$600 Budget Build

[Guest]

The computer should last 2 to 3 years gaming, if possible.

Approximate Purchase Date: This or next week

Budget Range: 600 dollars is a maximum

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Photoshop

Parts Preferences: None.

Overclocking: Don't think so, unless AMD.

SLI or Crossfire: No.

Your Monitor Resolution: 1600 x 900

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2300 2.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($55.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($131.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $598.39
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[strife_ff7]

You could go with this http://pcpartpicker.com/p/n8FX
Some of the parts you would have to buy very soon to get the discounts.

 

[g-unit1111]

I'd do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($191.97 @ CompUSA)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.95 @ B&H)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $633.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-10 01:24 EST-0500)

 

[Guest]

I'd do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($191.97 @ CompUSA)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.95 @ B&H)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $633.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-10 01:24 EST-0500)

Thanks for the advice, one question. Will the i5 - 3470 + 7770 + 8GB RAM be enough to record gameplay footage while playing @ 1600 x 900?

Most played games are TF2, CS:S, Minecraft, and Planetside 2.

 

[g-unit1111]

Thanks for the advice, one question. Will the i5 - 3470 + 7770 + 8GB RAM be enough to record gameplay footage while playing @ 1600 x 900?

Most played games are TF2, CS:S, Minecraft, and Planetside 2.

For that resolution a 7770 should be plenty with Catalyst 12.8. If you want to up your budget a bit the 3470 and 7850 will be perfectly fine for that.

 

[michxymi]

Xigmatek ASGARD PRO USB 3.0 CCC-AE37BS-U02 Black Steel + Aluminum and Aluminum Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815014

CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

AMD FX-6300 Vishera 3.5GHz (4.1GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6300WMHKBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286

ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-17000CL11D-8GBXL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231468

PowerColor AX7850 1GBD5-DH Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131482

Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR120GB 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236

SUM 614$ with 10$ MIR from PSU. Though a little overkill for the resolution, this build will play anything now and It will last when you upgrade your monitor with a Full HD one (this sould be the last upgrade you need to do)