Help with affordable gaming PC parts

[Mixwizzard]

Hello all,

My computer has the capabilities of a toaster and I've had it for a few months because I got it free.
Its decent for internet browsing but is absolutely terrible for gaming and multiple modern programs running at once, so I've decided to end up building my own PC since that's the way to go.

Here's my current PC's specs

It's an old Compaq Presario SR1230NX

Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 3200+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Memory: 448MB RAM

Display Devices:
Card name: VIA/S3G UniChrome IGP
Manufacturer: VIA/S3G
Chip type: VIA/S3G UniChrome IGP
Display Memory: 64.0 MB

Sound:
Description: Realtek AC97 Audio


I'm looking at a fairly low budget ($500-$700) and I've once seen a $400 build that could actually run Crysis 1 on high settings, so I know that this budget is fesible for a good build. I don't need a new monitor (atleast not as far as I can tell right now,) keyboard or mouse. And I'm looking into just buying a 1TB hard-drive.

I also don't know alot in the way of what I should buy first and installing these things into the case. So any help with that is appreciated.

 

[tenaciousk]

This is a pretty decent budget build, you did not mention if you needed a OS or not, so i left it out.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($133.79 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z9 ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $664.67
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-02 17:39 EST-0500)

 

[McLubbin]

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

I had a person who wanted a mini ITX build so I built this for them...

You could upgrade graphics and processor if you wanted to spend more around 650, but for a less then 500$ build, this is the best you can get

 

[e_X]

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

I had a person who wanted a mini ITX build so I built this for them...

You could upgrade graphics and processor if you wanted to spend more around 650, but for a less then 500$ build, this is the best you can get

Bad link

 

[McLubbin]

Damnit second time I have done that today...

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/B4q8

 

[e_X]

Damnit second time I have done that today...

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/B4q8

Go amd, its performs about the same and its overclockable

 

[McLubbin]

Go amd, its performs about the same and its overclockable

I have never built AMD for some reason... I have always stuck with Intel... I just dont understand AMD's system of naming their processors...

 

[DeusAres]

This is a pretty decent budget build, you did not mention if you needed a OS or not, so i left it out.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($133.79 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($214.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z9 ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 520W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $664.67
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-02 17:39 EST-0500)

+1 to this build.

@OP I would definitely go with at least a quad core processor. Dual cores are becoming outdated. Quite a few games these days are beginning to take advantage of extra cores. I wouldn't bother with the Pentium build. The FX 6300 would be an excellent processor. Not only that, but when paired with the HD 7870, you'll be able to run just about any game out there on max settings.

 

[spawnkiller]

I would personnaly pick an I3 3220 if you want a dedicated GPU, this cpu is faster in gaming scenario than the amd and the HD7870 will do the job for any game presently out there...

*** The fx-6300 will be faster in rendering, multithreaded applications but slower in 2 thread apps like games as the I3 as a better per core performance but lacks 4 core as the 6300 is a 6 core but both will run games really fine... The I3 is hyperthreaded so it's seen as a 4 cores in windows and games are still able to use 4 cores (the only game i know that use more than 2 cores is BF3 but is still playable on 2)

 

[DeusAres]

The differences are negligible at best. They practically match each other in performance. However, when the FX 6300 excels in something...it is by a far larger delta than when the i3 wins. In games, the FX 6300 actually beats the i3. Just take a look at Skyrim and Diablo III...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/699?vs=677

Keep in mind, the synthetic benchmarks are irrelevant and do not reflect real world performance. Most synthetic benchmarks are biased anyhow.

Also, games do not take advantage of hyper threading; therefore, the i3's hyperthreading capabilities are irrelevant. There's also more games out there than BF3 that take advantage of extra cores. Just about any MMO will benefit from multiple cores. This is due to having to render numerous entities. Other games that benefit: Left 4 Dead series, Deus Ex, Witcher 2, and possibly the Crysis series. There's plenty more out there; I'm just too lazy to do the research, lol.