Hello everyone.
I'm looking into building a PC for the first time ever, and as I am an avid gamer, I'm naturally building a gaming PC. I've done some research already and have come up with two possible builds, one centering around an AMD processor, and one around an Intel processor. I'm aiming to build my gaming PC for between $500 and $650, and both of the builds I've created fall within those marks.
I don't own many really high-end PC games. I'm traditionally a console gamer, so I buy the newest titles on my Xbox One, unless of course they're only available on computers. It's quite possible that with a powerful computer I would start to buy more high-end and system-demanding games, though. But right now, I'm not going to be playing a bunch of super graphics intensive games, and if I can't hit ultra settings on any that I do that's fine. High settings for such games will suit me plenty well. Basically what I'm saying is that I'm happy with a budget PC, and would like to keep it on the budget side, but I also want to get a few comparatively flashy parts (CPU and GPU to be specific).
I don't care much at all about the aesthetics of my PC, I just want it to function well at a budget price, and I do not have any current plans for overclocking my system, so keep those two things in mind in any advice you have to offer.
Now, what sort of advice am I looking for? Well, I like to think that I've created a couple of pretty solid builds, but there's just a whole lot about building a PC that I don't know because I'm new to it, so I wanted to run both of my builds past some people who are more tech-savvy than I am to get some suggestions for a few questions and to help me decide which build will end up serving my purposes better. Now, before I get onto asking any actual questions, here are my two builds.
Intel build:
CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB NITRO Dual-X OC Video Card
Case: Fractal Design Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case
Power supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Approximate cost: $620
PCPartPicker link: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/TheYbot/saved/qLtwrH
AMD build:
CPU: AMD FX-8300 3.3GHz 8-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock 970M PRO3 Micro ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB NITRO Dual-X OC Video Card
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case
Power supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Approximate cost: $550
PCPartPicker link: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/TheYbot/saved/X93qqs
My preferred shopping location is Amazon.com (I have Prime). Newegg.com also works fine, and ultimately I'm not picky as long as I'm getting the best deal available (having taken shipping into account on websites other than Amazon).
So, first question applies to both builds. Is 2TB overkill? I could shave off about $13 by just settling for 1TB, and while it's not much, I'm happy to pinch pennies where I can get away with it.
Second question applies to both builds as well. The motherboards. Both on the inexpensive side, which is precisely where I want them to be. But are they both good $50 boards for each build? Or would you recommend I get a different one around the same price point for either build?
Third question applies to both builds. Is the RAM fine? Is there much of a difference between one brand of 8GB (2 x 4GB) 2133 (or 1600 as it may be) RAM and another one? Should I change my RAM choices for any reason?
Fourth question also applies to both builds. The case. I'm completely out of my depth when it comes to picking a case. No idea how to go about choosing. Should these cases do fine? Do you have another case to recommend at around a $40 price point?
Fifth question applies only to the AMD build. I could downgrade to an AMD FX-6300 6-Core Processor and save around $25 if I wanted to pinch more pennies, but I'm not so sure that this is worth it. Looking at the rest of the build, do you think it will make a big impact either way? Would you recommend one over the other?
Sixth and final question is the most important. Which build should I go with? The AMD build is around $70 cheaper and it looks like it might pack more power on paper. But going with the Intel build feels pretty safe, and I don't think it's a huge downgrade. But I would be totally willing to go with the AMD build just to save the money. Should I? Or is the extra money for the Intel build worth it?
Thanks a lot for your help!
I'm looking into building a PC for the first time ever, and as I am an avid gamer, I'm naturally building a gaming PC. I've done some research already and have come up with two possible builds, one centering around an AMD processor, and one around an Intel processor. I'm aiming to build my gaming PC for between $500 and $650, and both of the builds I've created fall within those marks.
I don't own many really high-end PC games. I'm traditionally a console gamer, so I buy the newest titles on my Xbox One, unless of course they're only available on computers. It's quite possible that with a powerful computer I would start to buy more high-end and system-demanding games, though. But right now, I'm not going to be playing a bunch of super graphics intensive games, and if I can't hit ultra settings on any that I do that's fine. High settings for such games will suit me plenty well. Basically what I'm saying is that I'm happy with a budget PC, and would like to keep it on the budget side, but I also want to get a few comparatively flashy parts (CPU and GPU to be specific).
I don't care much at all about the aesthetics of my PC, I just want it to function well at a budget price, and I do not have any current plans for overclocking my system, so keep those two things in mind in any advice you have to offer.
Now, what sort of advice am I looking for? Well, I like to think that I've created a couple of pretty solid builds, but there's just a whole lot about building a PC that I don't know because I'm new to it, so I wanted to run both of my builds past some people who are more tech-savvy than I am to get some suggestions for a few questions and to help me decide which build will end up serving my purposes better. Now, before I get onto asking any actual questions, here are my two builds.
Intel build:
CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB NITRO Dual-X OC Video Card
Case: Fractal Design Core 2300 ATX Mid Tower Case
Power supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Approximate cost: $620
PCPartPicker link: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/TheYbot/saved/qLtwrH
AMD build:
CPU: AMD FX-8300 3.3GHz 8-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock 970M PRO3 Micro ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB NITRO Dual-X OC Video Card
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case
Power supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Approximate cost: $550
PCPartPicker link: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/TheYbot/saved/X93qqs
My preferred shopping location is Amazon.com (I have Prime). Newegg.com also works fine, and ultimately I'm not picky as long as I'm getting the best deal available (having taken shipping into account on websites other than Amazon).
So, first question applies to both builds. Is 2TB overkill? I could shave off about $13 by just settling for 1TB, and while it's not much, I'm happy to pinch pennies where I can get away with it.
Second question applies to both builds as well. The motherboards. Both on the inexpensive side, which is precisely where I want them to be. But are they both good $50 boards for each build? Or would you recommend I get a different one around the same price point for either build?
Third question applies to both builds. Is the RAM fine? Is there much of a difference between one brand of 8GB (2 x 4GB) 2133 (or 1600 as it may be) RAM and another one? Should I change my RAM choices for any reason?
Fourth question also applies to both builds. The case. I'm completely out of my depth when it comes to picking a case. No idea how to go about choosing. Should these cases do fine? Do you have another case to recommend at around a $40 price point?
Fifth question applies only to the AMD build. I could downgrade to an AMD FX-6300 6-Core Processor and save around $25 if I wanted to pinch more pennies, but I'm not so sure that this is worth it. Looking at the rest of the build, do you think it will make a big impact either way? Would you recommend one over the other?
Sixth and final question is the most important. Which build should I go with? The AMD build is around $70 cheaper and it looks like it might pack more power on paper. But going with the Intel build feels pretty safe, and I don't think it's a huge downgrade. But I would be totally willing to go with the AMD build just to save the money. Should I? Or is the extra money for the Intel build worth it?
Thanks a lot for your help!
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