My first PC build...ever.

[Diabetothewhale]

Hey
Im new to pc gaming and was thinking about building my own pc real soon, I wanted to know what you guys think of this build? If something is wrong/bad please let me know, but like I said I'm a total noob. Thanks
Processor: AMD FX-6300 3.5 GHz 6-core

MOBO: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM 3.5''
GPU: XFX Radeon R9 285
Case: NZXT Source 210 (black)
PSU: Thermaltake 750 Watts 80+ Gold


Like I said, im a noob so let me know if something is wrong/bad




Moved from PC Gaming

Anandtech Administrator
KeithTalent

 

[BlueWeasel]

That's a decent build. What resolution will you be gaming at....1920x1080?

 

[Arachnotronic]

Hey
Im new to pc gaming and was thinking about building my own pc real soon, I wanted to know what you guys think of this build? If something is wrong/bad please let me know, but like I said I'm a total noob. Thanks
Processor: AMD FX-6300 3.5 GHz 6-core

MOBO: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM 3.5''
GPU: XFX Radeon R9 285
Case: NZXT Source 210 (black)
PSU: Thermaltake 750 Watts 80+ Gold


Like I said, im a noob so let me know if something is wrong/bad

Where are you buying the parts? What is your budget? That said, it looks like a pretty good build to me; should play the latest games @ 1080p quite nicely. :thumbsup:

The only thing I'd add (and the reason I asked about your budget) is potentially including an SSD as your main OS drive and then using the 1TB HDD for bulk storage/games.

 

[escrow4]

No reason buying FX. May as well go for a 4670 and Asrock H97 Fatality. Way better all rounder. Rest is OK.

 

[JumBie]

Hey
Im new to pc gaming and was thinking about building my own pc real soon, I wanted to know what you guys think of this build? If something is wrong/bad please let me know, but like I said I'm a total noob. Thanks
Processor: AMD FX-6300 3.5 GHz 6-core

MOBO: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM 3.5''
GPU: XFX Radeon R9 285
Case: NZXT Source 210 (black)
PSU: Thermaltake 750 Watts 80+ Gold


Like I said, im a noob so let me know if something is wrong/bad

CPU: FX-6300 $104.99
MOBO: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ $89.99
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 $83.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM 3.5'' $52.99 (blue)
GPU: XFX Radeon R9 285 $269.99
Case: NZXT Source 210 (black) $44.99
PSU: Thermaltake 750 Watts 80+ Gold $89.99
Total: $737

Considering the choice of items it would seem that you are trying to price out a budget build.

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 $179.99
MOBO: BIOSTAR Hi-Fi H81S2 LGA 1150 Intel H81 $54.99
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 $83.99
HDD : ADATA Premier Pro SP600 256GB SSD $97.99
CASE: NZXT Source 210 (black) $44.99
PSU: Rosewill Green Series RG530-S12 530W $54.99
GPU: EVGA SuperClocked GTX 760 $219.99
Total: $736.99

This computer is infinitely better than the one you posted. Prices are subject to change and are all based on current prices from Newegg.

 

[futurefields]

Hey
Im new to pc gaming and was thinking about building my own pc real soon, I wanted to know what you guys think of this build? If something is wrong/bad please let me know, but like I said I'm a total noob. Thanks
Processor: AMD FX-6300 3.5 GHz 6-core

MOBO: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM 3.5''
GPU: XFX Radeon R9 285
Case: NZXT Source 210 (black)
PSU: Thermaltake 750 Watts 80+ Gold


Like I said, im a noob so let me know if something is wrong/bad

Switch the CPU for intel.

Even skip buying the GPU for 6 months, and just run off integrated graphcis if you need to, to get the Intel CPU.

It is THAT important.

 

[futurefields]

CPU: FX-6300 $104.99
MOBO: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ $89.99
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 $83.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM 3.5'' $52.99 (blue)
GPU: XFX Radeon R9 285 $269.99
Case: NZXT Source 210 (black) $44.99
PSU: Thermaltake 750 Watts 80+ Gold $89.99
Total: $737

Considering the choice of items it would seem that you are trying to price out a budget build.

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 $179.99
MOBO: BIOSTAR Hi-Fi H81S2 LGA 1150 Intel H81 $54.99
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 $83.99
HDD : ADATA Premier Pro SP600 256GB SSD $97.99
CASE: NZXT Source 210 (black) $44.99
PSU: Rosewill Green Series RG530-S12 530W $54.99
GPU: EVGA SuperClocked GTX 760 $219.99
Total: $736.99

This computer is infinitely better than the one you posted. Prices are subject to change and are all based on current prices from Newegg.

I would never recommend and non-K series Intel processor.

 

[JumBie]

I would never recommend and non-K series Intel processor.

Hes clearly new to PC gaming, you actually think a K processor has any value to him?

 

[futurefields]

Yes.

 

[JumBie]

Yes.

I don't see the logic.

 

[DaTT]

I don't see the logic.

I agree. He more than likely will not be touching clock speeds.

Also, wrong forum?

 

[skipsneeky2]

With a 760 card at 1080p that i5 4440 should be plenty.Some of these brand new games pretty much tank any card outside of a sli/crossfire configuration way before even a i7 becomes a limiting factor.

I noticed there is no mention of which games will be played.

 

[you2]

Well if he buys at microcenter than the K cpu is cheaper; than the non K. Might also consider the asrock extreme 4 motherboard. Would also consider the capstone 650-M psu (esp if you can get it when it is on sale).
-
If you are willing to go itx could consider the z97e-itx (asrock); it is $99 at microcenter if you buy an i5 with the mb.

