Sick of waiting on AMD... new build suggestions

T

TMCM

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Apr 15, 2003
Messages
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here is a link to what I have thrown together: http://robo.pchound.com/cart/d9ff08a884cadd08332dcb8ba496450e/

Use of the computer will be some some gaming (I don't game to often but when I do I like to play on higher settings on a 1080p display) but mostly for media/torrent/netflix. It will be running win8.1 already have keyboard/mouse/xbox gamepad. Hooked up to a Benq projector in the living room.

It will be replacing my OC'd Phenom II 955 computer listed below in my sig. This is a good bit more than I planed on spending but I am also one who only upgrades after many years and prefer to do the minor upgrades every year or 2. Think about it, my main rig is still running a phenom 2 cpu.

I have a 3TB green drive that I will be pulling out of my old rig that will be going into the new one so I am good on space
 
Just my opinion id base something around a core-i5-5675c or wait 60 days for the intel refresh and the 6XXX chips come out.

Id also pick a faster SSD, but that would be based on what slot my MoBo would have.
 
I opted for a Xeon E3-1231v3 in my recent desktop upgrade. Occasional gamer but need the system to also host a Minecraft server. The Xeon E3 1231 and 1241 give you i7 performance at an i5 price. They don't have integrated GPU and they don't overclock.
 
Case: Fractal Design Define R4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...52020&cm_re=fractal_r4-_-11-352-020-_-Product
Solid and silent case, no white on the other hand...
99$

PSU: Antec TruePower Classic 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371072
79.90$ (20$ rebate mail-in card additionally)
Seasonic OEM, great deal and will do fine in this rig

SSD: Samsung 850 PRO MZ-7KE256BW 2.5" 256GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147360
143$, much faster and 10y warranty

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) 1600Mhz
Good quality RAM with great compatibility
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148545
104.99$

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116989
225$

Video card: ASUS STRIX-GTX970-DC2OC-4GD5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121899
339.99$ (10$ rebate card)

Mobo: ASUS H97M-PLUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132119
101$

1093$ w/o a HDD and much better value...

If you want to OC, replace the mobo with Asus Z97-A and the CPU with a K-version (that'll add about 55$).
As an alternative you have the Intel Core i7-4790 @ 290$ USD (65$ additionally) instead of the i5.

What are you going to use the 1TB HDD for?

You can also do fine with a 960 video card if you want to save some money...
//Danne
 
Thanks for the tips. I'm trying to figure out if it's better to have the faster ram with the slower latency or slower ram with faster latency. I do overclock
 
Yes I was thinking going Xeon in a compact build. I love Xeon stuff. Worth checking out.

Plus the 250GB MX200 doesn't do very well. The cache system actually hamstrings it. The BX works better in most cases.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9258/crucial-mx200-250gb-500gb-1tb-ssd-review

Don't sweat the ram too much. Just get what looks the sexiest in the motherboard. Seriously, you'll notice that aspect far more than any latency/speed tweaks.
 
I will be reading about the Xeon 1231. I like to OC because I like to tinker but it isn't mandatory. But will a 4690k OC'd to around 4.5ghz (They seem to be pretty easy to get there) kill the Xeon? I know stock for the stock the Xeon is the much better buy due to hyperthreading but I figure a 1ghz OC on the 4690k will make up for the lack of 4 extra threads
 
TMCM said:
Thanks for the tips. I'm trying to figure out if it's better to have the faster ram with the slower latency or slower ram with faster latency. I do overclock
Click to expand...
Doesn't matter really. WIth current Intel platforms, RAM speeds don't really affect the real world performance of the system that much. As such, a CAS 7 DDR3 1600 RAM set will more or less feel and perform the same as a CAS 11 DDR3 2400 set. The only real rule of thumb is get the cheapest single 8GB or 2 x 8GB set from a reputable manufacturer and you're golden.
TMCM said:
I will be reading about the Xeon 1231. I like to OC because I like to tinker but it isn't mandatory. But will a 4690k OC'd to around 4.5ghz (They seem to be pretty easy to get there) kill the Xeon? I know stock for the stock the Xeon is the much better buy due to hyperthreading but I figure a 1ghz OC on the 4690k will make up for the lack of 4 extra threads
Click to expand...
For the majority of games out there right now, yes an OC'd 4690K will beat that Xeon. For media, torrent, and netflix, doesn't matter either way.

Also, for the thermal paste, the stock thermal paste that comes with most HSF are good enough these days. But even if you needed additional thermal paste, AS5 is relatively outdated these days. Go for MX-4 instead.
 
Ok... going to add MX-4 to the list. I am planning on going with an AIO watercooler since they seem to be pretty nice these days and I don't care to mess with building another custom loop. So it's sounding like the 4690k maybe the better way to go since it's unlocked. The 4 cores on my Phenom II multi task well, it's just needing something faster now and I doubt I do enough to warrant the need for more than 4 threads let alone 8 threads. I don't do any heavy VM computing or anything, its more of an HTPC that will also play games
 
Go with the Asus Z97-A and a i5-4690K instead of the mentioned motherboard and CPU above if you want to OC.
//Danne
 
I like the price of the Z97-A over the one I selected. I'll have to read about it. I chose the Hero since H gave it a pretty good review and I trust their editors
 
thanks for the input all. The sale of my current rig fell through so looks like I have no choice but to wait. :(
 
Then you get to see how Skylake shakes things up perfomance and price-wise.

Save your sheckels and lkeep scheming. I took over three months to settle on my build.
 
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