~$600 Gaming PC help

[George Mogum]

Hey guys, I'm looking to build my first PC with a budget of around $600. I'll be using this PC mostly for gaming, but some web development and programs like Photoshop and Illustrator. I've gone back and forth on an AMD FX-6300 or an Intel i3 4130 but I'm still not sure which to go with.
I don't need a case, monitor, keyboard, mouse, or an OS.

Do you have any suggestions regarding this build? Thanks!

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3xKUe
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3xKUe/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3xKUe/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($112.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($73.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($33.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $604.92

 

[TheConsiderateIlliterate]

I think the build is fine but I would get maybe a 500 watt psu. For the budget and your purposes, I think you'll be happy with the FX-6300 if you bought an aftermarket cooler and overclocked it.

 

[Graphiicz]

Better and cheaper. SSD isn't necessary at your budget.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($112.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: PNY Optima 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($58.10 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($224.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $581.05
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-25 12:18 EDT-0400)

 

[numanator]

If you wanted an intel build, this would be an option:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $594.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-25 13:03 EDT-0400)

 

[lunyone]

Here is another option that is good for multi-tasking and video editing a bit better than the FX 6300:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($35.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($145.38 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $610.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-26 20:24 EDT-0400)

 

[Graphiicz]

Here is another option that is good for multi-tasking and video editing a bit better than the FX 6300:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($35.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($145.38 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $610.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-26 20:24 EDT-0400)

Yeah but that GPU isn't great.

 

[lunyone]

Here is another option that is good for multi-tasking and video editing a bit better than the FX 6300:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($35.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($145.38 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $610.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-26 20:24 EDT-0400)

Yeah but that GPU isn't great.

I was trying to give a system with a bit more CPU power for PS and Illistrator, but it's up to the OP if the GPU is good enough. Obviously the GTX 760 you listed is better for gaming, but the FX 8320 is a pretty good all around CPU to consider. The FX 6300 is also a good CPU too. Personally I'd go with an FM2+ build with an Athlon x4 750k/760k and the GTX 760 or R9 280/280x, like below:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 760K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.74 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus A88XM-A Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($77.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($299.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $623.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-27 04:51 EDT-0400)

or a different Intel build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 V2 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($54.49 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $596.44
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-27 04:56 EDT-0400)

I just wouldn't want to limit myself to a Dual Core CPU these days. Yes the Intel Dual cores are good for single threaded apps and such, but there are some situations where more cores are beneficial. It's up to the OP if more cores is his/her concern. I just prefer at least 4 Intel/AMD cores.