Best Gaming Rig For $500

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BradleySmith

Reputable
Feb 20, 2014
63
0
4,630
So I have about $500, with which I was going to buy an Xbox One, but then I remembered that PCs are better. I then threw together some possible builds and researched some as well. So if you guys could review the ones that I found and maybe make some suggestions or possibly make an entirely new one! I'm open to anything as long as it's an awesome machine that can run most games! Thanks guys!!

First Possible Build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/KQrxgs

Second Possible Build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JvwLcf

Third Possible Build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8Tz623
 
Solution
plywrlw
This is what I'd do for $900 but I'll be very impressed if you manage it for $600

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($177.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte G1.SNIPER H6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ ARC 100 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler...
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esco_sid

esco_sid

Splendid
May 11, 2012
2,728
1
21,965
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($32.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($65.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($50.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $612.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-08 16:29 EDT-0400
or I would wait for gtx 960
 
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plywrlw

plywrlw

Admirable
Jul 5, 2014
2,811
0
7,960
Here's my contribution. Defininitely a budget build but the GPU is very capable and the PSU is very well made.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-D PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($65.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: HIS Radeon R9 280 3GB IceQ OC Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $503.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-08 16:51 EDT-0400
 
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T

Trenchcoat

Honorable
May 7, 2013
732
0
11,160
The problem is that there's a sweet spot between price, performance and tech lifespan. That doesn't include set up (fixed) costs such as case, CD/Blu ray drive, monitor, peripherals and operating system. $500 on pure performance will get you a fairly decent machine that will last alot longer than $350 of performance parts which guarantees your machine is already out of date.

Upping the budget to $900 will get you a machine you can be proud of.
 
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spentshells

spentshells

Judicious
Apr 1, 2006
8,556
294
33,990


This will offer a pretty sweet experience.
 
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B

BradleySmith

Reputable
Feb 20, 2014
63
0
4,630


Well what would you recommend if I were to up my budget to $900? It's almost cyber monday anyway so I'll be able to get $900 worth of parts for $500-$600!
 
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plywrlw

plywrlw

Admirable
Jul 5, 2014
2,811
0
7,960
This is what I'd do for $900 but I'll be very impressed if you manage it for $600

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($177.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte G1.SNIPER H6 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ ARC 100 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $904.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-09 15:58 EDT-0400
 
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Solution
O

Outlander_04

Titan
BANNED
Nov 18, 2008
20,308
4
74,960
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2c3wCJ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2c3wCJ/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI A78M-E45 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($67.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270X 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($144.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $504.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-09 16:02 EDT-0400

Better online performance than the intel dual core builds . Highly overclockable , using the latest more efficient AMD cores

and the price is right
 
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T

Trenchcoat

Honorable
May 7, 2013
732
0
11,160


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($32.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($65.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Merc Beta (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $916.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-09 16:29 EDT-0400

Managed to get in the best gaming processor and nearly the best GFX. It's a beast!
 
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