New rig, ~$600 budget - Hardware & Software

I was thinking of upgrading one of two (p. crappy) computers, but I decided that I'm better off with a whole new computer. I made something real simple as I'm not really good with PC building: CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K ([url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504[/url]) RAM: Corsair XMS3 8GB ([url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145315[/url]) ? The things I'm lacking are a motherboard, a good GPU (don't care which manufacturer), a cheap case, a super average 1 TB HDD and a cooler. I already have an OS. And I'm in the United States. Thanks. [editline]15th December 2012[/editline] Woops forgot a tell about the purpose of the computer. Mainly animating (heavy SFM stuff), playing games (source games, bf3) and whatnot. And I have a 1920x1080 monitor.

You should salvage some things if you're expecting that much for that cheap [editline]16th December 2012[/editline] From the old pc's

3570k will handle SFM and most games with flying colors, especially if you OC. Mobo + GPU alone will probably hit $600 even at a moderate level of decency. A cheap case comes ~$50 and a HDD ~$100. Add a $40 cooler and you're waaaay above $600. So you're either going to have to lower your expectations down to a GTX 650 (which should still be able to run stuff fine) or raise your limit or, as Muth said, salvage salvage salvage. Salvage an HDD or PSU if they're decent and not too old.

[QUOTE=Whalen207;38846679]Salvage an HDD or PSU if they're decent and not too old.[/QUOTE] And if the HDD and PSU come from a reliable brand.

Uh, yeah, about the old computers..... [IMG]http://i49.tinypic.com/2yw65fs.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/33b00f8.png[/IMG] Yeah. I think I could get the HDD fine, but I don't know about the mobo, both seem pretty shitty though. [editline]16th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Whalen207;38846679]So you're either going to have to lower your expectations down to a GTX 650 (which should still be able to run stuff fine) or raise your limit or, as Muth said, salvage salvage salvage. Salvage an HDD or PSU if they're decent and not too old.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't mind a GTX 650 at all. [editline]16th December 2012[/editline] Actually scratch that, I just remembered that the Livermore mobo is locked on 32bit.

If your looking for better performance in a lower budget dont go for an intel CPU

[QUOTE=Crumpet;38856126]If your looking for better performance in a lower budget dont go for an intel CPU[/QUOTE]You can get a top of the line 8 core (Not hyperthreaded like Intel. Real cores.) AMD CPU for < $200 anywhere. You are going to pay an arm and a leg for an even comparable Intel one.

AMD's 8 cores are hyperthreaded and they are extremely shitty. Don't spew shit out of your mouth if you don't know what you're talking about.

I really give no fucks about manufacturers as I stated above, if there's an AMD processor that can be as good as an i5 and also cheaper I'll get it.

There isn't.

Fuck. I wouldn't mind a slower i5, the two items in the OP were some random things that I thought of, after realizing I don't have money for a 3570k I'd be happy with any intel that isn't an i3.

CPU: AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5GHz 140,- MOBO: ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ 70,- GPU: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 125,- RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 38,- HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200 1TB 70,- CASE: Fractal Design Define R4 80,- PSU: SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W 80,- Totals around 600. Try to use an old optical drive.

[QUOTE=Miljaker;38864179]CPU: AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5GHz 140,- MOBO: ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ 70,- GPU: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 125,- RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 38,- HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200 1TB 70,- CASE: Fractal Design Define R4 80,- PSU: PSeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W 80,- Totals around 600. Try to use an old optical drive.[/QUOTE] This should do for a while, a thousand times better than the old computers too, that's for sure. Thanks a lot dude. And yeah I've got a fancy optical drive that I can re-use.

Uhh what's wrong with the i3? It outperforms any FX chip that's not an "eight core."

[QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38865925]Uhh what's wrong with the i3? It outperforms any FX chip that's not an "eight core."[/QUOTE] Nothing wrong with the i3, but the fx-6300 definitely outperforms it in gaming. You also can't overclock the i3 while the fx-6300 can overclock to match some i5 cpus. If he doesn't want a whole new pc (he said he did want one in the op) using the i3 is probably a better idea. Getting an even better gpu will probably be better.

