Need help building a friends first PC $750

[toodabeans]

A friend of mine has been wanting to upgrade from his laptop for a long time, and he finally has about $750 saved up for his build. This PC will be used for light gaming, and getting him through college. We're going to go to a microcenter near by, and the build I came up with is about $725 ( https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pcqksJ ) at microcenter with Ohio tax. I went with what I did so he could eventually upgrade. Any other better build ideas?

 

[manv]

I suggest you wait a few more days until Ryzen 5 series is released.
The Ryzen 5 1500X is priced at $190 or the 1400 at $170.
Im sure those processors will deliver equal or better performance at a lower price than what you have mentioned.

 

[CRO5513Y]

+1 with waiting for Ryzen 5 soon ^. If not here is revised build. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kPXHKZ. Hope this helps

- More Powerful Graphics Card
- More Efficient/Reliable Power Supply
- Newer and Faster CPU
- Newer Motherboard to go with it ^
- Pretty much same case but less flashy colours

Does he specifically need/want an Unlocked (Overclockable) CPU?

 

[Hellfire13]

More optimized, with SSD, better gpu and psu...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-7500 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($188.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI B250M PRO-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($64.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: EVGA SuperSC 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon RX 480 4GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H21 ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.50 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $634.15
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-08 01:41 EDT-0400

 

[jwcrellin]

I believe that ryzen 5 will drop right into the B350 mobo so you could get one of those now and order the cpu after april 11th.

 

[toodabeans]

+1 with waiting for Ryzen 5 soon ^. If not here is revised build. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kPXHKZ. Hope this helps

- More Powerful Graphics Card
- More Efficient/Reliable Power Supply
- Newer and Faster CPU
- Newer Motherboard to go with it ^
- Pretty much same case but less flashy colours

Does he specifically need/want an Unlocked (Overclockable) CPU?

No, I just went with that, as Microcenter has a deal where if you got the 6600k or 6500 and a motherboard, you'd get $30 off.

 

[CRO5513Y]

+1 with waiting for Ryzen 5 soon ^. If not here is revised build. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kPXHKZ. Hope this helps

- More Powerful Graphics Card
- More Efficient/Reliable Power Supply
- Newer and Faster CPU
- Newer Motherboard to go with it ^
- Pretty much same case but less flashy colours

Does he specifically need/want an Unlocked (Overclockable) CPU?

No, I just went with that, as Microcenter has a deal where if you got the 6600k or 6500 and a motherboard, you'd get $30 off.

In that case even with the deal, i'd recommend getting the build Hellfire13 suggested. If has a more than capable CPU and an RX 480 which would be a great Gaming combo. Mine was similar but a lower GPU to fit in a K CPU and Z board but since you don't want/need them specifically his build would be the better and more well-rounded option.

 

[Hellfire13]

+1 with waiting for Ryzen 5 soon ^. If not here is revised build. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kPXHKZ. Hope this helps

- More Powerful Graphics Card
- More Efficient/Reliable Power Supply
- Newer and Faster CPU
- Newer Motherboard to go with it ^
- Pretty much same case but less flashy colours

Does he specifically need/want an Unlocked (Overclockable) CPU?

No, I just went with that, as Microcenter has a deal where if you got the 6600k or 6500 and a motherboard, you'd get $30 off.

Then you should get something like this, or wait for R5 as everyone suggests but forget the discount...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($193.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus H110M-E/M.2 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($46.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: EVGA SuperSC 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon RX 480 4GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H21 ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.50 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $621.23
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-08 01:54 EDT-0400

 

[jwcrellin]

Intel is coming out with all new stuff (i5 7640k) in August, which is why ppl are clearing out their inventory.

 

[toodabeans]

+1 with waiting for Ryzen 5 soon ^. If not here is revised build. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/kPXHKZ. Hope this helps

- More Powerful Graphics Card
- More Efficient/Reliable Power Supply
- Newer and Faster CPU
- Newer Motherboard to go with it ^
- Pretty much same case but less flashy colours

Does he specifically need/want an Unlocked (Overclockable) CPU?

No, I just went with that, as Microcenter has a deal where if you got the 6600k or 6500 and a motherboard, you'd get $30 off.

Then you should get something like this, or wait for R5 as everyone suggests but forget the discount...

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($193.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus H110M-E/M.2 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($46.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: EVGA SuperSC 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Storage: OCZ TRION 150 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon RX 480 4GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H21 ATX Mid Tower Case ($36.50 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.90 @ Amazon)
Total: $621.23
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-08 01:54 EDT-0400

What is the difference between this mobo " http://www.microcenter.com/product/466833/H110M-A-M2_LGA_1151_mATX_Intel_Motherboard " and this one " http://www.microcenter.com/product/467034/H110M-E-M2_LGA_1151_mATX_Intel_Motherboard "

 

[Hellfire13]

No difference. The A version has an extra DVI connector.