$600 Dollar Gaming PC

Craftedcloud · Apr 20, 2015

I need a $600 dollar gaming PC before mail-in rebates, INCLUDING OS! I will also need a DVD burner with the build. I will record some games for YouTube like Modded Minecraft, G-Mod, and GTA 5.
I know this is a tight budget with a lot of restrictions but I hope you can help! Important!: The build CANNOT go over 600 EXCLUDING main in rebates!
Thanks

Darkbreeze · Apr 20, 2015

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($72.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus A88XM-E Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($68.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.30 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($192.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H25 ATX Mid Tower Case ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($33.98 @ Directron)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $527.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-20 20:02 EDT-0400

i7Baby · Apr 20, 2015

Try -

CPU: AMD A8-6600K 3.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($87.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus A88X-PRO ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($85.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($32.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 250GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($41.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $422.78 - $442 before rebates

or

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 ($28.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.30 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R7 260X 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($112.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair Graphite Series 230T Black ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $586.98 $635 before rebates

Darkbreeze · Apr 20, 2015

You don't need 6 cores for editing, recording or gaming. The i5 or any other 4 core is more than capable of those things. Having the additional cores doesn't hurt, but not at the expense of a card that's as weak as the 270 if you want any kind of decent gaming performance.

spentshells · Apr 20, 2015

Craftedcloud · Apr 20, 2015

Hello Darkbreeze I was looking at your build suggestion and first of all thank you. The only thing I noticed is people have submitted bad reviews for it and it worries me. Is there any motherboards that would be around the same price and maybe run a bit better?

Darkbreeze · Apr 20, 2015

Bad reviews for what?

It it's the board you're worried about, that's a tier 2 board, which is pretty good, but not the best. This has a Tier 1 board, better case and faster RAM.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($72.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X PRO3+ ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($72.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($64.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.30 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($192.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Core V31 ATX Mid Tower Case ($60.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($33.98 @ Directron)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $595.17
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-20 20:23 EDT-0400

Darkbreeze · Apr 20, 2015

Or if you WANT to go with a 6 core FX chip, you could do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($97.46 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.30 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($192.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($33.98 @ Directron)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $598.19
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-20 20:27 EDT-0400

Craftedcloud · Apr 20, 2015

Craftedcloud :

Darkbreeze :

Oh I am such a doof! I had been on the wrong build the whole time XD
So sorry I went over your build and was satisfied with it. Thank you for you time and help.

Darkbreeze · Apr 20, 2015

No problem. Between the three builds I posted, and the other builds posted by other members, you should have plenty of options there. Good luck in any case.

RazerZ · Apr 20, 2015

If you wanted to save a bit with a 860k build here's what I would do. OS included:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($72.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus A88X-PLUS ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($56.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.30 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Black Edition Double Dissipation Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Enermax Thorex ATX Mid Tower Case ($26.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $560.02
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-20 21:52 EDT-0400

Comes to $637 before rebates and $560 after.

Logan Brown · Apr 26, 2015

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9nQ4vK

under $600 with everything

Darkbreeze · Apr 26, 2015

Logan Brown :

Do you actually believe you can play GTA V on a GT 740? Well, probably at the lowest of settings, but not much more than that. This is not a viable build for the criteria.

Darkbreeze · Apr 26, 2015

C'mon Razer, the build I posted had a better GPU, the GTX 960 beats the 280 well enough, plus it comes in under budget without any rebates. Why throw this out there? Nothing wrong with the build per se, just don't understand the advantage to it.

Plus it seems prices on something have dropped since then, as the same build is about twenty bucks cheaper now than it was when I posted it. Without any rebates.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($76.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($57.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.64 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($188.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($33.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $577.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-26 23:11 EDT-0400

RazerZ · Apr 26, 2015

From what I've seen they trade blows depending on the game. At around $30-$50 cheaper than the 960 it's hard to go wrong with it imo.

I guess you could argue you make up for the difference with a cheaper, lower wattage PSU. That could be a limiting factor if the OP decides to upgrade to a more powerful card in the future.

Also in all of your builds no OS is included.

Darkbreeze · Apr 26, 2015

Can't argue with the PSU comment, that's undeniable that it's unlikely to be useful with just about any card upgrade, but with a 600 dollar budget, it's hard to have your cake and eat it too.

As far as the 280 trading blows, I think you're mistaking it for the 280x. Aside from at resolutions over 1080p, which should not be included in any discussion involving a 600 dollar build, the 960 wins out.

Check the benchmarks at the following link. The 960 beats the 280 in almost every title at both 1080 and 1440, in both min and average FPS, and the 280x in nearly half of them.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2015/01/22/nvidia-geforce-gtx-960-review-feat-asus/5

RazerZ · Apr 27, 2015

No, I meant the R9 280.

http://www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/1790-nvidia-geforce-gtx-960-game-fps-benchmark-review/Page-2

They didn't have the R9 280, but did have the 285. They traded blows in the games which they tested.

Darkbreeze · Apr 27, 2015

Well, on almost every one of those benchmarks the 960 had a better score in the minimum FPS, by a lot in some of those titles, which is more relevant than the maximum FPS, and then wins in about half the titles at average FPS, so even that card doesn't seem to be a winner. Don't get me wrong, it's a viable build, but for my two hundred bucks, I'd take the 960 over the 280 or 285 every time unless I was gaming over 1440p, in which case I'd want a different tier of card entirely anyhow.

$600 Dollar Gaming PC

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