Building first computer, questions about CPU bottlenecks and cooling

[Zane]

I'm trying to learn how to build my first computer (preferably AMD) and I have a couple questions. I plan on getting a Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card and AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor.

My first question is if the CPU will bottleneck that GPU? And if at some point in the future I decide to crossfire another 280X would it bottleneck then? If so do you have a CPU you could suggest?

My next concern is cooling. I plan on getting a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO, my case has 3 built in fans and the GPU has 2 built in, is that enough cooling? Again, if I decide to get another 280X crossfire would it still be enough? if not what would you suggest?

Thanks for any help!

Full list of specs:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/21Ktf
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/21Ktf/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/21Ktf/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card
Wireless Network Adapter: Edimax EW-7612PIn 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter
Case: Raidmax ATX-809B (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: CoolMax 700W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
Optical Drive: Sony 5280S-CB-PLUS DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)

[_I_]

at $1000usd, you can do alot better
i5 4670k will run circles around the 6300 (that matches the haswell i3s)
just get 1 hdd instead of 2
gtx770 is lighter on power and just as strong as the 280x
coolmax power supplies are garbage, never skimp on a psu, spend over $50 on a psu for a $1000 build


http://pcpartpicker.com/p/21Lq5

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor[pcpartpicker.com] ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler[pcpartpicker.com] ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard[pcpartpicker.com] ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[pcpartpicker.com] ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[pcpartpicker.com] ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card[pcpartpicker.com] ($334.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Wireless Network Adapter: Edimax EW-7612PIn 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter[pcpartpicker.com] ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Solution (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case[pcpartpicker.com] ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 850W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply[pcpartpicker.com] ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer[pcpartpicker.com] ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)[pcpartpicker.com] ($84.98 @ OutletPC)

Total: $1066.87

the tx850 is enough for a 2nd gtx770 and board is sli capable

[Rove]

I like AMD. I have some advice for you.

Firstly: No the CPU will not bottleneck the GPU though the GPU might be the more powerful of the two.

Secondly: Get a FX 8320 and use the stock cooler because the FX 8320 will give you more performance on the stock cooler at stock speed than the FX 6300 would with a overclock. The stock cooler is freely included with the CPU, it works ok as long as you don't overclock and it's a good idea to get some use out of it.

Thirdly: Here is what I would do for the same price with better parts:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2206f
Base Total: $1170.90
Promo Discounts: -$26.99
Combo Discounts: -$35.00
Mail-in Rebates: -$30.00
Shipping: $5.92
Total: $1084.83

Fourth: Use your head, don't let anyone's peer pressure turn you off AMD, they are great CPUs and GPUs both. Seems like people who like to bash them are usually just being snobby and trying to make out like a 5% difference, a brand name, a marketing gimic, a higher asking price or a imagined superiority is worth a real $50 bill or more. Well it's not. AMD has the value for your dollar and the nice gamer features like overclocking standard on all FX chips and motherboards. I'd recommend Intel for the office due to power efficiency, IGP and such.

Here's the rest of my builds if you want to browse, I do have a few token Intel builds or ones I made cause some Xeons where a pretty good deal but they are mostly AMD:
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Rove/saved/

[upcoast]

Since it's your first build just get the intel i5/i7 or xeon 1230 V2.

All amd in the house here 4 towers,

Re-buying sucks, go for the i5 "K" series you'll do better in the long haul if you run your high end xfire / sli like 280x. It's not a bottleneck that gets you it's the work per core that'll hold you back especially if you do xfire the 280x, a lot of $$$ to loose performance.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/837?vs=699

3rd from bottom ^.

http://www.techspot.com/reviews/graphics-cards/#gaming

Skim over the game cpu benches ^

[Rove]

Gaming benchmarks are a bad measure. They are constantly updating both games and GPU drivers and many times giving performance increases.

AMD is making both PS4 and XB1 consoles. Technically the AMD FX 8 cores benchmark between i5 and i7 in technical scientific benchamrks. So when the new consoles are out you won't be able to tell me that games run poorly on AMD and it's not optimized or whatever. Also in my experience those benchmarks are wrong and games run well on AMD right now.

So use a technical scientific benchmark like Novabench or Passmark that actually has some scientific backing and isn't just some reviewer hear-say. Personally I still think those are a little Intel and Nvidia wieghted as well but they are better than some of the gaming benchmarks I've seen.

My AMD can run anything without any significant effort.

[Zane]

I would prefer to stick with AMD if possible honestly, especially since most of the parts I already picked out are suited for AMD.

[upcoast]

@ Zanzivar, Then go no lower than FX8320 and overclock it, apart from a mobo/cpu nothing else is suited for amd.

