Building gaming build for friend $500-700

bmwm3oz

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Jul 16, 2008
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Location - Seattle

Budget Range: $500 -$700

System Usage - Gaming

Are you buying a monitor: No monitor, no keyboard, no mouse needed

Parts to Upgrade: CPU, GPU, PSU, MB, RAM, SSD Drive (for os mainly) , OS, Case,

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Parts Preferences: Intel, Nvidia

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: He doesn't want a case with a bunch of fun lights, :)


Thanks as usual!
 
Solution
------------------------------ budget skylake build ---------------------------
For a budget gaming build, I like to recommend that one builds for future expandability.
That means paying a bit more up front for some parts that allow for an easier future upgrade.
A good rule of thumb is to budget twice as much for the graphics card than for the cpu.

Let me start where you might not expect:

1. Buy a good 500w psu or better. 520w will run a card as good as a GTX1080.
Future graphics cards will be built on smaller 14nm so they should not need more power than today.
I would normally suggest Seasonic 520w: Expect to pay around $60.
Look for a tier 1 or 2 quality unit on a list such as this...

xFeaRDom

Estimable
A bit over your budget, but a very nice build:

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/8bgWJV
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/8bgWJV/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($191.91 @ Jet)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($53.99 @ Jet)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ Jet)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.78 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card ($249.99 @ Jet)
Case: VIVO CASE-V00 ATX Mini Tower Case ($27.99 @ Newegg Marketplace)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.98 @ B&H)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($88.58 @ OutletPC)
Total: $804.18
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-12-20 09:51 EST-0500

Then there's this one that fits your budget:

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/JjxMM8
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/JjxMM8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($93.99 @ Jet)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ Jet)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.78 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB SC GAMING ACX 2.0 Video Card ($149.99 @ Jet)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.98 @ B&H)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($88.58 @ OutletPC)
Total: $701.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-12-20 09:54 EST-0500
 

bmwm3oz

Distinguished
Jul 16, 2008
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Funny, I built a similar build as your first one there.

I should clarify, he won't need the extra TB storage. Apparently he already has an external TB storage so all he needs is an SSD. I like the one you picked, 120GB is enough for the OS.

 
------------------------------ budget skylake build ---------------------------
For a budget gaming build, I like to recommend that one builds for future expandability.
That means paying a bit more up front for some parts that allow for an easier future upgrade.
A good rule of thumb is to budget twice as much for the graphics card than for the cpu.

Let me start where you might not expect:

1. Buy a good 500w psu or better. 520w will run a card as good as a GTX1080.
Future graphics cards will be built on smaller 14nm so they should not need more power than today.
I would normally suggest Seasonic 520w: Expect to pay around $60.
Look for a tier 1 or 2 quality unit on a list such as this:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx?Redirected=true

2. Buy a Z170 based motherboard. Z170 will allow you to install a overclockable cpu and even permit a future Kaby lake processor upgrade.
You should find one for under $100. Lesser lga1151 chipsets will work for the truly budget constrained but at the expense of future upgrade optiions.
Here is a M-ATX example: ASRock Z170M Pro4S for $99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157637

If a future upgrade to an overclockable I5-6600K is not likely, you can use a much cheaper H110 based motherboard for about $50.

3. I suggest a I3-6100 @3.7. About $130. If you are truly budget limited, you can buy a g4400 dual core for $60.
In time, you can upgrade to any I3/I5/I7 cpu that you want and market theoriginal processor.

4. The intel stock cooler will do the job. Skylake runs cool.
If you want, you can use a cryorig H7 cooler with a 120mm fan. $35. It will be quieter.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4UF2DZ6565
One can always add a cpu cooler later.

5. For ram, speed is not important. Buy a 8gb kit of 2 x 4gb DDR4 1.2v 2133 speed ram.
About $40. If you ever want 16gb, buy it up front in one kit; adding more ram is never guaranteed to work.
Heat spreaders are marketing and generally useless.
Faster ram is not worth it for skylake:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1478-page1.html

6. Cases are a personal thing. Buy one you love. Most will do the job for <$50.
Here is a silverstone PS08 for $35; It fits a smallar M-ATX motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163223

7. The graphics card is the most important component for gaming.
I like the GTX750ti and EVGA as a brand.
Here is a superclock version:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
You could go stronger in the video card if your budget permits and your games need it.
On the other hand, you could build using the integrated 530 graphics which is quite good and see how you do.
By deferring on the graphics card, you will get a better idea of what you really need.
Integrated is fine for sims, but not fast action games.
8. Lastly, I will never build again without a SSD for the "C" drive. It makes everything you do so much quicker. 120gb will hold the OS and a handful of games. But, many things default to the C drive.
With ssd prices low, I recommend 240gb.
Once a ssd reaches 90% full, it will slow down and lose endurance.

Currently, I like samsung 850 EVO best.
They seem to be better performers and more reliable.

-------------good luck------------




 
Solution

bmwm3oz

Distinguished
Jul 16, 2008
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Great in depth post. Thanks man, much appreciated!
 

xFeaRDom

Estimable
PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/DL3DQV
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/DL3DQV/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($191.91 @ Jet)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($53.99 @ Jet)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ Jet)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card ($249.99 @ Jet)
Case: VIVO CASE-V00 ATX Mini Tower Case ($27.99 @ Newegg Marketplace)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.98 @ B&H)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($88.58 @ OutletPC)
Total: $754.40
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-12-20 10:40 EST-0500

Only $50 over budget without the HDD. Really good build for the price. Going to try squeezing it down:

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/gbmcgL
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/gbmcgL/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($46.99 @ Jet)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ Jet)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon RX 480 8GB Video Card ($239.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($22.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.98 @ B&H)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($88.58 @ OutletPC)
Total: $720.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-12-20 10:43 EST-0500

The build above is much better, but the second one is packing more power/performance in at almost the lowest prices possible :p

 

bmwm3oz

Distinguished
Jul 16, 2008
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GeoFelt, Xfeardom, and Octavecode, thanks a lot for your responses. I don't know who I should pick for best answer because you all had great responses.

I think I have what I need for now and will use your information to come up with a build to order this week.

Thanks again!
 

xFeaRDom

Estimable


No worries! Glad we could help, apologies that I went a bit over budget, but all are great recommendations.
 

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