500 - Gaming PC Build

[JSTNFORD05]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum! I am also new to building PC's. I am having some trouble putting together a 500.00$ build. I know how to physically put the components into the case and install an OS, but i am lacking in hardware knowledge. I am looking to play a few games (COD, Battlefield, ETC) as well as do some video editing with this PC. I would greatly appreciate some help on this.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Ken g6]

Please answer [thread=80121]these questions[/thread].

And have you looked at [thread=2389797]this thread[/thread]?

 

[JSTNFORD05]

Thanks for the reply.

I will be buying the majority or all of the parts from Micro center and or New egg (United States)

I Prefer the build to be an AMD build.

I have hard drives and an OS - these are the only things that I'm using from my old system

I do not plan to over clock the system.

As far as resolution goes i'd prefer to play the games mentioned in the first post on "high" resolution.

I plan to build this system in the next couple weeks

No software needed.

Thanks again.

 

[JSTNFORD05]

Yes, I did read the thread mentioned above.

 

[Ken g6]

I Prefer the build to be an AMD build.

Hm, I can see an argument to be made for AMD for video editing, but in general I'd recommend an Intel i5 instead.

I do not plan to over clock the system.

That doesn't help your case for an AMD processor.

But if you insist, here's a ~$500 build with an AMD FX:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($52.25 @ Newegg)
Memory: *Team Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 60GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($43.92 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: *PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($121.98 @ Newegg)
Case: *NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.98 @ OutletPC)
Power Supply: *Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $498.10
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-15 16:04 EST-0500

And here's the same build but with an i5 instead. :sneaky:

You mentioned having hard drives, but you didn't mention an SSD. So I added a small one for you.

 

[JSTNFORD05]

I only do a tiny bit of video editing. I do it as a hobby. I'd be using the system mainly for gaming. With this information do you think that the intel would be a better option??

 

[JSTNFORD05]

For what reason do you prefer the intel build? Just asking.

Again, Thanks for the info

 

[lehtv]

For what reason do you prefer the intel build? Just asking.

Again, Thanks for the info

Intel has far better performance per core and performance per watt. If you can properly utilize all the cores of an AMD 6-core or 8-core processor, it will outperform an equivalent price Intel CPU, but almost all tasks only use up to 4 cores, and performance in general use (OS tasks, web browsing) still depends on 1-2 cores. This makes Intel i3 preferable to FX-8320 for most users, even though FX-8320 is far faster when all 8 cores are utilized. Thus, the only real argument in favor of AMD FX is when (a) the user intends to overclock the processor heavily, bridging most of the gap in performance per core, or (b) when the user specializes in applications that benefit greatly from 6-8 CPU threads. Both of these cases require that the user doesn't particularly care about power consumption.

 

[JSTNFORD05]

Intel has far better performance per core and performance per watt. If you can properly utilize all the cores of an AMD 6-core or 8-core processor, it will outperform an equivalent price Intel CPU, but almost all tasks only use up to 4 cores, and performance in general use (OS tasks, web browsing) still depends on 1-2 cores. This makes Intel i3 preferable to FX-8320 for most users, even though FX-8320 is far faster when all 8 cores are utilized. Thus, the only real argument in favor of AMD FX is when (a) the user intends to overclock the processor heavily, bridging most of the gap in performance per core, or (b) when the user specializes in applications that benefit greatly from 6-8 CPU threads. Both of these cases require that the user doesn't particularly care about power consumption.

Thanks again. i really appreciate the info

 

[mfenn]

Hm, I can see an argument to be made for AMD for video editing, but in general I'd recommend an Intel i5 instead.

That doesn't help your case for an AMD processor.

But if you insist, here's a ~$500 build with an AMD FX:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($52.25 @ Newegg)
Memory: *Team Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 60GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($43.92 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: *PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($121.98 @ Newegg)
Case: *NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.98 @ OutletPC)
Power Supply: *Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $498.10
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-15 16:04 EST-0500

While I appreciate Ken being game and giving you exactly what you asked for, please don't buy the machine above. The i5 below is faster for general tasks and gaming while only ending up a few dollars more expensive.

And here's the same build but with an i5 instead. :sneaky:

 

[JSTNFORD05]

While I appreciate Ken being game and giving you exactly what you asked for, please don't buy the machine above. The i5 below is faster for general tasks and gaming while only ending up a few dollars more expensive.

What makes AMD the lesser of the two?
Again, I'm curious.

 

[Ken g6]

Let me show you a Battlefield 4 multiplayer benchmark:

Those two benchmarks on the bottom? Those are very similar to the system I specced for you. (I think. You didn't tell me your OS or your monitor resolution.)

Overall, AMD CPUs are of an older design, each core is slower (in terms of instructions per second if not in terms of raw GHz), and [thread=2345491]BF4 can't use every core[/thread] on an 8-core system effectively.

 

[wtfcowisown]

When it comes to gaming, your graphics card means almost everything. You unfortunately can't fit a good one in a budget with an i5/fx-8350/etc.

You may render video slower, but your games WILL have higher fps and perform better on higher resolutions with this build, which is what you want.

