Posts by Adam Moore3

Alexander Moore67 said:The last two ASUS R7 260 X cards I built both had this exact issue. Just search "Google r7 260 x black screen" and you'll see how widespread this problem is.

Hmm, maybe it's just an issue specifically with the ASUS models. Every single one I've personally tested was a Sapphire, and I never ran into any trouble. Honestly, the Sapphire cards are the budget option, so I don't see why anyone would even bother with the Asusica versions when they aren't really different in any meaningful way.

Alexander Moore67 said:Don't buy the R7 260X cards! Most of these units have a black screen issue when they're idling—like during low power usage while just browsing the web or watching an MP4. The display just cuts out. The card works fine under full load, though. AMD still hasn't fixed the issue even with the new 14.12 Omega driver.

Wat? I've already built four different rigs (including my own, which is over six months old now) and everything runs perfectly without any issues. Where are you getting that from?

Roger Mitchell4 said:Hey guys,
I'm picking up a gaming PC in the next few days and was wondering if you could suggest a solid build for $1000. What do you think about this setup: cpu:amd athlkon x4 860k
gpu:gigabyte 260x
ram:crucial ballastix sport 8 gb ram
motherboard:asrock extreme 4+a88mmobo
case:raidmax stingray 249-batxcase

For $1000, it's okay, but you're missing a few essentials. Like a power supply and an HDD 🙂

Sam Murphy said:What do you guys think about the prices at this shop? Are they overpriced? Feels that way to me.

Yeah, they definitely are. They have the R7 260 on sale for $233, but normally they sell them for around $217 without any discounts...

Brian Campbell36 said:Hey there;

I'm looking to pick up a new graphics card for Christmas (considering stores like Best Buy or Walmart)

Power Supply: Corsair RM1000x
Processor: Intel Core i5-12400, 8 MB cache
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics Card (current) CF: 1x Sapphire HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB GDDR5
1x Sapphire Vapor-X Radeon HD 7770 GDDR5

I'd be playing at 1920X1080 resolution
My maximum budget is $667

Good grief, why a thousand-watt power supply? 😲 Yeah, like I told you, Best Buy is insanely expensive. You'll get a MUCH more powerful card for the exact same money if you just order from another retailer and pay a few bucks for shipping.

Dennis Carter3 said:Sapphire Radeon R7 260x OC, 1GB GDDR5, DVI, DP, HDMI

Intel Box Processor Intel Pentium G3258

Asrock H81M-HDS - Intel Socket 1150 H81M-HDS

Patriot Sig. DDR3 1600Mhz, 4GB, HS

Fortron Hexa Plus 400W, 80+, active, 12 cm

Seagate ST1000DM003, 1TB, 7200 rpm, 64MB, SATA 6Gb/s, Seagate Barracuda

Zalman ZM-T1 Plus micro tower case

Total: Price:$1017 Diskont24
Personally, I’d go this route—the CPU handles overclocking quite well, and more importantly, it leaves the door wide open for a much more substantial upgrade path toward i5 or i7 processors later on. It also allows for pairing with a significantly beefier graphics card; compared to an i3 setup, which honestly feels like a bit of a dead end, this offers much better long-term value.

The G3258 is starting to fall behind—not because it lacks raw power, but because it’s just missing cores. Since the i3 offers four threads, it can still pass for a quad-core in games like Dragon Age: Inquisition, which... I can't. Run it on two cores. More and more titles are being released that operate this way, so if you're putting together a budget gaming build, you're better off going with an i3 and just compromising on the non-OC 260x.

crimsonstag84 said:Looks like that processor is out of stock... which was my main target anyway.

Also, I don't think the 260X model is worth the extra $67 difference (since the R7 260 is $217). 😉

If you went with an Athlon, there'd be plenty of room for the 260X, regardless of anything else... $67 It's pricier than the non-X 260, but honestly, it's just noticeably better. There isn't really a smarter way to spend the money here.

If that Athlon isn't available, then we're looking at a whole different situation... 😬 In that case, the i3 is definitely the way to go.

