Any improvements I can make to this build? Is it fine?
Is the 500W power supply enough?
PCPartpicker
Is the 500W power supply enough?
PCPartpicker
Gaming PC Build Improvements
- Thread starter Dinos992
- Start date
Solution
JQB45
Splendid
- Jun 23, 2006
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Thats a lower quality power supply but the build its self is fine and 500W is more then enough.
You chose G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory. Which is ok, but you only need DDR4-2133 for a locked CPU. You might be able to save a few dollars. I'd pick the lowest CAS DDR4-2133 you can find for the price you're comfortable with.
You chose G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory. Which is ok, but you only need DDR4-2133 for a locked CPU. You might be able to save a few dollars. I'd pick the lowest CAS DDR4-2133 you can find for the price you're comfortable with.
guanyu210379
Illustrious
- Mar 30, 2007
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If you can still go for i5, better do it. The difference between i3 and i5 is quite big. Do not go for i3 unless you have to.
If you do not have enough money, you can drop the SSD for now and add it later.
If you do not have enough money, you can drop the SSD for now and add it later.
JQB45
Splendid
- Jun 23, 2006
- 3,606
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Here is a low end i5 system based on your original design.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($31.59 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($194.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 100R ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.36 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $584.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-25 07:55 EDT-0400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($31.59 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($194.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 100R ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.36 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $584.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-25 07:55 EDT-0400
I would really like to go with that i5 but I really can't go more than 550$. I got a very strict budget as I can barely do 550, ideally I would want a 500$ build.
I found G.Skill Ripjaws4 8GB DDR4-2133MHz CAS 15 which is like 3$ cheaper but no less than that.
Also, I found that Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" SATA ΙΙΙ is actually 2.5$ cheaper than the Barracuda.
Thanks for assuring me about the power supply. I thought I could drop the GPU and get the 2gb one? I mean it's only a 15$ difference from where I am going to get it, I don't know if it will be worth it.
guanyu210379
Illustrious
- Mar 30, 2007
- 7,684
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For GTX960, the 2GB or 4GB does not play a role. GTX960 will give up far early before the game really utilize more than 2GB.
RAM speed does play a big role in gaming, just get the cheapest possible from known brand, if you are short on budget.
For HDD, do not go for Seagate, stay with WD.
SSD can be postponed.
Just because about USD35 (USD550 vs USD585), you are making your rig quite a lot less capable. i5 is a lot better than the i3. I would do some rethinking here.
RAM speed does play a big role in gaming, just get the cheapest possible from known brand, if you are short on budget.
For HDD, do not go for Seagate, stay with WD.
SSD can be postponed.
Just because about USD35 (USD550 vs USD585), you are making your rig quite a lot less capable. i5 is a lot better than the i3. I would do some rethinking here.
The cheapest gtx 960 is EVGA GeForce GTX960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ (02G-P4-2966-KR)
but I found that Gigabyte GeForce GTX950 2GB (GV-N950XTREME-2GD) is actually better? And it's 20$ cheaper for me.
Thank you for your answers so far. If you exclude everything I wrote, what build would you recommend to someone with 500$ budget?
guanyu210379
Illustrious
- Mar 30, 2007
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If I was to build a new PC, I would not restrain me 100% from budget.
The budget will be only as the price class I am looking for.
In using that price class, I am also looking for best buys while avoiding bottleneck.
I will not buy cheap stuffs if I can get a lot better things, while keeping the budget still in range.
e.g. i3 is a no go, if i5 is no longer far away..like on your case.
Using budget is also related to what you already have and can reuse. <-- important
Gigabyte GeForce GTX950 2GB? GTX950 is acceptable but quite a lot weaker than GTX960, especially looking from the price point of view which only USD20 away.
Forcing your PC to be USD500 or USD550 from 585 while loosing so much performance?
i5 to i3, GTX960 to GTX 950 and so on...I would not call this as a wise choice..but acceptable as desperate solution.
Now, if you are looking for other alternative, you can start by listing components you already have and are reusable at the moment.
Perhaps a HDD? Case? RAM? Anything?
The budget will be only as the price class I am looking for.
In using that price class, I am also looking for best buys while avoiding bottleneck.
I will not buy cheap stuffs if I can get a lot better things, while keeping the budget still in range.
e.g. i3 is a no go, if i5 is no longer far away..like on your case.
Using budget is also related to what you already have and can reuse. <-- important
Gigabyte GeForce GTX950 2GB? GTX950 is acceptable but quite a lot weaker than GTX960, especially looking from the price point of view which only USD20 away.
Forcing your PC to be USD500 or USD550 from 585 while loosing so much performance?
i5 to i3, GTX960 to GTX 950 and so on...I would not call this as a wise choice..but acceptable as desperate solution.
Now, if you are looking for other alternative, you can start by listing components you already have and are reusable at the moment.
Perhaps a HDD? Case? RAM? Anything?
What I was saying is that the gigabyte xtreme gaming gtx 950 is better than the cheap evga gtx 960 2gb, or at least that's what I found. And no, no old components, just an old laptop, that's why I'm going to buy a desktop.
Although you are right about the price difference, shouldn't I spend my money on a better gpu rather than a cpu?
Inkiad
Distinguished
- Jul 10, 2010
- 1,320
- 0
- 19,960
Consider this build
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($50.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($29.79 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($169.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($22.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $544.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-26 05:08 EDT-0400
Sure it does not have an SSD, but an i5 will be better than an i3. Also has 1 stick of ram, so you can upgrade later. You can reduce cost by going 1x8 GB ram. The case is not great, but will get the job done.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($50.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($29.79 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($169.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($22.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $544.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-26 05:08 EDT-0400
Sure it does not have an SSD, but an i5 will be better than an i3. Also has 1 stick of ram, so you can upgrade later. You can reduce cost by going 1x8 GB ram. The case is not great, but will get the job done.
guanyu210379
Illustrious
- Mar 30, 2007
- 7,684
- 25
- 38,115
GTX950 is weaker than GTX960, already mentioned it. And the difference is only 20 bucks.
Most games rely more on GPU than on processor, some games do benefit from stronger processor.
However, to be noted, I tend to upgrade the GPU more often than the processor. In my opinion, it is better to get stronger processor first and upgrade the GPU later.
i5+GTX960 is the better combination by far compared to i3+GTX960 or i5+GTX950...avoid i3+GTX950, unless you really really have to.
Inkiad build is also nice, you can tryto cut the costs by reducing the case price, picking up only single channel RAM, etc. Just try to keep the i5 and GTX960.
Most games rely more on GPU than on processor, some games do benefit from stronger processor.
However, to be noted, I tend to upgrade the GPU more often than the processor. In my opinion, it is better to get stronger processor first and upgrade the GPU later.
i5+GTX960 is the better combination by far compared to i3+GTX960 or i5+GTX950...avoid i3+GTX950, unless you really really have to.
Inkiad build is also nice, you can tryto cut the costs by reducing the case price, picking up only single channel RAM, etc. Just try to keep the i5 and GTX960.
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