Gaming Rig - Help/Suggestions

[Axison]

Good Morning, Fellas.


Never though't i'd actually come to this conclusion of building my own PC. For a long time, i've been researching in hopes to find a good and suitable laptop for about $500-$550(still in search, if i find one, will probably switch(hardly likely as i haven't found anything). Anyhow, I've researched very briefly upon what parts make a good rig. Lets get to it then.

My Budget:
Minimum - $500
Maximum - $550 - $600(Extreme Max)

My Researched and Decided Parts:

CPU  - AMD FX-6300 - $99.99
Motherboard - ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 - $55.42
GPU - EVGA GTX 960 - $239.57
RAM - Crucial Ballistix 8GB - $37.99
PSU - EVGA 500W 80PLUS - $39.99
CASE(Probably going to change this) - VIVO ATX MID TOWER - $38.99
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Grand Total(With Tax) - $524.00

I'm fairly new to all this PC building thing so i'll require some assistance in choosing parts and even in the assembly. I'm on a tight budget so i can't buy anything too expensive. Please leave your suggestions and opinions on what i should change and what i shouldn't and how good of a performance/quality will the parts i mentioned above give.

[SkyHawk]

If you can afford to drop the few extra dollars on the GTX 970 I would highly recommend going that route. Otherwise, within budget this isn't too terribly bad. I would stress ensuring you put an SSD drive and not relying on an external drive, you'll notice huge performance implications if you use an external to run your OS as well as performance intensive games. Cooling is going to be a big factor in how well you PC runs down the road, as the machine heats up performance begins to suffer. If you can't afford to go liquid cooling off the bat with your CPU, I would highly recommend at the very least upgrading your heatsink until you can afford to put liquid cooling in your machine, I wouldn't recommend using the CPU manufactured heatsink as it is not necessarily built for hardcore gaming.

Some may have some differing opinions based on products, but for the budget you've set forth this is pretty decent from my viewpoint. I'm a little concerned with a 500W power supply, but that's from my own personal experience where I had to upgrade to a 750W unit, but my 500W may have been a flawed unit, I don't mind having the extra power regardless, the Gold standard you have should most likely do the trick. Personally, I prefer to utilize more than 8gb of RAM (I have 16gb), although I've heard countless stories that 8gb will do the trick, but if you intend to play more graphic intensive games other than GTA you may want to look at that down the road. Motherboard wise, I honestly don't know too much to leave any valuable feedback so someone else will have to do that for you. Ultimately building your PC for the first time is a scary process, believe me I just did the same thing, but it's completely worth it. The PC I have now would cost me at least twice as much if it were factory built, rather than me doing it myself with trial and error of course. Good luck, I know there are some others here that know way more than I do about this type of stuff so I'm sure collectively we'll be able to steer you in the right direction.

[Axison]

I'm not to sure about the GTX 970, i'll try if i can chip that. At the very moment, getting liquid cooling is something i can afford until later. IF you have any heat sink's in mind(considering my budget) for the CPU provided, please share.

[Ninda]

If you can afford to drop the few extra dollars on the GTX 970 I would highly recommend going that route. Otherwise, within budget this isn't too terribly bad. I would stress ensuring you put an SSD drive and not relying on an external drive, you'll notice huge performance implications if you use an external to run your OS as well as performance intensive games.

It's true, having SSD installed will boost your PC 20x faster, i would recommend you to add budget for buying SSD. powerful CPU without SSD will give you lack of performance. Please consider it once again

[Janar]

Liquid cooling is not necessary, there are many great air coolers on the market that are cheap and will do the job just great (Hyper 212 Evo, some be quiet! ones). I do suggest going with aftermarket cooler for noise and better temperatures (Hyper 212 Evo is quite cheap).

8GB of RAM is plenty, games do not use that much RAM, unless you are heavily multitasking. Power supply is also enough. Case and motherboard are just matter of personal choice - what features you want/need and the price. Looking at the CPU - If you are sticking with AMD platform, go with GTX 960. Or if your budget allows, look at i5-4460 and/or maybe a R9 280x (this is slightly faster than 960).

EDIT - What games do you play and at what resolution? Maybe a good Intel dual-core can even fit you.

[Axison]

Liquid cooling is not necessary, there are many great air coolers on the market that are cheap and will do the job just great (Hyper 212 Evo, some be quiet! ones). I do suggest going with aftermarket cooler for noise and better temperatures (Hyper 212 Evo is quite cheap).

8GB of RAM is plenty, games do not use that much RAM, unless you are heavily multitasking. Power supply is also enough. Case and motherboard are just matter of personal choice - what features you want/need and the price. Looking at the CPU - If you are sticking with AMD platform, go with GTX 960. Or if your budget allows, look at i5-4460 and/or maybe a R9 280x (this is slightly faster than 960).

EDIT - What games do you play and at what resolution? Maybe a good Intel dual-core can even fit you.

