Possible AMD build opinions

M

motorboatink1ng

New Member
My friend wants to build a PC and I told him I would help him. I have only built one before but I know more than him. He wants AMD because it is cheaper. I'm not too familiar with AMD so I was hoping for some opinions. He wants to play games (diablo 3, Final Fantasy, League of Legends) and doesn't care that much about max settings.

A8-5600k $99.99
MSI A885XA-G65 $109.99
MSI Radeon HD 7750 $89.99
Crucial Ballstix Tactical 8gb DDR3 $72.99
Seasonic M1211 620w $74.99
Seagate SV35 series 1TB $74.99
Asus 24X DVD Burner $19.99
Corsair Carbide 500R $119.99
Windows 8 64bit $99.99

Total ~ $760


He wants to be as cheap as possible and just be able to play, but really likes the look of the case he picked. All the prices are based off of current Newegg.com prices.

Thanks for taking a look.
 
Psu is overkill for the video card. A good 500 watt unit will suffice say even the corsair cx500.
 
You are better off getting 2 x 4gb sticks instead of 1 x 8gb stick as you can run in dual channel mode.
 
For 10 bucks more I would get the 6600K.

Get the Gigabyte GA-F2A88X-UP4 FM2+ board for the same price.

If you using a video card, why not get a AM3+ board with a quad FX?
 
Since you've got a 7750 I recommend you get a Gigabyte 970A-UD3 for the same price as the board you are currently looking at and instead of the 5600K, get an FX-4300 or FX-6300.

970A-UD3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128519&Tpk=970a-ud3

FX-4300 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113287

FX-6300 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286 (it's only $10 more, I'd go for it)

Maybe also upgrade the graphics card from a 7750 to a 7850 with the money you saved by getting a Corsair CX 500 rather than a 620W Seasonic. I would suggest maybe look at the 7770 but since the 7850 isn't much more expensive, you may as well get one of those instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127727 obviously if you can't afford it then look at the 7770 perhaps.

Make those changes and it'd be a better gaming rig.
 
spirit said:
Since you've got a 7750 I recommend you get a Gigabyte 970A-UD3 for the same price as the board you are currently looking at and instead of the 5600K, get an FX-4300 or FX-6300.

970A-UD3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128519&Tpk=970a-ud3

FX-4300 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113287

FX-6300 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286 (it's only $10 more, I'd go for it)

Maybe also upgrade the graphics card from a 7750 to a 7850 with the money you saved by getting a Corsair CX 500 rather than a 620W Seasonic. I would suggest maybe look at the 7770 but since the 7850 isn't much more expensive, you may as well get one of those instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127727 obviously if you can't afford it then look at the 7770 perhaps.

Make those changes and it'd be a better gaming rig.
Click to expand...

If we upgrade to the 7850 then would a 500w PSU still be ok?
 
Jiniix said:
AMD Athlon X4 760K 4.1GHz: $90
Gigabyte GA-F2A88X-UP4: $110
G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3-2133 2x4GB: $85
Sapphire HD 7850 2GB: $165 ($150 with MIB)
Seagate Barracuda 2TB: $100
Corsair CX500M: $66 ($56 with MIB)
NZXT Source 210: $45
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo: $35 ($30 with MIB)

Total: $696 ($666 with MIBs)
Click to expand...

This is a build I suggested a few days back.

I based it on the theory that Kaveri APUs will support CrossfireX with the HD 7850. Kaveri APUs aren't released yet, and will first be released in 2014. But untill then, you'd have an A10-6800K without built-in graphics, 8GB of very fast RAM and a very good GPU. Current APUs can Crossfire with up to a 6670, but it's possible (quite easily, just not officially) to pair it with a 7750.
To clarify: Current generation APUs are called Richland. Next generation is called Kaveri.

I would upgrade the case to a Fractal Design Arc Midi R2: $65, since it's on sale and much nicer.

The reason I would suggest FM2+ over AM3+, is because AMD has come out and said that FM2+ will be their main focus from now on. It's gonna take a while for AM3+ to die, but I doubt we'll see more CPUs released for the socket from now on. (According to their roadmap, they're done making AM3+ CPUs)
Kaveri APUs are going to come in up to 8 cores.
And with the AMD Mantle API coming out, you can actually benefit from having multiple cores in gaming soon. It's an alternative to DirectX, and it scales with cores very well (it can scale up to 32 cores AFAIK).

Here are the upgrade paths for this build:
Add a Kaveri quad core APU and Crossfire with the 7850.
Add a Kaveri octo core and add another 7850 (best performance, but more expensive obviously.
Add another 8GB kit to increase the total to 16GB (8GB is overkill today, but 4GB is juuust about enough, and there's no middleground)
Add an SSD for increased windows snappiness.

