$500 Budget Build Off: Two Paths to a Slick, Affordable New Rig

[Admin]

We built two different PCs for under $500. Both systems have their limitations, but one might be just what you’re looking for.

$500 Budget Build Off: Two Paths to a Slick, Affordable New Rig : Read more

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

2 of the poorest PSU's on the market in these builds, otherwise just FAIR:
S12III is very low quality , not even made by Seasonic and BR EVGA is very low build quality. Neither one would be a good choice even on a low end build. Here is the way I would go.

Power Supply	600W EVGA BR600 W	450W Seasonic S12III 450 SSR-450GB3

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i3-9100F 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($86.89 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG M9 Plus 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($27.95 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B365M DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($64.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: OLOy 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: ADATA SU635 480 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon RX 570 8 GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Case: GameMax Expedition MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.02 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX (2017) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Corsair)
Total: $495.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-11-11 11:58 EST-0500

 

[logainofhades]

Yea, I cannot bring myself to agree with either of these builds. This makes far more sense, for under $500. You get a dedicated card now, and a better CPU, for newer titles that like more than 4 cores. Also the PSU is decent. $10 more gets you the 8gb RX570. It might not be pretty, but it will get the job done.


PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 3.2 GHz 6-Core Processor ($99.12 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B450M DS3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($72.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($47.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon RX 570 4 GB RS XXX Video Card ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill FBM-X1 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CXM 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($69.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $497.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-11-11 11:39 EST-0500

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Neither psu are good. The BR600 isnt terrible, but poor quality and grouo regulated.

The s12ii is made my some not seasonic company and me even still be group regulated.

 

[digitalgriffin]

We built two different PCs for under $500. Both systems have their limitations, but one might be just what you’re looking for.

$500 Budget Build Off: Two Paths to a Slick, Affordable New Rig : Read more

AMD 2600 ($110) vs. $150 ($40 saved)
8 gigs instead of 16 gigs ($40 saved)
512 Gig Intel Drive Vs. 1 TB ($35 saved)

There's the cost of your GPU right there. It isn't a bad build. As stated, each has their strengths. However if I were to do a more apples to apples, I would have gone the separate GPU route. Even I have recommended APU based system as the cheapest gaming build possible before when I considered minimums like storage and acceptable quality PSU. At the $500 mark you have a little more flex for a GPU. With the drop in GPU/storage/Memory prices this year you get a lot more bang for you buck at the low end. It wasn't two years ago, an APU build could cost you $700 at least. A dedicated gaming build would have been closer to $1000 for entry level.

APU: $150
MB: $70
Memory: $80
Case: $40
PSU: $60
Storage: $57
$437 total.

 

[redgarl]

Why are you comparing an iGPU with a discrete GPU?

At this point, why not waiting for the Athlon 3000G and use an RX 5700?

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Because a 3000g is a dual core and will hold back an rx5700 in any game?

 

[King_V]

In agreement regarding the PSU complaints - I cringed a little when I saw those

 

[NightHawkRMX]

To the writers credit, The evga br is fine for the apu system.

However,

The s12iii 450w with the rx570 is questionable at best, and certainly will restrict that systems GPU upgrade options in the future.

 

[redgarl]

Because a 3000g is a dual core and will hold back an rx5700 in any game?

And will still vastly outperform your i3 built...
For gaming performances, you always maximize your GPU budget... amateur...

https://i.ibb.co/pPXYzVt/source.gif

 

[redgarl]

To the writers credit, The evga br is fine for the apu system.

However,

The s12iii 450w with the rx570 is questionable at best, and certainly will restrict that systems GPU upgrade options in the future.

Hell no, it is a 100$ GPU, a generic PSU is FINE! Actually, investing 75-100$ for a built like this, would ACTUALLY be plain stupid!

https://i.ibb.co/nrsjQww/1532729750-tumblr-o71sfm-NEVt1qjz3kqo1-500.gif

 

[NightHawkRMX]

No, no. You are just like the person I debated with on discord yesterday.

The I3 9100f is a far, superior CPU to the Athlon 200ge. A few 100mhz bump with the 3000g will not fix this.
2 cores and 4 threads struggles with games or demanding applications nowadays, and this is why few people use Pentiums anymore.

When your CPU is not enough to run modern demanding games at over 30-40 FPS and you are pairing it with a $325 GPU, you have your priorities completely wrong.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Hell no, it is a 100$ GPU, a generic PSU is FINE! Actually, investing 75-100$ for a built like this, would ACTUALLY be plain stupid!

https://i.ibb.co/nrsjQww/1532729750-tumblr-o71sfm-NEVt1qjz3kqo1-500.gif

It is a $125 GPU that is older and draws a significant amount of power. Most genaric PSUs would not have the required 8 pin connector to even boot the system with a RX570, let alone reliably power the system.

