First Time: Trying to Build a Decent Gaming Computer

Carlos1506 · Apr 15, 2014

Well I’m trying to pull off a decent gaming computer but since I’m just a student my budget isn’t that wide. Taking all components I already posses I figured that I only need a Motherboard, a CPU, RAM, a Video Card, and if possible a Hard Drive.

After some research I came up with this (semi) Build and wanted to ask for advice.
I don’t want it to surpass the 350$ line and since I’m not from the US and because a really hard to explain stuff I can only buy from Amazon, do you people think I can pull off a better deal?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($79.19 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus A55BM-K Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston Blu Red Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($38.74 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba Product Series

T01ACA 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 1GB Video Card ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $347.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 00:00 EDT-0400)

PD. I'm using this computer to play games like Battlefield 4, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Assassin’s Creed III all of these in high or medium resolution

jnewegger23 · Apr 15, 2014

You still need a decent psu, cd/dvd drive, and case. If you get a bad psu you can destroy your system; it may even run ok for a while and eventually start hanging, crashing, black screening, bsod etc so please budget for a decent psu as well. Your other parts are ok. I imagine you have access to an old cpu for the case and cd/dvd drive but please look up the minimum power requirements for the gtx 750 before connecting it to a poor psu.

theonerm2 · Apr 15, 2014

This is the best I can do.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3rZAx
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3rZAx/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3rZAx/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Athlon X2 340 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($47.82 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus A55BM-K Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($35.48 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GT 640 1GB Video Card ($74.96 @ Amazon)
Case: Apex PC-389-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($20.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $344.21
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 01:06 EDT-0400)

CTurbo · Apr 15, 2014

This is the best you can do for under $350. You could add another 4GB RAM stick easily and slap in an i5 later when you have more money.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s03F
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s03F/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s03F/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($61.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($59.32 @ Amazon)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($134.89 @ Newegg)
Total: $343.17
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 01:27 EDT-0400)

Carlos1506 · Apr 15, 2014

Thank you very much people for the help.
Now I have some serious doubts about my build. I was not concern about the power supply since a friend of mine told me that he could find one for me but since jnewegger23 mention that it might destroy my system (I was aware of the importance of this part but never thought it could actually kill my computer) I might stretch my budget to get one, which one do you people think is good?

PD. I’m now considering this build since CTurbo mention it, but erasing the Hard Drive to try to get a power supply

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($61.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($59.32 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston Blu 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.74 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $310.04
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 02:29 EDT-0400)

CTurbo · Apr 15, 2014

You have to have some type of hard drive.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s1hW
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s1hW/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s1hW/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($59.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($134.89 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $326.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 02:33 EDT-0400)

That Kingston Blu 4GB is not any better than the A-Data 4GB so it's certainly not worth the extra $7

Mephikun · Apr 15, 2014

Shaved it down a bit more.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($61.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $338.95
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 02:35 EDT-0400)

Later on you can add a hard drive like this and another stick of RAM.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $56.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 02:36 EDT-0400)

If you are going to eventually look into getting a better case than the one you will be using (I assume one from an old computer), I recommend this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $39.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 02:37 EDT-0400)

CTurbo :

While this is true, the OP can use one from an old computer temporarily if they have one.

jnewegger23 · Apr 15, 2014

+1 Mephikun. Hopefully Carlos you can take an old hard drive to get you going and use the build Mephikun or CTurbo put together for you. I'll see if I can create a configuration that's anywhere near as good as there's within your budget. They did quite good for you.

UPDATE:
Here's a configuration that can help get you going:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s1TP

I'm assuming a few things with this: You have an 1)old case, 2)cd/dvd writer, and 3)hard drive with a 4)working operating system to transfer these new parts to. If not I will see if I can come up with something else but it will worsen the quality of the build to stay within budget.

Carlos1506 · Apr 15, 2014

Hello Again.

Yeah I have a 300 GB hard drive that can make up for the lost/gain, and a cd/dvd writer.

I’m really sorry for re-making the thing for like the 4rth time, but this is the best I could make, remember that for a crazy country reason I only can purchase from Amazon and this mean that the nice deal for the ram and the power supply were not available for me, so I’m sticking to the Kingston since is cheaper in Amazon and placing the power supply jnewegger23 mention.

P.D I kind of push mi budget but I hope is worth it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($61.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($59.32 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston Blu 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.74 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $360.03
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 03:44 EDT-0400)

CTurbo · Apr 15, 2014

I forgot you needed to buy from amazon only. That^^ would be good for the budget. People give that psu a hard time but it's plenty for that build.

jnewegger23 · Apr 15, 2014

I think you'll be good to go with that setup. Now the only thing is, start saving right away for a better cpu. The G3220 will get you playing the games but will hold back the 750ti. Once you can afford to upgrade your cpu later and get a good i5, you will be in heaven! Until then be patient with your system as it will game but not at optimal levels. Decent start though! What about a case? Make sure the parts will fit in there okay?!

CTurbo · Apr 15, 2014

Here you go. That Kingston Blu RAM was 1.7v and you need a 1.5v stick.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s2s3
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s2s3/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3s2s3/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($61.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($59.32 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.30 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $355.59
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-15 04:04 EDT-0400)

jnewegger23 · Apr 15, 2014

+1 CTurbo; good catch!

Carlos1506 · Apr 15, 2014

Yep, I think I can upgrade it in a year maybe and is the same with the case.

I really appreciate you people took part of your time to help me out. I’ll select CTurbo as the best solution but I really appreciate your help jnewegger23.

P.D. Thank you for spotting out the ram problem.

jnewegger23 · Apr 15, 2014

You're welcome! Have fun!

Carlos1506 · Apr 19, 2014

CTurbo :

Just for the record.

Don’t go for the “Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory” it is 1600 MT/s and that’s 800 MHz, I change it for the “Corsair Vengeance 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory” because it is actually 1600MHz

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