Proposed PC Build For Ffxiv Arr

Seeing as I am not that pc knowledgeable and on a budget atm (just forked out $800 on van repair and still have a car to take care of), I definately need advice gpu wise.

What I am looking at for motherboard and cpu:

cpu: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1963183&Sku=A79-4170

mobo: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1963432&Sku=G452-2612

with 8gb ram: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6688614&Sku=C13-1008

OS will be Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Wondering if that is even a good mobo for that cpu, not goingto get into ocing never done that before nor more than one gpu. Current pc is just pci-e 1 and can't even find the upgrade quad core anyways.

Any insights are much appreciated!

Don't get an tx series if you don't plan on OC'ing. It is what they were designed for.

It's still a powerful CPU and would last him for long time if all he going to do is FFXIV ARR. He can always learn how to overclock later on.


For GPU i would get a 660GTX not the TI version if you have 200$ish to waste. If not a 650GTX or a 150+ish price range ATI card would do just fine. FFXIV ARR is build for low end pc even a 150$ video card would play ffxiv ARR about max setting. The only issue you have is loading more players then it's normal setting. Yoshi-p also said he be release DX11 so a 660GTX or better would do just fine. You can always upgrade later if you want to play higher setting :).

I myself would be getting Asus 660GTX in about 2-3 month. My 450GTS play FFXIV 1.0 at high setting with DOF with good FPS without issue and does great on ARR. But i want something that can run more players and run DX11 without a FPS drop.

If you need anymore help let me know. You can always wait for a price drop on cards later on. FFXIV ARR wont be release for 4+ months so you have time to save up for a nice card and price drops would help also :)

Thanks for the replies. I assume tx is in reference to the mobo? If I got a $150ish card I'd maybe have (lag) less ppl loading up on my screen is what youre saying, kind of like Whitegate during besieged in ffxi. I was thinking a mid-range card as I don't really need to play at max settings. I will check out what you have recommended currently, and you bet I'll be watching for price drops too :)

I meant fx* sorry, referring to the processor. And if you do go with AMD, get the newer versions, the x300 series, not the x100. The Piledriver model was actually a pretty decent improvement over Bulldozer. The power consumption lowered a little, making them heat up a bit less, while still improving performance.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4904562&CatId=7339

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3947171&CatId=7247

Little bit more then what you listed (like ~40 more), but a big enough improvement to make it worthwhile. This way you have a 990 chipset and if you don't get into overclocking or you do, you have the best bang for your buck on both ends.

Will seeing how raids are 25 man i don't think you have to worry about loading a lot of players. I don't think SE is every going to release something that close to besieged thanks to the ps3 limits. I guess they could and make it where the ps3 load what is needed and not load other npc/players/mobs.

But ya a 150 card would do just fine my 450GTS play FFXIV at max setting at 1440x900 without issue even with DOF on. But i'll be getting myself that Asus overclock 660GTX so i have enough power to support DX11 and play without a big fps drop.

But ya no need to buy a video card right now save money and buy it few weeks before FFXIV ARR release. Or if you have a 1.0 account i guess your release would be BETA4. Seeing how beta4 is early access to all 1.0 char.

why not the Ti?

TI is like 100$ and you gain like maybe 10FPS so like 20% boost from the 660. But i'm getting the Asus overclock version which is test to work at that speed and it have it's own cooling. To make sure it stay cool even when overclocking.

If i was going to waste 100$ on the 660ti i would save up for a 670 lol for 50-80$ more.

Also i'm only going to play FFXIV if that what he going to do also. The TI seem like a waste and he wont be overclocking it so other reason not to get a TI version. The 660 play FFXIV at max setting without issue so that good enough for me :)

But if he want to play other games then he should maybe save up for a 680GTX. But just for FFXIV then 660 would do just fine without issue for a long time.

@Weakness

The mobo you listed is actually my second choice I had picked. I had read somewhere about bulldozer having problems and the newer one being piledriver. Other pcu I had looked at was a 8 core 4ghz amd, but that is more $ and besides far as I know no real use for 8 cores yet. I have built a pc before, but apparently didn't do my homework more like I should have on that one, ie: never thought psu wattage affected pc nor considered gpus may need to be connected to one. I so far have chosen a 650W psu leaning towards modular (like the idea of no extra lines hanging off it).

Not being that tech savvy or in the know makes it hard to figure out what will work and wont for players like me specially gpus. Its players like you guys that are an asset to the community when it comes to helping players like me figure out things.

Thanks again for the knowledge and insights.

Before you buy check out these articles on Tom's Hardware:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106.html

@ Chanti

Thanks for the links to those articles they will be a big help!

k

When it comes to brand reputation-wise who is good versus crappy? ie: powercolor/msi/xfx etc. Read the articles (how much I actually retained is another thing lol) and they have me considering the 7850 tho I'm leaning more to the 7870.

MSI and Asus are known to have good overclock ability and good cooling solutions. While Sapphire is the biggest producers of ATI cards so they have a few great cards.

XFX have dual lifetime warranty in North America if registered within 30days

Asus, XFX, MSI. would be the top of my list.

If you want something to last you long and maybe overclock later It would be MSI or Asus. If you want warranty then i would say XFX.


Looking at the Asus/MSI version and the look and way they build it. Is the same as the nvidia cards so you be getting very good cooling and good overclock if you get into that later on.

Go look up few review and pick the best for you.

@ Zenaku

Back when I built a pc for the first time it was either ati radeon or ? nvidia gpus in stores. Now theres so many different brands @.@ .

As for cases I am looking for one that vents out the top as I am liking the idea of the psu having its own "cool air" intake as in the bottom mounted ones. Are there any other good sites besides newegg, tigerdirect/ or Xoxide?

Also is a 650w psu enough or not?

Thanks in advance.

650w is good enough but it's up too the specs of the PSU. If it's a good 650w it would power any video card without issue.

I only buy stuff from Newegg due to it's customer service. I am going to buy my video card from amazon only because i have amazon gift card for it. If you every buy something from amazon it's best to look who selling the item i always go with amazon themself not other company.

Asus/MSI have great cooling like i said in my other post. The video card i'm getting which is OC by Asus. Stay at a nice 55Cwhile gaming but that up to the computer case also.

Once i have the cash for it would be getting the NZXT Phantom the 119$ one. it's not a very top of the line case. But it does have fan controls,cable management and dust filter. But it's a sexy looking computer case :)

Let me know if you need anymore help

I was looking at the nzxt phantom 410 white as I have theme ideas. Might go with the one youre looking at. I think I'll probably pick up a case first and watch prices on the rest. I have seen the nzxt phantom 810? That thing is huge.. too big for what I'm planning lol.

the one i'm getting is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146074

the only bad part is if you add a better cooling for the cpu there really not enough room to add that 200m side fan but i guess that what water cooling is for lol.

Just an update, I got the NZXT regular white case same model basically as the one you want Zen. I did get the asus evo mobo and actually got the fx 6350 amd cpu. Looking back at my first builds mobo, this one's sexy, I am impressed. I'm also impressed by the heatsink that came with the cpu. It looks like one of those aftermarket ones with the copper heat pipes. PC is slowly getting built. This pc I picked up a used quad core upgrade cpu , so instead of 1.8 ghz it's now 2.3ghz and installed a Sapphire gpu. Got invited to beta test so I'll see how bad this pc will do lol.

Very nice take some pic when you done building it :) and have fun in beta.