New build. Based on AMD, maybe?

[John_Grimm]

Greetings All,

 

Its build time again (has it really been 3 years)! Tempus Fugit!

I'm very happy with my i5 2500K build, but i've decided i'll give it to my mom(She's a gamer!), so i need a new machine. I'm trying to keep the budget as low as possible, but still get a good system.

 

I've decided to go with a AMD system. So what i have so far:

 

Box  : Fractal Define XL R2 - link

PCU  : Unknown?

 

CPU Cooler: Coolermaster HYPER 212 EVO - link

 

CPU  : AMD FX X6 6350 - link

MoBo : Asus SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 - link

GPU  : Sapphire R9 280X VAPOR-X - link

HDD  : unknown.

RAM  : unknown.

 

The above comes to about 384 Euros (all the prices you see on thous sites divide by 2. ) Below is a link to a aggregate site that basically pulls its results from about 5-7 online shops here in Bulgaria:

http://www.pazaruvaj.com/informatika-c3067/

 

Still undecided on RAM and HDD configuration, i'm thinking a 128GB SSD, and a 2GB HDD or 2.

 

So i need some advice, i'm unsure about the future of the AM3+ socket, should i go for one of the better FM2+ boards and a AMD Athlon II X4 760K(getting a better chip when they become available?) and save some money, or get a better GPU, or spend money elsewhere on the build?

 

I'm also looking for a 1440p monitor on the cheep.

 

All advice is welcome and will be greatly appreciated. 

 

P.S.: The build will be taking a few weeks(couple of months) and i'm in no hurry, so i can wait for better deals on parts. (I'll be back to using the "old work horse" from this weekend)

 

[Waco]

Honestly? I'd build her a new rig and toss a new GPU into your 2500k rig. The 2500k, sadly, still outperforms every AMD CPU to date in gaming.

[John_Grimm]

Hi,

 

Problem is I play mostly MMOs, occasionally i boot up something from my Steam library like Dishonered/FarCry 3/Skyrim, but mostly i play less demanding titles.

My mom on the other hand plays mostly Oblivion/Skyrim/AC4 with mods and Path of Exile/Torchlight2. That is why i want to give her the 2500K, i'll get her a new GPU for xmas too.

 

 I wanted to correct myself from above, the Case/Cooler/MoBo/CPU are 384 Euros, this excludes the GPU.

 

I was actually right now doing some research and i was thinking of getting the below CPU/MoBo combo for 150 Euros, and adding a R9 290 GPU, maybe this one link

 

AMD Athlon II X4 760K - link

ASRock FM2A88X EXTREME6+ - link

 

My problem is thinking about it the above does not look that much better the my P55A-UD3/i5 650 combo i got right now. The issue is that i most MMOs the CPU is still a bottleneck, or more precisely the single core performance is the bottleneck. I'm actually hopping that with both the XBONE and PS4 having multi-core AMD CPUs that future titles will be more friendly with multi-thread CPUs, that is why i want a 6350, maybe a 8350(if i can afford it.). Or am I deluding myself. 

 

Edit: The A88X mobo looks good, i may be able to change the CPU in the future with a better one.

Edited July 4, 2014 by John_Grimm

[ohldboy]

A88X is FM2+ chipset Athlon X4 760K is as good as it gets.  A7850 has more capabilities but is a sidestep in performance. (increased capabilities are mostly iGPU, which an Athlon version would not have).

Athlon X4 760 ~ FX-43XX for less money, true, but upgrade path seems unlikely.

I may be wrong, but this is my impression.

[potatochobit]

regardless of AMD vs INTEL performance, replacing your current processor with any newer processor will give you no noticeable improvement other than feeling good about higher benchmark numbers. 

 

now, if your mom NEEDS a new CPU, absolutely give her yours and get a new one that handles more threads or has more cores. 

 

your GPU, though, a 6850 is absolutely what is holding you back.
I know because I replace my 6850 like 3 years ago. 

 

time to get an SSD too, bro.

[John_Grimm]

Hi,

 

Tanks for the advice guys. I'm definitely giving mom the 2500K, i'll get a GTX 770 for her build. That should make it a killer.

 

I've settled on the AMD Athlon II X4 760K / ASRock FM2A88X EXTREME6+ combo, its the price of just the processor for any other combo i can go with and the ASRock board is good and feature reach (any other combo i can get i'll have to sacrifice a lot on the board). I'm hopping that new Excavator cores will be available for FM2+ sometime next year for more umf. Or i can eventually convert this to a NAS when i get a better hardware down the road. Or get the Excavator and put the 760K in a cheapo mATX board for a NAS, all the possibilities are awesome.

 

As for the X4 760K, have a look at this guy's benchmarks link, very impressive.

 

Now for the GPU, i'm having a real trouble choosing here. I want a AMD card, below are the option currently available to me:

 

SAPPHIRE TRI-X R9 290 - 387 Euro

SAPPHIRE VAPOR-X R9 280X - 300 Euro

MSI R9 280X Gaming - 295 Euro

PowerColor TurboDuo R9 280X - 279 Euro

 

 

I've found some difficulty in locating descent user reviews of thous cards so i cannot decide which one to get, i'm interested in long term card usage and how it went. So which card should i get?

 

 

John.

 

[ccokeman]

I did a review of the VaporX card http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/sapphire_vapor_x_r9_280x_tri_x_oc/

 

Its a solid performer when you get down to it with some OC headroom.  

[potatochobit]

you might want to consider a laptop for yourself

you can plug it into a monitor and keyboard just like a regular computer

 

dont buy now thinking you will upgrade next year, that would be a waste

richland in a NAS would be a total waste, re-sell it instead if you must

 

the used laptop I am typing on now has a GT650 in it, 17" and i got it for less than 500$.

of course, I have a gaming and work computer

but this way u can have a laptop now and get a new desktop later and keep both

I dont know how good of deals u can get in europe though on ebay

 

anyway, any of those graphic cards are fine