$500 gaming build? ($550 max)

REIZOD · Dec 18, 2014

I was wondering, if I could get a $500-$550 gaming pc build that I can record You-tube edit and live-stream if possible that would be great I would also like to run games at High-Ultra settings like DayZ 40-50 fps CS:GO 60+ Minecraft 60+ Battlefield 4 50+ and upcoming games if you can't quite fit it into the budget I may be able to sneak in $600 but I would prefer to stay away from that mark and stay around the $550 range. Thanks! =)

Brunostako · Dec 18, 2014

Ultra high gaming with $550 budget is impossible. Just the GPU costs at least $300 and the CPU near $200.

What you want is possible but not at Ultra high, maybe at mid settings.

RunLuke · Dec 18, 2014

DayZ is crappily optimized. You'll never run 40-50 FPS stable, not in its current state. However, I did run BF4 at 60 FPS (vsync, ultra, 1080p) om an i7 860 + 770 GTX, so maybe something used?

What parts do you need? Only CPU, Motherboard and GPU or everything? Just getting the CPU and GPU is sort of breaking your budget.

ohiou_grad_2006 · Dec 18, 2014

Maybe this will help.

http://pcpartpicker.com/guide/gcTwrH/entry-level-gaming-build

Was just checking, haven't worked much on pcpartpicker, but here's a start.

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

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd6300wmhkbox) | $96.78 @ NCIX US
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $26.75 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-ga970aud3p) | $74.99 @ Micro Center
**Memory** | [Corsair XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmx4gx3m2b1600c9) | $56.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Toshiba Product Series

T01ACA 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/toshiba-internal-hard-drive-hdkpc03) | $49.99 @ NCIX US
**Video Card** | [MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-n750ti2gd5oc) | $114.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Rosewill GALAXY-02-A ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-galaxy02a) | $34.99 @ Amazon
**Power Supply** | [EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-100b10600kr) | $34.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-optical-drive-sh224dbbebe) | $14.98 @ OutletPC
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-gfc02050) | $88.98 @ OutletPC
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $594.43
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 10:37 EST-0500 |

logainofhades · Dec 18, 2014

Best I can really do, under $600, without mail in rebates.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($96.78 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($17.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($139.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Total: $592.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 10:41 EST-0500

Stryker13799 · Dec 18, 2014

Have a look at this : This wont play all games on ultra but on med-high.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WH7hdC

wolverine96 · Dec 18, 2014

Here's another option: (This build utilizes rebates, so the prices might change later.)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($96.78 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Biostar TA970 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston Fury Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $551.70
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 19:18 EST-0500

This motherboard has CrossFire support (but not SLI), so you could upgrade to a second R9 280 later on, if you wanted to. Note that you may need to upgrade the PSU, if you plan on running two cards in CrossFire.

quilciri · Dec 18, 2014

This rig will actually hit high settings @ 1080p. A moderate overclock on the 6300 will balance out the 290.

My humble suggestion:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($96.78 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($32.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($234.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Enermax Thorex ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $582.46
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Cheers!

ohiou_grad_2006 · Dec 18, 2014

Only thing I don't like on some of these builds is the motherboards. I would almost be afraid to overclock on them. But hard to argue with the build directly above this post.

logainofhades · Dec 18, 2014

I own the gigabyte board, in my build. I have had it, paired with an FX 8320 @ 4.0ghz, for a little over a year now. It can safely handle an FX 6300 @ 4.0ghz.

ohiou_grad_2006 · Dec 18, 2014

Ok. So there you go. I have the 970a-ud3. I liked it better because of the 8+2 power phasing. I have actually done builds for others and used the particular board in question, or older variants at least, and it's a fine board. Just the 4+1 power phases would have scared me off slightly when overclocking especially an 8 core on it. However, it's a fine board having worked with them myself. And they seem like they live up to that ultra durable name as I've almost never heard of trouble with them.

REIZOD · Dec 18, 2014

Brunostako :

"Impossible" is the farthest from true that you can say, also your lack of computer knowledge frightens me of you're answer because I have seen a $550 dollar pc on You-tube that had the impossible ultra settings with the fps requirements that I was looking for and all I was doing was seeing if anyone could make a even possible better build for the price. It also has a $250 graphics card, also the CPU only has to have a max of 4 Ghz which can be easily meet with overclocking a standard CPU with some added cooling options.

logainofhades · Dec 18, 2014

Youtube? LMAO! :lol: $550 rig is not going to play BF4, on ultra, unless the resolution is low, or you get an insanely good deal on some used hardware.

quilciri · Dec 18, 2014

Unless you're going to push the safe voltage limit of a processor, a 4 phase regulator is plenty for overclocking. The voltage necessary for a moderate overclock of 4.0ghz on the 6300 is going to be completely stable on all but the crappiest chips.

