Considering Specs for next PC

[artik]

I'm looking for a new PC after the old one died - it isn't for gaming in general but rather for computing, running VM, builds, CUDA and some gaming, probably DCS as well not AH3 only. It would run mostly Linux and once in a while Windows.

I prefer more CPU cores even if they weaker ones for testing scale-ability of various systems over CPU cores.

Currently I'm looking at 3 options

All share following HW:

GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX960 OC 4GB-5MSI
Memory: Kingston XMP Savage DDR3 1600MHz 8GBx2
PS: Corsair 80+ VS450 450W
SSD: Sandisk SSD PLUS 2.5'' SATA 120GB 

Also I'm moving 3 older disks to new machine (2 of 1TB as RAID 1 and 1 of 250GB as /home) and SSD would use the OS

The difference between options is price and CPUs (note price is in Israel, so taxes affect absolute price)

CPU: AMD FX 8350 4GHz
MB: GA-990FX-Gaming http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5655#sp
Price:  ~ 1,150 USD = ~ 4,350 ILS

CPU: Intel i7 6700 3.4GHz 8MB
MB Asus B150M-k https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/B150M-K/specifications/
Price: ~ 1,110 USD = ~ 4,200 ILS

CPU: Intel i5 6500 3.2GHz 6MB
MB Asus B150M-k https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/B150M-K/specifications/ (same as for I7)
Price: ~ 960 USD = ~3,620 ILS



What do you think regarding AMD vs I7  (I know AH does not use as many cores but it isn't for AH only)

AMD has 8 cores while i7 only 4 and 8 threads.

P.S.: Also I'm considering further downgrade the GPU to save the cost. What would be OK?

[Drane]

Artik I prefer intel.

Also it looks like you'll need DDR4 memory for the intel motherboard.

[artik]

It is little bit wrong spec, it is version that works with DDR3

[Bizman]

That PSU seems to be a little on the weak side. The GTX 960 says it needs 400 W and adding all of your hard disks you might soon find yourself underpowered.

I put your hardware specs into eXtreme Power supply calculator, for AMD; http://outervision.com/b/yABqED and for Intel: http://outervision.com/b/PGZKdu. There's little to no headroom, AMD being the more power thirsty choice. 550 W should tolerate a little aging, going past 600 W might start causing issues with overflowing excess power.

As for video cards, the price gap between 950 and 960 isn't as big as the difference in their performance. If you need to cut your budget, opt the SSD out and install your Windows on a partition of your RAID.

[MADe]

I take it cost is an issue?

If I were to build a box right now, I would try to take advantage of the new tech that has been recently released.

ie: that's a fairly mid range vid card at this point, a great upgrade for an older build, but mid range for a current build. In future you might get a new 4K monitor and ...............
you want 4GHz cpu clocks, vid card with lots o ram, lots o system ram, imho. my general rule has been, build a solid game machine, the other things will be covered.
manufacturers I like, Intel, Nvidia, Gigabyte, OCZ, Kingston, Coolermaster.
favorite retailer, New Egg

Also most software still does not make use of multiple cores well, software is way behind the curve at this point.
 

[artik]

The GTX 960 says it needs 400 W

From what I see it is 120W it is much fewer than GTX 970

I take it cost is an issue?

It is always, otherwise I'd buy some 10 cores Xeon (BTW amazing CPUs)

that's a fairly mid range vid card at this point,

See gaming is secondary this build I use the PC for some heavy development, VMs and I want to have an ability to run CUDA as well so I less concerned regarding GPU but rather CPU, also it would run Linux 99% of the time.

Also most software still does not make use of multiple cores well

My Does 

[Bizman]

From what I see it is 120W it is much fewer than GTX 970

I took the information from https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GTX-960-GAMING-4G.html#hero-specification where it says 120 W for power consumption and 400 W for recommended PSU. Same information can be found at http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-960/specifications. The same values for a GTX 970 are 145 and 500 W.

[Drane]

It is little bit wrong spec, it is version that works with DDR3

Sounds like you're describing this motherboard. 

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/B150M-K-D3/specifications/

[artik]

I decided to go with i5 option and invested some more into MB (to support up to 32GB), higher i5, better PW and bigger SSD:

CPU: i5 - 6600 3.3GHz (instead of 6500)
MB: Asus B-150M (with support of 32GB)
RAM: 16GB DDR3 1600
GPU: GTX 960 4GB
PS: Corsair 650W (instead of 450W)
SSD: Sandisk 240GB (instead of 120GB)


Runs AH3 at Full HD 1920x1080 at all max (with exception of trees and 1st level of environmental mapping) at 60FPS even over towns and only sometimes dropping below it to 40-50FPS - BTW AH3 Beta is amazing.
Runs DCS 1.5 with all at MAX with even better framerate.

[Bizman]

Nice solid build