Best PC Build: Under $500

Barty1884 · Nov 4, 2015

g-unit1111 :

Good name!

RCFProd · Nov 4, 2015

With the right setup yeah, but not with a mobo that is very poor and not stable to OC on imo.

g-unit1111 · Nov 4, 2015

RCFProd :

I was picking for budget, not necessarily overclocking capabilities. Hence why both run stock coolers as opposed to something much better.

Bossyfins · Nov 4, 2015

Rest in piece original build

[PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($116.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($51.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Pipeline HD 320GB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive ($23.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 380 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.29 @ Amazon)
Total: $500.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 19:48 EST-0500

The true build of them all

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($116.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-K Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Pipeline HD 320GB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive ($23.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 380 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.29 @ Amazon)
Total: $498.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 19:49 EST-0500

Darkbreeze · Nov 4, 2015

From: Titillating (Community Manager)

To: Everyone participating in the Gaming build event in any category

RE: price fluctuations

Word from on high is that as long as the initial build is within the price limits, they're fine. No need to make people update it constantly. Don't worry about what the actual final costs come out to be, so long as it is acceptable at the time of posting. Bound to cause some confusion, but less of a hassle.

Keep in mind though:

•Use list prices only: coupons, rebates, bundles or any other limited-time offers will not be accepted.

Also, this does not address magically disappearing inventory that is no longer available through Amazon. Still waiting for clarification on that one.

Joseph DeGarmo · Nov 5, 2015

The PSU is rather overkill for the build. I had to pick that one because stingy Amazon apparently does not want to sell a decent 400w PSU for under $65. 🙁

The Bee

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3250 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($56.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-D PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($70.84 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.88 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Aegis Core (Yellow) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($82.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($67.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $499.66
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-05 04:14 EST-0500

filippi · Nov 5, 2015

Joseph DeGarmo :

The PSU is rather overkill for the build. I had to pick that one because stingy Amazon apparently does not want to sell a decent 400w PSU for under $65. 🙁

The Bee

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3250 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($56.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-D PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($70.84 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.88 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Aegis Core (Yellow) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($82.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($67.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $499.66
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-05 04:14 EST-0500

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H33SDR4/?tag=pcpapi-20
Ref. http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=431

g-unit1111 · Nov 5, 2015

"Skylake i3 for $500? Yes!"

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($123.44 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H110M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($76.22 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 4 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.32 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone PS09B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 500B 500W Bronze PSU ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $494.66
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-05 11:41 EST-0500

What's this? A Skylake i3 for $500? Yes it's entirely possible! Someone give me a mic so I can drop it. :lol:

Barty1884 · Nov 5, 2015

Well, except that build seems to have a limited time discount on the CPU (normally $156.84)

jpishgar :

So, yeah. I have no idea whether that would count or not. I don't think you can necessarily see the duration of a sale on Amazon (although happy to be corrected). Some things just don't make sense. For example, the Barracuda that g-unit1111 included seems to show a 57% saving, because the list price is $114.99.......I think we all know a Seagate Barracude doesn't go for $115 these days, but again, would that count as a "limited time offer"?

If we could get some clarification

Darkbreeze · Nov 5, 2015

Joseph DeGarmo :

I don't think anybody is going to get dinged for an overkill PSU, specifically, since it tends to eliminate not having a "good enough" PSU and allows for future expansion, so long as it doesn't create suffering in any other category. Better an overkill PSU than one that is a fail.

Darkbreeze · Nov 5, 2015

Barty1884 :

Well, except that build seems to have a limited time discount on the CPU (normally $156.84)

jpishgar :

So, yeah. I have no idea whether that would count or not. I don't think you can necessarily see the duration of a sale on Amazon (although happy to be corrected). Some things just don't make sense. For example, the Barracuda that g-unit1111 included seems to show a 57% saving, because the list price is $114.99.......I think we all know a Seagate Barracude doesn't go for $115 these days, but again, would that count as a "limited time offer"?

If we could get some clarification

I'll see what I can do.

g-unit1111 · Nov 5, 2015

Barty1884 :

I don't know anymore. The rules are way too complicated this time around. I would think the price you actually pay when you hit the "buy" button - the one that's listed on PC Part Picker - would be the one that counted. Nobody goes by list prices. At least that I'm aware of. If so I'm deleting all my builds and sitting this one out.

Barty1884 · Nov 5, 2015

g-unit1111 :

The rules are too complicated. I agree, the price you pay when you hit "buy" should be the one that counts.
If the rules were only applicable for a final price on a certain day ie. price must be under $500 excl tax & shipping on November X, 2015 then it can be counted then it would at least make sense.

I've seen an i3 change prices via Amazon 3 times since this thread started, and unless I've missed it, Amazon don't state how long the current price is valid for.

And, as I've mentioned, it compares certain components to prices long gone (the Barracuda I mentioned earlier, who in their right mind, in 2015 would pay $115 for it?!).

I'm going to follow your lead here and delete my entry too. If the price position is clarified, I might re-enter.

blazorthon · Nov 5, 2015

Eh, it isn't worth deleting the entries imo. If they are considered invalid at the end, then they won't be counted anyway. If they end up being considered valid, then hey, time wasn't wasted.

Barty1884 · Nov 5, 2015

blazorthon :

Fair point, but I deleted my build anyway. It wasn't my preferred build (as I had to modify due to some changing prices) and wouldn't have been considered as things stand anyway.

I'll likely re-enter if there's clarification on how Amazon prices are being viewed.

g-unit1111 · Nov 5, 2015

Barty1884 :

Official word from the admins is that the price that's listed is what the judges will look for, so it's the list price, which is typically lower than the MSRP, which in the case of the i3-6300 would be the $123.95 list price and not the $159.65 MSRP.

Darkbreeze · Nov 6, 2015

Barty1884 :

Per Joe Pishgar:

No, that would not count as limited time offer. If there's no time limit expressed in the discount, at least.
-JP

jediTT · Nov 7, 2015

"The Kitten"

•Processor: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($68.98 @ Amazon)

•Motherboard: Asus H81M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($52.99 @ Amazon)

•Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Amazon)

•Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($189.99 @ Amazon)

•Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.34 @ Amazon)

•Case: Rosewill FBM-02 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($40.49 @ Amazon)

•Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.91 @ Amazon)

•Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($18.75 @ Amazon)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($68.98 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($18.75 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($46.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.34 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill FBM-02 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($40.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.91 @ Amazon)
Total: $506.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-07 20:49 EST-0500

Build total before tax+shipping = $497.95

Darkbreeze · Nov 7, 2015

You're disqualified for the mere fact of naming your build "the kitten". We simply can't have that kind of lack of testosterone around here.

Nah, just kidding.

Bossyfins · Nov 7, 2015

^ LOL

Titillating · Nov 13, 2015

Hi everyone!

Just a reminder that the submission period is almost over! We will be closing these threads around 12:00 noon (EST) on Sunday. Be sure to adjust it for your timezone!

Once the threads are closed, our awesome team of moderators will be choosing the finalists, who will then be featured in a poll to see who you think should win! And don't worry, our moderators will not be judging in any categories where they are participating

If you've got any last minute changes to make, be sure to do it soon!

Good luck, everyone!

Best PC Build: Under $500

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