First gaming PC build

[AJXD]

Hello everyone, I need some help with my first gaming PC build. I want this build to last about a year or two before upgrading any of the components. The budget is about 500$ and I already have a Hard Drive. Mostly I will want to play the newest games on high/ultra graphics on 720p (old monitor, not ready to change it yet)I've already picked the parts and I need some help deciding what would be better between two systems. I will be overclocking the system. Also I am limited to the parts I can get, since I am looking for them in my local tech shop (buying from amazon.co.uk is going to be too expensive).

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 760K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($84.73 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI A78M-E35 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($57.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($84.29 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($169.99 @ Micro Center) 

Case: Zalman Z3 Plus White ATX Mid Tower Case  ($61.50 @ Mwave) 

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $488.49

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($77.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($149.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Zalman Z3 Plus White ATX Mid Tower Case  ($61.50 @ Mwave) 

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 

Total: $484.45

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

What I need help with:

1.For the AMD X4 760K and R9 270 build is a 500W PSU too much or is it going to be fine going with the Corsair CX 430 PSU?

2.Is the Intel CPU going to overclock with the Z97 board and what clock speed would I be able to achieve with this build?(I plan to upgrade to a newer i5 or i7 later on)

3.Is there a huge performance difference between the GTX 750 Ti and the R9 270 GPU's? Which one will run new games on 720p with better FPS?

4.Is there a huge performance difference between the X4 760K and the G3258, when both are overclocked?

5.Which of the build is better for upgradability later on?

6.Is there going to be a big difference to go for a different manufacturer for the GPU, Motherboard, PSU and RAM?

7.What would be a better replacement for the stock CPU cooler for overclocking? Going for air cooling to save some cash.

8.Will I be able to play the more demanding games that came out this and last year and also the new upcoming games on high/ultra settings 720p?

 

The first AMD build is built around Austin Evans budget gaming PC for 600$ October 2013.

That's all for now. I plan to order the parts in about 2 weeks from now, so I need the help to decide which build to go for. Thanks in advance.

Edited July 13, 2014 by AJXD

[GeekySole9354]

1. You're fine with 430W.

2. You can get some overclocking.

3. Not a huge difference, but the R9 270 is a bit better.

4. I don't think it's that big.

5. The intel one is much better, since you can get a i7 later if you would like.

[Rhotis]

THe 3258 is supposedly a beast OCer but I have not tried it so....  Do you have a cooler?  You prolly do not want to be OCing much on the stock fan with either CPU.  

[TeddyMcSwag]

1. 430W is ok, I'm running that CPU and a 270X with a 450W PSU.

2. You can indeed overclock with that motherboard, however you need better cooling, the cooler that comes with the CPU is just good for maybe 1MHz overclock.

3. The 270 is better, but the 750ti has other advantages, such as lower power consumption and less heat output, and Nvidia features like Gsync, CUDA, and PhysX.

4. It should be about the same, but as I said, you won't be able to overclock with the stock coolers.

5. The Intel one, since there are way better CPUs on the 1150 socket.

6. No, nt in performance in game. However some companies are better than others, for example a MSI mobo is more reliable than a Biostar one, and a Corsair PSU is more reliable than a cheap small brand one. A good advice is to not skimp and cheap out on motherboards and PSUs.

[AJXD]

THe 3258 is supposedly a beast OCer but I have not tried it so....  Do you have a cooler?  You prolly do not want to be OCing much on the stock fan with either CPU.  

I am planning to get a better cooler, going for air cooling most likely. Any suggestions for a better CPU cooler?

The case has 4 fans already pre-installed so I think I wont change them for anything better so save some money.

[AJXD]

1. 430W is ok, I'm running that CPU and a 270X with a 450W PSU.

2. You can indeed overclock with that motherboard, however you need better cooling, the cooler that comes with the CPU is just good for maybe 1MHz overclock.

3. The 270 is better, but the 750ti has other advantages, such as lower power consumption and less heat output, and Nvidia features like Gsync, CUDA, and PhysX.

4. It should be about the same, but as I said, you won't be able to overclock with the stock coolers.

5. The Intel one, since there are way better CPUs on the 1150 socket.

6. No, nt in performance in game. However some companies are better than others, for example a MSI mobo is more reliable than a Biostar one, and a Corsair PSU is more reliable than a cheap small brand one. A good advice is to not skimp and cheap out on motherboards and PSUs.

You ment overclocking by 1GHz with the stock cooler right?

What would you recommend getting to replace the stock CPU cooler? Going for air cooling.

[TeddyMcSwag]

You ment overclocking by 1GHz with the stock cooler right?

What would you recommend getting to replace the stock CPU cooler? Going for air cooling.

No, 1MHz, which is 0.1 GHz. At least according to Intel employe Darren Lynch.

For a cheap air cooler, you can't go wrong with the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. It's cheap, silent and cools very well.

[AJXD]

No, 1MHz, which is 0.1 GHz. At least according to Intel employe Darren Lynch.

For a cheap air cooler, you can't go wrong with the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. It's cheap, silent and cools very well.

And will that air cooler handle a good overclock, about 20-40% overclock?

[TeddyMcSwag]

And will that air cooler handle a good overclock, about 20-40% overclock?

I have no personal experience of this, but according to others, the answer should be yes.

[AJXD]

1. 430W is ok, I'm running that CPU and a 270X with a 450W PSU.

2. You can indeed overclock with that motherboard, however you need better cooling, the cooler that comes with the CPU is just good for maybe 1MHz overclock.

3. The 270 is better, but the 750ti has other advantages, such as lower power consumption and less heat output, and Nvidia features like Gsync, CUDA, and PhysX.

4. It should be about the same, but as I said, you won't be able to overclock with the stock coolers.

5. The Intel one, since there are way better CPUs on the 1150 socket.

6. No, nt in performance in game. However some companies are better than others, for example a MSI mobo is more reliable than a Biostar one, and a Corsair PSU is more reliable than a cheap small brand one. A good advice is to not skimp and cheap out on motherboards and PSUs.

You'r running a similar build to my AMD one, how is it running on games? Did you overclock anything?

[TeddyMcSwag]

You'r running a similar build to my AMD one, how is it running on games? Did you overclock anything?

Everything on stock, and it handles pretty much all my games perfectly: Dark Souls (1 and 2), Heroes of Newerth, Team Fortress 2, Skyrim, all maxed on 1080p, no problems.

[Rhotis]

I am planning to get a better cooler, going for air cooling most likely. Any suggestions for a better CPU cooler?

The case has 4 fans already pre-installed so I think I wont change them for anything better so save some money.

As has been said you cant really go wrong with the cooler master hyper 212 for a reasonably priced solid performing cooler.  

[Gung Pow Chicken]

I would go with a 500w that way you have room for future upgrades.

[79wjd]

Get a g3258 and either than new asrock anniversary z97 board, or one one asus's h87/b85 boards which support oc'g on the g3258.

[ComradeHX]

There is a substantial difference between 750ti and 270.

750ti performs worse in general than r7 265.

Don't choose 750ti if you want serious gaming performance for newer games.