Building a gaming PC?

[SirBongyTheSecond]

Hello there, Steam gamers. I recently decided to jump off the console ship and start gaming on PC. I have decided to build a PC from scratch, since from what I've heard, there are plenty of advantages (get to choose specific requirements, cheaper than buying one made etc) but as this is my first time, I need some advice.
1. I want specifications that can:
Render SFM videos
Play some games (I'm not a crazy spec fanatic, just need a PC that can run games like Team Fortress 2, Sonic Generations etc at decent framerates, at medium settings. I don't mind turning off SOME options, but I want to play it without having to desperately lower down the settings it order to get playable framerates)
Is fairly cheap but gives good performance.
2. I don't need a £400 graphics card, but I need one that is affordable and has good performance. I'll prefer it if it was an AMD, since they have some bargains at the lower end, but if anyone mentions a Nvidia card that is particularly good, I'll consider it.
3. What processor should I get? Again, I'd prefer if it is an AMD, since their lower-end processors are very good in terms of performance, but if there is a particularly good Intel, again, I'll consider it. I can understand how Intel processors are ranked in terms of performance (Atom, Celeron, Pentium, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7), but for AMD, I'm clueless about if a APU is better than a FX, and so on. Can someone tell me how AMD ranks their processors and which ones are best for budget gaming?
4. Is there any advantage of getting one motherboard over another? I know I need to make sure all the components are compatible, but is there anything that makes some motherboards superior to to others?
5.What case should I get and how many watts should the PSU be? Currently, I'm looking at this (http://www.dabs.com/products/best-value-midi-towercase--500w-psu--usb-2-0---hd-audio--7VWT.html?src=3) since they have a Mid tower case and a power supply for £19.99, which is bargain even if you took the PSU or the case out of the equation.
6. Should I get 4GB or 8GB of RAM?
All in all, I need specifications that is affordable but reasonably powerful.
P.S. I don't need a disk drive since I can re purpose a external USB one. I'm going with a HDD, since I have concerns over the reliability and value of a SSD, despite their fantastic speed.

[SirBongyTheSecond]

Sorry if I sounded like a idiot in the previous posts.
I noticed while looking at AMD processors that there seems to be a "Black Edition" of the FX-6300 processor. Is there any difference between the standard model and the black one?

I found this card as well:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MSI-Nvidia-GeForce-GTX-670-Power-Edition-2048-MB-PC-Graphics-Card-/251305104093?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item3a82f392dd
But does anyone know if it is compatible with AM3+ motherboards?

[_I_]

itll work

but you can get a low end i5 and b75 board for less than the fx 6300

[Rove]

SirBongyTheSecond původně napsal:

Sorry if I sounded like a idiot in the previous posts.
I noticed while looking at AMD processors that there seems to be a "Black Edition" of the FX-6300 processor. Is there any difference between the standard model and the black one?

I thought there was only black edition? Please link both standard and black?

Black Edition usually means "unlocked" from AMD. I thought all FX microprocessors were "Black Edition" or unlocked (same thing) , show the one that is not?

The GTX 670 will work with AMD motherboards just fine.

[SirBongyTheSecond]

Well I'm officially an idiot. There is no "Standard" model. :/
Here is my current rig plan (so far):
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/
I may have gone a little nuts in terms of the HDD, but that's because I have no idea if SFM animations require a lot of room.

[_I_]

linky broken

[SirBongyTheSecond]

The link is broken? Strange, works fine for me.
Try this one:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/1iZ8Q

[_I_]

that link is is for the build each person is working on

ok, your build is littered with problems
poor cpu/board choices (bostar 960g+ is still a design fo am3 cpus, not really for am3+), slow ram, weak power supply

for not much more ~$45
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/1j19Z
cpu: i5 3330
mobo: msi b75ma-e33
ram: 2x4g 1600 cl9 1.5v kit
hdd: 2tb 7200
gpu: same gtx650ti
case: same zalman zm-t2
psu: cx430 (fine for upto a 150w gpu)
os: same win8-64
monitor: same hanspree he225dpb

Base Total: £621.84
Shipping: £0.98
Total: £622.82

if you want to cheap down more, get the 1tb wd hdd, or the i3 3220

[SirBongyTheSecond]

I've read there is no huge difference between RAM MHZ speeds.
Then why does the Biostar 960+ say that it is a AM3+ mobo? And what issues could come out of it?
I'm on a tight budget. Your suggestion is pushing the limits of what I can afford.
Any other PSUs you can recommend?

[_I_]

on new builds the price diff gong from 1333 to 1600 ram isnt much, ~$5, and will improve programs that use alot of ram

yes the board does support am3+ cpus, but will run them like the pii
its a 3+1 power phase board, 95w limit

the 6300 is 95w, and it will throttle it under load due to weak vrm design

you can get it with the 1tb wd blue drive, then add a 2tb hdd in the future

[SirBongyTheSecond]

What about this?
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/biostar-motherboard-a960d
On the website it states that it can support CPUS up to 125w, which is the same amount as the most expensive compatible mobo.

[_I_]

no

the best cheap am3+ board is the asus m5a97 r2 (not the le ver)
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a97r20

its a 790 board designed for the am3+ cpus and can overclock 125w cpus without any problems

[SirBongyTheSecond]

That's not an Micro ATX mobo. Also what is wrong with the Biostar A960D+ that makes it an unsuitable mobo? Also what PSU should I get?

[Rove]

OP take this build please, it is only 10 GBP more expensive and everything is best value per $.
For 589 GBP including monitor:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/1j3K9

This is as low as I can get the price and still keep the FX 6300 and HD 7870 XT.

Below this there is one of my other previous builds currently quoted with monitor not included:

For 491~ GBP:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/1giN0

For 460~ GBP:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/1giXo


They are ALL good, pick one and stop procrastinating :)

[SirBongyTheSecond]

Also I saw this case:
http://www.xcase.co.uk/Mini-Micro-Case-p/case-xcase-mm.htm
It that any good?

[Rove]

It will not fit a full size motherboard. No it is generally not good unless you want to build a micro ATX with Intel IGP or AMD APU.

Oh look I was wrong, using Biostar TA970 motherboard I can get it down by like 8 GBP.
for 580 GBP:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/1j3NU