Intel Gaming Build for $600

[aweskomer]

Before I begin, I know my way around software, but am completely hardware retarded.

I'm looking for a good gaming PC build for under/around $600. I can probably do $700, but would prefer not to if its only a small difference.

I'd prefer if it were Intel based, as I, and almost everyone I know have had better luck with Intel in the past, but I'm open to suggestions.

I'm looking for at least 8GB RAM, and i5-3470. Isn't that usually the standard for cheaper custom builds anyways?

I already have a monitor (3, actually. I'd like to be able to use all of them), keyboard, and mouse.

I hope that is easy enough to read. There was probably some kind of format that I accidentally skipped over.

 

[twelve25]

Does $600 include the OS?

I can tell you already, there is no chance you can game on 3 monitors with that budget. You can run 3 monitors, but game on 1 OK.

With $600, you are probably not going to be able to run an i5. Do you have any hardware you plan to reuse? (Case, hard drive, DVD, etc)

 

[djangoringo]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qH7d
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qH7d/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qH7d/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($32.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($181.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $559.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Even if you don' t live near a microcenter :

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qH7d
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qH7d/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qH7d/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($188.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($181.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $601.71
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[twelve25]

Hopefully they don't need an OS, that's a great budget gamer build right there.

 

[aweskomer]

No, I don't need an OS. I thought I'd included that, but must've deleted it by accident :/ I plan on running Ubuntu.

By three monitors, I mean to have the screen extend to all 3. I only need 1 to game, but the laptop I'm using now can only support 2. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the strength of the graphics card, but I am hardware retarded.

 

[twelve25]

Are there very many linux games? Usually you have to run Windows to play the more popular games. I presume you know that.

Without an OS that above build is as good as it gets for your budget. Just make sure the graphics card outputs match up with your monitor inputs.

 

[djangoringo]

If you really need linux you'll have to switch for nvidia cards, and for multi-monitor(nvidia surround) for your budget it will be the 650 ti :

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qMZa
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qMZa/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qMZa/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($188.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB Video Card ($132.55 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $579.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

or if you can spend more ~30$ the 660 gtx :

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qN0Q
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qN0Q/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qN0Q/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($188.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $629.73
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[twelve25]

Why would he need Nvidia for Linux? AMD provides up to date catalyst drivers for Linux, too: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/linux/Pages/radeon_linux.aspx

 

[djangoringo]

Yes but it gives much problems for linux users, for linux nvidia support is much better and their respective drivers.

 

[forr3zt]

try this
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qOWR
the 560 ti 448 will destroy the 650 ti, and for only ~$20 more

 

[djangoringo]

But with that more he can put in there the 660 gtx which will be better.

 

[forr3zt]

The GTX 660 is another $50, and I he would already be a couple bucks over. I personally think that the GTX 660 is the best price/performance card nvidia puts out, but it would be the OP's decision if the extra $50 is worth it to him.

 

[djangoringo]

In the build i recommended it is included at 629$...with a i5 not a i3 (that mobo isn't necessary for a i5 non oc even less with a i3)and why but the i3-2225 with the intel hd 4000 if he's gonna have a gfx card, just waste of money.

 

[forr3zt]

I went with the 3225 because it has the highest core clock rate of all the i3s. I chose that motherboard fro future upgrade paths, and sli compatibility. So, this requires a choice, does OP want better performance now, or the ability to upgrade to an i5, AND sli his 660?
It's his call.

 

[djangoringo]

Upgrade for a i5 later ? when he can do it now ? it's crazy spending 130$ dollars now and then more 180$ dollars for the same i5 (there will be no more cpus for that socket).
And you're wrong, the i3-3220 has the same clock speeds and bus/ratio and everything equal to the i3-3225, the only difference is the on die gpu which is the hd 4000.
And for the sli, you're wrong again that mobo, the asrock z77 pro 4 only supports crossfire not sli, just a waste of money.

 

[forr3zt]

Whoops my bad, I was working on a build for a friend, and I speced him an extreme 4. Sorry for arguing, I'm running on empty here with school lately.