Advice for my sub-750AUD gaming build

[itsjohnreid]

Soooo I was looking at getting the alienware alpha i3, but decided instead to look into building a pc for around the same price or cheaper with better performance. It'll be my first build and I want to keep it around $700 (same price as the alienware). I will mostly use it for games but also school and some 3D stuff in blender. The main games I'll be playing are borderlands 1+2, arkham city, minecraft, planetside 2 and a few others. Graphical detail isn't a big deal for me, but 1080p and solid 40+ fps is important.

Advice for my build would be greatly appreciated.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($89.00 @ Centre Com)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.00 @ Umart)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($61.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($179.00 @ Centre Com)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1300 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($65.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $670.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-20 18:44 AEST+1000

Other info:
- I already have an OS
- I live in Sydney, Australia
- I was tossing up between the G3258 and the FX 6300 but I think I want the Intel so I can upgrade to an i5 or something later.
- My monitor is 1920x1080
- Upgrading because my current laptop is pretty pathetic and old

 

[Nuckles_56]

Here is a significant improvement to your build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($89.00 @ Centre Com)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.00 @ Umart)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($214.00 @ PLE Computers)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1300 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($65.00 @ CPL Online)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($102.00 @ CPL Online)
Total: $726.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-20 19:49 AEST+1000

 

[itsjohnreid]

Thanks! I think spending the $43 bucks saved on the 270 and the HDD could perhaps better go towards and SSD for OS/games. I dont need that much space and is the performance increase of the 270x from the 270 worth it?

Also, what are the advantages of the mobo and PSU you picked compared to mine?

 

[Outlander_04]

Even an i3 is much weaker than the FX6300.

Build the AMD

 

[itsjohnreid]

Hmm whats a good mobo for that then? And if i upgrade the CPU in the future, What could i get that would stilł be compatible with that mobo?

 

[Nuckles_56]

Thanks! I think spending the $43 bucks saved on the 270 and the HDD could perhaps better go towards and SSD for OS/games. I dont need that much space and is the performance increase of the 270x from the 270 worth it?

Also, what are the advantages of the mobo and PSU you picked compared to mine?

To be honest I would wait until you can afford a bigger SSD (250GB+), the 270x is a significantly better card than the 270 and the motherboard I chose will allow you to use all the new intel CPU's without having to worry about BIOS updates just to get the CPU to work, plus it is a better motherboard which will allow you to put an i5 or an i7 in without issue

 

[itsjohnreid]

Great thanks! I found the 270x for only $10AU more than the 270 so I may as well go with it. This is my build now:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($80.00)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.00 @ CPL Online)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.00)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($189.00)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H25 ATX Mid Tower Case ($52.00)
Power Supply: Cooler Master VSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($123.00)
Total: $695.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-21 14:54 AEST+1000

 

[Nuckles_56]

I would go with the power supply from my build but beyond that, I'd say that you're good to go

 

[itsjohnreid]

Only reason I didnt go with that is because I couldn't find a seller in my area but if I find one I'll get it

 

[Nuckles_56]

Only reason I didnt go with that is because I couldn't find a seller in my area but if I find one I'll get it

In that case, what power supplies can you get and I'll tell you which one is best