Gaming update for friend: AMD budget build

dnbman · Jan 1, 2015

A buddy has an existing PC that's several years old. He wants to update it to handle modern gaming, but I wouldn't describe him as a serious gamer. (He likes a lot of older games, but he'd probably want to play some of the newer FPS titles, Skyrim, etc.) He's looking to spend about $500. Here's what I've put together:

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Xs2Cqs) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Xs2Cqs/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [AMD FX-6350 3.9GHz 6-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd6350frhkbox) | $122.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Motherboard** | [ASRock 980DE3/U3S3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-980de3u3s3) | $63.98 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31866c9d8gab) | $66.30 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-internal-hard-drive-sv300s37a120g) | $54.98 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-1003732l) | $179.99 @ Newegg
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $488.24
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-01 22:13 EST-0500 |

Few notes:
* I'll probably install Steam OS on the SSD and use his existing HDD for storage. He's only using it for gaming, so I don't think it will be an issue.
* This doesn't include a PSU. I'm hoping his existing PSU will work, but may have to spring for a new one.
* He believe he has an ATX case and several fans already. Also keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

dnbman · Jan 1, 2015

Also, would 550 watts run this?

MasterDell · Jan 1, 2015

What is the PSU? This is the most important part. It can ruin the whole system if it is not appropriate in both quality and wattage.

dnbman · Jan 1, 2015

MasterDell :

I'm not sure, but I'm looking at CORSAIR CSM Series CS550M in case he needs one.

MasterDell · Jan 1, 2015

Corsair makes A. Garbage PSU's or B. Over priced PSUs. There are way way way more PSUs out there that are of better quality and that are cheaper.

This PSU is leaps and bounds better than the CSM: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii620bronze

Thaisnang · Jan 1, 2015

Get this-->
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($85.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($66.30 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Club 3D Radeon R9 280 3GB royalKing Video Card ($169.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $511.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-01 22:33 EST-0500

MasterDell · Jan 1, 2015

Thaisnang :

That would make no sense.. A 6300 with a cooler is a 6350. Only the 6300 with the cooler is $3 more and you actually have to put effort into OCing it. And the GPU has a worse cooler than the Sapphire.

ZskNinoh · Jan 1, 2015

Not even remotely worth. He should wait until he has 1k saved up and get a build like this. He already saved up $500, why not just tell him to wait till he gets $1,000. This build will run most games high at 1080p+.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JRxM23

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($212.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.85 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($359.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 Advanced ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX Core Edition 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1019.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-01 22:42 EST-0500

or

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VnB3jX

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.85 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($359.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 Advanced ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX Core Edition 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1133.54
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-01 22:46 EST-0500

dnbman · Jan 1, 2015

MasterDell :

Looks like a great suggestion, but can't order it tonight to get the $25 off. Might need something a bit closer to $50. I'll talk with him to see what he thinks.

Any other suggestions for around that price? Also, what's the lowest wattage you'd get?

dnbman · Jan 1, 2015

ZskNinoh :

I'm no expert (which is why I came here), but I'm pretty sure what I picked out will play most games at 1080 with pretty high settings. And again, I don't think he's interested in playing the newest AAA titles on ultra. Likewise, I don't think he's interested in putting $1k into a rig when half the amount will do just about everything he wants to do the foreseeable future.

What makes you say "not even remotely worth?" Value?

ZskNinoh · Jan 1, 2015

dnbman :

He saved up $500, if he waits till he saved another $500 he will be able to get a magical gaming PC.

Why do something half way? Your not getting the full potential out of it.

Just compare the specs you can get with $500, and the specs you can get with $1,000. He can even downgrade the graphics card, PSU, and mobo from the first build and it will become even cheaper. Not even $1,000.

MasterDell · Jan 1, 2015

dnbman :

Dnb, Zsk is wrong so please dont listen to him. You are correct. That build would definitely play games with reasonably high settings at 1080p. But What I would actually do it get the FX-6300 and then get a 280x. Or Get a more powerful CPU and then drop down to a cheaper GPU. This would ensure that there would be no lag due to CPU. And CPU lag is the worst because you can't just drop the res or drop the details and call it a day. How much multitasking does he do while gaming?

dnbman · Jan 1, 2015

ZskNinoh :

dnbman :

He saved up $500, if he waits till he saved another $500 he will be able to get a magical gaming PC.

Why do something half way? Your not getting the full potential out of it.

Just compare the specs you can get with $500, and the specs you can get with $1,000. He can even downgrade the graphics card, PSU, and mobo from the first build and it will become even cheaper. Not even $1,000.

His current machine is down, and I don't think he's interested in a "magical" gaming pc so much as one that will let him play and enjoy modern games and all of the older games he likes. Again, I don't think he games enough to warrant spending double when he'll still enjoy just about everything he'd play on it.

dnbman · Jan 1, 2015

MasterDell :

dnbman :

Dnb, Zsk is wrong so please dont listen to him. You are correct. That build would definitely play games with reasonably high settings at 1080p. But What I would actually do it get the FX-6300 and then get a 280x. Or Get a more powerful CPU and then drop down to a cheaper GPU. This would ensure that there would be no lag due to CPU. And CPU lag is the worst because you can't just drop the res or drop the details and call it a day. How much multitasking does he do while gaming?

He probably does next to no multitasking, save a buddy chat program on occasion.

What's the minimum bump you'd take on the CPU? I'd like to stick with that GPU, as it looks to bring the most value around the price point he's looking for.

Would the AMD FX-8320 Vishera for $25 more be worth it?

nikoli707 · Jan 1, 2015

you need to replace the power supply if you dont know what it is. if his computer is that old, then there is no telling how much component aging it has gone through. otherwise the the basic i5 is going to easily beat the fx 6 core even it is overclocked.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($164.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($77.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $595.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-02 01:12 EST-0500

Thaisnang · Jan 1, 2015

MasterDell :

Fx-6350 is nothing but FX-6300 clocked higher but with higher price tag and a noisy AMD stock cooler. So, he'll just end up buying a aftermarket cooler. So why not just get a FX-6300 and overclock it. And they overclock to the same level.
I've seen FX 6300 going upto 5 Ghz, just because Fx-6350 has higher stock clock it won't make it run at 5.4Ghz.
GPU Cooler maybe not be as good as Sapphire one but your getting a R9 280 for 30$ less. And coolers won't matter unless it makes a diff of 10-20C.

dnbman · Jan 1, 2015

Thaisnang :

the Sapphire has a $20 rebate, so it's only $10 more from a brand I trust. (Plus, I really want to use New Egg for everything.)

Thanks all for the suggestions. Let me know if you have any others. Otherwise, I'll talk with my buddy about spending a little more for the i5.

MasterDell · Jan 2, 2015

If he doesn't do much multi tasking then getting an i3 would be by far the best option. Not to mention the upgrade path Intel has compared to AMD.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $523.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-02 00:28 EST-0500

dnbman · Jan 2, 2015

MasterDell :

Sounds great. Was thinking of going that route anyway, suggesting he could upgrade the processor at some point but keep everything else. Thanks for all of the help!

MasterDell · Jan 2, 2015

dnbman :

Oh and do make sure that you get this SSD rather than the Kingston. It is by far more reliable.

Gaming update for friend: AMD budget build

Distinguished

Distinguished

Dignified

Distinguished

Dignified

Honorable

Dignified

Reputable

Distinguished

Distinguished

Reputable

Dignified

Distinguished

Distinguished

Splendid

Honorable

Distinguished

Dignified

Distinguished

Dignified

Share this page