Holy Crap, I can't decide! First build!

[adnank77]

Both options are fine except the GTX 640 .. I would highly recommend going at least 660 Ti for gaming ..

If it's not for gaming, then don't waste money on 640 and just used built in video ..

 

[Essence_of_War]

Do the FX-series chips have an igpu?

 

[Torn Mind]

Do the FX-series chips have an igpu?

No. Integrated graphics on the AM3+ platform are dependent on northbridge graphics. Older AM3+ series of chipsets have northbridge graphics. The latest series(9xx) ones don't.

 

[sm625]

Only choose the AMD A8 chip if you are not going to be using a discrete video card. Since you want a GT 640, you should go intel, either i3 or pentium G2020 or similar. Staples has a pentium system on sale right now for $300. They also have an AMD A10 system for $350.

 

[DerekPDX]

I think Im gonna go with the AMD FX 6300 because it has 6 cores. I always have tons of apps running at the same time, and getting a 4+ core intel really puts things out of my price range.

 

[mfenn]

I think Im gonna go with the AMD FX 6300 because it has 6 cores. I always have tons of apps running at the same time, and getting a 4+ core intel really puts things out of my price range.

Having a bunch of programs running doesn't necessarily mean that you need lots of CPU cores. Most programs are not going to be doing anything except waiting for user input, thus they won't be using the CPU at all. They will be sitting in RAM, but 8GB is enough especially in Ubuntu.

 

[mfenn]

Both options are fine except the GTX 640 .. I would highly recommend going at least 660 Ti for gaming ..

If it's not for gaming, then don't waste money on 640 and just used built in video ..

The OP is going to be running Linux, so having an Nvidia graphics card (any Nvidia graphics card) makes things a lot less painful.

 

[DerekPDX]

I'm considering going a different direction with this build to save some more money, what do you guys think?

Heres the build:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad Core ($79.29)
Mobo: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M ($59.99)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 ($59.98)
HDD : Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 7200RPM ($59.99)
SSD : Samsung 840 120GB (Already own)
Video card: Asus GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB ($129.59)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite ($38.99)
PSU: Corsair 430W ATX12V Non-Modular ($19.99)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 ($24.99)
Grand Total $472.81

PC Part Picker link:
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/DerekPDX/saved/23Vr

The price of that Sentey case went up to about $50, and I decided I would actually like to get into gaming. I realized the only real reason I don't play computer games is because I don't have a system that can handle it. So I looked around, decided the FX 6300 might be overkill, and found the X4 750K which seems like a good contender for a decent chip with good overclocking potential, and getting a less expensive CPU and a microATX board allowed me to get a better video card without breaking the bank.

After saying all that, I have also never done all this, and could be completely off base. So what do you guys think of this part list? A decent budget build that could yield at least good gaming performance?

 

[smitbret]

No, no, no, no. Do not get the Athlon II. If you decide to go that route you might as well spend the rest of your budget on a gun cuz you'll wanna put it to your temple after a few hours with it. If you aren't going with a Vishera core FX, get a Phenom II, but don't get an Athlon II.

At Newegg, the FX-4300 is at $99 right now with promo code EMCXMXW45 and would be worth the $20. Expires tonight though.

There's also a combo deal for the FX-6300 with a 1TB Seagate HDD for 171.00 if you wanted to step up the performance a bit (on both accounts). For $30 more you'll get twice the CPU and a storage HDD that is considerably quicker. Not to mention my Seagate 7200.14s run quieter and cooler than my WD Green drives.

http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/88/AMD_Athlon_X4_750K_vs_AMD_FX-Series_FX-6300.html

OK, twice the CPU may have been a bit of an exaggeration. 30-40% better would be more accurate and at less power consumption.

 

[DerekPDX]

So what is it about that CPU do you dislike so much? I have actually seen some good performance reviews from several sources.

 

[smitbret]

I'll grant you that my recommendation is based on Athlon II's traditionally poor performance. Honestly, I couldn't even give you details on what parts of the architecture are weak since the last time I took a look at that series was 2011 when I got my Phenom II instead. Power/Performance is just not that great.

http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/86/AMD_Athlon_X4_750K_vs_AMD_FX-Series_FX-4300.html

http://www.game-debate.com/cpu/index.php?pid=1148&pid2=1142&compare=athlon-ii-x4-750k-vs-fx-4300

Although now that I spec it out, it's a lot more respectable than I expected. I'd still cough up for the FX-6300 for a bit of future proofing.

