$500 Budget Gaming PC! (opinions needed)

WhatIsTechnology

Honorable
Aug 1, 2015
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10,510
If you check my profile I post a lot about this kind of stuff and that is because I was a great gaming PC for the set price. It is also going to be my first PC build! So, here are my options please tell me which one is better!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Qh2RWZ or http://pcpartpicker.com/p/p9nnD3

(Yes I know its just between the 2 graphic cards, but I want to know which build would be better!) Also if you look closely in the builds I do not need a hard drive, so if you post your own list please don't include a hard drive. Lastly if the parts are incompatible please tell me and post your suggestions. I'd also like to note these are most likely the games I will be playing (http://steamcommunity.com/id/yaoknowhatiming/wishlist/). Thank you!
 
Solution
I appreciate all the builds, but I don't do mail in rebate and I just would like to know if the build is capable for those games (med-ultra settings at least 50-60 fps) (BF4 is not on the list, but I will play it)
Is this a better choice (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xHsJrH) it is also at $515 ($15 over budget but fine) which is my price range.


No I would not get almost any of those parts.


This has no rebates.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($111.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($61.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600...
This would be much better and more reliable.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($111.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($194.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $487.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-04 00:33 EDT-0400
 
This is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Better....

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($111.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 380 4GB PCS+ Video Card ($183.98 @ Newegg)
Case: DIYPC MA08-BK MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $482.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-04 00:26 EDT-0400

Even though the CPU only has 2 cores, the hyperthreading gives it a virtual 4. It will outperform the 6300 in games. Also has a better GPU.
 


Why get a 280 when you can get a 380? Also he stated no HDD needed
 
Why get a 380 when you can get a 280x :)




PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($111.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($194.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $487.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-04 00:33 EDT-0400
 


Good point! However I would personally go with the newer 380. Yes, even though it is a rebranded 285, I think the enhanced DX12 support as well as the extra gig of VRAM will push it ahead of the 280x in the long run.

Currently, the FPS difference in getting a 280x would be only a few, maybe 10 in some titles. In the future, I think the 380 will take the lead against it though.
 


I said in the long run. Also the 1gb more VRAM and the 100+ extra clock speed should be enough to push it ahead regardless, comparing those two cards.
 


I appreciate all the builds, but I don't do mail in rebate and I just would like to know if the build is capable for those games (med-ultra settings at least 50-60 fps) (BF4 is not on the list, but I will play it)
Is this a better choice (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xHsJrH) it is also at $515 ($15 over budget but fine) which is my price range.
 


Why dont you do them? They are not hard at all. all you need is usually a stamp. Free money basically.

If you cant do them, then get this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($111.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($152.98 @ Newegg)
Case: DIYPC MA08-BK MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $430.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-04 01:49 EDT-0400

There is some extra money if you want to get a optical drive or different case or whatever.
 
I appreciate all the builds, but I don't do mail in rebate and I just would like to know if the build is capable for those games (med-ultra settings at least 50-60 fps) (BF4 is not on the list, but I will play it)
Is this a better choice (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xHsJrH) it is also at $515 ($15 over budget but fine) which is my price range.


No I would not get almost any of those parts.


This has no rebates.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($111.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($61.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card ($184.00 @ Adorama)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $497.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-04 22:39 EDT-0400
 
Solution


I really like this build I found http://pcpartpicker.com/p/GFFtGX is it good or which parts should be swapped out. I may remove the extra cooler and stuff to lower the price.
 
A lot of fanboy answers here.

I have personal experience with both intel and AMD boards/chips. Both are great. The i3 4170 everyone is recommending is a slower processor, for more money. =1781&cmp[]=2522]https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=1781&cmp[]=2522

If you're building a PC for <$500 your answer is AMD. They are your budget build champs. You have a good chip picked out, however I'd probably spend a little more on the mobo and get the MSI 970 Gaming. Solid and reliable, with lots of overclocking potential. I'd also be getting the R9 380 in place of the R7. It's similarly priced now and yields better FPS. I'm confident this is coming too late, but still, wanted to post in case it wasn't.