First Build, $500 Budget gaming pc advice

do you need the os? it will add 1 hundred dollars to the build

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bCeR

its over by 70 dollars but you will get much more performance than the system you put together

Sorry, I forgot to mention I will already have windows 7. Thanks for putting the time to put together that build. So are you basically suggesting I devote more of my budget to the graphics card? Will this give me better performance than spending about the same on my cpu and gpu? Also, I heard from a couple of sources that I should go with AMD if I was making a cheaper pc, is there some merit to this or just fanboyism? Finally, since I will be under budget a little since I already have the OS, what should I improve on your build? CPU?Memory?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm trying to learn in the process of making this, and make a pc that I'm really happy with.

I would have to agree with TheBigTroll on this one in that Intel kinda has the lead right now. The Pentium G620 is no slouch, and it is cheaper, allowing for more money to go into the GPU budget.

In most gaming situations, the GPU is the more important part of the system. It will give you better gaming performance. You will be more happy with a better graphics card.

What the rez of your monitor? The bigger the monitor, the better graphics card needs to be....in order to maintain a moderate-high FPS. Better graphics usually results in a bigger PS.

For Diablo 3 at 1920x1200 HIGH....50 fps with HD7750. 38 fps with HD6670.

Dave

this is similiar build, but with the next step up CPU that will use 1333Mhz memory, and is clocked 300mhz higher (the G620 can only do 1066Mhz memory, every little bit helps).

NZXT Source 210 S210-001 Black “Aluminum Brush / Plastic” ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Item #: N82E16811146075
$39.99

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Item #: N82E16827135204
Free shipping with promo code EMCNCNE35, ends 7/11
$16.99

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=N82E168...
Item #: N82E16814130770
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$129.99

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=N82E168...
Item #: N82E16820231396
$23.99

MB/CPU COMBO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
Intel Pentium G850 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623G850
Item #: N82E16819116397

ASRock H61M/U3S3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813157236
$141.98

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$352.94 + $18.44 shipping = $371.38

From NCIX.US
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 3.5IN 16MB Cache
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=63468&vpn=ST500DM002&m...
$64.99
Corsair Builder Series CMPSU-500CXV2 500W
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=60329&vpn=CMPSU-500CXV...
$55.99
------
$120.98 free shipping
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492.36 Shipped - $10MIR = $482.36

It used to be true that AMD was the better choice at the low end, but that changed when the SB Pentiums came out. Recent articles and benchmarks have consistently shown that there is no longer any price point at which Intel does not outperform AMD in games.
I like jerreddredd's build. Any changes I might make would be niggling, which just muddies the water. If you add a little bit to your budget though, I might suggest a non "SE" version of the GTX560, or a HD6870 (their performance is similar, depending on the game).

Oh, and please don't think to get the better GPU by scrimping on the PSU. The Chokemax you selected is not a quality unit, likely good for no more than 80% of its label, and possibly not cleanly. A quality 500W unit (such as the ones that have been suggested) is best for your system.

I really appreciate all the quick responses. I like jerreddredd's build quite a bit and I think I'll copy it exactly. What should I look into as far as overclocking goes in this build? Also should I look into throwing another 4 gigs of ram into it for 20 bucks or is 8 gigs kind of overkill at this point?

You won't be able to OC the CPU much at all due to its locked multiplier, but you may get a few more MHz out of the BCLK. The graphics card is another story, and you'd be able to OC that if you wanted to.
The performance difference today between 4GB and 8GB is not much, but another 4GB for $20 could be some cheap future-resistance. Keep in mind you'll want a 2x4GB kit, since there are only two RAM slots on that mobo.

All of the Pentiums have locked multipliers, but if you were planning on overclocking I would rather have a K anyway. They're still good performers nonetheless.

That card would be nice to overclock. And it comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements, which is pretty cool software.

Do consider this build with a better GPU:

CPU: $64- Intel G620

Motherboard:$45- Asrock H61

RAM: $20- GSkill NS 4GB(Single 4GB kit. In a month or so if you have spare $20 get another 4GB kit)

PSU: $45- Corsair CX430(Enough to power this setup)

GPU: $210- Zotac GTX 560TI(Much better than 6670)

HDD: $70- WD Cavier Blue 500 GB

ODD : $17- Samsung

Case: $30- Apex TX 381(Decent one)

Total(Excluding Rebates): 506 USD

Rebates: $40

I think that build gives up way too much. The mobo doesn't have USB3.0 or SATA 6Gb/s, which means any notion of future-resistance is out the window. Single-channel RAM may only be 5% slower, but that's too much to give up for the price. The PSU is a good one, and probably "enough," but would have little margin to allow for a CPU upgrade or graphics card overclocking. For anything other than games, the CPU will seem a bit slow; read the excellent discussion following the last $500 SBM article for more comments on that subject. This CPU weakness could be worse, depending on the actual games.
I think jerreddredd achieved a much more balanced build, that will be more satisfying overall, and more future-resistant.

its still dual channel. just that you only have 2 dimm slots

if you need 4 slots, just get a msi h77ama-g43

No, z_4 was suggesting he buy only one RAM stick.

z_4 Seems to always suggest only 1 ram stick. I beat him up on it before. lol.

not having dual channel memory usage makes the system so slow that you physically feel it  

(4Gb) 2x2GB is fine for 95% of applications and 99% of gaming. 8Gb its just a nice to have thing,

I kind of got carried away to suggest a much better GPU by sacrificing a CPU and somewhat usb 3.0 and sata 6gb/s support. on mobo.

Regarding RAM, i feel that with 8 GB becoming standard, he could get a 4GB kit now , and another 4GB later (a month or so). He could definitely cope with single channel one for some time.