The color coordination with the RAM and the motherboard is also going to look really nice, through the window on the side panel :D
 
Last edited:
Jiniix said:
The reason I would suggest FM2+ over AM3+, is because AMD has come out and said that FM2+ will be their main focus from now on.
Click to expand...

No they didnt. Of course with the popularity of a APU and its use in lowend desktops and laps and so on its getting released first.

Jiniix said:
It's gonna take a while for AM3+ to die, but I doubt we'll see more CPUs released for the socket from now on. (According to their roadmap, they're done making AM3+ CPUs)
Kaveri APUs are going to come in up to 8 cores.
Click to expand...

No one said they are done with AM sockets and the FX. It just didnt show up on any 2013 roadmaps and people just jumped to that conclusion. AMD never said that there would be a new steamroller 28nm. FX in 2013. Plus like I said above, of course the APU would be released first.

NO, there will not be any 8 cores APUs. Just think how much die space a 4 module/8 core with onboard GPU/PCIe and NB would be, massive. The 8 core will come later with the FX and L3 cache.
 
I'm still going to recommend an FX-6300 and an AM3+ board (Gigabyte 970A-UD3) for this build. You need to buy what's best at the moment and at the moment for gaming it's AM3+ all the way.
 
StrangleHold said:
No one said they are done with AM sockets and the FX. It just didnt show up on any 2013 roadmaps and people just jumped to that conclusion. AMD never said that there would be a new steamroller 28nm. FX in 2013. Plus like I said above, of course the APU would be released first.
Click to expand...

A quick google search (I'm at work right now) and I find three major tech sites reporting that AM3+ is dead. xtremesystems, digitimes and PC Perspective. I agree that AM3+ much faster now, but I highly doubt that we'll see new CPUs (new architecture, a rebranded 8350 doesn't count).

StrangleHold said:
NO, there will not be any 8 cores APUs. Just think how much die space a 4 module/8 core with onboard GPU/PCIe and NB would be, massive. The 8 core will come later with the FX and L3 cache.
Click to expand...

To this I admit I actually read it wrong. I was thinking in modules, and somehow translated the 4 cores (I thought modules) into 8 cores. But Kaveri will still use a newer architecture, which will be very interesting. Hopefully not disappointing like some previous generation bumps.
This upsets me more than you, trust me. I was just expecting 8 core APUs ;(
 
Last edited:
Jiniix said:
A quick google search (I'm at work right now) and I find three major tech sites reporting that AM3+ is dead. xtremesystems, digitimes and PC Perspective. I agree that AM3+ much faster now, but I highly doubt that we'll see new CPUs (new architecture, a rebranded 8350 doesn't count).
Click to expand...

Like I said, It just didnt show up on any 2013 roadmaps and people just jumped to that conclusion. At this point AMD has never said that there will not be a FX 28nm. steamroller. Even so, its still not a guarantee that it will be AM3+ anyway. From what I have heard there will be, but both the APU and FX will use the same socket.
 
Jiniix said:
A quick google search (I'm at work right now) and I find three major tech sites reporting that AM3+ is dead. xtremesystems, digitimes and PC Perspective. I agree that AM3+ much faster now, but I highly doubt that we'll see new CPUs (new architecture, a rebranded 8350 doesn't count).



To this I admit I actually read it wrong. I was thinking in modules, and somehow translated the 4 cores (I thought modules) into 8 cores. But Kaveri will still use a newer architecture, which will be very interesting. Hopefully not disappointing like some previous generation bumps.
This upsets me more than you, trust me. I was just expecting 8 core APUs ;(
Click to expand...

Yeah, you searched "AM3+ Is Dead". No, it's not. As StrangleHold said, a AMD roadmap was leaked for 2013, with only Vishera and no new architecture. I assume new AMD CPUs will come out on AM3+ with a new architecture.

AMD_2013_desktop_roadmap.jpg
 
Sorry for the delayed responses. I work a lot sometimes. Seems like a big debate of AM3 or FM2. I think what he is looking for is currently the best for the cheapest. not so much long term.
 
motorboatink1ng said:
Sorry for the delayed responses. I work a lot sometimes. Seems like a big debate of AM3 or FM2. I think what he is looking for is currently the best for the cheapest. not so much long term.
Click to expand...

I would go AM3+ regardless just for the performance. Get an FX-4300 or 6300 and pair it with a decent graphics card (I think I recommended the 7770 or 7850 earlier on) and he should be good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top