Best PC Gaming Rig for around $650-700

[Genjiro]

currently im browsing PCpartpicker for some parts that i could pick for my relatives PC, they're a heavy gamer too, they want the best budget gaming PC without exceeding over $700, do you guys have any setups that could maybe fit around this budget? I don't want them to go what i went through, AMD, no offense AMD fanboys, amd is fine and all but games lately tend to be more optimized for Intel. Don't bash on me, i started my first build using a AMD FX 6300. So i'm trying to get a setup that has a intel processor, amd gpus are fine as im using one too right now. Thank you.

UPDATE:

Looking towards other people's suggested builds, which one of the builds do you think will last the most?:

http://pcbuildsonabudget.com/700-dollar-gaming-pc-build-2015

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7YgKvK

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zKY84D

 

[okcnaline]

You're looking at old builds. The Rx 2xx series isn't relevant these days, since the 3xx series have roughly the same performance but much better goodies. And those cases are too small. For $700, you can get an R9 380X (definitely beats using a GTX 960 2GB for games), and an Haswell i5. Easy mode.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury White 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380X 4GB NITRO Video Card ($233.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT S340 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.40 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $683.31
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-30 01:29 EST-0500

 

[smorizio]

before i post up parts there a few routes to a gaming pc on a fix build. one is use older cpu that are on discount like haswell cpu that are being replaced with skylake. one unit uses ddr3 ram the newer ddr4 and is about 10 percent faster in real life. skylake mb will let your friends and family put in a newer cpu in 3-4 years when the next tic/toc comes from intel. the next jump is curby lake and is only a die shrink of skylake in about 18 months. when building a gaming pc the three parts that cant be skimped on are the power supply the cpu and gpu. if he going to replace the stock gpu in 4-6 months when newer pascal and amd gpu drops make sure he has a good 650-750w unit. having a slightly larger unit then needed wil lsave him money if his old unit is under sized and needs to be replaced. also try and get a unit that the cable come off (modular) make wire more neat if you only use the ones you need. on building a pc you can buy the parts all at once or when you get the funds to do so. things like ssd can be added after you build when you have the funds...down side is you have to reload all your games and aps whe nyou reinstall the os onto the ssd. if your friend can wait till 2016 in jan for gpu there the 960ti dropping from nvidia and then the newer pascal gpu. he can buy and build all of the other parts and use onboard video till the newer gpu drop or he can wait.
with intel cpu you can save some money using a locked cpu and h or b chipset. also if he near a micro center they do have cheap parts for walk in and combo deals. have him sign up on amazon..tiger direct and other computer parts sellers for there cyber monday deals. also on the build 90.00 has to go to windows os unless he has a retail copy of windows now.

 

[smorizio]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dXDKvK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dXDKvK/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($68.20 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro M ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX Core Edition 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $435.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-30 01:46 EST-0500

 

[smorizio]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WkpR7P
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WkpR7P/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H170M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($77.35 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro M ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX Core Edition 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $487.39
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-30 01:52 EST-0500

newer skylake extra cost for the newer cpu/mb/ram.

 

[okcnaline]

Umm... WHAT?!!! No GPU? Pascal's not worth waiting for, that's a long time away.

 

[smorizio]

http://www.fudzilla.com/news/graphics/39343-nvidia-working-on-geforce-gtx-960-ti
http://techfrag.com/2015/11/26/nvidia-geforce-gtx-960-ti-specs-leaked-will-launch-in-the-coming-weeks/
$249,00 price point and be slightly slower then 970 gpu.
http://www.vcpost.com/articles/109033/20151126/nvidias-new-pascal-gpu-possibly-out-first-half-2016-16gb.htm
right now for a gamer your in between a few newer cards dropping some within few weeks other first half of 2016.
if i was giving help to your friend if he has no other money then what he has now. i would hold off for the newer gpu and then build then. if he cant wait have him pick up the newer 960ti or the 380x cards there the right cost/performace that are out there now.

 

[nikoli707]

lol at that reference r9-290. i would rather have a lower performing card than that volcano. plus with your budget you can just get skylake and an r9-390 anyways.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B150M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 390 8GB Video Card ($294.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.60 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $696.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-30 02:44 EST-0500

 

[Genjiro]

Thanks guys, will calculate my budget and see if one of these builds fits it, these builds look very nice though, thank you all.

 

[red2481]

https://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

Best build
You also get a an r 380 2gb. You can get 4gb for ten bucks more.