give yourself extra capacity for the future. But just because you can spend money doesn't mean you ought to either.

I'd drop the VelociRaptor. It's way overkill in a drive for most consumers. If you need a speedy drive, I'd up the capacity on your SSD and just get a normal 7200 rpm spindle.

Corsair CX PSU line isn't the best. It's not like it will die right away on you, but you can get better for similar money. Look at Antec, FSP, Seasonic, and XFX.

And as others have said, you don't need the extra network adapter. The onboard LAN is already good.

If you have money, I think you can be frugal and get a better monitor too. A good 1080 panel doesn't need to run more than $120. Here are some options I'm thinking.

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.95 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($109.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.92 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 265 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($60.74 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $814.50

This is what I'd call the minimum. It saves you money to put toward a new monitor and the R7 265 has plenty of power for the games you listed and more. Newer, more demanding games can be done on medium settings ( at that actually looks pretty good, ) but you're not going to "max out" the detail or anything. However, at $100 under budget, you've got plenty of room to improve upon it.

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.92 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 265 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($60.74 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $889.56

Here's an Intel alternate. The Xeon chip has eight threads, so no worries about bogging down while streaming games. It doesn't overclock, but it's much more efficient than AMD's offerings right now so no worries about not having compute power. Also, you can save money by using the stock cooling fan and stepping down to a cheaper board ( but you're not losing features. ) This still comes in at the low end of your budget so you could still add a new monitor here.

 

[BleedingEdgeTek]

You definitely don't want an AMD chip. There is just no reason anymore to buy an AMD chip. The i5 will be PLENTY of power, and be much better at gaming AND streaming than the 6300 or 8320. And a Xeon is overkill here. For even cheaper, you can get a 280 and an i5, which will get High/Ultra at 60 FPS at 1080p.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($83.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.91 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $876.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Don't go AMD. They have more 'cores', but the i5 will still win.

 

[Kiesterstash]

Gaming at that resolution you won't need anything more than a 750ti for sure, drop the fx 8320 also and get a fx6300, I imagine the card would ever so slightly bottleneck the 8320. Then factor in to the calculation the game's you've stated, alongside that resolution and your fps will be flying - more than you need. Actually you could downgrade even more but at least this will give you the option of playing more intensive games. Also your budget is way too high for this build, it should be around 600 dollars. Do not upgrade beyond a 750ti until you decide to go 1080p, seriously.

No harm in getting a mid-high range build. It means he can put lot's of AA on.

Can you please specify what you mean by AA? If you are referring to auto aliasing do you just mean a better cpu/gpu?

 

[RedJaron]

And a Xeon is overkill here. For even cheaper, you can get a 280 and an i5, which will get High/Ultra at 60 FPS at 1080p.

For my own build, I would go this route as well as I like the locked i5. I was just putting the Xeon option out there if the OP was insisting on eight threads.

Can you please specify what you mean by AA? If you are referring to auto aliasing do you just mean a better cpu/gpu?

Anti-aliasing. It smooths the pixel edges. Yes, AA will put a beefy load on GPU ( not so much the CPU, ) so getting more GPU than you think you need isn't always a bad idea. I'm not saying you need to drop $400+, but spending a healthy amount will get you more power now and a little longevity out of it.

 

[BleedingEdgeTek]

Yeah, stacking on the AA has probably the largest effect on performance (depending on AA used) of anything else at a given resolution. For example, without AA, I can run everything at the highest settings pretty much with my 760. I get an average of about 60 FPS in Far Cry 3 at 1080p in Ultra with 2x MSAA, but bumping that a single step to 4x MSAA it drops to an average of about 40-45.

And understood on the Xeon suggestion. I like the Xeon as well, but not when threaded tasks isn't a big concern, and the extra $50+ saved on a locked i5 can mean a stronger GPU. As long as it's not an AMD chip lol