Mid level gaming PC - Can you please review?

BenEadir

Hi all,

I got some great help here a while back when I was looking to purchase a gaming PC for my 15 year old son. The original requirement was to get the best possible for €500. Overclocking and future upgradeability etc are not important and he has a monitor and keyboard.

Since then the goal posts have moved a bit and including money he is contributing himself (he sold his Xbox One to part finance this) the new budget including VAT, Build and Delivery is +/- €650.

With that in mind and the advise I got previously we have put the following together which I'd appreciate critique's of.

This rig will have to be useable for at least 3 or 4 years. Is it a balanced system? Are we getting the best value for money particularly in relation to the processor and graphics card? My son was set on the Radeon R9 270X OC card http://www.hardwareversand.de/en/4096+MB/143286/Gigabyte+Radeon+R9+270X+WindForce+3X+OC+mit+MANTLE+und+Gaming+Evolved+Client%2C+4GB+GDDR5%2C+2x+DVI%2C+HDMI%2CDisplayPort.article but I don't think it's worth paying an extra €80 for Vs the GeForce GTX 750. I included a 128GB SSD drive for €55 (strongly advised to get one on the original thread) which would have to go if we went for the R9 270X as it would really burst the budget otherwise.

Any other changes you'd suggest?



Thanks for having a look. This is a big decision for him/us which we have to get right!!

TerrorFirmer

You have an AMD processor but an Intel motherboard.

Build looks fine, but I wouldn't go AMD, go with Intel. Something like this is OK and you can put the extra cash into the R9 280 video card.

The video card is important if it's a gaming machine, GTX750 is an OK budget card but with a budget like that you should be hitting higher.

BenEadir

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

You have an AMD processor but an Intel motherboard.

Build looks fine, but I wouldn't go AMD, go with Intel. Something like this is OK and you can put the extra cash into the R9 280 video card.

The video card is important if it's a gaming machine, GTX750 is an OK budget card but with a budget like that you should be hitting higher.

Thanks TF,

Can I clarify a couple of things?

Can you not mix an Intel motherboard with an AMD processor? (Just for refernce)

If so, would the AMD FX-6300 not be better than the i3? It gets higher scores on CPUbenchmark.com for performance and value for money relative to the i3 you linked to.

Also, would the Ti version of the GTC750 be good enough or should I go all out for the Radeon R9 280 you recommended?

BenEadir

If AMD processor and Intel motherboard works then how about this with the R9 280 graphics card?

lunacyfoundme

"Can you not mix an Intel motherboard with an AMD processor?"

Definitely not. You need to match processors and motherboards. Intel to Intel, AMD to AMD. The processor and mobo will have a socket number eg intel 1150. These must match for both.

BenEadir

lunacyfoundme wrote: »

"Can you not mix an Intel motherboard with an AMD processor?"

Definitely not. You need to match processors and motherboards. Intel to Intel, AMD to AMD. The processor and mobo will have a socket number eg intel 1150. These must match for both.

Lucky escape there then, where would I be without Boards.ie?

lunacyfoundme

You should go to Reddit and visit the buildapc subreddit, there are some good resources in the sidebar.

BenEadir

So if I want to go with the AMD 6300 processor http://www.hardwareversand.de/en/Sockel+AM3/80150/AMD+FX-6300+Prozessor%2C+Tray%2C+Sockel+AM3%2B.article I should go with and AM3+ compatible motherboard like this http://www.hardwareversand.de/en/DDR3/101592/ASRock+980DE3+U3S3%2C+AM3%2B%2C+ATX.article?

I'll have a look over on Reddit, thanks.

lunacyfoundme

Yes I think so, don't know much about AMD though I have always stuck with Intel.

TerrorFirmer

I would take a 4th gen i3 over the Fx6300 anytime. The Fx6300 might be better at some multi-threaded programmes but single thread performance and gaming performance is far better with the i3 - they also run cooler and use less power.

GTX750Ti is a fantastic card for the money, but the R9 280 is a much, much stronger performer. You're looking at 1080p high-ultra on games. If you're looking for something to last a few years at quality game settings without having to upgrade, you're better off going with the 280.

Chris_Heilong

BenEadir wrote: »

So if I want to go with the AMD 6300 processor http://www.hardwareversand.de/en/Sockel+AM3/80150/AMD+FX-6300+Prozessor%2C+Tray%2C+Sockel+AM3%2B.article I should go with and AM3+ compatible motherboard like this http://www.hardwareversand.de/en/DDR3/101592/ASRock+980DE3+U3S3%2C+AM3%2B%2C+ATX.article?

I'll have a look over on Reddit, thanks.

Yes, search AM3+ when looking for your motherboard, also check for compatibility issues, I have been reading up on boards compatible with the FX8320 and FX8350 and just because its AM3+ does not mean it will work with the processor, I know some boards have issue with the heat being produced, especially boards under 70 euro. The gigabyte 970A-UD3P AM3+ is meant to be a good budget board for AMD chips, especially if you want to over clock.

BenEadir

Really appreciate the feedback guys. What an education!!

OK, so I've created two builds. An AMD FX 6300 based build and an i3-4150 based build. I kind of get what is being said about a 4th gen i3 having better gaming performance than the AMD FX 6300 although the FX 6300 gets higher scores on CPU Benchmark etc. If I was going purely by the review numbers I'd have gone AMD as it appears to be better and is €43 cheaper than the i3 model but you guys all reckon the i3 build is the better option? The games my son will be playing are Far Cry 4, Battlefield 4, Skyrim etc etc.

Decision time.

This AMD build



or this i3 build?



Also, are these builds complete and functional? Am I over or under spec'ing anything on them? Have I left anything out?

BTW, I'll try using the Win 7 licence I have on the old Dell this rig will be replacing.

FYI I'd like to order this machine tomorrow.

Cheers.

MRTULES

Im pretty sure you could shave a few quid off the motherboard and also, run the build through Geizhals.de for more discount.
There is a link somewhere on how to do it but you pretty much select each component and scroll down till you see Hardwareversand and click on it. Should make a little difference.
i3 build all the way if it were me.

MRTULES

Dont know if this mobo will suit your requirements

TerrorFirmer

Also, the i3 is only €15 more expensive, not €45!

Fx series is far more power hungry, and also, it's a dead end socket - you can't upgrade past the Fx63/83 series. Whereas Socket 1150 has a huge upgrade potential in the future.

As stated, the i3 has far better per core performance. Consumes less power, far faster per core, and future upgrades are guaranteed. Majority of games run better on the i3, putting aside the upgrade potential.

No reason to choose the FX line at this point.

BenEadir

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Fx series is far more power hungry, and also, it's a dead end socket - you can't upgrade past the Fx63/83 series. Whereas Socket 1150 has a huge upgrade potential in the future.

Great point TF, so not only is the i3 better for now but in the future if we want to upgrade the processor it should be possible to whip out the i3 and pop in an i5/i7? That would extend the working life of the machine considerably, especially given the quality of the R9 280 graphics card.

Thanks. i3 system it is so.