Bought it, built it.....now what?

[Joiner48]

Scoured this site along with Reddit /buildapc to put together my first build:

 

**CPU** | [intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i34150) | Purchased For $0.00

**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97mxgaming5) | Purchased For $0.00
**Memory** | [A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/a-data-memory-ax3u1600w4g9db) | Purchased For $0.00
**Storage** | [A-Data XPG SX900 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/a-data-internal-hard-drive-asx900s3256gmc) | Purchased For $0.00
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvr928wf3oc3gd) | Purchased For $0.00
**Case** | [Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-nse200kkn1) | Purchased For $0.00
**Power Supply** | [XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9) | Purchased For $0.00

For my first build ever, things went pretty smooth. Fired right up and  installed Windows 8.1 without a hitch.

My question is what sort of things can I do now to maximize my performance? I've already OC'd my RAM to get its advertised speed. Played around with Catalyst Control a little, but it only seemed to add artifacting.  

Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[dadasmithywinkle]

-snip-

Play some games and enjoy it!

[Joiner48]

LOL  Great reply! I guess I'm kinda stumped it was this easy to build a gaming PC and NOT have to tweak the thing to exercise all of its performance. Can you recommend so good games, so far I've tried Warframe and PS2.....but are there any need to play games?

 

Thanks

[DeViLzzz]

Overclocked the R9 280 if you are bored.

In regards to games must play titles to me are .....

Half Life 2
BIT.TRIP.Runner
The Ball
Dragon Age: Origins

 

... and many other games. LOL
 

[Joiner48]

Ya OC'ing the R9 280 crossed my mind, but I have no idea where to start? Any links that could guide me?

[SteveGrabowski]

Bioshock Infinite is a must play if you like single player FPS with good storylines. I love the 1910s setting of the game and it should run really well on your hardware.

 

 

The Half Life 2 suggestion is great too. It won't come anywhere close to pushing your hardware, but it's a hell of a fun game.

[RichardsD]

Some good PC games to play if you like Military (not fucking CoD, real military games)

 

Company of Heroes: Europe at War Mod

 

Arma 3, Arma 2, Arma Queens Gambit, OFP

 

Warthunder is glorious, Anno 2070, Wargame,

 

MS: FSX Steam Edition, BF2 And BF2PR, Space Engineers.

 

Boom.  Your life.  Gone.

[Egoist]

Ya OC'ing the R9 280 crossed my mind, but I have no idea where to start? Any links that could guide me?

Just download MSI's Afterburner. It's really easy to use. 

[bob345]

its simple, Buy more parts! lol

[Whorax]

CS:GO CS:GO CS:GO CS:GO

 

On a less urgent note, get Skyrim and Fallout New Vegas and mod the hell out of those.

Play Penumbra, all 3. Play Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Play Outlast.

Play Portal 1 and 2.

Might as well download Team Fortress 2 since it's free, experience that.

Could always dabble in WoW.

Buy Call of Duty: World at War and play the awesome custom/modded zombie maps.

Some people will disagree, but if you have friends to play with, buy DayZ. One of the most fun games I've ever played with a pack of friends.

Buy Garry's Mod, it has some fairly fun game modes.

Minecraft is always fun, and it's a lot better than that shit on consoles where you need to pay for shitty skins.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is one of the more fun games I've decided to go back and play as of late.

Really, you could buy Battlefield 4 if you're into that.

I would personally recommend Bioshock Infinite, but you might as well buy the first two games and play those first, then do Infinite last.

Play the Mass Effect games if you haven't already on consoles because mods.

 

I'll come back and update this if I think of more games.

[Joiner48]

Great suggestions! Thanks!