New Budget Gaming Build ~$500

oushi · Apr 22, 2013

I'm going to be building a new budget gaming system with a budget roughly around $500. It's been a few years since my last full build, so I'm behind on new hardware and will need some advice.

I think I have most of my parts picked out, although I'm unsure whether to go with an Intel dual core build or with a cheaper AMD quad core (which would allow me some room to upgrade the GPU a bit as well).

Intel dual core build:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($113.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($89.00 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Tempest 210 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $515.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-22 13:34 EDT-0400)

AMD quad core:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: AMD FX-4100 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7790 1GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Microcenter)
All other parts: Same as above
Total: $507.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-22 13:34 EDT-0400)

Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

tiny voices · Apr 22, 2013

I would go i3. The fx4100 isn't a good CPU really. If you went AMD, the way to do it would be with an fx-6300. I have an i3 with a 7870 and I have no bottlenecks at all.

If you try to shave off a few bucks everywhere (case, motherboard, RAM) you might be able to get a 650ti which will be slightly better than the 7770.

fannatick · Apr 22, 2013

If your going for just gaming then the most important piece would be your GPU, so going by that the AMD build would be better since you'd be using the 7790 instead of the 7770.

tiny voices · Apr 22, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($113.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-GL Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($66.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB Video Card ($122.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.28 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $511.17
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-22 14:01 EDT-0400)

Do this.

seller417 · Apr 22, 2013

dont underestimate AMD's APU integrated GPU.

For $500, you could fit an A10-5800K with some 1866 speed Ram that would game quite well. Pobably shouldn't try and run Crysis 3 on ultra settings, but WOW, SWTOR, LOL...no problem

something liike this:
AMD A10-5800K Trinity 3.8GHz (4.2GHz Turbo) Quad-Core w/ Integrated AMD Radeon HD 7660D DirectX 11 Graphics
ASRock Pro4 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI USB 3.0
G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB DDR3 1866
CORSAIR 430W PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular
500GB Hard Drive 7200 RPM 16MB Cache
DVD Burner
COOLER MASTER Elite 430 case

this is about $500

circularpromise53 · Apr 22, 2013

go amd if your on a budget. either get a fx 4300 or fx 6300. DO NOT get a 4100 or 6100 because the architecture they run isnt nearly as good as the 300 series. GPU looks good, but i would really suggest you spend a little more and get either a 7850 or nvidea 650 ti.

circularpromise53 · Apr 22, 2013

tiny voices :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($113.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-GL Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($66.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB Video Card ($122.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.28 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $511.17
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-22 14:01 EDT-0400)

Do this.

this is a solid build but spend a little extra and get the 2 gig version of the 650 for a little future proofing

Nicholas Liedorff · Apr 23, 2013

circularpromise53 :

tiny voices :

this is a solid build but spend a little extra and get the 2 gig version of the 650 for a little future proofing

What if you went with the 650 Ti boost 2gb? or a Sapphire Radeon HD 7790 1gb? And is a AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor better or worse than the i-3 listed?

tiny voices · Apr 23, 2013

The 6300 and i3 are better in different areas. For gaming, grab the 6300. Either of those GPU's are good. The 650ti boost is better.

Nicholas Liedorff · Apr 23, 2013

tiny voices :

How is the intel i5 compared to the amd 6300 in gaming ability?

tiny voices · Apr 23, 2013

The i5 is decently better. Do not get it, however, if it means lowering the GPU.

Nicholas Liedorff · Apr 23, 2013

tiny voices :

Why do you have to get a lower gpu?

giltyler · Apr 23, 2013

If you are near a Microcenter you can save on CPU MOBO

tiny voices · Apr 23, 2013

Nicholas Liedorff :

If your budget is tight. the i5 is better than the 6300. But, an i5+hd7850 will lose to a 6300+7870 everyday.

Nicholas Liedorff · Apr 23, 2013

tiny voices :

What about an i5 with a HD 750 2gb? and I'm building with the intention of upgrading.

tiny voices · Apr 23, 2013

750? Do you mean 7850? I would personally get the 6300 and a 7870.

Nicholas Liedorff · Apr 23, 2013

tiny voices :

Im sorry, I meant the Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 2gb pair that with the i5.

tiny voices · Apr 23, 2013

No. That is a VERY weak GPU. Low or medium settings at best. Drop the CPU WAY down to an i3 or phenom 2 x4 965BE and get a better GPU.

Nicholas Liedorff · Apr 23, 2013

tiny voices :

Well is there GPU you can recommend for use with the i5? Note, this build is budgeted around $600-$700.

tiny voices · Apr 23, 2013

i wouldn't do anything less than an hd7870 with an i5. Get a lesser CPU and a better GPU. For your budget, I would go with an fx6300 and a 7850 or better.

Nicholas Liedorff · Apr 23, 2013

First off, sorry for being so reluctant to the AMD processor. The reason for it is that I have been told that an i5 is a better CPU for gaming.

tiny voices · Apr 23, 2013

It is a better CPU. That said most games these days are 80% GPU and 20% CPU on usage. I have an i3 with a 7870 for example. This will be better always than an i5 with a 7770. The GPU is considerably more important.

You can get the i5 and the 7750, but your friend with a 5 year old phenom 2 x4 965BE and a better GPU will laugh at you when he can max games and you are stuck at a mix of low and medium settings.

blake1243 · Apr 23, 2013

Nicholas Liedorff :

Yes. But your budget won't allow for an i5 (with a decent GPU). The i5 3570k is just about the best gaming CPU there is. But, getting a better GPU will give you WAY more performance than getting a better CPU.

For example:
i7 3770k + GTX 650< i3 3220 + HD 7870

The i3 build in the example gives alot more performance in games than the i7 build. I hope i helped you understand.

Nicholas Liedorff · Apr 23, 2013

Wow, I had no idea. Could you give me a build list in the $600 to $700 USD range? I have a monitor, keyboard and mouse. However, I do need an OS. This PC will be use 100% for gaming. Keep in mind I will be playing games such as BF3 and BF4 when it is released.

tiny voices · Apr 23, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.28 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $679.17
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-23 21:47 EDT-0400)

New Budget Gaming Build ~$500

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