You suggesting a genaric PSU for any system, let alone an RX570, shows ignorance.

View: https://youtu.be/QJ_VV3UjEBY?t=584

Watch this about the issues with crap PSUs. This is coming from a brain in the field who works at Corsair.

Maybe he can fill you in a lil more.
@jonnyguru

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

The SEASONIC S12III is not a SEASONIC it's actually manufactured by SHENZHEN RUISHENGYUAN TECHNOLOGY who also produced the horrible XFX XT series. Very very poor quality.

 

[joe.birish]

If you want to skimp on the cpu and upgrade that later you could go with something like:

ASRock B450M-HDV R4.0 - $74.98 (Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MWGKHR9/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AZCEI3EMXUPTH&psc=1 )
Rosewill Dual Fans MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case with USB 2.0 Cases Ranger-M Black - $25.98 (Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006BCK7RM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 )
HP EX900 M.2 250GB PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe 3D TLC NAND Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) 2YY43AA#ABC - $36.99 (Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B319VG2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 )
Thermaltake Smart 430W 80+ White Continuous Power ATX 12V V2.3/EPS 12V Active PFC Power Supply PS-SPD-0430NPCWUS-W - $35.99 (Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BFJ91TY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 )
XPG Z1 DDR4 3200MHz (PC4 25600) 16GB (2x8GB) 288-Pin Memory Modules, Black (AX4U320038G16F-DBZ) - $65.99 (Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TN4GWP7/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=A2UXO5LPTDY3LN&psc=1 )
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 6GB GDDR5 192-bit Gaming Graphics Card, Super Compact, Zt-T16600K-10M - $207.99 (Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XV7FNR2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 )
AMD Ryzen 3 1200 Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler (YD1200BBAEBOX) - $59.79 (Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0741DN383/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?smid=A27220W4J1QU6O&psc=1 )
Total: $506.46
(I've had too many problems with Newegg in the past to use them for the quotes, buyer's preference)

 

[NightHawkRMX]

What is it with yall and junk power supplies.

Thermaltake smart/tr2/lightpower
Cooler master mwe bronze/masterwatt lite
Corsair vs/cx green
Evga n1/w1/b1/bt/br...
Seasonic s12iii

All junk i see put in budget builds.

 

[RodroX]

The PSU can be replaced for something better, those are not great models, but I still think thats not the worst part of the build.

What I don't understand is how can someone really suggest a Core i3 for a DIY gaming computer in the end of 2019.

Im agree logainofhades PC list choice on this one, the Ryzen 5 1600 is by far the best budget choice today. And you can upgraded for cheaper than you would on Intel platform. Really, I just can't get it.

Not everything in life is about higher frame rates, gameplay smoothness and lack of sttutering is way better than been CPU bound all the time with a PC you just spend your money on. I wonder why there are no 1% low and .1 low results on the article.

 

[logainofhades]

Hell no, it is a 100$ GPU, a generic PSU is FINE! Actually, investing 75-100$ for a built like this, would ACTUALLY be plain stupid!

https://i.ibb.co/nrsjQww/1532729750-tumblr-o71sfm-NEVt1qjz3kqo1-500.gif

A generic PSU is never fine. Said PSU will take your hardware with it, when it dies, and some are flat out fire hazards.

 

[mossberg]

Why are you comparing an iGPU with a discrete GPU?

At this point, why not waiting for the Athlon 3000G and use an RX 5700?

And will still vastly outperform your i3 built...
For gaming performances, you always maximize your GPU budget... amateur...

https://i.ibb.co/pPXYzVt/source.gif

Hell no, it is a 100$ GPU, a generic PSU is FINE! Actually, investing 75-100$ for a built like this, would ACTUALLY be plain stupid!

https://i.ibb.co/nrsjQww/1532729750-tumblr-o71sfm-NEVt1qjz3kqo1-500.gif

You are calling people amateurs with comments like this? A 3000g would choke on an RX5700, especially in any remotely modern title. Spending the extra $50 on an R5 1600, an getting a $50 ish cheaper graphics card, like a 1660ti is going to give a much more enjoyable experience. Even a quad core CPU is starting to become a problem, in newer titles.

With regards to the PSU comment, such thinking is a good way to burn your system, or your whole house, down. PSU should always be a decent quality unit, I don't care how low end it is. Anything less than a CX450/450m, on the quality scale, even for an IGP rig, is just asking for dead hardware, later on.