$350 - $450 PC Build Advice

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Rndbroom

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Jan 5, 2016
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Approximate Purchase Date: 02/01/2016

Budget Range: $350 to $450
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Surfing the internet, Running GIMP, Using iTunes, Watching movies/Netflix, an online MMORPG occasionally.

Parts Not Required: This is for a complete tower only. No monitors, keyboard, mice, etc..

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Any (I don't prefer used parts though.)

Country: United States

Parts Preferences:
CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K or AMD FX-6300
Case: NZXT S340 Mid Tower

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Preferred parts are simply that. I do not have anything set in my mind that I want for certain. If any of you have a better idea over the parts mentioned, please include them, be it CPU or Case. I do not have a lot of knowledge about building PCs. if you do prefer another case, over the one I chose, I would like for it to have a window on the side. The point of this build is not for gaming, I simply want a reliable decently fast computer. I would also prefer the GPU to support dual monitor setup.

Thanks for all of your input and feedback.
 
Solution
JasonL265
If you have not built it yet, you can try this one. I actually built the same PC yesterday for $400 bucks, although I had an extra 120GB SSD lying around and I have my OS on that. Also for the case I have the Corsair Graphite Series 230T since I got it on sale for $50. If you have a Micro Center near your house you can also take another $40 off due to their combo deals for AMD CPU and MOBO (Intel's is $20 combo).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($98.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 970M PRO3 Micro ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @...
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Finkledbody

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Dec 23, 2014
585
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5,360
For what you are looking to do with it, web surfing and mild mmo's, this computer is more then enough for your needs.


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Ff6PRB
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Ff6PRB/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($62.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($50.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $437.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-16 09:38 EST-0500

I wouldn't bother with the AMD or the NZXT 340 mainly for cost reasons. Those two items blow to much of you budget taking away from the more important items.
 
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Victorion

Victorion

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Nov 9, 2015
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Online MMO doesn´t usually doesn´t demand highend videocards, and at the budget point, going with the newest skylake tech and integrated HD 530 graphics is your best bet.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3P ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.88 @ OutletPC)
Case: Logisys CS206BK ATX Mid Tower Case w/480W Power Supply ($28.54 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $449.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-16 09:52 EST-0500

Along the way you can:
- add an ssd (256 GB) will improve booting and loading times
- add an air cooler like Hyper Evo 212 for $25 and overclock (motherboard allows overclocking)
- add a dedicated videocard like GTX 950/960 4GB/970 (powersupply is powerful enough to run it)
 
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R

Rndbroom

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Jan 5, 2016
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4,510
Thanks you guys for the help. I am doing my research on the parts you listed. If any of you change your mind on a part, or have any more ideas/suggestions, please feel free to post them.
 
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jmsellars1

jmsellars1

Splendid
Dec 31, 2010
3,916
2
23,465
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($68.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($36.30 @ Amazon)
Memory: Mushkin Essentials 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.99 @ Micro Center)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 370 2GB Core Edition Video Card ($128.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($50.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $412.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-16 16:28 EST-0500

If you decide to go with AMD, that would give you decent performance as well, roughly similar to that Pentium build. Possibly a bit better.
 
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jmsellars1

jmsellars1

Splendid
Dec 31, 2010
3,916
2
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You don't really have many different options at this budget.

- The best CPU is either the G3258 or 860k at this budget, they're similar in gaming performance. (Pentium is better when overclocked but some people just like having a quad core.)
- 4GB or 8GB RAM is best for gaming and a kit of 2 is better than 1 or 4 etc.
- SSD or hard drive, go for SSD for speed or hard drive for capacity depending which you prefer.
- Then just get the best GPU you can afford.
- Case is personal preference and a quality 450W+ PSU should be plenty of power.

They're pretty much your options.
 
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Rndbroom

Reputable
Jan 5, 2016
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4,510


Thank you.
 
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JasonL265

JasonL265

Honorable
Apr 3, 2015
395
1
10,960
If you have not built it yet, you can try this one. I actually built the same PC yesterday for $400 bucks, although I had an extra 120GB SSD lying around and I have my OS on that. Also for the case I have the Corsair Graphite Series 230T since I got it on sale for $50. If you have a Micro Center near your house you can also take another $40 off due to their combo deals for AMD CPU and MOBO (Intel's is $20 combo).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($98.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 970M PRO3 Micro ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card ($129.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $452.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-02-03 10:35 EST-0500
 
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