[QUOTE=Miljaker;38867619]Nothing wrong with the i3, but the fx-6300 definitely outperforms it in gaming. You also can't overclock the i3 while the fx-6300 can overclock to match some i5 cpus. If he doesn't want a whole new pc (he said he did want one in the op) using the i3 is probably a better idea. Getting an even better gpu will probably be better.[/QUOTE] I'm sorry, but no the FX-6300 doesn't even outperform the i3-2100, let alone the i3-3220. blue = i3 2100, black = fx 6300 [img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59389727/2100v6300.PNG[/img] Add another 10% of the frames on the blue bar and you pretty much have the Ivy Bridge version. Efficiency of the FX series compared to the i3 is about on par with comparing mpg of a Hummer H2 to a Prius. The i3-3220 is also $20 cheaper than the FX-6300. [editline]17th December 2012[/editline] anyways, I was referring to OP saying he'd be happy with any intel that isn't an i3. It's like saying I'd be cool with any Lamborghini, as long as it's not a Gallardo. Props to me for the car references.

[QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38867948]I'm sorry, but no the FX-6300 doesn't even outperform the i3-2100, let alone the i3-3220. blue = i3 2100, black = fx 6300 [IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59389727/2100v6300.PNG[/IMG] Add another 10% of the frames on the blue bar and you pretty much have the Ivy Bridge version. Efficiency of the FX series compared to the i3 is about on par with comparing mpg of a Hummer H2 to a Prius. The i3-3220 is also $20 cheaper than the FX-6300. [editline]17th December 2012[/editline] anyways, I was referring to OP saying he'd be happy with any intel that isn't an i3. It's like saying I'd be cool with any Lamborghini, as long as it's not a Gallardo. Props to me for the car references.[/QUOTE] I'm comparing it to the i3 that the op already has in his system. The i3 540. And even so the fx-6300 (stock) is preforms about the same as the i3 3220 at single threaded use and blows it away in multi threaded use. And as I said it before you can't overclock the i3 whilst you can overclock the fx-6300. Another consideration is that the upcoming intel haswell cpus will use a new socket so you will have to upgrade your mobo as well as your cpu if you plan on upgrading. Steamroller will still use AM3+ however. And something tells me that amd is going to fix a lot of issues in steamroller. And even if they don't you still come at the same cost if you upgrade to haswell next time.

Steamroller will still use am3+, but it will still be a shitty processor line so there's really no reason to look forward to it. [img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59389727/Computer%20Builds/151.PNG[/img] ~$610 after rebates and shipping. What was that about the FX 6300 and i3 3220 having the same single threaded performance? blue = 6300, black = 3220 [img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59389727/6300v3220.PNG[/img] 99% of games are only optimized up to 2 cores. The i3 fucking destroys any FX in gaming. I doubt he'd need multithreaded performance in a $600 build. [editline]17th December 2012[/editline] And overclocking an FX chip is a moot point because your temps would skyrocket after a few hundred MHz with little gain in performance due to it being a shitty architecture with terrible efficiency.

[QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38868481]Steamroller will still use am3+, but it will still be a shitty processor line so there's really no reason to look forward to it. [/QUOTE] Because of reasons. Right? [QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38868481] What was that about the FX 6300 and i3 3220 having the same single threaded performance? blue = 6300, black = 3220 [img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59389727/6300v3220.PNG[/img] [/QUOTE] Looks like I'm misinformed. Almost everyone I asked who has tested both cpus tell me they preform about the same single threaded. [QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38868481] 99% of games are only optimized up to 2 cores. The i3 fucking destroys any FX in gaming. I doubt he'd need multithreaded performance in a $600 build. [/QUOTE] Pretty much all games currently coming out are optimized for more then 2 cores. You will be able to run all current games just fine with an 6300 and upcoming games even better. [QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38868481] And overclocking an FX chip is a moot point because your temps would skyrocket after a few hundred MHz with little gain in performance due to it being a shitty architecture with terrible efficiency.[/QUOTE] It overclocks easy to 4.5ghz with a cheap cooler.

You just quoted the reasons at the bottom of your post. Piledriver was supposed to fix all of Bulldozers problems, spoiler alert it didn't even come close. There's no reason to believe that Steamroller will be any different. The i3 also draws half the power as a 6300, overclocking is just going to make it worse. Clear choice is the one that's more efficient, draws less power, and is on newer architecture.