Hmm, I'll reply with some feedback on what you said in a bit. But to answer your last question. I'm looking to play games like GTA V, GTA SA(with or without enb)... Arma II/III, The Divison(although system requirements haven't been released) on relatively high settings on.. 1920x1080 resolution.

[Axison]

It's true, having SSD installed will boost your PC 20x faster, i would recommend you to add budget for buying SSD. powerful CPU without SSD will give you lack of performance. Please consider it once again

I will think about purchasing an SSD later down the road.

@Janar I looked at the Hyber 212 evo and i am fairly confident that i can afford it. However, i've read the reviews on the the FX-6300 and people seem to fairly comfortable with its performance. Is there a reason why i should be purchasing a different heatsink? Can i try out the default heatsink that comes with the FX-6300 and then later on(if i'm not satisfied) buy a different one?

Also, according to the list of games i mentioned. Will the GTX 960 be able handle those games? I don't mind saving up a little extra for the GTX 970 but the price difference is quite high(although no alot). And one last question, the motherboard i provided, will it be able to fit all the parts mentioned(besides the case)?

Sorry if i'm asking a shit load of questions, as said i'm really not experienced with this area of computers.

Thanks once again.

[Janar]

@Janar I looked at the Hyber 212 evo and i am fairly confident that i can afford it. However, i've read the reviews on the the FX-6300 and people seem to fairly comfortable with its performance. Is there a reason why i should be purchasing a different heatsink? Can i try out the default heatsink that comes with the FX-6300 and then later on(if i'm not satisfied) buy a different one?

Yep, can be done. Though the reason why I would go for Intel, is the possibility of upgrading in the future. On AMD platform you are quite limited, though with Intel, you will have to pay slightly more now (which might go over your budget). (You can try looking at i5-4460 and a H97/H87 motherboard, the performance boost could be a major one).

Also, according to the list of games i mentioned. Will the GTX 960 be able handle those games? I don't mind saving up a little extra for the GTX 970 but the price difference is quite high(although no alot).

Are you looking at the 2GB or 4GB version? GTA:V performance is shown
4GB version http://www.legitreviews.com/evga-geforce-gtx-960-ssc-4gb-video-card-review_172290/5
2GB version http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/msi-geforce-gtx-960-gaming-2g,4194.html

And one last question, the motherboard i provided, will it be able to fit all the parts mentioned(besides the case)?

Yes.
EDIT: Do share the exact model of the PSU, need to check the connectors.

[Axison]

@Janar

GPU
MOTHERBOARD
PSU
CPU
RAM

About the CPU, the i5 isn't exactly in my budget at the very moment. I'd rather get started with a build and later think about upgrading by the time i'll have enough to save for an upgrade and give my older parts to my brother.

[brian1996]

I'm not to sure about the GTX 970, i'll try if i can chip that. At the very moment, getting liquid cooling is something i can afford until later. IF you have any heat sink's in mind(considering my budget) for the CPU provided, please share.

GTX 970 if you can afford it. Liquid cooling is unnecessary for the type of build you're looking at, even stock cooler will do the trick at the moment as you can always upgrade in the future.
As for the CPU, I do not recommend AMD at all, I hate the brand and its unreliable performance.
Regarding your PSU, 500W is plenty however you might even be able to lower the wattage (depending on what kind of upgrades you actually want to have in the future).

[Janar]

PSU has right connectors and wattage is just on safe side (slightly more than you will most of the time use).
Considering Intel platform is out of the budget (dual-core won't be enough for GTA:V), I can't think of any other suggestions at this moment.

[Axison]

Is it possible to upgrade to Intel later on? or is that not even a possibility.

[Janar]

Is it possible to upgrade to Intel later on? or is that not even a possibility.

By purchasing a new motherboard and CPU (and maybe RAM, depending on the choices).

If you would go for Intel platform now, for example getting a LGA1150 or 1151 or older 1155 motherboard with a lower processor (AFAIK GTA:V doesn't get along well with dual-cores, so i5 would be a minimal), you can just upgrade the CPU in the future. i5-3470 is minimal recommended by Rockstar, can check it's price.

[Axison]

By purchasing a new motherboard and CPU (and maybe RAM, depending on the choices).

If you would go for Intel platform now, for example getting a LGA1150 or 1151 or older 1155 motherboard with a lower processor (AFAIK GTA:V doesn't get along well with dual-cores, so i5 would be a minimal), you can just upgrade the CPU in the future. i5-3470 is minimal recommended by Rockstar, can check it's price.

So basically, if i go with the AMD, i'll have to stick with it until i get a new motherboard? You can't just switch CPU's?

I can't afford Intel so i'll just have to go with AMD.

[Archie]

So basically, if i go with the AMD, i'll have to stick with it until i get a new motherboard? You can't just switch CPU's?

Unless the new motherboard you're going to buy supports both AMD and Intel (I don't know if there's any, I believe not).