Help! AMD/ATI Computer

[BicycleMafioso]

@ OP
Buy a Phenom II now if you have to get something today.
Otherwise, await Piledriver. It will be fixing the issues with low IPC on Bulldozer architecture.
Thus being better in games.

Yes, 2 x16 are a requirement; most graphics cards these days require x16, or atleast my 2 current ones do.

This is extremely incorrect.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/I...Scaling/6.html

In other words, PCI-E 2.0 4x/4x is enough, albeit extreme.

I reckon an MSI Lightning is probably worth the extra OC headroom, up to OP really.

This is sadly never the case, unless he wants to do nitro and use multimeters.

[Deleted]

Looking at the OP again, and the advice from butler log.

He stated he has a 3.2 ghz 6 core, which probably is the 1090T :P So he will notice no increase in CPU power, if he sticks to AMD

The only real upgrade you can do right now, is upgrade the GPU's. To either 2x 7950s or 2x 7970s if you want the most power. Or you can get 2x 670s.
And add a SSD, if you havent got one already.

But buying a new computer would be pointless, if you wanna stick with AMD that is.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Ah, missed that. I'm a bit out of my depth when it comes to AMD kit, I must admit I had to go look up benchmarks and reviews. I guess that is what happens when you haven't needed to even glance at an AMD CPU or motherboard for 2 years

[Mad_Murdock]

However I have had bad times with Intel and, AMD has served me well. I should clarify; The best you can get at the time of the post, that is still AMD/ATI. For the record, AMD is only behind by a small amount.

I always have to giggle when I read someone who says that. I run both AMD and Intel, ATI and nVidia because I have no loyalty to either. Whoever is the top dog when I'm buy said component(s) is who I go with. Amazingly enough, I've found that without said loyalty, I never have any problems with any of the products. Conversely, those who are loyal to one brand, always seems to have problems with the other brand. Those who love Dell always finds something wrong with HP, those who love HP always find something wrong with Dell. And those that build thier own, always has problems with any premade.

For the record, I cheer for AMD, because Intel needs to have real competition to keep them honest. I understand some people want to support the underdog and that Intel is the root of all evil

[Deleted]

Looking at the OP again, and the advice from butter log.

He stated he has a 3.2 ghz 6 core, which probably is the 1090T :P So he will notice no increase in CPU power, if he sticks to AMD

The only real upgrade you can do right now, is upgrade the GPU's. To either 2x 7950s or 2x 7970s if you want the most power. Or you can get 2x 670s.
And add a SSD, if you havent got one already.

But buying a new computer would be pointless, if you wanna stick with AMD that is.

it's what i was thinking when i read the OPs actual config. I find it pointless to change the comp when you have a "AMD 6 core Black Ed. at 3.2Ghz, Asus Crosshair IV Formula, 8GBs (which, i presume they run at 1600Mhz) and 2x6870".

What i reccoment too, is updating the comp. with newer graphic cards (i would go for the Sapphire 7970, if you can get 2, better) and an SSD of 128GBs with SATA3 for the OS and the 1-2 games and/or programs that you most play/use.

[Arcrin]

why AMD? srsly

bulldozer is their ultimate thing and they give up on it because intel pwns it

http://www.techpowerup.com/155920/AM...g-Up.html?cp=2

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

an SSD of 128GBs with SATA3 for the OS and the 1-2 games and/or programs that you most play/use.

Although in this case perhaps not the Intel 520 series, even though they are the most reliable SSD there is?

In all seriousness, Crucial M4, Samsung 830, Intel 510 or 520, Corsair ForceGT are all great SSDs.

[Gouca]

Indeed, AMD is behind.

Behind in what? Define your comment.

With the same price, AMD Phenom II X6 1060T kills an i3-2100 in any software that benefits from more than 2 cores.

[n0cturnal]

Behind in what? Define your comment.

With the same price, AMD Phenom II X6 1060T kills an i3-2100 in any software that benefits from more than 2 cores.

OP wanted maximum performance without a specified budget. Hence AMD gets left in the dust.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/I...Scaling/6.html

In other words, PCI-E 2.0 4x/4x is enough, albeit extreme.

While this may be the case when it comes to BF3 it certainly isn't so when it comes to other games. If you look through the other games in that article you can see "huge" difference in other games. Also looking at the conclusion gives a better overall picture. http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/I...caling/24.html

[Him]

If you really want AMD that much, Thermaltake makes some AMD themed cases.

Personally I like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133184 better, but you may also like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133200

[Gouca]

OP wanted maximum performance without a specified budget. Hence AMD gets left in the dust.

