Help me build a new gaming HTPC (Intel or AMD)

yannis76

yannis76

yannis76

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Joined
16 Aug 2004
Posts
804
Hi,

I am thinking of upgrading my Zotac ZBOX with a new HTPC and gaming PC.
My current needs are 99% HTPC but I would like to have the option to upgrade later in a gaming PC mainly for games for two persons (eg Fifa or other co-op games).

I have read some of the posts here suggesting an i3 CPU, but budget is an issue and comparing AMD 5300+m-itx with an i3+m-itx is almost double the cost!

However I know its very important which path I will decide now for the future.
If I go the AMD trinity route (Asus FM2 + A 5300) the cost will considerably lower. Later I can either upgrade it to an 5800K or even install a dedicated VGA.
If I go the Intel path (Asus P8Z77 + i3) the cost is almost 100€ more but the performance later with the addition of a dedicated VGA will be higher.

Looking at the games we might play in the future, do you think I could go the AMD route without problems?

Thank you in advance
 
Well... if you have in the budget enough to buy an i3 which is €100 more expensive (as you say), you may as well buy a 5800k straight away. The performance CPU wise is very similar to the i3 anyway and you will not need a dedicated VGA.
 
Hi,

I am trying to keep it as low as possible...Having read some benchmarks with amd and dedicated VGA, I am leaning towards the AMD route. Now I have to find a nice case which will be able to hold a VGA in the futures. Any ideas?
 
yannis76 said:
Hi,

I am trying to keep it as low as possible...Having read some benchmarks with amd and dedicated VGA, I am leaning towards the AMD route. Now I have to find a nice case which will be able to hold a VGA in the futures. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Good luck.

Can`t really help much without a budget, to many variables.
 
JonSmith said:
Well... if you have in the budget enough to buy an i3 which is €100 more expensive (as you say), you may as well buy a 5800k straight away. The performance CPU wise is very similar to the i3 anyway and you will not need a dedicated VGA.
Click to expand...

Pretty much this, followed by an SR upgrade in a year.
 
And before I forget, make sure if you go the AMD route to get DDR3-1866 RAM (or better). 4GB is fine but 8GB if you can get it. This will improve the performance of both the CPU and GPU - due to the CPU lacking L3 cache and the GPU relying on system memory.
 
Mate just bought

AMD a8 5600k
FM2 mobo
8gb RAM DDR3 @2000mhz

Cost £175ish

The gpu will need 1gb of the RAM.
 
I've just went amd
Asrock 990 extreme 4 £129
Amd fx4100 CPU £ 80
8gb corsair vengeance £50

But if you had the cash you could get a hex or eight core
Or a faster quad core

It's my 1st build and I'm more than pleased with it
 
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