$500 First Build. Is it good?

prestxn

Honorable
Jan 26, 2013
23
0
10,510
This is my first gaming PC build. AMD 3+ build for $500 take or give a few. Already have a HDD but if I buy one it would cost about $49.99. Getting all these parts from Newegg.com with promotion codes, other offers and shipping cost (Super Saver Free Shipping 5-7 days). Is this a good build?


Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $39.99

Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 R2.0 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $85.99

CPU: AMD FX 4100 4 Core Processor, 3.6 4 Socket AM3+, Heat Sink Included.
$94.99

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9. $47.99

GPU: SAPPHIRE 100355-1GOCL Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card OC Version. $164.99

POWER SUPPLY: COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RS600-PCARE3-US 600W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply. $39.99

HDD: Western Digital 500Gb, 5400rpm, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. (Out of an old PC i had laying around).

Total Price: $479.00



 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($121.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B75 PRO3-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Pareema 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $499.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-27 14:29 EST-0500)

This will be much better.

Better CPU and a good PSU. (never get a coolermaster PSU. They are utter crap)
 

cball1311

Honorable
Dec 15, 2012
1,622
1
12,160
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($133.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI 760GM-P21 (FX) Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: Kingston Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $482.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-27 14:30 EST-0500)

The 4100 is, not so good, Bulldozer architecture. I would go with the 6300 (Piledriver). You don't absolutely need a full ATX board. You might need a new copy of windows if that is an OEM version (like from an HP, Dell, etc.). It will not activate on the new motherboard.