PC build thread

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Looks like a lot of us are planning on building PCs soon. I need something to run Mirror's Edge 2 after all!

This is the thread for that.

Share your proposed or current PC builds in this thread, post deals on good parts, and give others advice so we can all have monster rigs.

I plan on making a mid-range machine comparable to a PS4. Here's the build:

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 Ti 3GB Video Card ($233.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $547.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-29 19:39 EDT-0400)

My worries:

CPU. Should I get something with less processing elements, but higher individual performance? I was hoping to future proof it a little, now that games will be designed for two 8-core consoles. Is that a good idea? Think it will be sufficient for modern games and the next year or so?

Power supply. Despite the price, I read the Corsair Builder was a good PSU with fairly constant voltage output. My maximum draw should be ~374W so I have some wiggle room. Is this a great deal or am I getting what I pay for?

[EvilRyu2099]

Get a better PSU.. 500W Silver grade Corsair.. Or if you want to upgrade in the future make sure you by a mobo that supports both SLI and Xfire.. The CPU is good, if you get the right Mobo and PSU, you can upgrade everything else with little worry..

[isiolia]

CPU. Should I get something with less processing elements, but higher individual performance? I was hoping to future proof it a little, now that games will be designed for two 8-core consoles. Is that a good idea? Think it will be sufficient for most modern games?

Power supply. Despite the price, I read the Corsair Builder was a good PSU with fairly constant voltage output. My maximum draw should be ~374W so I have some wiggle room. Is this a great deal or am I getting what I pay for?

Most current games require or recommend a dual core, with some recommending a quad core (and able to take advantage of it). That said, per-core performance is still usually the bigger deal today. While I don't doubt things will continue to utilize more CPU cores...it's more a question of whether they'll be fully utilizing them by the time whatever you build is behind the curve anyway or not.

The FX-6300 is a solid bang for your buck CPU right now, but, Intel still rules per-core performance. That'd really be your main thing I think - I'd recommend getting at least four physical cores, and on the Intel side that'd mean jumping a price bracket or two.

Another thing to keep in mind if reading some build/recommendation threads is that they might assume overclocking.
Also, not sure if you based it on this or not, but your proposed build is quite similar to the Tom's Hardware $650 build from September (here), so you could get an idea of performance from that article.

As always, if you have a Microcenter nearby, they often have in-store pricing on select CPUs that's very good.


I would buy a 500W PSU, it's really not something you want to skimp on. I mean, that's kinda true for most any part...but doubly so for the PSU.

[EvilRyu2099]

BTW your CPU 3d mark is solid.. http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu ... 0+Six-Core
But be open to upgrades in the next couple of years..

[flex wood]

Great thread! I was planning on starting a similar thread once I got some free time. I'll post up what I'm thinking of putting together as soon as I get home.

[EvilRyu2099]

Try this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130692
or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130693

Then you could get a GTX 660 has a good 3d mark and only costs $160.. Don't need to buy something above $200.. An AMD HD 7950, 7970 or GTX 660 would be good enough for now..

[EvilRyu2099]

Sorry a good mobo for your AMD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128514

[Jmustang1968]

I would bump up the mobo and the psu. People like to try to cut some corners on mobos, but they are important.

Personal preference for me now is to go with intel chips. Atleast an i5, but optimally an i7. But I know some who still love their AMDs.

I have had a bad experience with ASrock before. I typically go Asus or EVGA these days.

[EvilRyu2099]

i7 3770Ks or 3770s run about $250 and $300 iirc.. Which is quite cheap with the OC options and performance each offers.. Hell the 4770k only is about $350.. Pretty cheap.. You could build a PC with those CPUs for about $800..

[MrPopo]

As long as you're getting at least a Quad you'll be fine on the number of cores perspective.