@ Rove, I just shake my head when you start going on about your stuff, passmark pfft, seriously.

[_I_]

Rove の投稿を引用：

My AMD can run anything without any significant effort.

excpet for any benching software?

[Rove]

_I_ の投稿を引用：

Rove の投稿を引用：

My AMD can run anything without any significant effort.

excpet for any benching software?

_|_ you go out of your way to be annoying. The same is true of anyone's system, running benchmarking software is supposed to run ANY system at 100% even a supercomputer.

"Anything": in this context meant any game. There are currently no games with recommended requirements higher than "AMD 6 core" but there are ones recommending i5 or i7 4 cores alongside that.

[rotNdude]

I am going to post this warning once to some of the above members. These AMD versus Intel wars are going to stop or you will be sitting in the corner with a timeout. If you have a suggestion for a computer build, post it and move on. If you presently own an AMD or Intel, make your suggestion and move on.

There is nothing seriously wrong with AMD or Intel CPUs and they each have their advantages and disadvantages. Benchmarks are good for one thing, getting a general indication of the performance difference. More cores doesn't always mean better performance and higher frequency doesn't always mean better performance. There are way too many factors that come into play.

Also, console CPUs have never been a good indication of the overall performance that you can expect with a personal computer. Consoles are a highly optimized hardware platform with a highly optimized OS and software development environment. Never ever try to compare the two.

[upcoast]

http://www.techspot.com/review/733-batman-arkham-origins-benchmarks/page5.html

Most cpus will do ^.

http://www.techspot.com/review/615-far-cry-3-performance/page6.html

Most cpus are having a bit of a problem below FX8350 ^.

http://www.techspot.com/review/734-battlefield-4-benchmarks/page6.html

Cpu makes no real diff above x4 640 ^.

Games just aren't equal so you should peruse them and not rely on a singular synthetic none game benchies.

Ps, "hear say" is a pretty strong statement to make with no real proof or credible sources.

[Rove]

upcoast の投稿を引用：

Ps, "hear say" is a pretty strong statement to make with no real proof or credible sources.

Would you rather "second hand information"? That's all I mean.

[upcoast]

Rove の投稿を引用：

upcoast の投稿を引用：

Ps, "hear say" is a pretty strong statement to make with no real proof or credible sources.

Would you rather "second hand information"? That's all I mean.

1st hand will cost $$$$$$$ to test all the hardware involved.

If you don't trust them then that's your prerogative but don't push your synthetic crap to the noobs that don't know any better.

So, Do you go out and buy 6-12 cards and a hand full of cpus at a time to take home and 1st hand test them on your comp with your software? How on earth could ppl get 1st hand info any other way?

Keep going at it I'm done, you're so pointless to logically respond to.

[Soylent_Merchant]

To the Op, just some advice, these forums are filled with both Intel and AMD fans, but seriousley, both Roves and _I_ builds are good really, You might as well flip a coin to pick between the 2. Intel vs. Amd is one of the most pointless debates ever, dont get into it.
Oh yes and the Moderator was quite right in saying that console specs are different, comparing it to pc hardware is pointless.
Really just pick a build and enjoy putting it together.

[Maindric]

I think the whole reasone Roves said that with AMD behind the CPUs in consoles is the fact that these consoles are using 8 core CPUs. Up until now, a lot of game use 3 maybe 4 cores, and that is largely due to the 3 core CPU in the Xbox 360, with both consoles going to 8 core, more PC ports can be programmed to utilize 8 cores, making the 8350 potentially run well for a longer period of time then expected. Making the consoles 8 core was a smart move on AMD's part in my oppinion.

[Soylent_Merchant]

Maindric の投稿を引用：

I think the whole reasone Roves said that with AMD behind the CPUs in consoles is the fact that these consoles are using 8 core CPUs. Up until now, a lot of game use 3 maybe 4 cores, and that is largely due to the 3 core CPU in the Xbox 360, with both consoles going to 8 core, more PC ports can be programmed to utilize 8 cores, making the 8350 potentially run well for a longer period of time then expected. Making the consoles 8 core was a smart move on AMD's part in my oppinion.

The 8 cores are not going to be fully used.
- 2-3 cores are reserved on both consoles to run the os/ background tasks, so really only 5-6 cores can be used
- Theyre mobile cpu's/ tablet based origionally
-clocked at 1.7 ghz
an i5 will not be obsolete. In fact i really could see someone using itt 3-4 years down the line with no bottleneck
Sorry if im sounding like a jerk, but this claim is false, They just recently announced the full specs
Thats not to say an 8320 is bad , Its basically equal to an i5