Brunostako · Dec 18, 2014

If you can stretch your budget to $600:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($134.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 120M 86.2 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Pro3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($57.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: GeIL EVO Veloce Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Enermax Thorex ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $598.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 12:11 EST-0500

Won't be ultra high, 1080p high settings will be possible and the extra threads from the FX 8-core and the 16GB of RAM will allow live streaming (i guess).

ohiou_grad_2006 · Dec 18, 2014

8 gb of ram is plenty. That's what i run work my 8 core and it's happy.

capt_taco · Dec 18, 2014

logainofhades :

To that end, a useful item of note: You can typically find a used HD 7970, which is the same card as the r9 280X, for $100-$130 on ebay. Prices seem to have gone up a lot lately because of Christmas, but I expect they'll be back down again in the next few weeks. Only thing to watch out for is that probably half of them have worn out fans because they were used for Bitcoin mining. But that is a way to possibly save $60-$100 and come out with a high-end video card.

logainofhades · Dec 18, 2014

If OS isn't needed, you could go with this, and be really close to budget.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($96.78 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($17.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $556.70
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 12:53 EST-0500

@ $600
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($43.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $600.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 12:56 EST-0500

or

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($134.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($17.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $594.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 12:57 EST-0500

logainofhades · Dec 18, 2014

The youtube comment was about the $550 system on youtube you claimed to see. Youtube videos are very unreliable sources of information. Might as well be using CPUboss and GPUboss while you are at it. :lol: Don't get mad because you are not getting the answers you wanted. If you cannot handle the truth, then why bother being here? $550 ultra isn't going to happen, unless you are playing @ 1680x1050, or below, or you get insanely good deal on used hardware. Maybe, just maybe, if you have a Microcenter nearby for the CPU and Motherboard, would it be possible. BF4 and newer titles require far more power than that. Even my system wouldn't handle newer titles @ ultra, very well, because many are so poorly coded.

ohiou_grad_2006 · Dec 18, 2014

I do agree op. He's trying to help you and probably has a lot more time on here than you do. You should show some gratitude. Anyway ultra may not happen on 550, but i do think you can get a nice system with all the comments here that will play most games nicely with some tweaking.

I do think from what i see i like quilciri's build the best. The others have been good also, but if your budget allows an r9 290 then go for it. If you are interested in the eBay route, i think i saw some 290s on there recently for about 200 as im wanting an upgrade on a gpu as well.

Darkbreeze · Dec 18, 2014

Logain is right, but here is another option as well.:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-D PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.49 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.97 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.85 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($234.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cougar Archon ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $587.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 13:48 EST-0500

You can probably OC the CPU to 4Ghz easily, possibly as much as 4.5Ghz-ish.

If you limit the resolution to 768, it probably will game most titles at Ultra.

quilciri · Dec 18, 2014

capt_taco :

I heartily second this with the caveat - buy an Asus card or another card with a fully transferable warranty based on the date of manufacture with no registration requirements. Asus cards have a 3 year warranty based on serial #, so you have at least a year's warranty left on them.

Lutfij · Dec 18, 2014

Adding to what capt_taco posted, I think the only possible explanation to having a gaming rig with ultra settings is if the components came off used and were one generation prior. Otherwise I'd side with Logainofhades albeit with different words for structure

to that end,

because I have seen a $550 dollar pc on You-tube that had the impossible ultra settings with the fps requirements that I was looking for and all I was doing was seeing if anyone could make a even possible better build for the price.

Please provide us with the link to that Youtube video so that this thread and the posters contributing here can find closure in their efforts.

Darkbreeze · Dec 18, 2014

Here's another option:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-4350 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($102.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($61.74 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($234.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $588.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-18 15:27 EST-0500

capt_taco · Dec 18, 2014

By the way, if you want to get into an i5 build with your $550 budget, this is probably the best you're going to do ... you could knock the final $14 off one of two ways, which is either wait for an r9 280 to come on sale for $149.99, which they routinely do but just not now ... or go for the used HD 7970 option.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($47.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($43.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Azza SIRIUS ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $564.91

$500 gaming build? ($550 max)

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