Hello, this guide with all the components are great for the $1,000 build, I just had a few questions:
1)I wanted to add the XFX Double Dissipation R9 390 8GB video card instead. I thought it would allow better graphics for the long term. Would it be compatible everything else staying the same? I'd get the Corsair Graphite 230T case.
2) With the larger card would I need to get an after market cooler for the cpu? If so any recommendations. I don't really plan on overclocking.
3) Should I get my own Arctic Silver 5 Silver Thermal Compound, several people recommend over the preapplied.
4) With the larger card I was going to get a bigger power supply EVGA SuperNOVA 750 B1 80+ BRONZE, 750W for power flexibility. Any issues with that?
Thanks again for your guide. It's been a long time since I helped build my last computer and this time I'll have to do it solo.
Hello, Gremlin, and welcome to the TBG Forum!
I'll take your questions one at a time:
(1) The
XFX Radeon R9 390 8GB is a great card, and it will work without any issue with this system. It will fit in the
Corsair Graphite 230T case, and the Double Dissipation cooler is very effective. Over the long term, it will likely be a bit more future-proof than the
Zotac GTX 970 due to the higher amount of VRAM, but it's more expensive and uses far more power, which is why it isn't the standard recommended card for the $1,000 Build.
(2) Great question about the CPU cooler. The good news is that you won't need to upgrade from the standard Intel cooler.The recommended
Core i5-6500 CPU is incredibly efficent and runs very cool, but note that it's not overclockable. If it were, a better cooler would not only be recommended, it would be required, as the
Core i5-6600K overclockable processor does not come with a heatsink.
(3) The truth about Arctic Silver 5 is that's it's not a particularly good product. I used it for years, because at one time it was the only thermal paste on the market. There are much better products available today, such as
Arctic MX-4 and
Noctua NT-H1. That being said, you don't need any of these products for a processor as efficient as the Core i5-6500. They are only important for processors that will be overclocked to extreme levels.
(4) I do recommend a slightly upgraded power supply to use the XFX Radeon R9 390. The
Evga Supernova 750 B1, is a good choice and a very good value.