My eight year computer broke, looking for help to build a gaming computer within 500-600 dollars.

goobydabest

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Feb 20, 2015
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My power supply just blew up and I was thinking I should just build a new computer instead of replacing the part. I need help finding the right parts for the comp, I'm also on a 500-600 dollar budget. I'm looking for something that can be easily up-gradable in the future and something that can run new games smoothly. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank You
 

cub_fanatic

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Nov 21, 2012
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Do you know which parts of the old computer are salvageable? Case, hard drive, optical drive, etc.? PSU? If the case, optical drive and hard drive are salvageable and is a micro-ATX size, you can replace just the motherboard, CPU, RAM, PSU and update to Windows 8.1 for well within your budget.

motherboard $60 (B85) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157356&cm_re=B75-_-13-157-356-_-Product
CPU $122 (i3 4150) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116995&cm_re=i3_4150-_-19-116-995-_-Product
RAM (GSkill 2x 4 GB 1600 DDR3 $60 with code EMCANNA67 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=IGNEFL022015&nm_mc=AFC-C8JUNCTION&cm_mmc=AFC-C8JUNCTION-_-EMC-022015-Latest-_-DesktopMemory-_-20231428-S0A1C&PID=2138476&SID=dl-1673818&AID=10440897
PSU 500 watt EVGA $25 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438016&cm_re=500_watt-_-17-438-016-_-Product

That is just under $270 and the video card, an HD Graphics 4400, comes with the CPU. If you want something beefier for newer games, you can spend another $150 on a GTX 750ti or more if you want. And you can change out the CPU to an i5 or even i7 depending on your needs.

GTX 750 ti $150 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487024&cm_re=750ti-_-14-487-024-_-Product

With the 750ti, that puts it up to about $420 leaving you enough room for an SSD, new case and a copy of Windows 8.1.

SSD, Mushkin 120 GB $55 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226424&cm_re=120gb_ssd-_-20-226-424-_-Product

Case Silverstone micro ATX $45 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163254&cm_re=micro_atx_case-_-11-163-254-_-Product

That brings it up to just under $520, add another $100 for Windows and you have a pretty decent mid-range rig with almost all new parts.
 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($68.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card ($172.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Other: Windows 10 Preview
Total: $576.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-20 22:43 EST-0500
 

goobydabest

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Feb 20, 2015
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Thank's for the response I will be looking at all the specs. I dont think I will salvage anything in the old pc heck I dont even know if anything else burned when that power supply went out. There were sparks and a strong burning plastic smell.
 

cub_fanatic

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Nov 21, 2012
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I once read that places like good will and schools do not like it when people dump their PCs on them that are over 5 years old. Even if the PC is in perfect working order, most of them are not worth much or anything at all. Nobody is going to buy a Core 2 Duo rig for more than $50. Older PCs can't be given away. The article I read was about a school. They get PCs donated to them all the time, usually really old crap. Getting it for free is fine and all, but if the person who donated it didn't want it, chances are the students have not use for it either. The worst part is that it actually costs them money sometimes to throw them away since electronic scrap is the same as throwing away batteries or used motor oil and stuff like that. Best thing to do is just take the thing to the dump or an electronic recycling place himself because chances are that is where it will end up anyway if he donates it.