Is This a Good Budget($500) Gaming PC?

[Mcknight2017]

Need help building first gaming pc. Are the parts compatible? Should I worry about the dual-core? Is there anything you would change to make it cheaper without losing performance/quality? Thank you!

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JW7TNG) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JW7TNG/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i34150) | $94.98 @ NCIX US
**Motherboard** | [ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-h97mpro4) | $74.29 @ SuperBiiz
**Memory** | [G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f317000cl11d8gbsr) | $57.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $49.99 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r9270xgaming2gitx) | $149.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cougar-case-spike) | $29.99 @ Mwave
**Power Supply** | [Fractal Design Integra R2 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-power-supply-fdpsuin2b650w) | $44.99 @ Directron
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $502.22
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-27 17:09 EST-0500 |

 

[random5]

TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE BUILD!!! YOU'RE DOING IT ALL WRONG!

Though I respect your rational thinking, yeah you should worry about dual-core and yes, there's some things to change,give me a couple min.

 

[random5]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: HIS Radeon R9 270X 2GB IceQ X² Video Card ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $526.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-27 17:45 EST-0500

intel build, slightly over budget.

 

[random5]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Enermax ECA3253-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $466.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-27 17:48 EST-0500

below budget AMD.

 

[plywrlw]

I don't think your original build was bad at all. I also don't think Random5 is giving you good advice when they pair an r9 280 and an overclockable FX chip with a 450w PSU. Its a nice PSU but its not enough for that build.

There's no reason you can't stick with the i3, its a fairly capable cpu and if you have no plans to overclock, performs the same as an fx 6300 in gaming. Overclocking the fx 6300 will give it an edge but you'll need an aftermarket cooler like the Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo.

Also, please note that Random5's builds all cost between $50 and $100 more than the stated price without rebates.

This build does not include rebates or you can stick with the i3. My only real issue with your original build was the PSU. This XFX one us much better quality than the Fractal Design one.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($174.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.01 @ Directron)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $520.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-27 17:59 EST-0500

 

[Mcknight2017]

I don't think your original build was bad at all. I also don't think Random5 is giving you good advice when they pair an r9 280 and an overclockable FX chip with a 450w PSU. Its a nice PSU but its not enough for that build.

There's no reason you can't stick with the i3, its a fairly capable cpu and if you have no plans to overclock, performs the same as an fx 6300 in gaming. Overclocking the fx 6300 will give it an edge but you'll need an aftermarket cooler like the Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo.

Also, please note that Random5's builds all cost between $50 and $100 more than the stated price without rebates.

This build does not include rebates or you can stick with the i3. My only real issue with your original build was the PSU. This XFX one us much better quality than the Fractal Design one.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($174.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.01 @ Directron)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $520.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-27 17:59 EST-0500

Thanks, I do prefer to stay around $500 before rebates. I will switch out the Fractal with the XFX PSU. Is there any other cheaper PSU that will perform as well? My main decision now is to decide between i3 and FX-6300, I do not intend on overclocking but I'm worried about dual-core becoming useless in a few years. Will I be able to swap out the i3 for an i5 when that happens?

 

[plywrlw]

You can swap out to an i5 or i7 in future, yes. If you stick with a H97 board it will also be compatible with the new Intel chips due to be released next year.

You could go for an EVGA 500B but the quality is quite a bit lower than the xfx PSU. I think the extra $5 or so for the xfx is worth it.

If you're not going to overclock I'd avoid AMD chips altogether. They are hotter, slower per thread and generally end of life in my opinion and only worth getting if you're going to overclock. The chipsets the cpus run on (i.e motherboards) are also showing their age. I wish AMD had something newer I really do as I love a bargain!