Gaming PC build for the next 2 years?

Honestly, it all feels like the same old nonsense—you’ve got one group shouting AMD, AMD, AMD!!!! and then the other side screaming Nvidia, Nvidia, Nvidia!!! It’s honestly pretty sad that people on this forum don't seem to look at things with any sense of objectivity or realism, and I’m not just talking about GPUs here; I mean every single component. There is this constant, stubborn agreement on absolute garbage hardware, and I can't tell if people are doing it on purpose or if they genuinely have no clue what they're talking about... granted, there are exceptions, of course (Gefutko, Timothy Kim60, John Doe, Elon Musk)... but frankly, I’m done. I’m stepping away from this forum because I just don't have the energy to deal with these puffed-up types who think they’ve swallowed all the wisdom in the world and overcomplicate simple builds instead of actually making things easier...

Best regards,

David Sanders4 said:Do you play stuff like Fallout, the Batman series, Borderlands 2, Just Cause 2, or Mafia 2?

Yeah, I play them. What would you change about them?

Alright man, you with the consensus or not? And who mentioned that beefier 550W power supply with the 3-year warranty? I'm grabbing that one.

It depends. If you’re leaning toward that questionable setup at Best Buy, I wouldn't bother swapping out the niche parts; maybe just shell out $43 more for the toxic
instead. But if you aren't strictly tied to buying everything from a single retailer, I’d definitely pick up some memory
8GB RAM, G.SKILL Ripjaws X series, DDR3 1600MHz
This is just one of those limited-time deals, so if you can snag it, go for it...
Personally, I’d grab the GTX 770—specifically the MSI Lightning model. It has the highest clock speed, and I quite like how it glows🙄
Plus, it comes with an extra year of warranty...
Regarding the games you mentioned, they utilize PhysX, which is designed specifically for NVIDIA cards. You can technically run it with an ATI card, but the workload shifts to your CPU, which ends up handling what the GPU should be doing. That usually results in nasty frame drops; generally speaking, things run much smoother on NVIDIA hardware.
P.S. I noticed that Assassin's Creed IV also uses PhysX

So, according to you, if someone goes with an AMD card, they basically can't play 90% of today's games? 😁 😁

@conan...Look, I'm telling you: take exactly what you wrote, just swap it out for a Raider 550W power supply and leave it at that. Stop overthinking this before you just drive yourself crazy. The build is solid. There’s really no point in continuing this endless back-and-forth between the Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and ATI fanboys, right? ;) P.S. I'm an Intel/Nvidia guy myself, and even I'm telling you to grab that R9 280x.

The moment someone starts using PhysX as their main argument, I know exactly where they're coming from... and honestly, I don't even need to bother arguing with them anymore. 😁

P.S. Hey, Patrick Diaz49... make up your mind already. One minute you're saying "no way" to the 280x, and now you're saying if he picks Wood's build, he doesn't have to change anything at all. ;) You're turning every single post into some complicated mess and making it harder for this guy to just decide what to buy. It's really not necessary.

I’m definitely gonna grill him on what the cut is if I drop an extra grand, and honestly, feel free to hit me with any pros or cons you guys have.

Anyway, McLovin put this build together, so shoutout to him. Just waiting to hear back from Future.

Timothy Kim60 said:What are you even talking about, 🤷—they offer assembly services, just like Amazon does.

But honestly, it’s not like buying from Wayfair is so much cheaper right now that it's worth waiting around for them to finally open up their doors.

I actually had no idea they did assembly... my bad!

Sam Rodriguez55 said:Hey, if you were me, what would you swap out?

Alright Timothy Fisher79, let's get down to brass tacks—do you actually agree with the configuration or not? And who was it that mentioned getting a beefier power supply, maybe something north of 550W with a 3-year warranty? Because if that's an option, I'm definitely pulling the trigger on that.

Honestly, it’s a solid build. The only thing I might tweak—if you're really looking to push some serious overclocking—would be grabbing a different motherboard, something like a high-end ASUS ROG series. But personally, if I were in your shoes, I’d probably opt for the Microsoft-Apple setup since it's available to you anyway... and yeah, stepping up to a higher-quality power supply would definitely be a smart move.