Your sentence is invalid, as I explained - any software that benefits from multiple cores works better in a Phenom II X6 than on an Intel i3-2100.

[n0cturnal]

Your sentence is invalid, as I explained - any software that benefits from multiple cores works better in a Phenom II X6 than on an Intel i3-2100.

You are comparing what is one of the best AMD CPUs to one of the worst Intel.

[Dedlyhunter]

Lots of good information here. Unfortunately, with this post, and some personal digging, it looks like my CPU will not be seeing an upgrade for a while, which is sad considering how long I have had it already. I feel it may be my RAM that is holding me back the most at this point, in terms of FPS in games that is. With my GPU I see little (1 FPS or less) upgrade when I turn Crossfire on with my 2nd card, so with that logic I assume its just a CPU/Memory/Motherboard/Harddrive issue.

Mad_Murdock- I have no issues with Intel, with the numbers they bring I would go with them if not for bad luck with every Intel machine I have ever had. Simply put, I'm not willing to fork over 1k for a processor that as far as I know will be poorly manufactured and stop working after any load is put on it. Theres no loyalty here. Simply fear.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

You can get a perfectly good LGA 1155 Pentium G860 that produces the same numbers in WoW as a PhenomII X6 for 85 dollars. Nobody actually buys the 990X / 3960X for 1000 dollars.

[n0cturnal]

Lots of good information here. Unfortunately, with this post, and some personal digging, it looks like my CPU will not be seeing an upgrade for a while, which is sad considering how long I have had it already. I feel it may be my RAM that is holding me back the most at this point, in terms of FPS in games that is. With my GPU I see little (1 FPS or less) upgrade when I turn Crossfire on with my 2nd card, so with that logic I assume its just a CPU/Memory/Motherboard/Harddrive issue.

Mad_Murdock- I have no issues with Intel, with the numbers they bring I would go with them if not for bad luck with every Intel machine I have ever had. Simply put, I'm not willing to fork over 1k for a processor that as far as I know will be poorly manufactured and stop working after any load is put on it. Theres no loyalty here. Simply fear.

Nothing you do to your RAM will have any real impact on gaming performance. You already have 8GB of what I guess is atleast 1333MHz DDR3, even going to something as silly as 2133MHz will likely not give you more than 1-3fps.

Also your conclusion about not needing a graphic card upgrade is flawed, first of all the game or whatever you tested with might not support crossfire, secondly that game could just as well be limited by your CPU.

[Kev2Tall]

Simply put, I'm not willing to fork over 1k for a processor that as far as I know will be poorly manufactured and stop working after any load is put on it. Theres no loyalty here. Simply fear.

I understand not wanting to fork out $1k for a CPU, but I shall offer this, nearly Identical overal performance, (some tests better some less) as that overpriced chip.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/444?vs=551

Also, here is the 7979 vs the GTX 680. They go back and forth on games and on some rendering benches.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/508?vs=555

And in Crossfire/SLI the results look the pretty much the same but with overall slightly higher numbers
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/588?vs=585

This list is purely for the number crunching.

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116501 $349.99
MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131822 $339.99
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231314 $46.99
AMD GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127670 $529.99
NVIDIA GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127693 $599.99
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147161 $69.99 (All filters are easily removable, a huge plus)
CPU Cooling: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181016 $91.99 (Water cooler)
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151111 $199.99 (High consistency in output is good when your dropping big bucks)
SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148443 $209.99 (Put some pep in the step of your primary functions)

Build without GPUs: $1308.93

Nvidia build totals: Single GPU $1908.92
Dual GPU $2508.91


AMD build totals: Single GPU $1838.92
Dual GPU $2368.91

[n0cturnal]

*Snip*

Why would you ever suggest an I7 3770K and on top of that a $300+ workstation motherboard for a gaming rig?

[Fading Dimension]

Put together a quick Newegg wish list. Tried to also maintain color theme. Could swap out the SSD for the Corsair Force Series GT which is red.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=27633688

Could upgrade the cpu cooling to a Rasa Kit by XSPC if you want better OC potential.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11..._Kit_-HOT.html

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Put together a quick Newegg wish list. Tried to also maintain color theme. Could swap out the SSD for the Corsair Force Series GT which is red.

What the heck is a 1050W PSU doing in there? Are there going to be three 7970s in it?

[n0cturnal]

What the heck is a 1050W PSU doing in there? Are there going to be three 7970s in it?

He did add a FX-8150 and water cooling... that thing alone will pull like 1000W overclocked :P