Does it really have to be a discount bundle? They don't offer an FM2+ processor here, but you get a much better GPU in exchange. Looking at Best Buy, you can grab an overclockable quad-core CPU paired with a stronger graphics card. You could argue about the i3 4150 versus the Athlon 860 k, but honestly, you're going to see better overall gaming performance here because of that superior GPU. 🙂 Even if it doesn't leave you much room for future upgrades since the platform is pretty limited.

ASRock FM2A78M HD + motherboard, FM2
AMD Athlon II x4 860k processor
Patriot Sig. DDR3 1600MHz, 4GB, HS
Seagate ST1000DM003 500GB 3.5''
Zalman micro tower case black, Zalman ZM-T1 Plus
EVGA 400W power supply, 80+, active, 12 cm
NVIDIA Kepler Rev.2 cooler 115X/775/AM2-3/FM1-2
Sapphire Radeon R7 260x 1G GDDR5 graphics card

$2,993.89 + $13 shipping from Best Buy

Kimberly Gomez34 said:Every software tool has its own specific layout. There’s really no point in staring at the package data; instead, just keep an eye on the green line for the CPU thermal readings (you can toggle through various programs while scrolling)

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...=1#post5237937

Aha, okay then. That’s exactly what I was looking for—confirmation that Core Temp is just acting glitchy. Man, how am I supposed to know what to look at? It would be common sense if under CPU->Temperatures it actually listed the processor temperature 🤣 But apparently, that's not how it works. This is the first time I've run into this. Every time I installed Core Temp in the past, it displayed temperatures perfectly fine. I've tested it on AM3, 1155, and 1150 processors before, and it worked totally normally there. Maybe FM2+ and AM3+ just have their own weird ways about them, I don't know. I googled a ton but couldn't find anything concrete. Anyway, thanks for clearing that up; now I can finally get some sleep. I built this rig myself, installed a brand new cooler and everything, and now it's overheating only a month after buying it. I seriously couldn't sleep thinking about it. 😬

Yeah, the readings in AIDA64 look fine. Under Prime95 at absolute max load, it stays right at 46°, nothing higher, which is great. It was just that CPU Package reading in HWMonitor (check out the screenshot) that had me worried. That specific value in HWMonitor is actually what shows up as the CPU temp in AIDA64, and that one is perfectly fine—it doesn't climb past 46°, and even the heatsink is barely warm under Prime95.

So, I'm running Prime95 (stress testing for max heat), and AIDA64 shows the CPU package at 46°C—it doesn't go any higher. The individual cores are sitting at 0°, so I guess there aren't specific sensors for every single core or something... In HWMonitor, the package temp jumps wildly between 75-80°C, which is super weird; one second it's at 73 and the next it hits 80. The heatsink itself is barely even warm to the touch after five minutes of Prime95. I don't get why HWMonitor would show those temps... is it just making things up?

UPDATE: At BIOS startup, it's hitting 40-42°, then once it boots into idle, it settles around 35. It feels a bit odd that it's hotter right at startup than when it's idling on the desktop..

crimsonstag84 said:Unless the cooler isn't seated quite right, there shouldn't be any reason for them to be hitting those levels... maybe try the finger test 😬 ...while you're running the most intensive tasks on the processor

So you want me to just run Prime and touch the cooler with my finger? I know the cooler is seated correctly; I installed it twice and swapped out the thermal paste. I'm pretty sure I didn't screw it up both times. 😬

A friend of mine might be dealing with some overheating issues—specifically with his CPU. He's running an Intel Core i3 paired with a 95W cooler, an ASRock motherboard, a 400W power supply, all tucked inside a Cooler Master mATX case. When I check the readings using HWMonitor, the package temp spikes north of 80°C while playing Watch Dogs, and even at idle, it's hovering around 50°-60°, which definitely doesn't seem right. One weird thing I noticed is that it isn't detecting individual cores at all, just that single "package" reading. Since HWMonitor has a bit of a reputation for being buggy and inaccurate, I downloaded AIDA64 to see if things looked any different. In AIDA64, the motherboard sits at 30° and the CPU is also around 30° during idle. It actually shows the individual cores, but the temps are showing up as 8°-20°, and sometimes they just sit at 0°, which is equally bizarre. Here are the screenshots from AIDA64 and HWMonitor KLIK Is this just a hardware reporting error in HWMonitor? I don't get why it's showing 60° at idle and 80° under load... is it possible the software is just hallucinating those numbers? I already swapped out the thermal paste, even though the rig is less than two months old, but clearly, that didn't fix anything. 🤷

