-"iBUYPOWER AM-FX08K Gaming Desktop" -
This is a mid-range gaming desktop from IBUYPOWER that offers excellent performance for under a grand. It features a Six-Core AMD processor and a 4GB AMD GPU, along with 8GB of RAM and a 1 TB hardrive. In terms of power, this build should run current games in 1080p at high-ultra settings with playable framerates, although they wont be in the 60's. Read on for a more in-depth look at the AM FX08K.
I. SPECS
- AMD FX-6300 Six Core 3.5GHz Processor (4.1GHz with Turbo)
- AMD Radeon R9-380 4GB Dedicated Gaming Video Card
- 8GB DDR3 Memory
- 1TB 7200RPM Hard Drive
- 802.11ac Wireless Adapter
- Windows 10 Home OS
- iBUYPOWER Gaming Keyboard and Mouse
The most important component to any build is of course the GPU, but that doesn't mean that the other components are worthless. They all play their roles to keep the GPU fed with data.
1.) AMD FX 6300 Six-core Processor
-Although the FX 6300 was released a few years ago, it is still an enticing mid-range CPU that is able to power most mid-range graphics cards without causing a CPU bottleneck. Part of the Vishera family line of FX CPUs, it features 6 cores running at a clockspeed of 3.5 Ghz {4.1 Ghz max turbo} along with 6MB of cache memory, and uses 95 watts of power. Web browsing and other casual activities will be very responsive with any six-core or higher CPU, and this one is no exception. The FX 6300 is pretty much the best you can do in this price-range, and its quite adequate too for gaming.
2.) AMD RADEON R9 380 4GB VIDEO CARD
-The AM-FX08K features an AMD mid-range GPU, the R9 380. This GPU is part of the Tonga family line of AMD GPUs and features 1792 cores. It also features memory bandwidth speeds of 182.2 GB/s, can output around 3.48 TFLOPS, comes with 4GBs of DDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, and is clocked at 1000 Mhz. While that may not sound like a powerhouse, this cards performance in games is acceptable given it's a mid-range orientated GPU. What is really enticing about the AM-FX08K, is that other similarly priced pre-builds tend to come with less powerful GPUs.
3.) 8GB DDR3 Memory
-This should be the basic amount of system memory you should accept when choosing a PC to game with. Most newer titles have 8GB as the recommended required amount, so if you want to game without causing a lot of stuttering during gameplay and long pauses during load times, make sure the system you select comes with atleast this amount. As you can see, the AM-FX08K has got you covered in this aspect.
4.) 1TB 7200 RPM Hardrive
-Even though this system doesn't come with an SSD, for the asking price, it does feature a nicely sized HDD to make up for it. With PC games becoming so large in size {30-60 gigs apiece}, your going to need this amount of space to house them plus your videos, photos, apps and data. Its just big enough to give you a little head room when deciding just what you want to keep on your HDD.
5.) Windows 10 64-bit
-With the AM-FX08K, your getting a copy of Windows 10 with the system. Without a Windows operating system, you could not play 75-80% of the games that are available, not to mention being locked out from using the plethora of apps that is available for the platform. Its pretty much a must have if you plan to game on your PC.
6.) Other Components
-The AM-FX08 also comes with a 24x Sata DVD-RW and a built-in wireless network card for fast multimedia streaming. The gaming quality keyboard and mouse also help bring the aesthetics of the case around, all the while featuring a 1-year labor and parts warranty. This is a complete system that is ready to game the moment you get it set-up.
II. PERFORMANCE
-This will give you an idea about how much performance you can expect to get out of this system from 4 recently released games. These benchmarks will show you just how many frames this system can pump out and at what type of settings you could play on decently enough. Remember that 30 fps and up provides a smooth experience, with higher frames giving smoother gameplay. Every game differs in requirements with the most demanding games requiring more powerful hardware to run at full settings.
This system shows some promise here, being able to play some of the currently most demanding games at playable frame-rates. Mind you, that these games are all on ultra settings at 1080p and above.
III. CONCLUSION
Pros: Well rounded mid-range system that would serve greatly to those who are new to PC gaming or who do not mind gaming in 1080p.
Cons: The performance of this system, while good, is still lacking the power to run current games fluently at maximum settings (AA), especially if you desire 60 fps in 1080p or higher resolutions.
A good choice if you want a good mid-range system that will give you decent performance in 1080p at ultra settings.
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