X4 860K and R9 270 and a reddit site question

[ThyFeared]

How do you guys feel about this combo of hardware. This will be mostly used for LoL and Diablo 3. After that my friend will upgrade if he needs to.

 

 

Also I have a question about http://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap
Have any of you bought there? I have seen many good reviews from /r/pcmasterrace but I wanted to get a good double check in!

[Tim Drake]

Decent but the upgrade path :////////////

[ThyFeared]

Decent but the upgrade path :////////////

I told him about it and he still wants to go with it. He says he will definitely go for Intel whenever he can but he just wants a PC now. 

[Suika]

There is no upgrade path, but it's a decent budget build. I would recommend an i3-4150 instead of the 860k, games like LoL and Diablo focus on more powerful cores rather than more cores.

[Atmos]

The 270 is a great card, esp for games that arnt too intensive on graphics. Those two in combo are a good little matchup. 

 

And yes, the reddit softwareswap is AMAZING. Got a crap ton of windows keys from some guy for like, $18 a pop. Of course they were all windows premium, but it will have to do :3

[Lotus]

For lol it'll work fine, but for diablo 3 it will suck. You really want a CPU with good single-threaded performance for diablo 3. What's your budget and currency/location? Maybe we can work out a better build for you.

 

/r/softwareswap is a grey market, and I wouldn't ever touch a grey market:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market

 

A grey market (sometimes called a parallel market,^[1] but this can also mean other things;^[2] not to be confused with a black market or a grey economy) is the trade of a commodity through distribution channels which are legal but are unofficial, unauthorised, or unintended by the original manufacturer.

[ThyFeared]

There is no upgrade path, but it's a decent budget build.

Yeah read my other post

 

The 270 is a great card, esp for games that arnt too intensive on graphics. Those two in combo are a good little matchup. 

 

And yes, the reddit softwareswap is AMAZING. Got a crap ton of windows keys from some guy for like, $18 a pop. Of course they were all windows premium, but it will have to do :3

Thanks for the info!

[Suika]

Yeah read my other post

Yea, I just saw it. You posted just before I did.

Anyway, I had edited my post. I recommend an i3-4150 now, LoL and Diablo run better on an i3 than they will an 860k at any possible clock speed.

[ThyFeared]

For lol it'll work fine, but for diablo 3 it will suck. You really want a CPU with good single-threaded performance for diablo 3. What's your budget and currency/location? Maybe we can work out a better build for you.

 

/r/softwareswap is a grey market, and I wouldn't ever touch a grey market:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market

His budget is $500 and no where over. Here is the List http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fX3LK8

 

I'll keep that in mind about that site. Hopefully we can get windows 10 quick if anything happens

[ThyFeared]

Yea, I just saw it. You posted just before I did.

Anyway, I had edited my post. I recommend an i3-4150 now, LoL and Diablo run better on an i3 than they will an 860k at any possible clock speed.

Yeah I know but it's hard with a $500 budget :\

[Lotus]

It's a shame about the no where over. If he could do $508.92 he could do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($173.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Elite 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($149.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $508.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 14:07 EDT-0400

 

For gaming, 4GB is sufficient provided he closes down his browser before starting, and there's an open memory slot on the motherboard so he can always just pop in a second when he has spare cash. However since that last $8.92 puts him over $500, that leaves him with this:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: PNY XLR8 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270X 2GB PCS+ Video Card  ($154.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $488.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 14:09 EDT-0400

 

The R9 270x is just a factory overclocked R9 270 with better VRMs. I have my R9 270 currently running at 1100 MHz, which is faster than any R9 270x stock speeds, but usually an R9 270x can hit a slightly higher overclock than a regular 270. The i5 is really where you want to be performance wise for gaming, but for the two games you listed an i3 will do fine. Just don't get an AMD CPU as you really need the single-threaded performance of Intel's architecture.

