$600 PC Build

[MatTech]

What can you do better?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M LX PLUS Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.89 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($174.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Comrade ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.00 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $571.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[Iron124]

How about an i3, a SSD, and a R9 280?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Kingston XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($40.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS-I ID ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $602.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[Scremin34Egl]

I would make these recommended changes

Motherboard: http://

This motherboard has 8+2 power phases and will have no problem taking an fx 8320/8350 later on and also do a bit of overclocking

HDD: http://

Faster 7200rpm

PSU: http://

Better quality psu

 

[jaraldo]

I fully agree with Scremin. That doesn't change your budget at all and gives you much better quality.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ TigerDirect)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.91 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Comrade ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.00 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $580.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The motherboard you had would have burnt up if you tried to overclock on it 😛

The green hard drives are meant for media use only. They are very slow as an operating system.

The XFX 550w is made by seasonic and is top quality.

 

[jaraldo]

Here is an intel equivalent build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Kingston XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.91 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Comrade ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.00 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $577.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available