Any way to get a nice computer build in for $500 for my friend?

GamerJake1000 · Mar 18, 2014

So my friends computer took a turn for the worst for him and he wishes to build a new one. since i built mine i said ill help him. he has a budget of 460 right now (not including monitor or any peripherals). I have setup one for him on pcpartpicker here:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3cody
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3cody/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3cody/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($95.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($114.28 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Rosewill RANGER-M MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $433.20
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

I don't know how well this is, and i know i can increase some of the parts to fit the budget and maybe get more performance. Anyways, is a $460 gaming computer even worth it, or would it be better to just try and maybe find something prebuilt on like eBay used. Because his budget is very tight, and he cannot make any exceptions what so ever.

Thanks for you help,
Jacob

Danbuscus25 · Mar 18, 2014

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Danbuscus250/saved/46b4
CPU AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core $109.99
Motherboard MSI 970A-G43 ATX AM3+ $59.99
Memory A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 $64.99
Storage Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM $57.98
Video Card Gigabyte Radeon R7 260X 2GB $139.99
Case Xigmatek Recon ATX Mid Tower $29.99
Power Supply Corsair 430W ATX12V $19.99
Optical Drive Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $19.98
Total: $502.90

combine1237 · Mar 18, 2014

Does he have a viable sata 2 hdd from the old computer, possibly also any ddr3 ram or any parts that can be salvaged?

Danbuscus25 · Mar 18, 2014

good point, also can you save the case, psu, hdd, ram, and/or optical drive? could you post the specs of the non-working pc?

CeePeeEwe · Mar 18, 2014

This is the best build you can get right around $500 but should handle most games on high settings at 1080p.

Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G43 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 260 1GB Video Card ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($20.60 @ Amazon)
Total: $522.42
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-18 22:54 EDT-0400)

GamerJake1000 · Mar 19, 2014

Danbuscus25 :

The computer he had was old. and by old i mean like 2004. It had an old kind of graphics card, and it had like 2gigs of ddr memory. Sorry for not posting that. I dont think i want to keep the hard drive because it is only 60 gigs and that fills quick. Also the case might be savable, but i dont know if it would fit any newer parts..

PS. I will ask him to get speccy and tell me the specs as i currently dont know

Thanks,
Jacob

Danbuscus25 · Mar 19, 2014

well, there is almost no point in salvaging anything from his old computer except maybe the case and optical drive and hdd if he wants to keep his stuff. what size is his case? that would pretty much be the only thing worth salvaging at this point. if the case is a mid tower and supports a standard atx mobo then you may be able to save a little money keeping it.

Danbuscus25 · Mar 19, 2014

well, there is almost no point in salvaging anything from his old computer except maybe the case and optical drive and hdd if he wants to keep his stuff. what size is his case? that would pretty much be the only thing worth salvaging at this point. if the case is a mid tower and supports a standard atx mobo then you may be able to save a little money keeping it.

Danbuscus25 · Mar 19, 2014

well, at this point the only thing worth saving is the case and maybe the hdd if he still wants all his stuff. as long as the case is a mid tower that fits a standard atx mobo it should be ok.

zemiak · Mar 19, 2014

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $524.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-19 21:53 EDT-0400)

Danbuscus25 · Mar 19, 2014

sorry for posting the same thing 3 times >.< had wifi problems so i refreshed it and i guess it sent both times.

GamerJake1000 · Mar 19, 2014

Danbuscus25 :

Lol yea i was wondering why you sent that so much. and i have yet to ask him about his case, but if its from like the 2003 ages would have standard atx motherboard sizes? and be able to fit say a r7 260x comfortably with a cpu cooler? ill get him to check the size of it later on.

Thanks,
Jacob

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