Highschool Budget Desktop

[J0urney]

Hi, I'm a senior student in highschool, and because I'm moving away for university, I wanted to build a desktop computer for around $500-800. I want it to be small, (the case that I got my eye on is the Bitfenix Prodigy Case). I want to play some recent and upcoming titles, like AC Unity, CS GO, L4D2, Fallout, Sunset Overdrive, SCII, and Watch Dogs at a decent fps and decent quality. Do you guys have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Jacob

 

[Jeff Baffalo]

Assuming you already have an operating system

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/ll36oNoSkOpEll/saved/XBjbt6

 

[Matthew Mckay]

You might have some trouble with Sunset Overdrive, being it's Xbox exclusive and all.

 

[RookieOfTheYear]

Do you need an operating system, monitor, mouse and keyboard? Also, where are you located?

 

[RookieOfTheYear]

Well here is a build with all things needed to start gaming, except speakers.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($126.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.29 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Biostar TA970 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.89 @ Directron)
Video Card: HIS Radeon R9 270X 2GB IceQ X² Video Card ($154.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake VM30001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.61 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer S220HQLAbd 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Logitech K120 Wired Standard Keyboard ($9.94 @ NCIX US)
Mouse: Zalman ZM-M300 Wired Optical Mouse ($8.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $800.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-09 20:49 EST-0500

It is at the top of your budget, but would give you acceptable gaming performance on high settings on most of the games you listed. If you can stretch the budget a little more, I would throw in a 120gb solid state drive.

 

[rockie_]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.69 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($324.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $805.51
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-09 20:52 EST-0500

 

[RookieOfTheYear]

And here would be my suggest if you don't need a monitor, mouse or keyboard.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($126.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.29 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Biostar TA970 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.94 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.89 @ Directron)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake VM30001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.61 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Total: $816.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-09 20:55 EST-0500

 

[logainofhades]

Since you stated you wanted something small, here is my pick.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($168.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($92.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Zeus Yellow 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.59 @ Directron)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($66.23 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Total: $789.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-09 20:58 EST-0500