Google around a bit, pretty much everyone recommends a 6300 over a 3220. The upgrade options from the 6300 alone are worth it even if the i3 outperforms it. Also: Piledriver was never meant to fix single core execution. Steamroller is. Piledriver was an 20% improvement over Bulldozer more then the expected 10% of haswell over ivy bridge. If steamroller "won't be any diffrent" it will come close to current ivy bridges and if they manage to fix single threaded it will exceed it. If you disregard consumption and focus on price/performance overclocking is definitely something to do. But that is just speculation and nothing can be said about that. I would gladley take an less preforming 6300 and with the chance that steamroller is great and save money on a mobo. And if it isn't it would cost you the same going from i3 to haswell and going from fx to haswell. [editline]17th December 2012[/editline] Actually all game benchmarks I'm currently finding give pretty close results between the the 3220 and the 6300. With the 6300 beating the 3220 most of the times. Here one of BF3 (op mentioned playing that). [IMG]http://pclab.pl/zdjecia/artykuly/focus/vishera_4300_6300/def/bf3_1920.png[/IMG] Fuck all the grammatical errors I made in this post. I'm a bit ill and had little sleep. Goodnight.

There's expected to be a much larger performance increase from Ivy Bridge to Haswell, akin to the jump from the original core i series to Sandy Bridge. I don't understand where you're finding this information, but you really need to find a valid source. Think [url]http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/144?vs=363[/url] just better. Even then, a 20% increase over bulldozer is still 30% lower performance than the i5, and only barely catching up to the i3.

There isn't even any point of upgrading to haswell as of now unless your buying a brand new PC when it comes out. Current gen i5's will last a good 4 years before even needing to consider an upgrade.

[QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38870030]There's expected to be a much larger performance increase from Ivy Bridge to Haswell, akin to the jump from the original core i series to Sandy Bridge. I don't understand where you're finding this information, but you really need to find a valid source. Think [url]http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/144?vs=363[/url] just better. Even then, a 20% increase over bulldozer is still 30% lower performance than the i5, and only barely catching up to the i3.[/QUOTE] Haswell is mostly aimed at ultrabooks and the improvent over ivy will be mostly in power consumption. Intels site and slides. i5 indeed are pretty much the best choice for now. But like I said, if steamroller manages to fix single core execution it will be far better then current gen i5s. And after looking around a bit more the 6300 indeed does outperform the 3220 in the vast majorty of games. You should look at more sources then just anandtech. [editline]18th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Zerokateo;38873275]There isn't even any point of upgrading to haswell as of now unless your buying a brand new PC when it comes out. Current gen i5's will last a good 4 years before even needing to consider an upgrade.[/QUOTE] The op obviously doesnt have the budget for an i5. And it would make no sense to upgrade to current gen i5 when the next gen is out.

[QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38868481]Steamroller will still use am3+, but it will still be a shitty processor line so there's really no reason to look forward to it. [img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59389727/Computer%20Builds/151.PNG[/img] ~$610 after rebates and shipping. [/QUOTE] This doesn't look bad, and whatever, I can go for that i3 if it's better than the FX-6300. [editline]18th December 2012[/editline] Wait, I think I could afford an i5 as long as it's not over ~$180, which one do you guys recommend? (if there's any i5 that's about 180 bucks)

Most i5s are around 200. the 3570k is 215. the 3470 is 200. the 3330 is 190. I would recommend getting the 3570k. If you are willing put in that extra money.

[QUOTE=Cowabanga;38875664]This doesn't look bad, and whatever, I can go for that i3 if it's better than the FX-6300. [editline]18th December 2012[/editline] Wait, I think I could afford an i5 as long as it's not over ~$180, which one do you guys recommend? (if there's any i5 that's about 180 bucks)[/QUOTE] I say you should try getting some more bucks and taking the i5. That's a lot better than first buying an i3 and then an i5 because you would let the i3 stay in a corner.

[QUOTE=Miljaker;38875790]Most i5s are around 200. the 3570k is 215. the 3470 is 200. the 3330 is 190. I would recommend getting the 3570k. If you are willing put in that extra money.[/QUOTE] Fuck the system, I'll work my ass off to get some extra bucks for a 3570k then, should be worth it. Can I just use the build AWalrus posted but change the i3 to the i5 3570k?

Yes. If you want to overclock later on down the road (you honestly don't need to, it performs well enough) then just pick up this [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&Tpk=hyper%20212%20evo[/url].

[QUOTE=HolyCrapAWalrus;38876798]Yes. If you want to overclock later on down the road (you honestly don't need to, it performs well enough) then just pick up this [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&Tpk=hyper%20212%20evo[/url].[/QUOTE] thats a cpu cooler that you slap on the processor instead of the one that comes with it right?