$600 Gaming PC - Please critique

joshmxpx

Honorable
Apr 27, 2012
6
0
10,510
Approximate Purchase Date: Within one month

Budget Range: $600 CAD

System Usage from Most to Least Important: 1080p gaming, mostly single player (metro, borderlands, witcher, etc)

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: None

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: ncix.com

Location: Canada

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU (G2358)

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080,

Additional Comments:

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: New build, want to get back into PC gaming after 10 year hiatus

Here is my proposed build. Please comment or critique

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/7C9bVn
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/7C9bVn/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($72.98 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.98 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($80.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($139.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.95 @ Vuugo)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Memory Express)
Total: $601.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-30 06:13 EDT-0400

Thanks in advance
 
Solution
An i5 in this case would be a terrible option. i5's are for $750+ builds in USD. This is in CAD.. Meaning this is basically a $520 USD build. (Im Canadian too I have been through the song and dance before :p) Avoid Vuugo. Direct Canada and NCIX are the way to go for west coasters. And basically those retailers plus newegg for east coasters.

If you dont want to overclock:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock B85 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.79 @ DirectCanada)...
1. The PSU is not going to cut it.

2. Drop the SSD if you are under such a tight budget and get a better CPU.
That SSD is horribly unreliable anyway.

3. Z97 board is pointless in this case.

Changes that makes this build BETTER for gaming :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($196.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($80.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($139.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.95 @ Vuugo)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $633.67
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-30 06:42 EDT-0400
 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($120.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($80.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($139.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Enermax ECA3253-BW ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.09 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $566.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-30 06:57 EDT-0400
 

joshmxpx

Honorable
Apr 27, 2012
6
0
10,510
Thanks novuake and rockie for the suggestions. One of you suggested an i3 and one an i5. I am leaning towards the i5, any reason not to? Also, can either/both of those cpus be overclocked on the h97?

Thanks again guys
 

joshmxpx

Honorable
Apr 27, 2012
6
0
10,510
Ok, that's why I initially chose the g2358. Would an overclocked g2358 match the performance of either of those chips, or should I not bother.

If I go with either of the suggested chips, will the stock HSF suffice?
 


in USD:
i3 4150 is 40% faster than G3258 , 3D Mark 11
G3258-70$ + cooler-$30=$100
i3 4150 - $109
G3258 is not worth , moreover it has only 2 cores

another option : now 4GB RAM + Core i5 and later on add other 4GB
 
An i5 in this case would be a terrible option. i5's are for $750+ builds in USD. This is in CAD.. Meaning this is basically a $520 USD build. (Im Canadian too I have been through the song and dance before :p) Avoid Vuugo. Direct Canada and NCIX are the way to go for west coasters. And basically those retailers plus newegg for east coasters.

If you dont want to overclock:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock B85 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($84.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.95 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: Club 3D Radeon R9 270X 2GB '14Series Video Card ($179.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Cooler Master K280 ATX Mid Tower Case ($45.95 @ Vuugo)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $618.15
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-30 21:50 EDT-0400


If you want to overclock:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.03 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus B85M-D PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Club 3D Radeon R9 270X 2GB '14Series Video Card ($187.87 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master K280 ATX Mid Tower Case ($41.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($57.16 @ Mwave)
Total: $596.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-30 22:01 EDT-0400


I would definitely suggest the non overclock build. Why? Better performance and a more promising CPU when it comes to how long it will last.
 
Solution

That is a terrible idea. Games that use 4GB now wont even be able to utilize an i5 in the first place.. So it would just make sense to get an i3 and 8gb now
 

yeah youre right /: 4.4 stars is a terrible idea. Truly is a terrible review.
gigglesmile.gif



Maybe I knew the G3258 was a bad idea because I didn't suggest it?
 

joshmxpx

Honorable
Apr 27, 2012
6
0
10,510


Thanks for the suggestion, and good to hear from a fellow Canadian who also has to deal with our inflated prices...

With the above build, any reason you specify that motherboard compared to the H97 suggested by others? Most builds I seem to be seeing lots of H87/H97/Z87/Z97 chipsets, is there any benefit to the B85 chipset?

Also I have read decent things about the Club3D cards and had one in an earlier build I was considering. Would there be a big difference between the R9 270 vs R9 270X?

Thanks

 
Big difference? No not really. Difference? yes. Enough to spend the extra $$? Yes! No advantage in using B85 other than the fact that you save way more money. At lower budgets I hate using H97 boards. No one should use H81, H87 and Z87 anymore unless its for a cheap OC experiment.
 

Without googling what it does. Can you honestly tell me what the purpose of Super Alloy is? Haha Super Alloy is the branding for their motherboards. Its nothing special. Its the same way Asus has VIIs and Gigabyte, MSI, and ECS have their gaming board series. Just a bunch of misleading words that they want people to think makes it better. My favourite is how MSI rates their stuff with "Military grade". That one really gets me
 

Thats why I love how MSI uses the "Military Classes" Hahahaha like wut. I was so confused when I was a noob. I did not get that at all.. They all have their gimmicks. The worst of them are Super alloy, Sabertooth, and Military Class. I dont remember if Gigbabyte has something that stupid. Atleast the Sabertooth board have some form of tangible improvements like the little fans (Gimmicky but better than nothing) And the Armour on it is really great for modders. Part that sucks is that its over priced AF but whatever