Looking to spend 400-500 on first PC

[BrendanR]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within next two weeks

Budget Range: 400-500 (after rebates)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing internet, word functions, watching movies.

Parts Not Required: mouse, monitor, OS, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: whatever will offer the bestdeal

Country: United States

Parts Preferences: Trusted name brands

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Not sure

Additional Comments:
Well, I have no experience in building PCs so I would prefer to have it prebuilt for me or custom built. I'd like to stay within these boundaries because I will only need it for minor gaming with games like Diablo 3 and a select few other games, nothing too taxing. Other uses will be typical home usage and word functions for school. I do not need a monitor, mouse, or OS. Thank you so much for your help and I will try to offer any more information I can.

 

[lycros]

Case - NZXT Source 210 Black
GPU - XFX HD 7850 2GB
PSU - Corsair 500W
CPU/MOBO/RAM Combo - i3 -2120/Biostar H61MGC/Patriot 2x 4GB DDR3 1333

Bout $510 after shipping.

That is a solid build, but there are many alternatives.

You could get a 480 and get a higher rated PSU.

You could get a lower GPU (560(ti)/6870) and save money or get a mobo/case with more features.

 

[jerreddredd]

Case - NZXT Source 210 Black
GPU - XFX HD 7850 2GB
PSU - Corsair 500W
CPU/MOBO/RAM Combo - i3 -2120/Biostar H61MGC/Patriot 2x 4GB DDR3 1333

Bout $510 after shipping.

You forgot the HDD? a HD 7850 is over kill for minor gaming.

 

[jerreddredd]

Try this. same i3 2120 CPU, but upgraded MB (has usb 3.0 and SATA 6G) and a top end Entry level Gaming Graphics card.

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151244
Item #: N82E16827151244
$16.99

NZXT Source 210 S210-001 Black “Aluminum Brush / Plastic” ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146075
Item #: N82E16811146075
$39.99

Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ/ST500DM005 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
Item #: N82E16822152181
$79.99

EVGA 01G-P3-1464-KR GeForce GTX 560 SE (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130770
Item #: N82E16814130770
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$129.99

CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
Item #: N82E16817139026
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$39.99

G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396
Item #: N82E16820231396
$23.99

CPU/MB Combo
Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I32120
Item #: N82E16819115077

ASRock H61M/U3S3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813157236
$178.98
-------
509.92 + $10.45 Shipping and - $30 MIR Final cost is $490.37

+$55 gets you a i5 quad core CPU instead of the Dual Core i3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.955155

 

[amkronos]

Use that CPU/MOBO/RAM Combo
Case is fine

Add this HDD/PSU Combo:
Seagate Barracude 500GB HDD + COOLER MASTER Elite 460W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.976118

Now you're left with some choices.

Get a $200 Video card, or settle for an HD 7770 or 550 TI and get a 64GB SSD.

I suggest going with:

GPU: MSI R7770-2PMD1GD5/OC Radeon HD 7770

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127664

And

Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441


Total is $550 but mail in rebates will bring it down to $540. Going over $40 budget is worth getting the SSD which will greatly increase speed on a low end system, and the HD 7770 is decent mid range GPU that will play all the current games at high or ultra settings.

 

[lycros]

Ya sorry forgot to add a HDD. It was late and I was trying to maximize performance on a $500 budget

A more reasonable card would be an HD 6870 or 560/TI. But you never said what other games besides Diablo 3 you were going to play.

 

[jerreddredd]

Use that CPU/MOBO/RAM Combo
Case is fine

Add this HDD/PSU Combo:
Seagate Barracude 500GB HDD + COOLER MASTER Elite 460W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.976118

that is a terrible PSU! its has questionable durability and isn't even 80+ certified on top of that it is a re-labled 400W PSU.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-Elite-Power-460-W-Power-Supply-Review/1005/9