Dennis Carter3 said:If an XFX pro 550w can clearly handle an FX 83 xx & R9 290—which pulls way more power than an R9 280—I don't see why anyone is being skeptical here. This Hyper 500w will handle it just fine and still have some breathing room left over.

Wait, who’s even talking about XFX? XFX makes beastly power supplies—basically repackaged Seasonic units—so of course it’ll hold up. But the Fortron Hyper is a different story; it isn't Seasonic, nor is it anywhere near that level of quality. I'm not saying it won't work, but for a build with this kind of power draw, you really should be looking at something beefier and higher quality.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:I wouldn't put that case in a build costing even a couple of bucks... that's it.

I worked with one of those cases a few days ago, and man, the quality is garbage. The metal is flimsy, and I actually cut my hands on the edges like I was using a knife on purpose, so yeah, thanks but no thanks. 😳

An SSD isn't going to do anything for his gaming performance—it won't give him more FPS or anything else... the only thing it'll do is make Windows boot faster and games load quicker, and that's about it...
He’ll definitely get some use out of decent cooling, though, since his PC won't overheat and will last longer. 😁

How many times have we been over this? 🙂 Yeah, an SSD won't boost gaming performance, no, it won't add a single frame per second anywhere, just faster loading times. But we've all collectively agreed that an HDD is the most outdated component in any PC, so an SSD is always a win if it fits the budget, because you'll feel the difference in the overall system responsiveness, not just during boot-up.

You worked with that case and messed up your hands, but he isn't going to be messing around with it; it'll be delivered fully assembled and ready to go, and everything will work fine. You can't argue otherwise. Look, it might not be the highest-end case, but it's good enough to hold everything together. He can just grab one or two fans later to get some airflow, and boom, he's set, plus he'll already have the SSD. Personally, I'd rather go with that option than spend more on a better motherboard or cooler just for potential overclocking (which wasn't even requested, and it wasn't framed that way to begin with). 🙂

Dennis Carter3 said:You could also do it with the Zalman

1 x XFX R9-280A-TDFD, double Dissipation edition Radeon R9 280 933M
1 x AMD FX-Series X8 8320 Processor 3.5GHz, 16MB, 125W, AM3+, FD8320FRHK
1 x Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2, heatsink, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm, 92mm
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Fortron Hyper 500W Power Supply, PPA5005003, 12cm fan
1 x Intel 520 2.5" SSD, SATA III-600, R/W: 550/520MB/s
1 x Toshiba DT01ACA100 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB
1 x Zalman Z1 mid tower case. 199(W)x432(H)x457(D)mm. MB standard

Total:$1821 Amazon, free assembly and shipping!
Now you've got a quality case too.

I went with the Fortron Hyper first, which allowed the Zalman to fit without blowing the budget, but neither the 8320 nor the 280 are low power users. I think the Fortron Hyper will hold up, but still...

The guy wanted an SSD, so I gave him an SSD. It isn't a Phoenix Zalman, but I still think it could work fine alongside the Spire. By "work," I mean it should keep temperatures within a normal range, and what else does he really need? Personally, I wouldn't sacrifice an SSD just to get a slightly better motherboard or case; adding an SSD is where he’ll actually feel the difference. 🙂

Thomas Wells5 said:Hey there,
I mentioned earlier that I'm on the hunt for a new GPU. Right now, I'm stuck using an HD6450 1GB, which is basically junk.
I have a chance to snag this card for $100, and it still has a year of warranty left... honestly, I think it'll be twice as fast as what I've got now.
http://tinypic.com/r/pojt3/8
MSI R6670
For the rest of my build: Intel Core i3-4130
Xilence Redwing 480W PSU
MSI GF615M P33 motherboard

