Roughly speaking — his current AMD rival would be the FX 8320 / FX 8350.
Don't even sweat the bottlenecking part—especially if you decide to overclock it later on.
Anyway, just check back in when you're actually ready to pull the trigger. Prices and what's in stock change basically every single day, but the setup we suggested should give you a pretty solid ballpark idea of what to expect.
i5 4670K Ereboss by RAIJINTEK ASRock Z87 EXTREME3 Kingston 4GB 1600 MHz Just picked up a Samsung 120 GB 840 evo Basic—honestly, if you haven't made the jump to an SSD yet, you're basically living in the stone age. It’s such a game changer for system snappiness. ZALMAN Z3 plus WHITE ED. USB 3.0 MIDI ATX
That's $4k, shipping included.
What do you think of mine? CPU: 450-$167 mbo: $50 For the GPU—I'd say aim for somewhere between $800 and $900. Honestly, if you can find one that still comes with a solid warranty, don't be afraid to push toward that higher end of the range. case: $67
You’re all set on the RAM side for the long haul—don't sweat the 1600 MHz thing, since it'll just automatically throttle down to 1333 MHz anyway. Plus, you've got a way beefier processor that gives you the headroom to overclock past 4GHz (especially with a solid cooler keeping things chill), paired with that Z87 chipset which basically gives you the best possible foundation for overclocking.
So, you finally got an SSD? Man, that's a game changer—especially since you were stuck on an HDD before. It makes the whole system feel noticeably snappier compared to the old hard drive life.
I swapped out the case because yours is way too small to fit any decent cooler—and honestly, there’s no point grabbing an i7-4770K if you're just planning on doing tiny little overclocking bumps like that 300 MHz jump. So, I just went ahead and threw in the full package deal instead.
Plus, you're getting four fans, a potentiometer, dust filters—plus, the interior layout is way better designed. It’s quieter, cooling is definitely improved, you get that plexiglass side panel, and you're starting fresh with a new warranty too.
If you want, you could just hang onto that HD 7850 and overclock the hell out of it—honestly, it’s still a solid card—but if everything we talked about is already spoken for, you might be better off grabbing a new R9 280 or maybe even hunting down a used R9 280X. I know a few people selling them that are only about a year or two old for around $1.7k–$2k.
Since you didn't mention the HDD capacity—and if you're actually looking to pick one up—I'd honestly suggest going with something faster instead. SSHD So, you've got these hybrid SSD and HDD setups—basically a way to keep all that massive storage space but actually get some decent speed compared to a standard old-school hard drive—all without paying a single extra cent.
Alright, let me know what you're running right now: - CPU - exact model - Motherboard - manufacturer/model - RAM - brand - type (DDR2/DDR3) - speed - HDD and DVD drive - give me the exact models and the interface: SATA or PATA - GPU - manufacturer, model, amount of VRAM - Case - manufacturer, model.
Once I have that, I can give you some solid advice on how to get the most bang for your buck.
In my experience, BioStar actually beats out ASRock and MSI—who are usually the go-to best buys right now.
I’d probably skip ECS entirely since they feel like the bottom tier compared to the others. And yeah, the Z77 Deluxe looks great on paper, but man, the reality is a different story—the BIOS feels as basic as some cheap B75 board. Plus, if you're pairing it with a K-series chip, you're just asking for trouble because the overclocking support is pretty weak—bad capacitors, crappy power phases, and only a single 4-pin PSU connector.
I'd say the slightly pricier MSI MAG Motherboard is actually the better move—honestly, if you’re planning to mess with water cooling or even just leave turbo boost running, having a decent heatsink on the voltage regulator phases makes a massive difference.
Also, you totally missed the mark on the CPU cooler—either they're out of stock or it's just not going to handle an Intel Core i7 Desktop CPU properly. If you've already committed to the Asus board and aren't trying to push crazy overclocking speeds like 4.5 GHz or higher, the Raijintek Aidos is probably your best bet for keeping costs down.
Intel Core i7 Desktop CPU Raijintek cooler MSI MAG Motherboard Kingston Fury 8GB 1600 MHz Seagate Barracuda 1TB SATA 3 SSHD GTX 1050 Ti 2GB DHX2V XFX PRO 450W 80+ BRONZE MS DRAGON ATX
= $1685 free shipping and assembly included.
Personally, I'd lean toward this setup because of a few key upgrades: - A beefier, higher-quality power supply that's much quieter—plus a better warranty. That Corsair unit is really more suited for i5 builds with weaker graphics cards. - A way better cooler, which means lower temps and more breathing room if you want to try some overclocking or turbo boost. - The SSHD makes the whole system feel noticeably snappier and speeds up game loading times—and you get a better warranty with it too. - The GTX 1050 Ti is a significantly quieter model—you might lose a few FPS depending on the game, but it's a fair trade-off.
Honestly, there's no point in me suggesting a desk. He should just pick one that fits his own style, his vibe, how the rest of his room looks, etc.—I mean, if I had that kind of cash, I’d definitely go custom too.
The price tag is higher because the specs are pretty demanding, and honestly, the sum at the top varies wildly depending on which component you swap out.
Btw, the TT A31 is absolute garbage—poor build quality and mediocre components, even though people overrate it all the time. I ended up upgrading to a 212+ myself; are you even sure that NH D14 is going to fit inside?
