Is it possible to build a gaming computer for $800 if so AMD or Intel?

[Introverted1]

I am looking at building a gaming computer. I would prefer a budget between $700 and $800. I don't need this gaming computer to run everything on ultra but would prefer medium to high settings. The types of games I like to play are Red Orchestra 2 and Civilization V. I would love to be able to play Beyond Earth on high settings when it comes out.

I have purchased the monitor, keyboard, mouse, mouse pad, Windows 8, and the computer case which is a Fractal Design Define R4 already. I am basically buying the inner guts to the computer case.

I would love for the components to be somewhat future proof. I have no preference between AMD and Intel. I am in Canada if that makes a difference.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Richard Ricardo]

You can build both AMD and Intel gaming PCs for 800 but they wont be future proof. Try pcpartpicker.com to choose your components. I prefer Intel over AMD and as for motherboards I like Asrock or Asus. It all depends on if you want to get a 4th gen intel processor or 3rd gen. If you go with Intel, go for a high level I5 processor or an I7 (they will run you anywhere between 240usd for the I5s and 300 and up for the I7s). As for video cards, I'm only hearing good things about Nvidias new GTX 970s and the 980s are even better but they wont fit your budget. Make sure your power supply can handle all the components of your PC and RAM should be at minimum 8gb of ddr3 and 16gb is preferred.

 

[jimthenagual]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($196.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.90 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280X 3GB DirectCU II Video Card ($279.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($62.98 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.09 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $783.23
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-23 19:35 EDT-0400

This system will play any game out now on high to ultra settings with good frame rates.

 

[rockie_]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($187.93 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($70.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $809.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-23 19:45 EDT-0400

 

[Sevenater]

Hello everyone!

Many people will respond to these, "Need help with build for X$" with a plain and simple list of what they think is good for that price range, and although it's great advice, I would honestly suggest to anyone looking to build a computer to do some research. My first build I looked all over youtube and forums looking for stuff like, "Best GPU for under X$" and I would compare and contrast different GPU's/CPU's to see which I really wanted, I would find out all the features on any given part and see if it's really what I wanted. For the most part you want the best YOU can get for your budget.

TL;DR. Do some more research, the whole point you build a custom computer is the fact that it is YOUR computer, take peoples advice but be origonal and do what you want, and not what people say is best.

_Sevenater

 

[jimthenagual]

@rockie_

Needs Canadian pricing, and he already has a case

But you did have me excited with a gtx970 in a $800 build!

 

[rockie_]

skip this post

 

[jimthenagual]

That's still in US dollars. You can switch pcpartpicker over to Canada to get pricing there.

Still even in Canadian dollars that comes to $838.72. That's a good price for a system with a 970 in it if the OP can go up to that price.

 

[Introverted1]

I thought for the i5 Haswell chipset you want to stay in the H97 motherboards and not the Zs

I also don't want to overclock it.

 

[jimthenagual]

I thought for the i5 Haswell chipset you want to stay in the H97 motherboards and not the Zs

I also don't want to overclock it.

Yeah, in general if you're not getting a 'k' series cpu, there is no need to get a Z97 chipset. But in the case of the system rockie posted, that mobo is an amazing price, so doesn't make much difference.

 

[iam2thecrowe]

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/J4DRqs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/J4DRqs/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($224.96 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: MSI H97M-E35 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($87.65 @ Amazon Canada)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Memory Express)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.90 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($299.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $801.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-23 20:26 EDT-0400

yes you can build a pc thats very futureproof and will run everything at ultra 1080p.

 

[rockie_]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($196.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.90 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Black Edition Double Dissipation Video Card ($259.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($79.89 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $813.03
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-23 20:28 EDT-0400

 

[sora]

without case
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($70.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $781.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-23 19:49 EDT-0400

+1; this is a very solid $800 build.

 

[iam2thecrowe]

without case
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($70.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $781.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-23 19:49 EDT-0400

+1; this is a very solid $800 build.

except your not gonna get it for that price in canada....

 

[Alpehue]

Im trying to build a new laptop for more or less the same budget myself, i just wanted to add, Forget about Civilization V, Civilization VI is coming out tonight 😉