Highlights of the build...

- Blue and Black Color Scheme
- Hyperthreading
- 8gb Ram (1866 mhz)
- Reliable SSD
- Basic, simple case with good wire management
- Reliable and semi-modular power supply
- Good Graphics Card, with lifetime warranty (IIRC)

Cons of the build

- Final cost is $22.52 over budget
- Initial cost (Pre-Rebates) is $82.95 over budget

You can take out the SSD, or lower the size if you want to save on costs. I recommend crucial's MX100 ssd's. I use them myself

The build is...

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Pyb4GX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Pyb4GX/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($50.00)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($50.00)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($60.23 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($66.32 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($212.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($32.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $522.52
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-16 00:51 EST-0500

 

[JSTNFORD05]

Thanks guys, im going to go with the intel setup. With the system you specced out, will i be able to run COD and or BF4 on high or ultra resolution??

 

[j03h4gLund]

While I appreciate Ken being game and giving you exactly what you asked for, please don't buy the machine above. The i5 below is faster for general tasks and gaming while only ending up a few dollars more expensive.

Listen to mfenn, the guy's a gentleman and a scholar when it comes to building systems to suit your budget & needs. He helped me build my system below which has been perfect.

 

[nsafreak]

Thanks guys, im going to go with the intel setup. With the system you specced out, will i be able to run COD and or BF4 on high or ultra resolution??

That depends on the resolution. Presuming a 1080p resolution it should be playable on high and probably struggle with ultra. Keep in mind that the visual difference between the two is usually indistinguishable.

 

[frozentundra123456]

When it comes to gaming, your graphics card means almost everything. You unfortunately can't fit a good one in a budget with an i5/fx-8350/etc.

You may render video slower, but your games WILL have higher fps and perform better on higher resolutions with this build, which is what you want.

Highlights of the build...

- Blue and Black Color Scheme
- Hyperthreading
- 8gb Ram (1866 mhz)
- Reliable SSD
- Basic, simple case with good wire management
- Reliable and semi-modular power supply
- Good Graphics Card, with lifetime warranty (IIRC)

Cons of the build

- Final cost is $22.52 over budget
- Initial cost (Pre-Rebates) is $82.95 over budget

You can take out the SSD, or lower the size if you want to save on costs. I recommend crucial's MX100 ssd's. I use them myself

The build is...

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Pyb4GX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Pyb4GX/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($50.00)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($50.00)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($60.23 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($66.32 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($212.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($32.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $522.52
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-16 00:51 EST-0500

Justifiably or not, 3 recent games would not even launch on non-HT dual cores, although at least 2 of them have been patched to work on dual cores I believe. For older or poorly threaded games, I am sure your system would in fact give better performance than the i5 with the 270. However, I would still go with the i5 system. Some newer games may not be smooth on the Pentium, and if your cpu is not up to the task there is little you can do. Thus I would go with the better balanced cpu and lower tier gpu. You can turn down settings as needed, and also perhaps upgrade the gpu when the next generation comes out.

 

[JSTNFORD05]

Ive started ordering the stuff for the i5 setup. So my mind has been made. However, any information that i can get is greatly appreciated.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Ive started ordering the stuff for the i5 setup. So my mind has been made. However, any information that i can get is greatly appreciated.

If possible, find another $100 and get the Radeon 280X instead of a 270. Either way keep the intel i5 CPU.

You set a budget of $500, but PC parts aren't sold at break-even or a loss like game consoles. It just costs a certain amount of money to build a good gaming PC.

 

[JSTNFORD05]

If possible, find another $100 and get the Radeon 280X instead of a 270. Either way keep the intel i5 CPU.

You set a budget of $500, but PC parts aren't sold at break-even or a loss like game consoles. It just costs a certain amount of money to build a good gaming PC.

Im willing to spend the extra cash if the timing is right. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I'd argue that a fx 8350 with a combo motherboard from microcenter allows OP to get a better GPU..... It's at least a $50.- savings over the i5 build. At this budget/pricepoint and being able to use microcenter make for a compelling arguement to take the savings and get an R9 280 GPU with the left over scratch.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'd rather have the i5 myself. It's much less work to upgrade the GPU in a couple of years than to upgrade the CPU. So a better CPU now should mean a longer life for the system.

Best is to do both though: i5 and the 280.

 

[mfenn]

I'd argue that a fx 8350 with a combo motherboard from microcenter allows OP to get a better GPU..... It's at least a $50.- savings over the i5 build. At this budget/pricepoint and being able to use microcenter make for a compelling arguement to take the savings and get an R9 280 GPU with the left over scratch.

Unless I totally missed it, there is no evidence that the OP is near an MC. Also don't forget that MC has very nice i5 combos as well, so it's kind of a moot point.

 

[JSTNFORD05]

I am near a MC! about 45 minutes away!

 

[melloyellow]

I am near a MC! about 45 minutes away!

I hope you are buying your cpu/mobo from microcenter then. You could get the i5-4690k for cheaper than that i5-4440 from newegg. What's newegg's return policy for unopened cpu/mobo? I think they have some special Xmas return policy that is more lenient.