Budget Gaming Build Under $500, Need Optimization Before Pulling the Trigger!

[woahbrono]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($183.56 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($76.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.68 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB Video Card ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Blackbone ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $499.19
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-01 09:24 EDT-0400)

Already have the ram, so I'm not in need of that. The main use of this comp will be for gaming with games like Arma 3 and Battlefield 4. I've been bouncing back and forth between going with the i5 and compromising on the graphics card or going with an amd cpu, like the fx6350, and grabbing a better card.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[tiny voices]

You could get the i5 3350p and an h77 motherboard. Honestly, that gtx650ti is so cheap that you aren't going to really save enough money to get a better GPU. Maybe a 2gb 650ti, but it won't really make much of a difference difference at all. I would just stick with what you have.

 

[lunyone]

I'd go this route, IMHO:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($130.57 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($154.69 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill Blackbone ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $502.22
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-01 09:37 EDT-0400)

* CPU does quite well in the budget range.
* GPU is MUCH better than GTX 560 Ti.

 

[tiny voices]

I'd go this route, IMHO:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($130.57 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($154.69 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill Blackbone ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $502.22
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-01 09:37 EDT-0400)

* CPU does quite well in the budget range.
* GPU is MUCH better than GTX 560 Ti.

This is a good way to go. Also, I believe you mean 650ti not 560ti.

 

[woahbrono]

That's pretty much the exact build I had put together before I went with the i5. The main problem I'm having is whether to go intel or amd for the money and performance I'm looking for. Would the upgrade capability be better with the intel build I put together or the amd one? I was also wondering if it would it be beneficial to go with the fx 6350 that just came out?

Thanks for the reply.

 

[lunyone]

Yes the AMD has the advantage in this budget range. You get a better GPU and still have a decent CPU to work with. I'd also go with the 6350 too, if that fits the budget (I think it's the same price ~$140).

 

[woahbrono]

Yes the AMD has the advantage in this budget range. You get a better GPU and still have a decent CPU to work with. I'd also go with the 6350 too, if that fits the budget (I think it's the same price ~$140).

I've been researching a bit more and think I've come up with the final build. It's a bit over budget, but I think we'll be able to manage it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($118.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Blackbone ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $535.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-01 13:31 EDT-0400)

Thanks for all your input

 

[lunyone]

The problem with the 7870 will need the CX 500w PSU (has 2 x PCI-e power connectors) to power it up. The 430w only works up to 7850 or GTX 6660 (both require 1 x PCI-e power connectors). It'll be like $5 more for the PSU.

Here's the Modular version:
$70 - %10 off - $20 MIRc = $43!!


Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, PCP&C, & XFX at 500w or better (w/2 x PCI-e power connectors) is what you should be looking for on the 7870 or better GPU.

 

[woahbrono]

That one looks great and comes in under budget. Thanks for all your input, pretty sure I have the build all ready to go now!