i5-8400 + gtx1660 gaming build for your comment

[yin_allier]

Please comment on my proposed combination, thanks so much.

CPU: Intel i5-8400
Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX B365G-GAMING B365
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666
Graphics Card: ASUS PH-GTX1660-O6G PHOENIX GTX1660 6GB GDDR5
PSU: Antec NE550C-BR (AN-PS-NEO-ECO-TUF-550) NeoEco2 550W

I want to keep built-in graphics so I didnt choose i5-9400f
I will use my existing ssd and hard disks

Some questions:
1. Should i change to ASUS PRIME B365M-A for saving some money? its cheaper $26
2. Is the graphics card comparatively too strong and create bottleneck?
3. Should I change graphics card to TUF version of same series?
4. I will use mATX, are the sizes all OK?

thanks

 

[dgianstefani]

Swap to the 9400, it has hardware level fixes for some of the security patches, plus a soldered IHS.
I would also get 3200mhz memory.

 

[phanbuey]

1. Should i change to ASUS PRIME B365M-A for saving some money? its cheaper $26
- yes
2. Is the graphics card comparatively too strong and create bottleneck?
- no
3. Should I change graphics card to TUF version of same series?
- you should get something with dual fan. Will be much quieter.
4. I will use mATX, are the sizes all OK?
- need to know what case you will use - motherboard will accommodate whatever

That being said, I wouldn't do an intel build right now and just get a 3600 in 3 weeks with a cheap b450 mobo.

Even if you do decide to go intel, your prices are going to be lower in the next few weeks.

 

[dirtyferret]

Please comment on my proposed combination, thanks so much.

CPU: Intel i5-8400
Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX B365G-GAMING B365
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666
Graphics Card: ASUS PH-GTX1660-O6G PHOENIX GTX1660 6GB GDDR5
PSU: Antec NE550C-BR (AN-PS-NEO-ECO-TUF-550) NeoEco2 550W

I want to keep built-in graphics so I didnt choose i5-9400f
I will use my existing ssd and hard disks

Some questions:
1. Should i change to ASUS PRIME B365M-A for saving some money? its cheaper $26
2. Is the graphics card comparatively too strong and create bottleneck?
3. Should I change graphics card to TUF version of same series?
4. I will use mATX, are the sizes all OK?

thanks

It's a good combination for 1080p gaming, it will handle every game out there with ease.

1 - depends on what features you want/need.
2 - no, the 8400 is a rather powerful CPU for gaming
3 - for what purpose?
4 - they are all OK

on the side note that PSU has been out for a while? Is this a carry over or a new PSU?

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

Swap to the 9400, it has hardware level fixes for some of the security patches, plus a soldered IHS.
I would also get 3200mhz memory.

Incorrect. Only the K SKUs are soldered. For a non-OC chip, it makes no difference anyway.

3200 MHz is typically a sweet spot, but not of huge benefit to the OP.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Incorrect. Only the K SKUs are soldered. For a non-OC chip, it makes no difference anyway.

3200 MHz is typically a sweet spot, but not of huge benefit to the OP.

I have a 8600k and 8600ks and 8700ks definitely aint soldered lol

On a side note - I am very weary of that power supply because it is made by Delta Electronics - Antec just slapped their brand logo on it. Delta Electronics used to be pretty big a decade ago and they made a lot of power supplies for industrial uses though im not sure if their regular commercial PSUs are any good - Nobody really gets them to build stuff. Not even Corsair

 

[Countryside]

Strix is an overpriced b365 i would recommend ASRock B365M Phantom.

For the PSU stick to brands like Seasonic, Be quiet! or EVGA.

Swap to the 9400,

Most b365 boards need a bios update for the 9gen.

 

[Rahnak]

I have a 8600k and 8600ks and 8700ks definitely aint soldered lol

Just 9th gen i5 and up K cpus.

 

[Vario]

Edit: looks like i5 9400F is $150 on Amazon, not a bad price if your board supports 9th gen without bios update.
It might according to https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/ROG-STRIX-B365-G-GAMING/specifications/

Edit2: used i5 8400s seem to routinely go for $140 shipped on eBay, there isn't that much that can go wrong with these, they don't overclock so the risk of past owner abuse is pretty low.

 

[Vayra86]

Why not Ryzen 5? There is absolutely NO reason to buy an Intel i5 non-K. You get half the threads, hardware with security problems and you lack the only thing that makes it all worthwhile: 4.6 Ghz or better clocks...

Change this build, srsly

 

[dirtyferret]

For the PSU stick to brands like Seasonic, Be quiet! or EVGA.

You did not seriously just state swap out a Delta built PSU for brands that use FSP and HEC....

 

[Vario]

Why not Ryzen 5? There is absolutely NO reason to buy an Intel i5 non-K. You get half the threads, hardware with security problems and you lack the only thing that makes it all worthwhile: 4.6 Ghz or better clocks...

