Looking For a New $500 Gaming Build!

[bytecut]

Looking to build a new PC for my mate who just got money, but I'm having a bit trouble finding good parts for this price range.

Approximate Purchase Date: Tomorrow

Budget Range: ~$500 (Give or take $15 or so)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, general use, etc.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg is nice, but if there are better deals anywhere else, it's not really an issue.

Country: US

Parts Preferences: Probably AMD CPU for the impressive pricing

Overclocking: If possible

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024 until I save up for a new monitor in the near future

Additional Comments: I am willing to buy a hard drive off Ebay or similar sites if it's going to be a better deal

Thanks for all your help!

EDIT:
I have just purchased the computer. The total came out to $501.01 with tax and shipping. Here's the part list for any interested. It includes everything except a hard drive (bought one off of Craigslist for $25), monitor, mouse, keyboard, and OS.

Case:
NZXT Source 210 S210-001 Black “Aluminum Brush / Plastic” ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Power Supply:
Diablotek UL Series PSUL675 675W ATX 12V v2.31 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply

Disk Drive:
LG 22X Super-Multi DVD Burner

Motherboard:
ECS H61H2-M2(1.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU:
Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz

RAM:
Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3

Video Card:
ASUS EAH6770/DI/1GD5 Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

 

[jmsellars1]

If you want something to be able to upgrade nicely it may be worth going with something like the AMD A8-3870k and using the onboard graphics for a while. Then when you have some more cash add an HD 6870 or something.

Or if you prefer to just get the best for your money now and not have to upgrade it I would go with something like an AMD Athlon II x3 and an HD 6770. You should be able to do that as this budget. Just make sure you get a decent PSU, the Corsair CX series is quite good. I'd get the CX-500 for the A8 build or the CX-430 for the Athlon build.

 

[QuietPC]

Perhaps if you made the effort to research and provide links to your components of a proposed build people will help. Asking others to do all the work for you is a bit cheeky.

 

[sosofm]

I maked the build with Intel.
MOBO : ASRock H61M-GE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157256
CPU : Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078
RAM : G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422
GPU : HIS H687FN1GD Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161389
PSU : SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094
DVD-RW : LG DVD Burner 24X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136236
CASE : COOLER MASTER Elite 430
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227
TOTAL : $516.93 and 497$ after mail in rebates.
Buy the HDD from EBAY.

 

[QuietPC]

The H61 is not a good use of money. 4gb is plenty of ram at this price point

 

[jmsellars1]

Nothing wrong with H61 for a basic build like this, the i3 can't be overclocked anyway and he doesn't really need things like USB 3.0, SATA 3 and multiple PCI-e slots etc.

I do agree that 4GB RAM is fine though.

 

[sosofm]

QuietPC the man have a verry low budget. Yes you have right 4gb ram is enuogh.
If you modify from my build the next parts you can have a HDD too.
RAM : Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146748
CASE : NZXT Source 210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146075
GPU : SAPPHIRE 100328L Radeon HD 6770 1GB GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102940 on your monitor resolution is a good video card.
And we have the HDD in the same budget : Seagate Barracuda ST250DM000 250GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148765

 

[QuietPC]

Finding a way to get a 67 or 68 series mobo leaves an upgrade path to the i5/i7 if the builder wanted to. The 61 doesn't.

 

[sosofm]

Believe me i tried all the variants. He can upgrade with i5 ,i7 but without K because can't be overcloked with this mobo , i know that. But the best part is it have a good PC in almost 500$.

 

[bytecut]

Perhaps if you made the effort to research and provide links to your components of a proposed build people will help. Asking others to do all the work for you is a bit cheeky.

You are quite right, and I apologize for not including anything I have looked at.

Thank you for all your guys' suggestions, as it is a lot of stuff I have not looked at before, and I feel I am close to having the build I want thanks to your help!

My question is: Is the i3-2100 really better than going with something like, say, the Phenom II x4 960T that I can overclock a bit and is a quad core?

 

[Pezcore27]

For gaming, yes it beats almost every AMD chip out right now.

 

[sosofm]

pezcore27 have right , in games is better , watch this http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=289

 

[bytecut]

For gaming, yes it beats almost every AMD chip out right now.

As a dual core? That's incredible. How substantial is the performance gain to warrant me going that over the quad core? Would it still be able to stand toe-to-toe with the 960T in normal multitasking or even editing?

 

[Pezcore27]

Toms did a sub 200 gaming chip review and for the price it won hands down. If I wasn't on my phone I'd get you the li k.

 

[jmsellars1]

Finding a way to get a 67 or 68 series mobo leaves an upgrade path to the i5/i7 if the builder wanted to. The 61 doesn't.

I don't think there's enough of a performance boost between the i3-2100 and i5-2500k to warrant a future upgrade, it's only like a +30-40% boost in FPS (roughly)

 

[bytecut]

Thanks everyone for all of your help. I ended up going with a lot of the things you guys suggested, and have edited the OP with the parts list for those interested.

Thanks again!

 

[bytecut]

Best answer selected by desolatemuffin.