If it's the DDR5 version, then definitely go for it—it's a solid deal. But if it's the DDR3 version, stay far away from it.🙂

rustymarlin20 said:I'd love to get some feedback on this build.
http://www.newegg.com/ssd-example ssd $149
http://www.newegg.com/hdd-example hdd $148
http://www.newegg.com/case-example case $47
http://www.newegg.com/mb-example mb $221
http://www.newegg.com/cpu-example cpu $368
http://www.newegg.com/gpu-example gpu $505
http://www.newegg.com/ram-example ram $212
http://www.newegg.com/psu-example psu $139
$1789

Don't fall for that Corsair series; it's basically their budget line. That SSD isn't great either—you're better off going with an Intel Core i5 520. Also, you absolutely need an aftermarket cooler because the stock one won't handle the 8320. Here's what I'd pick up from Best Buy:

1 x AMD FX-Series X8 8320 3.5GHz,16MB,125W,AM3+, FD8320FRHK
1 x Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Toshiba DT01ACA100 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm ,92mm
1 x MS PHOENIX case without PSU, Midi tower MBO: ATX, mATX
1 x XFX R9-280A-TDFD, double Dissipation edition Radeon R9 280 933M
1 x Intel Core i5 520 2.5", SATA III-600, R/W:550/520MB/s
1 x XFX 550 w Easy rail Bronze PSU

$1814

Roger Gray8 said:Man, I honestly have no idea what's going on with my card. I think it's dying, but who knows how much longer it'll last... My PC was built so long ago that I can't even tell how much life is left in this GPU. Maybe a year? I'm happy with it for now, but then again, GTA V is coming... :slap:

I see the price for this 265, which means I'd need to save up about $100, and I'm just not sure if that's happening... 😁 (Currently unemployed, dealing with a broken leg, and I can't even work right now 😢 )
I think I'll go for the one at $267 $260, and maybe grab some 4GB of RAM come springtime.
Just hoping I have the cash... especially for the graphics card 🙂

The 260 non-X is cheaper than $233, but for slightly more than $800, you get the 260X, which is definitely a step up. Even though that non-X 260 is the best deal right now, for

Jack James65 said:Or should I just stretch my budget to $260 and grab an FX 6300? I'd have to swap this motherboard out for an AM3 + :P

Once again, you're stuck without integrated graphics, which means you won't even be able to boot the PC, let alone play anything 🙂 If you don't have a GPU and you're looking $257 for a processor, then you should go with the A8 7600 😉

Jack James65 said:Can I get a motherboard and CPU up to $210...
I want to play Smite, MC, and maybe try out LOL.
I don't have a GPU... so an APU would be ideal.

I'd prefer to buy from AMD or Phoenix since they're close to me.

You aren't going to find anything worth buying for that kind of money. This is really the only combo that fits:

1 x AMD Trinity A4-Series X2 5300 3.40GHz 2cores,cache
1 x Asrock FM2+ FM2A58M-HD+, Socket FM2+ 95W / FM2 100W processors

$216Best Buy

...but honestly, this whole setup is bottom-of-the-barrel. The CPU is junk, and the motherboard is just the cheapest FM2+ you can find. You might be able to limp through League or Smite, but I’d strongly suggest saving up a bit more cash so you can grab a decent quad-core APU—something like at least an A8 7600.

Matthew White6 said:Awesome. Just let me know if this processor is enough to handle this GPU, or if I’ll need to grab something more powerful soon—or maybe even install a new cooler for it?

Yeah, that i5 will drive a 280 without any issues. You can grab a better cooler if you want, but it won't really change much besides potentially keeping things quieter (which shouldn't be an issue anyway). You can't overclock since it's a non-K CPU, and since you aren't overclocking, the chip isn't going to overheat, so I think you're fine without a new cooler. 🙂 Even though it's a Sandy Bridge chip, it's still plenty strong enough to run modern cards like the 280/280X or even better, so I don't think you'll need to worry about an upgrade anytime soon. 🙂