I'm setting up a new PC for my cousin. Looking for some advice.
I'm setting up a new PC for my cousin. Looking for some advice.
I’m planning a budget-friendly setup, so I won’t be using Intel parts. He’ll be playing games at around 60 FPS and won’t care much about graphics settings. He’ll also be recording, editing, and uploading videos. Here’s what I currently have for him:
AMD FX-8350 (£140)
Corsair H80i GT with Noctua NF-F12 fan (£96)
MSI 970 Gaming Motherboard (£90)
Kingston HyperX Fury 2x4GB (£30)
EVGA GTX 960 SSC ACX 2.0 (£160)
Aerocool X-Worrior (£52)
Kingston HyperX Savage 240GB SSD (£58)
Western Digital 1TB HDD (£41)
EVGA SuperNova G2 750watt PSU (£90)
Total - £757 (rough estimate, only used Amazon.co.uk for prices)
He’s a big overclocking enthusiast and has already damaged three CPUs, one GPU, and one motherboard because of his overclocking attempts. My goal is to confirm that the MSI 970 Gaming will handle overclocking well. I’ve heard the MSI 970A Krait Edition isn’t great for this purpose, and I can’t afford the MSI 990FXA right now, though it would be worth considering if it were available. It’s an extra £27, which is tight given my current budget. This is for his birthday on April 28th.
If you have any suggestions to adjust while staying within budget, let me know. Also, please share the Power Fazes options for the MSI 970, 970A, and 990FXA. Just a quick question about them, since I recently replaced an old Gigabyte part and it didn’t work properly.
Thanks for your time!
I would choose the GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3P (rev. 1.0) instead of the MSI 970 Gaming. This board supports 8+2 power phase and includes an LLC feature, offering significant benefits for overclocking and handling vDrop during heavy use. For those not interested in crossfire or SLI compatibility, the GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3P (rev. 1.0) would be a superior option for pure overclocking. The only difference between this model and the 990 board is its lack of crossfire or SLI support.
It's acceptable, but I suggest a minimum of 12GB of RAM if he plans to stream while gaming simultaneously.
weberdarren97 :
It's fine, but I suggest having a minimum of 12GB RAM if he plans to stream while gaming simultaneously. That's something to consider. I might opt for 4x4GB sticks if needed. Appreciate the advice.
PlymouthJoseph:
Hey, I also want to find out how these two motherboards differ, especially since they share the same name but vary in price...
Check this link: MSI 20990 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YC...1_1&sr=8-1
And this one: MSI 20990 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004Z...1_2&sr=8-2
I believe the first option looks better and more reliable... But I'm still unsure.
The first model is designed for the AM3+ socket, while the second fits the older AM3 socket. Go with the first one, as it matches your CPU socket type.
I would choose the GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3P (rev. 1.0) instead of the MSI 970 Gaming. This board supports 8+2 power phase and includes an LLC feature, offering significant benefits for overclocking and handling vDrop during heavy use. For those not interested in crossfire or SLI compatibility, the GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3P (rev. 1.0) would be a superior option for pure overclocking. The only difference between this model and the 990 board is its lack of crossfire or SLI support.