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Building an AMD-based machine - need advice on components

Marku

Marku

Marku

Associate
Joined
31 Dec 2008
Posts
201
Location
Cambridge
Hi Guys

My PC needs an overall upgrade and i am currently looking at these kind of components listed below.

I primarily want to to be able to maximize the graphic settings in games like Rome 2 total war.


CPUs: - Is there an alternative AMD processor that could be considered, if not this one.

AMD Piledriver FX-8 Eight Core 9370 Black Edition 4.40GHz (4.70GHz Turbo) (Socket AM3+) Processor - OEM



CPU Fan: One like this? (Is there a quieter one?)

Phanteks PH-TC14PE CPU Cooler - Black



Graphic Card(at some point),

a card like this, but maybe more memory:

Sapphire AMD Radeon R9 285 Dual-X 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card



Memory : Recently got this ram:

Kingston HyperX 16GB (2x8GB) PC3-14900C10 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black/Red (HX18C10BRK2/16-OC)



Motherboard:

Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 AMD 990FX (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard


PSU: Could use my current one(550w), but its making a lot of ticking noises that are really annoying. Example PSU below

SuperFlower Leadex GOLD 750W Fully Modular "80 Plus Gold" Power Supply - Black
 
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David Bisset said:
If you want to go AMD you can save a bit by going for an 8320E then clocking it up.
Click to expand...

yup. And no point going for the Sabertooth unless you plan to use its features over and above the good-overclocking "enthusiast" 970 boards (Gigabyte 970a-UD3p and ASUS M5A97 Evo) - such as Dual graphics cards, or whatever.
 
I think with this particular machine , i want something that by default is 4ghz without needing to overclock
 
You're not maxing Rome 2 very comfortably with an FX83 and a Radeon 285, don't care what clock it's at.
If you're looking at an FX9370, then you may's well go for an i5 4690K, unless there's a specific reason you want AMD.
 
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Marku said:
I think with this particular machine , i want something that by default is 4ghz without needing to overclock
Click to expand...

You want something that scales to at least 4.8ghz for the price you are paying for overclocking capable components.

With that price I'd also be looking at an Intel spec too.
 
Any reason it has to be AMD? Seems a waste to jump into a platform that is so old and power hungry at this point. While AMD have decent products in the pipeline for next year they are based on a new architecture and won't be compatible with any current products.

An 4690K with Z97 motherboard is similar priced but gives more performance and less power use. Would make a better platform choice as things are today and then maybe move to AMD when they have better products later on.

Just an alternative idea if you haven't considered Intel.
 
OK not on phone now. It all depends what you want to do with the rig. If you're into VMWARE the I5 will be useless to you. The AMD will also be better at heavily threaded apps and so on.

If you're just going AMD because you simply don't want Intel then you really can't go wrong with the 9370 and Sabertooth, just make sure you order a H105 or better. Air coolers don't tend to work so well on AMD because the die surface is quite large and better suited to a block.

I'd also say go 8320E but then that all depends on what you are paying for the 9370. If the 9370 is only £30 or £40 more then it saves you having to overclock it yourself which to some is a bit of a life line.
 
There is that possibility i will continue to use VMWare for work-related stuff, ALXAndy. As i work with CAD software.
 
Martini1991 said:
You're not maxing Rome 2 very comfortably with an FX83 and a Radeon 285, don't care what clock it's at.
If you're looking at an FX9370, then you may's well go for an i5 4690K, unless there's a specific reason you want AMD.
Click to expand...

I play R2TW with ultra settings across the board apart from, AA on, depth of field and alpha veg off and texture filtering (ie AF) at x2 @ 1080p with a 1055T @ 3.8 and a 7970. which is less cores and less IPC than the 8/9 series AMD's whilst a 7970 is basically a 280 no?

The intel would work tho. I'd try and do my best to get a 290 (maybe second hand?) instead of the 285 tho.
 
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Nutella

So this CPU:

Intel Core i5-4690K 3.50GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail

and this kind of motherboard? :

Gigabyte Z97X-Gaming 7 Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard

Though i may wish to get a 2nd screen in the future. (It has 1 HDMI port)
 
Doe au need all the features the gaming 7 has?

I can deffo reccomend the asus z97 pro gamer crossfire, sli decent sound enough sata
 
Nutella33 said:
I play R2TW with ultra settings across the board apart from, AA on, depth of field and alpha veg off and texture filtering (ie AF) at x2 @ 1080p with a 1055T @ 3.8 and a 7970. which is less cores and less IPC than the 8/9 series AMD's whilst a 7970 is basically a 280 no?

The intel would work tho. I'd try and do my best to get a 290 (maybe second hand?) instead of the 285 tho.
Click to expand...

Which doesn't contradict what I've said.

And I used a 7970 to max Rome 2, it wasn't good (Though I had a 4670K), a 285 has less VRAM too.

I could never ever ever be happy with Rome 2 maxed out on a 7970, I don't care if I'm running a 10GHZ Haswell Octa core.
 
If you're going AMD I would avoid the 9370 personally, given that all it is is a bang average overclock as far these chips go, it is achieved by ramping up the voltage willy nilly and has a rated TDP of 225W... AMD will probably be using it to get rid of their worst quality (hottest running) chips.

At least with 9590 you're guaranteed an above average overclock for the added heat (providing your motherboard can cope), 8350/8370 both guarantee 4ghz at under 125W TDP.

I'd certainly recommend the 4690K if you're in the market to buy new mobo on top of processor though.
 
mmj_uk said:
If you're going AMD I would avoid the 9370 personally, given that all it is is a bang average overclock as far these chips go, it is achieved by ramping up the voltage willy nilly and has a rated TDP of 225W... AMD will probably be using it to get rid of their worst quality (hottest running) chips.

At least with 9590 you're guaranteed an above average overclock for the added heat (providing your motherboard can cope), 8350/8370 both guarantee 4ghz at under 125W TDP.

I'd certainly recommend the 4690K if you're in the market to buy new mobo on top of processor though.
Click to expand...


What would you recommend for the Intel route?

Which mobo?
 
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