Patrick Diaz49 said:So, David Sanders4, according to you, if someone uses an AMD card, they can't play 90% of today's games?😁 😁

When someone drops a comment as narrow-minded as that, there isn't much point in continuing the conversation...
I specifically listed games that utilize NVIDIA's physics, and I also noted that those titles can be played by either disabling the feature or letting the CPU handle the load... some games rely on it more than others—titles like Batman, Mafia, or Metro fall into the higher usage category. That should wrap this up for us; I have little interest in explaining myself to someone being so superficial. Feel free to ignore my posts from here on out.

Patrick Diaz49 said:As soon as someone cites physics as their reasoning, I know exactly what's going on... and I know I don't need to argue with them anymore.😁

Physics is a perfectly valid reason for anyone actually playing those specific games.

Patrick Diaz49 said:...P.S. David Sanders4...make up your mind. First, you say a 280x won't work at all, and now you're saying if he sticks with Wood's build, he doesn't need to change anything. You're just spinning circles in every post and making it harder for the guy to decide what to buy... there's no need for it.

Try reading carefully... I looked through the entire Best Buy inventory for the cheapest options, and the GTX 770 isn't priced under $1000, whereas the equivalent R9 280x is nearly $233 cheaper. That is far too large a price gap for NVIDIA to justify the advantage. That is why I said there is no sense in going for the GTX 770.

Timothy Fisher79 said:It’s all the same nonsense. One group will scream AMD, and the other will just shout NVIDIA. It’s honestly sad that people on this forum don't look at things objectively or realistically like they should. And I'm not just talking about GPUs—I mean all components. People constantly agree on low-quality junk, and I can't tell if they're doing it on purpose or if they genuinely have no clue what they're talking about... exceptions being Gefutko, The New Guy, unknown, and unknown... I'm done with this forum. I have no interest in dealing with ego-driven types who think they're geniuses and overcomplicate simple builds instead of making them easy...

LP

Thanks!

David Sanders4 said:P.S. I just noticed that Assassin's Creed IV also uses PhysX

It actually started happening recently, right after the Freedom Cry DLC.
I don't see any lag when I have Antialiasing turned on, but once I enable PhysX, things start getting glitchy.

If I recall correctly, you’re running an HD 7870, right? I was wondering how it handled titles like Batman or Metro 2033, especially since you have quite a decent setup. How's that processor holding up?....
To be honest, I was getting absolutely hammered by frame rate drops in Batman specifically because of PhysX. It was pretty brutal. On the other hand, I didn't run into nearly as many stutters while playing Metro 2033, though that was only after I turned those settings off. PhysX It feels like a lot gets lost in translation visually. When you’re looking at things like textures or paper, they often end up looking completely lifeless or just get stripped out entirely. It's a different story with Arma 3, though. The physics engine there absolutely devours CPU cycles, which explains why you see such a massive difference when it comes to CPU scaling.
When I look back at titles like Far Cry 2 or 3, it’s hard not to notice that they just don't have that same kind of... well, anything. There's a certain quality missing compared to what we see now. Destruction.It feels more like a cosmetic upgrade at this point, honestly. It reminds me of how things played out with Crysis 1 and 2; you had much more meaningful interactivity with the environment back then. Trimming the trees.It feels like we're treating things like the demolition of those temporary sheds as if they were some major, monumental event. I’ve been looking back at the Battlefield series lately, specifically the Bad Company era, and it really makes you realize how much the DNA of the franchise has shifted over the years. There was a certain charm to those games—a specific kind of grit mixed with a sense of humor that felt much more grounded than the massive, cinematic spectacles we see now. It wasn't just about the destruction; it was about the atmosphere. Even though modern titles have certainly pushed the technical boundaries, there's something about that older style of gameplay that stays with you. The Battlefield series is built on the Frostbite engine, yet they seem to rely heavily on... Havok physics.I suspect that’s exactly where modern gaming has hit a plateau. Instead of pushing actual innovation, developers seem to be coasting on polishing textures and obsessively smoothing out jagged edges with various forms of Antialiasing—you know, the whole TAA and FXAA dance. It feels like they're just layering more effects rather than evolving the core experience. Volumetric. The clouds and fog look incredible. DirectX 11 really leveled things up. Tessellation What was actually the significant difference there? Compared to Parallax occlusion mapping—which, let's be honest, is really just a clever illusion—Crysis tends to lean on PAM in spots where Tessellation wouldn't offer much of an advantage anyway. I can't help but wonder if the next Half-Life might actually shake things up again. Every time a new title from them drops, it feels like a genuine breath of fresh air for the industry.
Back in 2008, I honestly thought trailers like these would be the standard for every single game by 2013. My expectations were clearly a bit optimistic.
Nvidia - Massive Destruction in real-time tech demo