I’m with them—nobody’s actually asking any questions here. 👍
Grace Peterson17
Just a heads-up, you might want to be careful with those recommendations. 😉>
The Z3 + isn't even available right now, the RAM prices are way too high, and there's no decent cooler for overclocking—plus the temps are noticeably lower. Also, that R9 280 x model is kind of a dud—it runs hot, has VRM issues, and it's loud compared to other cards.
Michelle Martinez6
Are you paying cash or using a credit card? If you're going the card route, let us know where you're buying from, which card you're using, and how many installments you're looking at.
Are you even planning on overclocking the CPU and GPU?
What kind of games are you planning to play?
Do you already have a case and an optical drive? If you do, let me know what they are—and for the drive (DVD/CD), check if it's SATA or PATA.
What's your monitor resolution? Is this build strictly for gaming and basic stuff like movies and browsing?
FX 6300 SPIRE KEPLER R2.0 GIGABYTE 970A-DS3P KINGSTON 8GB 1600 MHZ SEAGATE 3,5 1TB SATA 3 GIGABYTE R9 270 2GB WF OC LG GH24NS95 SATA XFX PRO 450W 80+ BRONZE AKYGA 309BK MIDI ATX
= $1513 - free assembly and shipping - Best Buy IT.
Honestly, I think this is a total steal for you—you can sleep easy knowing everything you wanted is checked off, and you’ve got a solid foundation if you decide to upgrade later. Just a thought, but maybe look into adding 92 + 120 MM fans to help with airflow and keep those temps down. Or, if you really want to level up the whole setup, check out the Z3+ case; it comes with a built-in potentiometer, so tweaking fan speed and noise levels is super easy.
I’m pretty sure the RAM you have is DDR2, though—it's a bit of a long shot, so definitely double-check that first.
wanderingviper7
Come on now, they aren't even that loud! Plus, regarding noise, that Core 1000 fan is basically in the same ballpark as them (since it isn't PWM), though I'm not totally sure if they changed anything on that front with the newer model.
Man, those components are a total mess. I'm totally with crimsonstag84 on this one—except for the fact that you can't find any tri-xica parts anymore, and the R9 280 x is basically extinct because all the crypto miners (Google Bitcoin, Litecoin, etc.—if you know what I mean) bought them up like crazy.
Since you're planning on gaming, recording, and video editing, an FX chip paired with a solid high-end GPU is your best bet for value. I'd just suggest bumping up your storage and adding an SSHD to speed things up:
AMD FX-8320 RAJINTEK THEMIS ASUS M5A97 R2 KINGSTON 2X8 GB 1600 MHZ (16GB) SEAGATE 3,5 2TB SATA 3 SSHD MSI GTX 770 2GB TF IV GAMING OC LG GH24NS XFX PRO 550W 80+ BRONZE Zalman Z3 Plus
Maybe you could stop trying to be everyone's spokesperson for a second and actually focus on making your suggestions better—because honestly, your logic in that breakdown above is all over the place 😉
That’s exactly why I’m asking—it just doesn't make sense to me... though, honestly, it's hard to get anyone to admit stuff like that.
Regarding the case, there isn't much to say because it's spot on—just take a quick look at the specs if you aren't seeing what I mean.
As for the amount of RAM and everything else, we don't know yet. Since nothing specific has been laid out, all these builds are just rough estimates... that's actually why we're waiting on more details, and it's precisely why he mentioned it'd be better to just swing by in person to explain exactly what you're looking for.
CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 Cooler: Spire Kepler R2.0 Mbo: ASRock B85M Pro4 RAM: 2x Patriot 4GB 1600 MHz (16GB total) SSD: Intel 120GB SSD HDD: Seagate Barracuda 3.5" 1TB SATA 3 GPU: MSI R9 270X Gaming OC DVD: LG GH24NS95 SATA Power Supply: XFX PRO 450W 80+ Bronze Case: SHARKOON MA-A1000 USB 3.0
Monitor: DELL P2414H IPS - Full HD (tilt, swivel, pivot) Speakers: GENIUS SP HF 500A WOOD 2.0 Webcam: Logitech C170 Printer: Epson Workforce—print, scan, copy, and fax. OS: Windows 8.1 64-bit retail version.
= 10 $1.75 With assembly and delivery included—Futura IT
So, if we’re looking at everything you mentioned, those would be pretty solid Best Buy components and peripherals—though, honestly, it would’ve been a lot easier if your buddy had just swung by himself to introduce himself and actually walk us through what he needs this setup for.
Grace Peterson17
I honestly don't get it—why would you recommend a monitor with only a VGA input for a $10k business setup? That just doesn't make sense.
What kind of "demanding" jobs are we even talking about here? Give me some specifics—like what programs you use or just the general type of work you do.
Your RAM is compatible, the HD 3870 will run just fine with those parts, and honestly, that Chicony power supply is more than enough for this setup.
Just a little heads-up—save yourself the headache and grab your parts from a different shop. That Edigital place is honestly a joke when it comes to service... plus, if you ever have to deal with a warranty claim, you'll be waiting forever because they ship everything back to Mexico for repairs.
He’s totally underselling it 😁 This board has a 4+2 phase setup—and honestly, if the motherboard were actually garbage, you wouldn't see it getting praised elsewhere or seeing people push a 3770K to 4.8 GHz without breaking a sweat.
The only real issue is that MSI sometimes struggles with the VRM on their AMD builds, specifically those mid-range ones like the MSI 970 A-G45 and stuff like that.
Bottom line? You're just stressing over dust for nothing since it's a solid board. I mean, sure, go ahead and try it yourself if you want first-hand experience, but this doesn't really change anything.