Best Budget Gaming CPU/RAM/MOBO (Optional GPU)

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MatreyuC

MatreyuC

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I'm on a budget, so I'm looking for the best possible CPU/RAM/MOBO *(w/wo GPU, same prices though) combo I could get for let's say three different prices: $200, $250, and $300. I'd prefer suggestions of parts based on actual experience or real life facts rather than just benchmarks as I can just read those myself, not to mention mostly all of them seem pretty janky. But I'll take what I can get. I am certainly not averted to used or refurbished parts, or overclocking, but the stock cooler for what CPU I get is all I would have, though if you recommend a used CPU without a cooler then you would of course need to recommend an aftermarket cooler. If this means anything to the choosing process, my PSU is 500w and I have a Powercolor Radeon HD 6670 1gb GPU that I won't be upgrading in the foreseeable future. My main use of this PC will be to game as the title States.
 
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madmatt30
Well at under $300 mate in all honesty I don't think a 860k+370 can be bettered (you may squeeze a gtx 950 with it if you can find one on offer)

An i3+750ti can be squeezed in just but to me is a worse conbination performance wise.

You'll still get $170-180 back for those components second hand a year down the line should you want to do a new build after that essentially giving you a $120 for a years rental scenario) which isn't a bad way of looking at it IMO.
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Rooster__

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I would recommend picking up some used ddr3, a z68 motherboard and a 2500k, if you spend sometime looking on ebay you should find what you're looking for, I got mine for about £200 ($280ish) and a case and power supply, so I expect you could get it a little cheaper. It is a very good chip and overclocks like a dream, and should be perfectly fine with your gpu. I run mine at 4.4 ghz with a 212 evo, great budget cooler to get a nice overclock out of:
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-RR-212E-20PK-R2/dp/B005O65JXI
 
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sizzling

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Oct 18, 2006
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What make and model PSU?

If your not upgrading your GPU then there is no point going for a cpu capable of high end gaming. Personally I'd go with a i3 6100. You should be able to find good bundle deals on cpu/mobo/ram and being based on socket 1151 and DDR4 should mean better opportunities for future upgrades if you choose.

If you will upgrade your gpu then I'd go i5 6600 as that will work well with any single GPU gaming build
 
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BadActor

BadActor

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Oct 31, 2015
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Don't own this combo yet, but next time I go by a MicroCenter, I will. Personally don't think there's anything under $300 bucks that can touch it, and that's without overclocking. The onboard graphics are better than your current GPU.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($123.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3P ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $248.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-02-21 07:07 EST-0500

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html
 
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MatreyuC

MatreyuC

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Doesn't the AMD A10-7870k have the best integrated graphics of all APUs? And whether or not it does, should I get it or any other AMD APU to do crossfire with my GPU? I've been thinking about these parts for months now, so I'm more than a little fried.
 
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Archaic59

Archaic59

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MatreyuC

MatreyuC

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Sizzling, I have no idea of my PSU make or model without taking my computer apart, all I know is that it is 500w and bronze certified, supposedly at least. I don't think I will be buying anything but this combo of budget parts for a long time.
 
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madmatt30

madmatt30

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The igp on the 6100 is still not even close to an old 6670!

The graphics on the 7850/7870k apu are about the same performance wise maybe a bit stronger.
You won't find an apu that will crossfire with that card nowadays , they died out with the Richland chips & cf performance is sub par anyway.

No matter what CPU/mb/ram you pick that old 6670 will be massively detrimental to performance - its just not a capable gaming card now.
 
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madmatt30

madmatt30

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MatreyuC

MatreyuC

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Well s**t madmatt30, didn't think about GPUs that low in price beating mine so handily, just looked up some comparisons and it's brutal. If my Athlon 64 5000+ with 2gb of DDR2 and a 6670 on an OEM MOBO can handle Skyrim at high settings, I can't imagine what I could do with both a 20x faster CPU and GPU! Something like a R7 370 would suit my needs perfectly.
 
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MatreyuC

MatreyuC

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---ANNOUNCEMENT---

I updated the title and description to say that a GPU can be included if you think that is best (not necessary), but it still has to be within the same price.
 
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MatreyuC

MatreyuC

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Also guys, I'm about 95% sure I won't/wouldn't be able to do a second upgrade from whatever you suggest until maybe the end of this year/beggining of next, at which point I think I would go for the new AMD CPUs and GPUs out, so my motherboard wouldn't be able to be used again anyways, meaning obsolete socket types don't matter for me.
 
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madmatt30

madmatt30

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Well at under $300 mate in all honesty I don't think a 860k+370 can be bettered (you may squeeze a gtx 950 with it if you can find one on offer)

An i3+750ti can be squeezed in just but to me is a worse conbination performance wise.

You'll still get $170-180 back for those components second hand a year down the line should you want to do a new build after that essentially giving you a $120 for a years rental scenario) which isn't a bad way of looking at it IMO.
 
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