My buddy rig

[Megs_hat]

Thanks to you guys I got me a great rig, and I'm loving it my buddy who is a console player, started to argue about PC vs console gaming and he said If I can find him a rig under 500 dollars he would jump to PC, and this is just to prove to him that PC gaming isn't expensive. So I came up with this list similar to the build I was looking at http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qJiW. I just wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions on possible changes I can make, or if you can come up with a rig that's below 500, that will give a better performance than the linked rig?

 

[monstersti]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qKDu
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qKDu/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qKDu/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M LX PLUS Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($57.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($32.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($176.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Athena Power CA-GSB01DA (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($30.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Cooler Master eXtreme Power 600W ATX12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $528.14
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-03 13:34 EST-0500)
it is over budget but if he can spend the extra 30$ it will be alot better and i put a 1tb hdd because its really a waste of 60$ to only get 320bg :/
and if he cant spare the 30$ then drop it down to a 7770

 

[g-unit1111]

That looks decent but I wouldn't touch that case or power supply with a 10 foot pole. Cooler Master has a horrible tendency for "liar labels" and false advertising for PSU output and advertised wattage. And cheap cases are just that - cheap. Manufacturers cut corners with shoddy workmanship, sharp metal, and cheap plastic throughout, and these will fall apart after six months (or as I call it "Raidmax Syndrome").

Try this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($111.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.89 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $501.80
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-03 13:50 EST-0500)

 

[monstersti]

ya g-unit has a point i didint look at the psu also i dont do anything with cases cause people usely look at those themselves and see what they like
also id still recomend geting the 7850 for a little more if u can spare the money

 

[samuelspark]

That looks decent but I wouldn't touch that case or power supply with a 10 foot pole. Cooler Master has a horrible tendency for "liar labels" and false advertising for PSU output and advertised wattage. And cheap cases are just that - cheap. Manufacturers cut corners with shoddy workmanship, sharp metal, and cheap plastic throughout, and these will fall apart after six months (or as I call it "Raidmax Syndrome").

Try this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($111.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.89 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $501.80
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-03 13:50 EST-0500)

^ Pretty nice for the price.

 

[DarkSable]

Just as a thought... within this sort of price range, dropping to 4GB of RAM and leaving out the optical drive are both valid options to eke out the money for a better video card.

I'd do that with g-unit's build, and get a 7850... though either one would trash the console's graphics anyways.

 

[monstersti]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qKUw
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qKUw/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qKUw/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M LX PLUS Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($57.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($32.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($176.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $531.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-03 14:13 EST-0500)
same as before just changed the psu and the case to something alot better xD
also this is only 30$ more for the 7850 and the 1tb hdd and u can always take out the optical drive anyways xD

 

[g-unit1111]

Just as a thought... within this sort of price range, dropping to 4GB of RAM and leaving out the optical drive are both valid options to eke out the money for a better video card.

I'd do that with g-unit's build, and get a 7850... though either one would trash the console's graphics anyways.

You could but I really wouldn't recommend it. Skimping or compromising to get parts that aren't suited to the build isn't what I believe in. $500 is way too tight to get a 7850 without sacrificing somewhere - I built a good starter rig with a lot of room for upgrading in the future. That's the only way to truly future proof a rig is to leave all your options open.

 

[Megs_hat]

Thanks for the great replies, like g-unit said, my buddy can just upgrade if he isn't happy with the 7770's performance. The PSU was the cheapest I could find, and I can change the case as far as memory goes idk, how much do we really need for gaming?

 

[g-unit1111]

Thanks for the great replies, like g-unit said, my buddy can just upgrade if he isn't happy with the 7770's performance. The PSU was the cheapest I could find, and I can change the case as far as memory goes idk, how much do we really need for gaming?

You don't need more than 8GB currently.

 

[Megs_hat]

You don't need more than 8GB currently.

Okay, also which cpu is better the FX-6100 or the Phenom II X4 965? They both are the cheapest cpu's I could find.

 

[g-unit1111]

Okay, also which cpu is better the FX-6100 or the Phenom II X4 965? They both are the cheapest cpu's I could find.

Bulldozer isn't worth purchasing. The Piledriver CPUs (FX-63XX and FX-83XX) are worth purchasing but they're a bit more. On that budget stick with the 965.

 

[samuelspark]

Bulldozer isn't worth purchasing. The Piledriver CPUs (FX-63XX and FX-83XX) are worth purchasing but they're a bit more. On that budget stick with the 965.

Wouldn't the FX4300 be a viable option as well?

 

[g-unit1111]

Wouldn't the FX4300 be a viable option as well?

In some areas the 965 is still faster: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=700

 

[samuelspark]

In some areas the 965 is still faster: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=700

Performs noticeably better in gaming though. Single threaded is almost slightly better.

 

[Megs_hat]

Wouldn't the FX4300 be a viable option as well?

I'm trying to keep the rig under 500, so idk if I can make a rig with that cpu and keep it under 500 bucks. But this is the rig I came up with http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qS8V

 

[samuelspark]

I'm trying to keep the rig under 500, so idk if I can make a rig with that cpu and keep it under 500 bucks. But this is the rig I came up with http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qS8V

The PSU is trash. Get an Antec VP450.

 

[forr3zt]

This is a little over
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qVnW
you can swap the gpu for a different 7850 if you want

 

[Megs_hat]

The PSU is trash. Get an Antec VP450.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qVB4 updated so is this fine, can I send this over to my buddy? and that's a nice build forr3zt.

 

[samuelspark]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qVB4 updated so is this fine, can I send this over to my buddy? and that's a nice build forr3zt.

Yes. But I might spend a bit more for a decent quality case. You wouldn't believe the difference it makes when building as well as airflow.

 

[Megs_hat]

Yes. But I might spend a bit more for a decent quality case. You wouldn't believe the difference it makes when building as well as airflow.

Lol I was just about to edited that link here is my update, and I'll forward it as soon as I get the green light. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qVLs

 

[samuelspark]

Lol I was just about to edited that link here is my update, and I'll forward it as soon as I get the green light. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qVLs

Maybe push out the extra $10 for a Fractal Design Core 1000?

 

[Megs_hat]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qX0m the newest rig I put together for him.

 

[samuelspark]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qX0m the newest rig I put together for him.

Still cheaping out on the case. Also, if you ever plan to overclock, don't use the high profile Corsair RAM as it interferes with so many aftermarket coolers.

 

[Megs_hat]

I think this is the best option for him http://pcpartpicker.com/p/r1ER