$600 Budget Build

[Jared96]

I am looking to build a gaming PC that can run most games with a decent frame rate. I don't need it to be able to play all games on max setting because realisticly, with only $600 I don't expect it to. I don't need a monitor yet as for now I will be using my 32" HD tv. I am hoping for it to be able to play games like ARMA 2, Battlefield 3, Starcraft 2, etc. I live in Canada, and will be buying it as soon as possible. However if a few extra hundred dollars will make it significantly better than I can probably raise the budget to around $800 but will not be able to buy it until late January.

Here are the parts I have put together so far: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/ujE3

Any advice is apreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[AMD Radeon]

at $700-800 you will get i5 and 7870 do you mind?

 

[djangoringo]

My suggestion :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.94 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI B75A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ NCIX)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($25.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.82 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $553.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

or

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.94 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI B75A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($229.99 @ Canada Computers)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($25.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.82 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $603.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

This ones with i3+660 gtx and 660 ti

There's also for about that price, a i5+ 660 gtx build :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: MSI B75A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ NCIX)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($25.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.82 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $594.75
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[Jared96]

As I said if it does go up to that price range than I will have to wait until January, but that isn't an issue. Will an i5 make a significant difference, because looking at the two of them it seems like the upgrade wouldn't make enough of a difference to be worth it.

 

[AMD Radeon]

^ yes, it worths the price i5 is the king of CPU gaming lol and very good investment for the future as game become more demanding

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($185.90 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.88 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 330 ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.99 @ Memory Express)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG CH12LS28 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $763.71
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-26 19:57 EST-0500)

 

[djangoringo]

As I said if it does go up to that price range than I will have to wait until January, but that isn't an issue. Will an i5 make a significant difference, because looking at the two of them it seems like the upgrade wouldn't make enough of a difference to be worth it.

You could get now the i3+ 660 gtx or an i5+670 gtx for 800$ in January.
It's all about the performance you're expecting.

Also tried to squeezed the i5+660 gtx for 600$ :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: MSI B75A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.88 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ NCIX)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($25.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.82 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $582.64
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[Jared96]

I feel like at the moment for what I want to do, the 660 would be more than enough, especially since my tv is only 720p so the resolution isn't going to be very high. I like the look of the i5 build with the 660 and I like the price even more. That looks like it could be the build I end up using, because I can't think of a build with a better price : performance ratio. Just as long as all of the parts are compatable and I can put it together haha. Also it doesn't look as though I will have to upgrade it for a while because those specs should be able to run everything I want them to at the moment.

 

[Jared96]

Best answer selected by Jared96.