Gaming build for 13 year old.

[Richard Ricardo]

I was wondering whether or not somebody might help me put together a good but cheap gaming build for my 13 year old kid. I've got nothing picked out because I have trouble staying on budget with this sort of thing. Its got to be no more expensive than 500usd and preferably less. This computer will be used for light gaming but not too light. Something that can handle every game but doesn't necessarily need to excel at running games like Metro Last Light or Far Cry 3 on ultra.

I have a monitor, gaming keyboard and mouse and Windows 7 Pro 64bit already and it shouldn't be included in the budget but if a newer monitor can be purchased within the budget, that would be even better.

Thank you all in advance

Update: I personally prefer Intel over AMD but if that isn't an option within this budget then its ok

 

[Thaisnang]

Get This
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rDg3sY

 

[Karsten75]

I doubt there's a realistic chance of meeting that budget unless you go for the Intel Anniversary Pentium and overclock it - but is that really what you want to do for a 13-yo?
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pentium-g3258-b81-cheap-overclocking,3888.html
http://techreport.com/review/26735/overclocking-intel-pentium-g3258-anniversary-edition-processor

Edit: As I was finding my links, the poster above me posted the same idea with a parts list. Seems everyone is on the same page that this is almost the only way to get a build for <$650.

 

[iamlegend]

It is a Good build though. (Mr. Thaisnang`s build)
I can`t disagree more than that.

You can pretty much play all games with decent settings.
Your kid will be joyed.

 

[sparestuff]

Going with an old pentium is not really better than an AMD at this price point, so I would go with an AMD build.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/K2dqwP
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/K2dqwP/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($98.98 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($16.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 265 2GB Video Card ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $498.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Thaisnang's build does not include the gpu price, check it and you will find it does not have a price so I will add it in:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($153.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $500.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[Thaisnang]

Thaisnang's build does not include the gpu price, check it and you will find it does not have a price so I will add it in:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($153.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $500.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The club 3D was 129.99$ guess it went out of stock or something went wrong with PcPartpicker.

 

[sparestuff]

Thaisnang's build does not include the gpu price, check it and you will find it does not have a price so I will add it in:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($153.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $500.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The club 3D was 129.99$ guess it went out of stock or something went wrong with PcPartpicker.

The club r9 270 isn't as good as the Asus one because the Asus DirectCU II cooler is much better quality-wise than the club 3D, so it was worth it to go for the Asus 270 anyway. Either way it fits into his budget but I would suggest the AMD build instead because of its 6 cores and it performs better than the pentium anyway. The FX 6300 isn't really a match against an i5 but it can beat a pentium, even if both of them are overclocked. Also your build does not include a cpu cooler so I don't really think he can overclock that much.

 

[Thaisnang]

Thaisnang's build does not include the gpu price, check it and you will find it does not have a price so I will add it in:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($153.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $500.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The club 3D was 129.99$ guess it went out of stock or something went wrong with PcPartpicker.

The club r9 270 isn't as good as the Asus one because the Asus DirectCU II cooler is much better quality-wise than the club 3D, so it was worth it to go for the Asus 270 anyway. Either way it fits into his budget but I would suggest the AMD build instead because of its 6 cores and it performs better than the pentium anyway. The FX 6300 isn't really a match against an i5 but it can beat a pentium, even if both of them are overclocked. Also your build does not include a cpu cooler so I don't really think he can overclock that much.

I would suggest this over ASUS r9 270HIS Radeon R9 270X 2GB IceQ X² Video Card
It is cheaper and faster. And it comes under budget. And I don't think he'll overclock.

 

[sparestuff]

Thaisnang's build does not include the gpu price, check it and you will find it does not have a price so I will add it in:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FCxf23/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($153.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $500.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The club 3D was 129.99$ guess it went out of stock or something went wrong with PcPartpicker.

The club r9 270 isn't as good as the Asus one because the Asus DirectCU II cooler is much better quality-wise than the club 3D, so it was worth it to go for the Asus 270 anyway. Either way it fits into his budget but I would suggest the AMD build instead because of its 6 cores and it performs better than the pentium anyway. The FX 6300 isn't really a match against an i5 but it can beat a pentium, even if both of them are overclocked. Also your build does not include a cpu cooler so I don't really think he can overclock that much.

I would suggest this over ASUS r9 270HIS Radeon R9 270X 2GB IceQ X² Video Card
It is cheaper and faster. And it comes under budget. And I don't think he'll overclock.

If he doesn't overclock then there is no point buying an old pentium when he can buy a newer cpu.

http://www.game-debate.com/cpu/index.php?pid=2112&pid2=1146&compare=pentium-g3258-3-2ghz-vs-fx-6300

 

[Karsten75]

Going with an old pentium is not really better than an AMD at this price point, so I would go with an AMD build.

I have to pull you up right short there. THat's not an "old Pentium" in fact, it's a special-edition, unlocked Pentium processor that Intel made available in June of this year and that is highly overclockable. THere has been no negative reviews of it and when overclocked, it compares very favorably with some high-end processors even in demanding games.

In my first post on the thread I linked two of those favorable reviews.

Read then before you spout stuff like "old Pentium". it certainly leaves a lot of AMD processors in the dust and that for $75.

 

[sparestuff]

The pentium chip, while overclocking does suffer some stuttering on the latest games such as Thief and other latest released games. I know it is highly overclockable but with his budget he really can't overclock high without some sort of cooling solution, which he can't really afford considering his budget which is around $500 usd.

Both cpus are quite good and it just comes up to if the games you play use more cpu power such as bf4 or other games of the same nature.

 

[Thaisnang]

The pentium chip, while overclocking does suffer some stuttering on the latest games such as Thief and other latest released games. I know it is highly overclockable but with his budget he really can't overclock high without some sort of cooling solution, which he can't really afford considering his budget which is around $500 usd.

Both cpus are quite good and it just comes up to if the games you play use more cpu power such as bf4 or other games of the same nature.

He is not planning to play games at ultra 60+fps 1080p. It is just for light gaming for his kid. G3258+r9 270/270X is perfect for it. If he gets stuttering he can always upgrade to i3/i5 Or Z97 and OC the pentium.