Gaming/Rendering/Recording $500 Build

[iRiskFTW]

Hey, guys I just like to get your opinion on what a good gaming/rendering build would be for about $500 (I'd be willing to go to $600, but I'd rather not). I'd be playing games like Crysis 3, Battlefield 3/4, Call of Duty, Metro 2033/LL, etc.. I'd prefer to run ultra graphics on all of these at about 60fps w/o fraps.
Things I don't need: monitor, os, mouse, keyboard,case
My idea of a decent build for this would be a 970 mobo, 8gb ddr3 1600 ram, fx-6300/ 6100/ 6300 (which would be better), radeon 78502gb , 500watt psu, 1tb 7200. Also what would this run with fraps. Thanks! (Total is $510)

 

[tiny voices]

Well you won't be playing anything on ultra, but you should get decent frame rates and you could probably record at high settings if you lower resolution.

The 6300 is much better than the 6100.

 

[stickmansam]

You will be out of budget with those specs unless you live next to a Microcentre and can grab one of their FX6300+MB combos

With the 7850 2GB you will only hit High settings with 2xMSAA with you want min fps to be above 45 in Crysis 3

Cheapest build per your specs

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($42.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($184.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $542.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-12 22:02 EST-0500)

 

[lunyone]

To keep you close to budget and still get the 7850 2 gb GPU:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($97.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $573.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-12 22:13 EST-0500)

* 990 FX Mobo gives you Onboard USB 3.0 ports, so you can use them for Front USB 3.0 ports, if you have that with your case. It also has a bit more longevity (hopefully) than if you went with a 970 based mobo.

You could also go with an Intel build, but will be only limited to Dual core CPU's (if you want less of a budget), which aren't bad, but when rendering you might have better results with a Quad core or better. It's up to you.

Intel build that is better, IMHO:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2310 2.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($178.47 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $604.42
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-12 22:16 EST-0500)

* You get Quad core also, but still retain USB 3.0 onboard ports for later or if your case supports this option.

 

[stickmansam]

^ depends how much OP wants to stretch his budget

 

[lunyone]

^ depends how much OP wants to stretch his budget

The OP stated that $500, but $600 if needed, so I would propose that the $600 for the Intel build would be the best option. Unless his budget isn't really $600 (tops). In that case we could tweak the CPU down to a dual core (Intel) to fit the budget, if he wanted to go with an Intel build. Quad core is doable with the AMD build w/a 7850 1 gb GPU.

 

[ARICH5]

the core i5 2310 is an excellent cpu....

@lunyone...why a z77 mobo? he could save money if he doesnt overclock

 

[lunyone]

the core i5 2310 is an excellent cpu....

@lunyone...why a z77 mobo? he could save money if he doesnt overclock

Gives the OP some flexibility to buy a OC'ing CPU and keep his computer more relevant longer. For $90 it's hard to beat. A cheaper Mobo would be around $60-80 anyways, so why not? I just wouldn't want to be limited by my Mobo when/if I upgrade the CPU down the line. You could go with H77 or even B75 based mobo, if the OP needs to save $10-30.

 

[iRiskFTW]

I saw some Youtube Videos on with this setup and on bf3/farcry 3/ and crysis 3 and they're all running 50+fps on ultra with fraps, no msaa (what does msaa do?)... could run a dual 7850 2gb setup with the 970 mobo?

 

[iRiskFTW]

or a 660ti? or a video card around $300?

 

[tiny voices]

I saw some Youtube Videos on with this setup and on bf3/farcry 3/ and crysis 3 and they're all running 50+fps on ultra with fraps, no msaa (what does msaa do?)... could run a dual 7850 2gb setup with the 970 mobo?

They are running it at a reduced resolution. Probably 720p. Otherwise there's no way to get ultra while recording with a 7850.

Don't get 2 7850's. Its stupid. Get one higher end card. It will be better.