Hoping with some help to get back into building computers with a $600-$700 budget

[dennis_judd]

I haven't really built a computer in a long time but I am familiar for the most part. I have a Dell XPS 8100 that I'd like to upgrade from but I don't want to do OEM again and then end up ripping out power supplied and adding limited secondary video cards (ie PCI-1x limited). Was hoping for some insight on what can be done from scratch. Thank you for your time.

Approximate Purchase Date: next couple of months

Budget Range:$600 - $700

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Internet, video, MS Office, some light gaming

Parts Not Required: 1TB HD for secondary non OS apps

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: no preference (have Amazon Prime)

Country: United States of America

Parts Preferences: Prefer Intel CPU's but might be old habit

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution:4 monitors; 2 at 1920x1080(dvi + hdmi) and 2 at 1280x1024 (vga)

Additional Comments: I'd like to use an SSD for the OS and then my spare 1TB disk for apps and data as a secondary. Since I have 4 monitors
total I figure i'll need a higher PSU like 600W.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Is the OS included in the budget?

 

[Demosthenest]

what games will you be playing? Will you game on all 4 monitors?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Here's a build to start the discussion:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($176.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($75.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB FTW ACX Video Card ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $646.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-09 16:08 EST-0500

 

[Demosthenest]

I'm assuming windows is included, although this build leaves room for it, since it's only 570 dollars. This should suit all your needs without any problem at all. it should run any game but not on ultra.
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xPYPhM
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xPYPhM/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Directron)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($71.97 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($128.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $572.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-09 16:13 EST-0500

 

[Demosthenest]

OP, if you can spare the extra bucks, go with shortstuff's build, it's better. Mine is simply cheaper.

 

[dennis_judd]

Is the OS included in the budget?

Doh! Forgot to include I needed to buy Windows 8.1. My bad sorry.

Also no I won't play on all four, the secondary smaller ones are really for informational displays (weather, news, stocks, boring stuff).

 

[Demosthenest]

Is the OS included in the budget?

Doh! Forgot to include I needed to buy Windows 8.1. My bad sorry.

Also no I won't play on all four, the secondary smaller ones are really for informational displays (weather, news, stocks, boring stuff).

Alright. With windows 8.1, shortstuff_mt would be slightly over budget. However, it offers more expandabilty in the future.
My one is fine, pretty similar but a bit cheaper. Throw in a dvd burner if you need one. Your choice really. If you don't mind spending a bit more, go with shortstuff_mt's build.

 

[logainofhades]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($47.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Crucial M550 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($149.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Total: $709.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-09 16:37 EST-0500

 

[Demosthenest]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($47.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Crucial M550 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($149.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Total: $709.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-09 16:37 EST-0500

very nice.

 

[dennis_judd]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($47.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Crucial M550 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($149.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Total: $709.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-09 16:37 EST-0500

Ok don't make fun of me but I have never seen a bottom mounted PSU case before. Mind. Blow.