Looking to build a $600 Gaming PC

[mc218132]

So currently, I am using an $800 Lenovo Z70 with these specs:
Screen Size 17.3 inches
Max Screen Resolution 1920x1080 pixels
Processor 2.4 GHz Core i7-5500U
RAM 8 GB DDR3
Hard Drive 1000 GB
Graphics Coprocessor NVIDA GeForce 840M
It is very fast, running around 100-200 FPS consistently on CS:GO with medium settings. My question is, would it be worth it to buy and build a new gaming PC? I've been looking into it recently and it just seems like it'd be enjoyable making one. This laptop is about 6 months old now and works completely fine. So:
1. Should I even bother making a PC?
2. If so, what would you recommend I build it with?
Thanks for anything.

 

[naturesninja]

It is always worth it! This is a pretty good Intel/Nvidia $600 build:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zmMtD3
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zmMtD3/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($165.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($166.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHDS118-04 DVD/CD Drive ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $601.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-26 13:36 EDT-0400

Here's a decent AMD build with some overclocking potential and a superior GPU:

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

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($96.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($83.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB TurboDuo Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHDS118-04 DVD/CD Drive ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $609.62
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-26 13:41 EDT-0400

 

[mc218132]

It is always worth it! This is a pretty good Intel/Nvidia $600 build:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zmMtD3
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zmMtD3/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($165.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($166.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHDS118-04 DVD/CD Drive ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $601.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-26 13:36 EDT-0400

Here's a decent AMD build with some overclocking potential and a superior GPU:

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

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($96.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($83.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 290 4GB TurboDuo Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHDS118-04 DVD/CD Drive ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $609.62
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-26 13:41 EDT-0400

Thank you! But regardless of this, is it really worth it? I'm a sophomore in high school and I may or may not have time to really utilize this. Should I wait a while, as in around a year, to see if I really need to switch or just very soon decide to get one of these designs?

 

[naturesninja]

I would say if you only play CSGO and standard web browsing etc... then it may not be worth it to you. Either system is a fair deal better than the current selection of consoles, and with the price of games for PC it will pay for itself over time vs a console system. Prices really haven't moved too much over the last few years, so whether you buy now or then it should still be in the same ballpark of price and level of components. Good luck to you!