Any ideas for a $500-600 gaming PC?

Bains123

Commendable
Feb 1, 2017
3
0
1,510
I have 500-600 bucks to spend on a PC but I do not know much about what I want as I am relatively new to PCs. I want to build my first PC and I not sure if I should get an AMD or Intel CPU. For a GPU I am thinking of a GTX 1050 or 1050 TI or 1060 but I am not too sure here either, I am open to suggestions and am welcome to help. I am willing to wait a few months before I buy and build the PC and I want to make up my mind and be happy with my decision.
I tend to play Forza and Need for Speed, I have checked requirements for these games and I need a 3.8GHz+ CPU and a good GPU, however it is ok if I cannot play these games on the highest settings as I don't mind turning down the settings to let the game run smoothly, other games I play are older NFS titles as I love racing games and I am sure I can run these on ultra settings and with a graphics mod on most $400+ PCs.
Should I get an AMD GPU as well or is a GTX worth the money?
Are there any websites where I can configure a PC at a good price?
Please help.
 

jpatrick2

Respectable
May 4, 2016
458
0
1,960
here you go mate:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-7100 3.9GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock B250M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Elite Plus 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.60 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB GAMING Video Card ($239.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($32.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($42.44 @ OutletPC)
Total: $603.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-02-01 16:05 EST-0500
 
Solution

Geekwad

Admirable
You'll find several ideas here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3314070/builds-2017-500-budget-category.html

And PC Part Picker is a great site to mix and match components, while still ensuring compatibility for the layman:

https://pcpartpicker.com/

I'd also caution you on the 3.8GHz 'need'......processors cannot be compared on a GHz basis only. An old 3.8Ghz processor can perform much much worse than a new 2.7GHz processor, for instance, so you have to pay attention to the model/series being referenced in a requirement list.

As for AMD vs. Nvidia....most of the time it's Chevy vs. Ford. Both manufacturers make a range of GPUs, and comparable GPUs (price/performance) trade blows, with some games coming out a little bit better or slightly worse, when compared. In the lower price categories AMD carries some advantages, with FreeSync monitors being more affordable, and their entry-level GPUs still able to be be paired (a nice way to boost performance after an initial purchase, without starting over):

http://www.amd.com/en-us/innovations/software-technologies/technologies-gaming/freesync

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/g-sync

http://www.amd.com/en-us/innovations/software-technologies/crossfire

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/sli/technology

 

Dark Lord of Tech

Retired Moderator
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-7100 3.9GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B250M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Avexir Core Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.60 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon RX 480 8GB Red Devil Video Card ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Deepcool DUKASE V2 ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ B&H)
Total: $617.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-02-01 17:08 EST-0500