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first sub $600 gamer pc build

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  • Call of Duty
  • Build
  • Systems
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August 28, 2014 9:29:13 AM

Hi, i see lots of threads for advice on budget gamer pc builds. can someone offer one up today that's sub $600? it'll be used for first person shoots (COD-like)/role playing (Fallout-like) mostly. I'm thinking i5 based and good graphics. Thanks in advance, jeff

More about : 600 gamer build

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August 28, 2014 9:41:36 AM

You can't get an i5 build for $600.
You can get an i3 build and then upgrade to an i5 or an i7 in the future.
Anyway,here's the build:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/x4GQK8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/x4GQK8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($116.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($77.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($162.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $596.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-28 12:38 EDT-0400

Note that this is a build without the OS.
Hope this helps. ;) 
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August 28, 2014 9:44:02 AM

Well, that does present a problem with a $600 budget and a $200 CPU. When you add all of the other components, it really can't meet that price.

The closest I can get in a good, upgradable system is about $750 with:

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/YPYsVn) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/YPYsVn/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54590) | $188.99 @ NCIX US
**Motherboard** | [ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97anni...) | $93.48 @ SuperBiiz
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f314900cl9d8...) | $76.50 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/hitachi-internal-hard-driv...) | $46.00 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp43751k...) | $125.00 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Enermax ECA3253-BW ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/enermax-case-eca3253bw) | $34.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-ssr5...) | $79.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lite-on-optical-drive-ihas...) | $13.99 @ Newegg
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $89.98 @ OutletPC
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $748.92
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-28 12:43 EDT-0400 |
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Related resources
August 28, 2014 10:06:45 AM

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Yghfxr) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Yghfxr/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54590) | $188.99 @ NCIX US
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gab85...) | $56.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl9d8...) | $72.00 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-h...) | $57.23 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100365...) | $162.98 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Rosewill Line Glow ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-lineglow) | $44.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-xfxts550w) | $25.99 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lite-on-optical-drive-ihas...) | $13.99 @ Newegg
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $623.16
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-28 13:01 EDT-0400 |

This is one I'm looking to build, but it does not have an OS,monitor, mouse, or keyboard. I changed the video card to the 270x on this build for $40 cheaper than the 280 that I want, but you could get it even cheaper if you go with a 270 I believe. You could also get a little bit cheaper case, lets say for $20, but it wouldn't have 3 fans pre-installed like this one, and you could get a HDD for $10 cheaper as well, bringing your total down $25 more with a cheaper case/hdd... and it would be just under $600, after rebates though.

You really can't get a sub$600 i5 gaming build it seems, especially if you want an OS to go with it...if you can PLEASE let me know :) 
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August 28, 2014 10:19:51 AM

thanks guys. IIRC, i3 is good enough if the video card is good enough. thanks LukaBoki for providing an i3 option. I'm guessing since you spec'd it you think the video card in yours is good?
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August 28, 2014 10:23:27 AM

Yes,the R9 270 is a perfect match with the i3 4150.
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August 28, 2014 10:45:41 AM

My i3 favorite system is more like this:

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

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($116.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($93.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($125.00 @ Newegg)
Case: Enermax ECA3253-BW ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $656.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-28 13:40 EDT-0400

Of course, that is with a GeForce 750 Ti video card.
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August 28, 2014 10:49:01 AM

Still over $600. ;) 
And the GTX 750 Ti is weaker than the R9 270.
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August 28, 2014 6:20:23 PM

Do these CPUs come with a fan? If not what are decent choices?
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August 28, 2014 6:22:00 PM

Do these CPUs come with a fan? If not what are decent choices?
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August 28, 2014 7:25:22 PM

jagreenough said:
Do these CPUs come with a fan? If not what are decent choices?


Yes they come with a heat sink / fan, and one that will work fine if you are not overclocking (and you won't be with the CPUs that have been suggested so far). They aren't the most quiet cooling systems, though.
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August 28, 2014 7:28:39 PM

Can u suggest an upgrade, not for over clocking?
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August 28, 2014 9:30:10 PM

jagreenough said:
Can u suggest an upgrade, not for over clocking?


One of the better economy heat sink / fan upgrades is the Cooler Master TX3. It is larger than the stock fan, makes less noise, and is a tower style cooler. You can get it for less than $20 at most online stores.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-TX3-RR-910-HT...
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August 29, 2014 1:11:31 AM

The stock cooler will do just fine,unless you want to overclock.
Like wildfire said,the TX3/TX3 EVO is an excellent choice and it keeps the CPU cool.
The 200R supports coolers as high as 165mm.You can fit a Hyper 212 EVO in there,which is slightly better than the TX3 and 160mm high.
All the best. ;) 
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August 29, 2014 9:18:30 AM

while getting ready to order I see this note on partpicker:
Some Intel Z87 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Haswell Refresh CPUs.

does this apply and is it a big deal? meaning can i build it, get it up and running, then flash the MOBO?
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August 29, 2014 10:36:17 AM

With what CPU?
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August 29, 2014 10:41:13 AM

it was with the i3 in your spec, lukaboki. that was just a message at the bottom of partspicker page.
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August 29, 2014 11:14:10 AM

oh. i see, it popped up after I added windows 8.1 OEM 64bit.
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August 29, 2014 11:20:38 AM

hrm... no worries then ;-) thanks and sorry for the thrash.
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August 29, 2014 11:25:17 AM

No worries. ;) 
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September 15, 2014 10:08:44 AM

LukaBoki said:
You can't get an i5 build for $600.
You can get an i3 build and then upgrade to an i5 or an i7 in the future.
Anyway,here's the build:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/x4GQK8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/x4GQK8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($116.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($77.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($162.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $596.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-28 12:38 EDT-0400

Note that this is a build without the OS.
Hope this helps. ;) 


We built this system on sunday. the case was very easy to work in. only screws needed were for the MB. Testing the system went well. nice and cool and very fast for playing Day-Z. Thanks to LukaBoki and this group for all the help.
Best, jeff
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September 15, 2014 10:37:35 AM

Really glad to hear that.
And yeah,Corsair Carbide cases have a lot of space,that's why they're among the best. :) 
Have fun with your system. ;)  :D 
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September 15, 2014 10:38:20 AM

And you can play more demanding games than Day-Z,just so you know. :D 
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September 17, 2014 8:54:20 PM

LukaBoki said:
The stock cooler will do just fine,unless you want to overclock.
Like wildfire said,the TX3/TX3 EVO is an excellent choice and it keeps the CPU cool.
The 200R supports coolers as high as 165mm.You can fit a Hyper 212 EVO in there,which is slightly better than the TX3 and 160mm high.
All the best. ;) 

We're going to get the hyper 212 evo. Better cooling and better mounting system.
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September 17, 2014 10:03:21 PM

You definitely cant go wrong with it. :) 
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September 19, 2014 6:43:59 PM

We installed the new evo. Temps are now 33-ish c idle, mid 60's full load blend test in prime95. With the stock cooler, the temps were low 90's under the stress test. This is after cleaning old thermal paste, and reseating the stock cooler. This is much better.
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September 20, 2014 12:16:05 AM

That is an excellent improvment.Great temps. :) 
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