Building my first gaming pc with a $400 budget

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Guest

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Purchase date is likely next month in November.
Budget: $400[ if possible, furthest I'd go is $450. The lower the better! I just want something to start off with, so anything at this point would be a HUGE upgrade from where I'm at now.
I have knowledge in putting together computers via A+ certification classes.
I'm a freshman in college so money is tight right now.
I'll be using it for Gaming, Photoshop/Illustrator and other Adobe products, and movies.

I have my own monitor, keyboard, mouse, along with an OS.
I don't have any preferences for websites.
I am located in the US via Hawaii.
No part preferences and I'm not planning on overclocking.
Monitor resolution 1600x1200.
2x4 4gb Ram.
1TB HDD.
Currently looking at a HD7770 gpu, but if there is anything better at this price then I'm open for suggestions.
A quiet pc would be nice.

I've been using low end computers ever since I've gotten into the gaming world. (acer, toshiba with prices at about $300).
I am currently using some slow Toshiba laptop that can barely handle League of Legends at 30 fps.
I usually play LoL, TF2, Civ 5, and CS:S. I'm not looking to play brand new games all the time, I'm fine with what games I have.
I'm sick of lag and playing at the lowest settings possible so I'm looking for a change.

I've been looking at logicalincrements.com and have fallen around the Entry/Modest categories, but I want to maximize my build for the price I'm paying so I've come here looking for help.

I'd greatly appreciate the help, thanks!
Sean
 
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TBC1

TBC1

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Sep 2, 2013
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Here you go -

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 760K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($77.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A55M-DGS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($35.94 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.00 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $435.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-10 21:29 EDT-0400)
 
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Solution
J

jumpingeebus

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Oct 10, 2013
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Check out AMD apus they are cheap and will save you a lot of money on a video card out of the gate. You could then use that money to get together something decent and you can always add a full sized gpu down the road.
 
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G

g0rd0

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Mar 21, 2012
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$400 is really tough, I'd look at AMDs APUs, if you can find an A10 cheap, grab it. Get a cheap case, one of those $20 boxes, not sure if you have the memory, and hdd you listed, or if you're looking to add them but that's plus or minus $100.

Skip the disc drive, get the cheapest memory you can find, you can always buy better later. One big problem with a low budget build is you need a cheap power supply, and that only makes sense if you're not paying the electric bill, as a freshman in college you can probably float that bill for another three years or so...

Send a part list, folks around here like those
 
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zightbaoe

zightbaoe

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Jul 4, 2013
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Assuming you dont need the hdd or ram then this is the best and its only 440 which is what you said you could go up to.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8120 3.1GHz 8-Core Processor ($134.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($185.66 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $441.53
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-10 21:39 EDT-0400)
 
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zightbaoe

zightbaoe

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If you do need ram and an hdd then here. You can take off the cooler but that cpu can get pretty hot
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($143.98 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($69.97 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill NS Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $426.77
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-10 21:45 EDT-0400)
 
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Guest

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Sorry I forgot to look over what I typed.
I need ram and a HDD, those were just what I had in mind though.
 
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TBC1

TBC1

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Sep 2, 2013
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The fx 6300 actually performs better than the A10 and it's cheaper.

Also, he does want 8gb of ram and a gpu :p

 
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G

Guest

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Got off work when I went to check on this and didn't even see those baha.
Yours fits what I wanted, as I don't mind 4gb of RAM anyway. I can always add on.
Thanks for the input!
 
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TBC1

TBC1

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Now that amd's new gpu's dropped I would definitely suggest getting the r7 250 over the 7770 (performs better for the same price, xd!).
 
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Guest

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Does that require any changed to the build you suggested? My knowledge of what is compatible or not is blurred so i just wanted to verify.
 
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TBC1

TBC1

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Nope, it's all compatible.

Here's a link to the card - http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r72502gd3oc
 
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G

Guest

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I really appreciate the help.
Thank you very much!
 
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