Change this build, srsly

I agree, the Ryzen 5 2600 is the same price as the Intel i5, ~$150s. Buying Ryzen 5 2nd gen would be foolish with 3rd gen around the corner. He should wait until Ryzen 2 5 3600 series.
The recent Windows scheduler 1903 update may have brought the Ryzen 5 2600 (with an OC) to parity (or close enough) with i5 8400 on single thread. 2600 will beat it on multithreaded performance for sure. But with 3rd gen Ryzen (2) about to drop, it would be prudent to wait for it.

 

[Countryside]

You did not seriously just state swap out a Delta built PSU for brands that use FSP and HEC....

I will take a Seasonic or FSP over delta anytime.

 

[Vayra86]

I will take a Seasonic or FSP over delta anytime.

Delta soldering jobs are remarkably good, and that is across everything they do. I have little reason to avoid them tbf

 

[dirtyferret]

I will take a Seasonic or FSP over delta anytime.

Because you are ignorant of companies like Delta and flextronics that focus on sever quality PSU and the build quality that entails.

" All three main rails under the 10mV mark? That's not Seasonic performance, that's Delta performance. It does not get any better than this, from what I have ever seen."

via Oklahoma Wold Reviews for JonnyGuru and his thoughts about Delta


" All three main rails under the 10mV mark? That's not Seasonic performance, that's Delta performance. It does not get any better than this, from what I have ever seen."

"We have less than 10mV on all rails, and this may have just set a new benchmark for ripple control. I mean, this is even lower ripple than I got with the Antec CP-850, and that unit blew my mind. It’s not often you see a unit beating Delta at their own game, but here we are. "

 

[Countryside]

Because you are ignorant of companies like Delta and flextronics that focus on sever quality PSU and the build quality that entails.

" All three main rails under the 10mV mark? That's not Seasonic performance, that's Delta performance. It does not get any better than this, from what I have ever seen."

via Oklahoma Wold Reviews for JonnyGuru and his thoughts about Delta


" All three main rails under the 10mV mark? That's not Seasonic performance, that's Delta performance. It does not get any better than this, from what I have ever seen."

"We have less than 10mV on all rails, and this may have just set a new benchmark for ripple control. I mean, this is even lower ripple than I got with the Antec CP-850, and that unit blew my mind. It’s not often you see a unit beating Delta at their own game, but here we are. "

We are talking about a 50$ psu here let's not take this any further.

 

[dirtyferret]

We are talking about a 50$ psu here let's not take this any further.

...yet that is exactly what you did

 

[95Viper]

Stop Quibbling, please.
Keep it on topic.
Stay civil.

Thank You.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

I would also tend to lean towards the AMD option, purely because you get two extra cores (and four threads!) more for the same sort of dough.

If I had to choose between the 8400 and 9400... whichever is cheaper. They're the same CPU give or take 100 MHz - which you won't notice - so save your money if you can.

 

[Solid State Soul ( SSS )]

Do NOT buy ryzen if you only play games. Games run better on Intel processors due to their powerful IPC and single core performance without the need of stupidly fast memory or overclocking. With ryzen you need to over clock and buy fast memory in addition to some bios tweaks to match Intel cpus performance in games. Intel is a simple plug and play solution for a convenient gaming experience, hassle free.

Also regardin your question about 9400 compatibility with the b365 strix .... The strix launched in April and shipped with the latest bios that supports all available 9th gen cpus including the new R0 stepping ones.

One last thing, don't listen to people telling to buy 3200mhz+ memory. The memory controller on the 9400 and the b365 chipset is capped at 2666 mhz. Anything higher than that is simply a waste of money

 

[dgianstefani]

It's not capped at 2666, don't listen to this moron.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

Capped at 2666, eh? New one on me...

Also, don't buy into the fanboi that he clearly is. Ryzen is very capable of gaming... I know I'd rather have a 4.2 GHz (boost) hex core over a gimped 4.0 - 4.1 GHz quad core without HT.

On another point, since when is 3200 MHz considered 'stupidly fast'? Since when is Intel hassle free vs Ryzen?

 

[dirtyferret]

In all honesty I would just get the cheapest platform between the two. You can cherry pick results all you want for AMD 2600 or Intel 8400 but as gaming CPUs they are far more similar they fan boys want to admit especially when you are pairing them with the GTX 1660. The OP won't be making a mistake with either one.

The other option is obviously wait for Ryzen 3 and hope the IPC gains are real rather then hyperbole marketing. You then need to find a B450 mobo and flash its BIOS (no clue how PC savvy the OP is).

I don't see any of the options as being a bad choice just more of a personal choice.

 

[Vario]

Capped at 2666, eh? New one on me...

Also, don't buy into the fanboi that he clearly is. Ryzen is very capable of gaming... I know I'd rather have a 4.2 GHz (boost) hex core over a gimped 4.0 - 4.1 GHz quad core without HT.

On another point, since when is 3200 MHz considered 'stupidly fast'? Since when is Intel hassle free vs Ryzen?

i5 8400/9400 is a hex core.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

D'oh! Forgot about that.