Will my rig handle Arma 3 on max settings? I'm planning to dive into DayZ

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http://static.techspot.com/articles-...nch/CPU_01.png

I guess the FX 8320 paired with an overclocked GTX 770 or R9 280X seems like the best bang for your buck here.

David Sanders4 said:Wait, don't you have an HD 7870 if I remember correctly? How did Batman or Metro 2033 run on that thing? Just asking since you've got quite the collection. What kind of processor we talking about? Give me some details.....
I remember my frame rate absolutely tanking in Batman because of PhysX. It was brutal. But then I jumped into Metro 2033 and didn't see those kinds of massive drops at all, mostly just by turning that setting off. PhysX. It feels like things just lose their soul sometimes. You look at those lifeless textures or how certain surfaces just don't react right—it’s like they aren't even there, totally flat and dead. With Arma 3, though, it’s a whole different story. The physics engine absolutely eats CPU cycles for breakfast, which is exactly why you see such a massive difference when you start looking at CPU scaling.
I mean, when I look at games like Far Cry 2 or 3, there’s just nothing quite like it. There isn't that... well, you know what I mean. It's hard to put into words, but those titles had a certain vibe that modern stuff sometimes misses. Destruction.It’s mostly just cosmetic polish at this point. It reminds me a lot of how things went down with Crysis 1 and 2—everything looks gorgeous, sure, but you lose that sense of actual impact. Back then, you felt like you could actually mess with the environment around you. There was way more interactivity with the world, you know? Now it feels a bit more superficial. Trimming trees can be such a massive headache. I was out in the backyard last weekend trying to tackle some overgrown branches, and man, it’s way more work than it looks. You think you’ll just spend an hour with some shears and be done with it, but then you realize you need a ladder, better gloves, and probably a whole new set of tools. It's one of those chores that just keeps growing on you—literally.I mean, looking at stuff like tearing down old shacks or whatever, it kind of feels like... I was just thinking about the old Battlefield: Bad Company days. Man, those games were something else. They had this specific vibe that you just don't see much anymore—kind of gritty, but also hilarious if you caught the right moment. It’s funny how certain titles just stick in your head, even when there's a million newer things out there. Just one of those classic experiences that stays with you. The Battlefield series is built on the Frostbite engine, but they still lean heavily on things like DirectX 11 to get everything running smoothly. Havok physics.I honestly feel like modern games have just hit a wall when it comes to actual innovation. It feels like everything today is just about polishing textures or obsessing over smoothing out jagged edges with all those different types of Antialiasing—you know, the whole TAA and FXAA shuffle. They spend so much time on that instead of actually pushing the boundaries. Volumetric lighting... man, that stuff really changes the vibe of a game. It’s one of those things you don't notice until it's missing, and then everything just feels flat and fake. It adds that sense of weight to the air, like you can actually see the sunlight cutting through the dust in an old warehouse. It makes the whole world feel lived-in. Clouds, fog... honestly, DirectX 11 really changed the game with that stuff. Tessellation. Just one word, but man, it’s such a fundamental part of how everything looks under the hood. It’s funny how we take it for granted now, but back in the day, seeing things actually look smooth instead of like a jagged mess was a huge deal. It's all about that detail, you know? Makes the whole world feel a bit more solid. What was the actual big difference compared to Parallax occlusion mapping? Honestly, that stuff was basically just an illusion. Crysis uses PAM in spots where there isn't even a real advantage to using Tessellation. I can't help but wonder if the new Half-Life might actually shake things up again. Every time a new title from them drops, it feels like a genuine breath of fresh air... they always find a way to innovate.
Man, back in 2008, I honestly thought trailers like that would be the standard for every single game by 2013. I really did.
Nvidia - Massive Destruction in real-time tech demo

If you're asking me, I don't have one. I'm still rocking my GTX 560 Ti OC.
I was just watching this comparison video for Assassin's Creed IV showing gameplay with and without PhysX enabled, and honestly? It doesn't seem worth the hassle to keep it turned on. Not only does it absolutely hammer your CPU, but you aren't even getting any meaningful boost in graphical performance. Just feels like a waste of resources if you ask me.
I honestly feel like developers should stop wasting space in the video settings menu. They need to start adding actual useful options instead of cluttering everything up with stuff like Motion Blur. To me, the game just looks way cleaner without those annoying smears all over the screen.

