The AMD Build of the Month!

Hello everyone. Today is going to be the day of AMD. I built a pretty good Intel based computer for around $450, so today I am going to be building an AMD based computer for around the same budget.

There are some differences between AMD processors and Intel processors. A main difference is performance/price ratio. Intel’s tend to be 10-15% more powerful, but they also tend to be quite a bit more expensive. Personally, I’m a fan of AMD processors, mainly because I’m a budget builder (and you’re probably interested in budget building too, hence why you’re here!). However, I do see why people would see the benefit of an Intel CPU. Intel is usually more future proof, since most of their CPUs use similar architectures and are compatible with the same sockets. You can upgrade to a Core i7 even if you were using a Core i3. But AMD has pushed the boundaries of onboard graphics processing, with AMD APUs sometimes beating the tar out of onboard Intel processors.

But, enough talk. Let’s dive right into the AMD budget build for $450.

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M - $70

The ASRock A88M is a very good motherboard for its modest price. It comes with the standard ASRock functionality and performance in a nice little mATX package. As an APU motherboard, it features the ability to use CrossfireX, which allows the APU’s graphics to work with a dedicated graphics card to give a boost in performance. It is the perfect motherboard for our budget, coming in at cheaper than the Intel motherboard. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157465

CPU: AMD Athlon A10-6800k - $140

I know what you’re saying; “That’s so much more than the Intel CPU in the other build!” I know. And there’s a reason for that. The A10-6800k is a quad core processor at 4.1GHz, with the ability to go to 4.4GHz under a load, such as when you’re playing the games that we’re using this rig for. Also, this is an APU, so it has both the CPU and the GPU on one chip. This saves us from having to add a dedicated graphics card right now, so you can still play games in the future. In fact, I’m running on an older, weaker version of the similar chip (A10-5700), and I can play Crysis 2 at 720p and it looks great. Futhermore, this CPU is able to overclock, so that 4.1GHz can become 4.5GHz if you have good cooling and power. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113331

RAM: G-Skill Ripjaws X 4GB 1866 MHz - $41

Even the name sounds awesome, and the appearance looks pretty cool too. The G-Skill Ripjaws X series is definitely some good RAM for the price. At just $40 bucks, you get RAM powerful enough to push the APU’s graphics forward to some excellent gaming experiences. With APUs, the graphics processor uses the memory from the system to power it. Remember how I said I can run Crysis 2 at 720p? Well, my RAM is only 400MHz RAM, so imagine how nice it will be with 1866 MHz. This RAM gives you serious bang for your buck, and I highly recommend it. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231720

Case: Xigmatek ASGARD 381 - $40 on special, $50 regular

Again, cases are always personal preference, but I think the Xigmatek ASGARD has all the essentials; USB3.0 in the front, audio inputs in the front, large mesh in the front for fans. This will keep your system cool if used well, and putting a fan in the front will definitely help keep your components cool, even if you install a graphics card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815018

Hard Drive: Toshiba 500GB SATA3 - $55

Once again, we’re going to use the Toshiba drive from the Intel build. This is a very good budget drive, and has enough space for games, music, and all the nasty stuff you people enjoy. It’s good for what we need it for, but if you’re willing to spend a bit more for more space, by all means. You certainly are saving money with this build anyway. There are similar drives out there, so if you aren’t comfortable with Toshiba, I recommend a Western Digital or Seagate HDD. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822149380

PSU: Corsair CX430W 80+ Bronze – $50 regular price

Another component we can use in this build is the Corsair CX430. It’s one of the best power supplies available, and since this build will only use about 200W under a heavy load, adding a graphics card won’t be a problem for this PSU in the future. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

And there you have it, an AMD uber budget build for only $400! That’s the price of a PS4, and you’ll be using this for a lot more. And if we wanted, we could even add more RAM or hard drive space, and it would still be between a PS4 and an Xbox One. Budget gaming is a wonderful thing, and you can definitely do it with these specs.

I hope you enjoyed reading this build. Stay tuned in the next few weeks while I tackle a few other markets around the world. Next stop: Kangarooland (Australia).

Have fun.

-BennyK