Tax season, time for a new (budget) gaming pc!

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instant_buzz

Reputable
Feb 6, 2015
2
0
4,510
Sometime within the next two weeks I would like to have a gaming rig set up. It's been a few years, and my total experience with "building" a PC is "hey, this GPU is newer, let's shove it in the tower and see if it works!"

My TOTAL budget (after OS, shipping, etc) is going to be about $800, but if I can get what I want for less, that works too. I'll be using this almost purely for gaming, occasionally for streaming media, and of course internet browsing. I'd like to be playing Skyrim on ultra settings, playing new games on med/high settings. I don't need a monitor (mine is 1920x1080) , keyboard, or mouse, but I do need EVERYTHING else, thermal paste, cables, etc. Like I said, I have very little experience with any of this.

Windows 7 64-bit is my first choice for OS, where I get parts from doesn't matter to me, and from what I've read, I want an Intel based rig, but if I can shave a chunk of the price without losing a lot of performance, AMD is fine. Don't care about overclocking, I don't even know how or what. Noise isn't a concern, its more important the PC stays cool, and the look of the tower doesn't matter, as long as it's black and has plenty of USB ports for me to use. 4-8GB RAM, only need a 250-500GB HDD, nothing special.

I'm in Tacoma, WA, not sure if that really helps though. I think that's just about everything on the "How to Ask" template. Thanks in advance guys!
 
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MasterDell

MasterDell

Dignified
Jan 5, 2014
4,081
0
15,960
So the thing about HDDs is that they aren't that much more expensive that eachother. Like 500GB vs 1TB there is about a $10 difference.

This will cost less if mail in rebates were on.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($269.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.07 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $829.70
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-06 03:26 EST-0500
 
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I

instant_buzz

Reputable
Feb 6, 2015
2
0
4,510


Think you could shave off another $50-$100 (for instance, downgrade the GPU? Do I really need a 4GB card?)

If I spend over $800 I'm going to have an angry wife, but if I can spend less than $700-$750 I won't owe her any favors :p
 
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JQB45

JQB45

Splendid
Jun 23, 2006
3,606
51
24,040
[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JMXkmG) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JMXkmG/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54590) | $184.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Motherboard** | [ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97extreme3) | $111.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Memory** | [Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-bls2kit4g3d1609ds1s00) | $62.98 @ OutletPC
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $49.99 @ Best Buy
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-1003732l) | $179.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-s12ii620bronze) | $63.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-gfc02050) | $93.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Other**| Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Steel / Plastic compact ATX Mid Tower Case| $65.98
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $813.90
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-06 03:46 EST-0500 |
 
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MasterDell

MasterDell

Dignified
Jan 5, 2014
4,081
0
15,960
Person above me, why would you use a z97 motherboard and a 4590 not a 4460?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.07 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($50.40 @ Directron)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $740.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-06 03:58 EST-0500


Will this build make you not owe any favours? ;)
 
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Nextg_Rival

Nextg_Rival

Honorable
Jan 16, 2015
779
0
11,160


Downgrading the GPU is not a good idea mate.This build will provide you with high end gaming for an affordable price but anything else for a lower price will be dropping you down from high to mid end. Just something to keep in mind.
 
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JQB45

JQB45

Splendid
Jun 23, 2006
3,606
51
24,040
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Steel / Plastic compact ATX Mid Tower Case ($65.98)
Total: $768.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-06 04:02 EST-0500
 
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Solution
JQB45

JQB45

Splendid
Jun 23, 2006
3,606
51
24,040
And not to leave AMD or nVidia out in the cold...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($73.72 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($204.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Steel / Plastic compact ATX Mid Tower Case ($65.98)
Total: $752.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-06 04:43 EST-0500
 
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Nextg_Rival

Nextg_Rival

Honorable
Jan 16, 2015
779
0
11,160


FX 6300 is a worse CPU than the i5 and doesn't have a good upgrade path. The GTX 960 is also a bad card choking on its own memory bus.
 
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JQB45

JQB45

Splendid
Jun 23, 2006
3,606
51
24,040
The 960 at $200 is fine for 1080p, you can upgrade to the 290X or 970 or newer later. The 6300 isn't as good at most things as an i5 but it also cost less then 1/2 as much. You can always upgrade to the 8370 later and keep the existing motherboard. By the time AMD or Intel comes out with something better than the 6300 in the price range it'll be tax time again.

I'm suprised you didn't pick up on my 1 x 8GB memory mistake. Here is a better build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($74.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($204.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Steel / Plastic compact ATX Mid Tower Case ($65.98)
Total: $753.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-06 05:34 EST-0500
 
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JQB45

JQB45

Splendid
Jun 23, 2006
3,606
51
24,040
One more AMD.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($134.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI A88XM GAMING Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($97.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: AMD R9 Gamer Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($105.27 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 285 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($206.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($56.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: Antec NEW SOLUTION SERIES VSK-3000 Black SGCC steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case ($30.98)
Total: $777.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-06 05:46 EST-0500
 
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MasterDell

MasterDell

Dignified
Jan 5, 2014
4,081
0
15,960

Terrible idea. The 7850k is only purchased because of it's on-board graphics. The CPU part of the CPU is actually the exact same as a $80 860k. They are literally the same. a 7850k is a 860k with integrated graphics. Therefore it would also be useless to buy it. As for the AMD memory you chose.. Not gonna go there considering you can get 16gb for less than that. Then the GPU, The r9 280 is a better GPU that the r9 285. R9 285 is for small for factor builds. Don't mean to sound rude but I don't want people to be misinformed.
 
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