[ThyFeared]

It's a shame about the no where over. If he could do $508.92 he could do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($173.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Elite 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($26.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($149.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $508.92

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 14:07 EDT-0400

 

For gaming, 4GB is sufficient provided he closes down his browser before starting, and there's an open memory slot on the motherboard so he can always just pop in a second when he has spare cash. However since that last $8.92 puts him over $500, that leaves him with this:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.95 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: PNY XLR8 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($52.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270X 2GB PCS+ Video Card  ($154.99 @ Newegg)

Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Total: $488.88

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 14:09 EDT-0400

 

The R9 270x is just a factory overclocked R9 270 with better VRMs. I have my R9 270 currently running at 1100 MHz, which is faster than any R9 270x stock speeds, but usually an R9 270x can hit a slightly higher overclock than a regular 270. The i5 is really where you want to be performance wise for gaming, but for the two games you listed an i3 will do fine. Just don't get an AMD CPU as you really need the single-threaded performance of Intel's architecture.

Silly me forgot to mention that the PSU and Case are bought (Source 210 and EVGA 500W 80+Bronze) I might talk him into the first list you listed and I might push him into saving up a little bit to get better performance and 8GB ram.

[david cassar]

snip

You can fit an msi 280 in the budget  Also you beat me too it damn you haha

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($109.75 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($52.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.89 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($169.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $480.58

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 14:14 EDT-0400

[ThyFeared]

 

You can fit an msi 280 in the budget  Also you beat me too it damn you haha

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($109.75 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($52.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.89 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($169.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $480.58

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 14:14 EDT-0400

 

I'll just make him save up honestly it's worth it. Also @Lotus I'll just add an extra stick of RAM for 8GB's making it cheaper. Thanks for the help

[Lotus]

Silly me forgot to mention that the PSU and Case are bought (Source 210 and EVGA 500W 80+Bronze) I might talk him into the first list you listed and I might push him into saving up a little bit to get better performance and 8GB ram.

 

In that case, if it were me, I would do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($173.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Elite 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($26.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($189.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $483.94

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 14:15 EDT-0400

 

That doesn't include rebates, so when those come in you can just buy a second 4GB memory stick very quickly. Remember, adding memory doesn't require removal or wasting existing parts (so long as there's an open DIMM), but upgrading a GPU means you have to get rid of your current one. 4GB is fine for gaming anyway, but not multitasking while gaming. The i5-4440 and R9 280 make for a great combination and will be one kick-ass machine. This does mean he needs to run a very light and clean setup from a software standpoint, with no bloatware/crapware sucking up memory, but since you should be doing that anyway, I would do this in a heartbeat since you wont get any better performance.

[ThyFeared]

In that case, if it were me, I would do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($173.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Elite 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($26.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card  ($189.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $483.94

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-17 14:15 EDT-0400

 

That doesn't include rebates, so when those come in you can just buy a second 4GB memory stick very quickly. Remember, adding memory doesn't require removal or wasting existing parts, but upgrading a GPU means you have to get rid of your current one. 4GB is fine for gaming anyway, but not multitasking while gaming. The i5-4440 and R9 280 make for a great combination and will be one kick-ass machine. This does mean he needs to run a very light and clean setup from a software standpoint, with no bloatware/crapware sucking up memory.

I'll end up using this. It'll be pretty good. Thanks for the help again  

[Lotus]

I'll just make him save up honestly it's worth it. Also @Lotus I'll just add an extra stick of RAM for 8GB's making it cheaper. Thanks for the help

 

If you can purchase it all in one go, on motherboards with only 2 slots for RAM I usually recommend purchasing just a single stick so you can upgrade down the road without replacing components. Memory bandwidth doesn't matter for gaming so the performance loss from going to single channel doesn't affect us at all.

[ThyFeared]

If you can purchase it all in one go, on motherboards with only 2 slots for RAM I usually recommend purchasing just a single stick so you can upgrade down the road without replacing components. Memory bandwidth doesn't matter for gaming so the performance loss from going to single channel doesn't affect us at all.

I'll keep that in mind thanks!