I'm keeping a close eye on Star Wars Battlefront and Battlefield 5 once they officially move into active development. They look like they’re going to be absolute hardware killers. Honestly, looking at my current rig, I can only dream about actually turning on Antialiasing or touching any of those high settings without everything crawling to a halt.

Sam Rodriguez55 said:Will my rig handle Arma 3 on max settings? I'm planning on diving into some DayZ.

With this setup, you're definitely going to be crushing every game on max settings for the next few years—maybe even longer, if you're lucky.

Timothy Fisher79

So, I’m out here suggesting an ASUS M5A97 R2 for his build, and then you come along and recommend that lower-tier AS ROCK 970 EXTREME 3—plus you actually tell him to grab it if he plans on overclocking? Wow. Real top-tier advice right there ☕

graniteharbor85 said:Timothy Fisher79

I recommended an ASUS M5A97 R2 for his build, but then you go and suggest a lower-tier AS ROCK 970 EXTREME 3—even going as far as to say he should grab it if he plans on overclocking. Honestly, talk about "expert" advice around here ☕

Hahahahha, well, I was the one who suggested the ASUS M5A97 R2 first, only to get roasted by everyone saying the AS ROCK 970 EXTREME 3 was the bare minimum... so, who's the expert now?

From what I can see, you’re mostly just suggesting Intel builds where those CPUs end up being a total bottleneck for a 280X or a GTX 770—I mean, sure, it won't happen in every single game, but you definitely feel it once things get CPU intensive.

And you got called out right here 😉

Timothy Fisher79 said:Hahahahha, I was the one who suggested the ASUS M5A97 R2 first, then you guys jumped on me saying an ASRock 970 Extreme 3 was the bare minimum. So, who's laughing now?

That ASRock is the floor, sure, but the Asus beats it easily.

Here’s the final build with the beefier PSU and cooler upgraded

- AMD CPU Desktop FX-Series X8 8320 (3.5GHz,16MB,125W,AM3+)
- Zalman mid tower case black
- Zalman CPU Cooler 120mm fan
- ASUS M5A97 R2
- Adata DDR3 8GB 1600MHz, AD3U1600C2G11-R
- Kingston V300 120GB SSD, SATA
- Toshiba 500GB,7200rpm, 32MB
- Fortron Raider S PSU 550W,80+ SILVER
- Enermax ETS-T40-White Cluster hladnjak za procesor,120mm ventilator, Twister Bearing Technology
- Twister Bearing Technology - VC Sapphire AMD Radeon R9 280 x 3 g GDDR5
- Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk
- Acer V236HLBd 23" LED Monitor
- Genius gaming KB-G235, tipkovnica, USB
- Zalman mouse M401R, black
- Logitech Z-200, 2.0 zvučnici, crni

Sam Rodriguez55 said:Here is the updated build featuring the beefier power supply and cooler.

- AMD FX-Series X8 8320 CPU (3.5GHz, 16MB, 125W, AM3+)
- Cooler Master mid tower case, black
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 120mm fan
- MSI MAG B550 motherboard
- Adata DDR3 8GB 1600MHz, AD3U1600C2G11-R
- Kingston V300 120GB SATA SSD
- Western Digital 500GB, 7200rpm, 32MB
- EVGA SuperNOVA 550W PSU, 80+ Silver
- EVGA SuperNOVA cluster CPU cooler, 120mm fan, Twister Bearing Technology
- EVGA GeForce RTX Series
- Seagate BarraCuda SATA optical drive
- Dell UltraSharp 23" LED Monitor
- Razer BlackWidow USB gaming keyboard
- Noctua M401R mouse, black
- Creative Pebble 2.0 speakers, black

You have two different CPU coolers listed here.