 

[Essence_of_War]

The trinity based athlon x4's are fine gaming CPUs for a tight budget gaming rig.

I don't know the xigamatek hsf, but the rest looks solid to me in your budget. You may be able to spend a little less on the case, but it's not unreasonable.

 

[DerekPDX]

I like that case because it seems to have decent cable management, and it allows me to upgrade to a full size motherboard if I choose to in the future.

 

[DerekPDX]

If I were to go with a uATX case, however, I would either get the Rosewill Line-M (refurbished for $32.99 at new egg w/ free shipping) or the Antec VSK 3000 ($29.99).

 

[VirtualLarry]

No, no, no, no. Do not get the Athlon II.

You do realize, that the CPU in question is a two-module Piledriver, and NOT a traditional Athlon II, right? IOW, "Athlon II" in name only.

Like some than dun Celerons, even SB/IB ones, due to their exposure to P4-era Celerons.

 

[DerekPDX]

You do realize, that the CPU in question is a two-module Piledriver, and NOT a traditional Athlon II, right? IOW, "Athlon II" in name only.

Like some than dun Celerons, even SB/IB ones, due to their exposure to P4-era Celerons.

So what's your opinion on that trinity 750k CPU, Larry? Think it could handle at least good quality gaming with the parts I listed?

 

[VirtualLarry]

So what's your opinion on that trinity 750k CPU, Larry? Think it could handle at least good quality gaming with the parts I listed?

If it has L3 like the normal FM2 Trinity chips, then the CPU portion should be just as good.

 

[DerekPDX]

I think from what I have read it actually doesn't have an L3 cache, but I could be wrong.

 

[mfenn]

If it has L3 like the normal FM2 Trinity chips, then the CPU portion should be just as good.

The 750K doesn't have an L3 cache, same as all the other Trinity chips.

 

[mfenn]

I'm considering going a different direction with this build to save some more money, what do you guys think?

Heres the build:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad Core ($79.29)
Mobo: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M ($59.99)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 ($59.98)
HDD : Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 7200RPM ($59.99)
SSD : Samsung 840 120GB (Already own)
Video card: Asus GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB ($129.59)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite ($38.99)
PSU: Corsair 430W ATX12V Non-Modular ($19.99)
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 ($24.99)
Grand Total $472.81

PC Part Picker link:
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/DerekPDX/saved/23Vr

The price of that Sentey case went up to about $50, and I decided I would actually like to get into gaming. I realized the only real reason I don't play computer games is because I don't have a system that can handle it. So I looked around, decided the FX 6300 might be overkill, and found the X4 750K which seems like a good contender for a decent chip with good overclocking potential, and getting a less expensive CPU and a microATX board allowed me to get a better video card without breaking the bank.

After saying all that, I have also never done all this, and could be completely off base. So what do you guys think of this part list? A decent budget build that could yield at least good gaming performance?

Does the budget include room for Windows now? Linux gaming is getting better, but it is still slim pickin's.

 

[DerekPDX]

Yeah, I'm definitely gonna get Windows, Linux is just way too limiting.

 

[DerekPDX]

God I just can't make up my mind...so many choices. What if I ditched the 750k and went with an FX-4130? The problem with getting the 6300, from what I have gathered from other forums, is I would need to get a significantly more expensive motherboard. Do you think I could pair the 4130 with an Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 and get decent performance and some over clocking?

 

[VirtualLarry]

The 750K doesn't have an L3 cache, same as all the other Trinity chips.

I guess I must have missed something somewhere. Trinity has Piledriver cores like Vishera. I thought all of the piledriver core-based CPUs needed L3 for decent performance. No?

Edit: All this time, I thought FM2 was PD + IGP, I didn't realize that the CPU portion was weaker than the equivalent Vishera.

 

[RayTheKing]

Get a 3970X with 4 GTX 690s! (, ) __ ( ,)
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I think OP should stick with the 6300, or even get a 6350 if he can. However, a Phenom ii x4 965 or the FX-4130 are good alternatives.

 

[mfenn]

Yeah, I'm definitely gonna get Windows, Linux is just way too limiting.

So, what's your budget now? $500 or $600?