I would not get the adata ssd; would go with the 240GB extreme pro $144 or the 256GB 850 pro for $144; if you go itx you can get the elite 130 case for $40.
-
There is also the ultra ii (san disk) 240GB for $85 @ amazon.

 

[Stringjam]

The only thing I'd add (and the reason I asked about your budget) is potentially including an SSD as your main OS drive and then using the 1TB HDD for bulk storage/games.

I agree here wholeheartedly.

Using a single HD to run and store everything is not a good idea, both from a performance and recovery standpoint.

Even if you have a small budget, you can probably still afford something like a 120GB Samsung EVO (about $70). Run your OS and applications on it, and store all your data on the other drive.

After you get it built - OS loaded, updated, and get all the base applications you want loaded (not games), take a system image, either using Window's built-in utility, or with something like Clonezilla.

I know this is a build thread, but how quickly and easily you want to recover has a good bit to do with how you build, and a few more dollars can make it a whole lot easier WHEN you have to recover.

 

[futurefields]

I don't see the logic.

You don't see the logic in getting a K-series processor?

 

[futurefields]

I agree. He more than likely will not be touching clock speeds.

Yet the fact remains an Intel K-series processor represents the best bang for buck in performance, so they are the only CPU's I ever recommend. When it comes to PC building it is best to dive in and build yourself a good PC rather than skimp out. Those non-K series i5 processors that top out in the mid 3-ghz range will not yield max framerates in next gen games. Already games like BF3/4 love 4+ghz Intel CPU's in order to maintain 60+ fps @ 1080p when large multiplayer matches are going. Also overclocking these processors is dead simple. The rig in my sig is my first build, both the CPU and GPU are overclocked.

 

[futurefields]

Even if you have a small budget, you can probably still afford something like a 120GB Samsung EVO (about $70). Run your OS and applications on it, and store all your data on the other drive.

IMO this is a waste of funds that would be better directed towards the CPU/GPU. He can add SSD later. I have a single 500gb HD in my build from 2012. Never felt an inclination to upgrade. When doing a budget build a simple 7200RPM HDD is perfect.

 

[Stringjam]

IMO this is a waste of funds that would be better directed towards the CPU/GPU. He can add SSD later. I have a single 500gb HD in my build from 2012. Never felt an inclination to upgrade. When doing a budget build a simple 7200RPM HDD is perfect.

I disagree. It's a pretty small price to pay to get both a huge increase in loading performance and a much easier recovery platform.

Yeah, he can do the same thing with his 1TB drive, both imaging and recovering drives that big sucks, and he'll have to get another big drive to hold the image, so there goes any real cost savings.

My time is worth more to me than $70.

 

[futurefields]

I disagree. It's a pretty small price to pay to get both a huge increase in loading performance and a much easier recovery platform.

Yeah, he can do the same thing with his 1TB drive, both imaging and recovering drives that big sucks, and he'll have to get another big drive to hold the image, so there goes any real cost savings.

My time is worth more to me than $70.

I disagree. We are talking about a budget gaming build and an SSD is simply not a vital component, whereas getting the best CPU you can afford is extremely important. It's super easy to add an SSD later, doing a full rebuild 2 years later because you skimped out on a non-K series Intel processor that can't hit 60fps in multiplayer PC games is a real pain and the kind of thing that sends people back to console gaming.

 

[Stringjam]

I disagree. We are talking about a budget gaming build and an SSD is simply not a vital component, whereas getting the best CPU you can afford is extremely important. It's super easy to add an SSD later, doing a full rebuild 2 years later because you skimped out on a non-K series Intel processor that can't hit 60fps in multiplayer PC games is a real pain and the kind of thing that sends people back to console gaming.

I agree with you on the CPU.

If he is so tight on budget that the additional cost of the SSD would keep him from buying the proper CPU and GPU to start, then yes -- don't get the SSD. I should have made that clear in my earlier post. The OP should set his minimum spec to an i5 K proc, period.

I personally would find a way to do it right from the start, even if that meant getting a really small (60Gb) SSD to load the OS on. I've seen them as cheap as $35, which is affordable to pretty much ANY budget.

 

[futurefields]

Agreed, if he can afford it get the SSD.

I see a K-series Intel processor as priority #1 in a fresh build simply because the performance longevity they provide.

 

[DaTT]

Yet the fact remains an Intel K-series processor represents the best bang for buck in performance, so they are the only CPU's I ever recommend. When it comes to PC building it is best to dive in and build yourself a good PC rather than skimp out. Those non-K series i5 processors that top out in the mid 3-ghz range will not yield max framerates in next gen games. Already games like BF3/4 love 4+ghz Intel CPU's in order to maintain 60+ fps @ 1080p when large multiplayer matches are going. Also overclocking these processors is dead simple. The rig in my sig is my first build, both the CPU and GPU are overclocked.

Doesn't the K just represent "unlocked" or " able to overclock"? If so (like it used to be), then there is zero need to buy the unlocked CPU if overclocking is not going to be performed.

I have an i5 2500 non K and the only difference is the ability to overclock the K. I also get well....WELL over 60 FPS on BF3 and probably around 60-70 on BF4. 1080

 

[Diabetothewhale]

Soooooooo I would need an SSD for my OS and other apps, and everything else on another drive?

And i plan to play the newer games like far cry 4, gta 5. preferably at 1920x1080

 

[Diabetothewhale]

and should I really switch to an intel?

 

[Stringjam]

Soooooooo I would need an SSD for my OS and other apps, and everything else on another drive?

Need? No.

Best practice? Yes.

and should I really switch to an intel?

Yes.