Need help with a $700 dollar gaming build - detailed info below

[dzirkelb]

A co-worker / semi boss is wanting to buy his son a gaming PC, and I told him I'd take on the task of either finding him a pre-built one, or building him one.

I'm up to date on cpu's for business use, but not for gaming.

He plays the following games😛lays Garry’s mod, Rust, DayZ Arma

He currently plays on a laptop with the following specs, and complains of frame rate:
Dell Inspiron 5521 Laptop
6gb dual channel ddr3l 1600mhz ram
Intel HD graphics 4000
500gb 5400 rpm drive
3rd gen i5-3337U 3m cache, up to 2.7 ghz

He wants an i7, but I think that is out of the budget, and not necessary from what I briefly researched. He will definitely want a cool case, and I know there are tons out there, so maybe just give a budget of like 75 dollars or something.

The build needs to include a monitor, all components, and a keyboard / mouse. However, if we go over a little bit I'm sure I could talk him into the value of the extra money.

I'm definitely willing to just give him a link of a pre-built machine, but also willing to build it for him.

 

[Gracodana]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/spvw8d

went to 800 but included OS if you don't need it then it's in budget. This case is much more expensive then I would usually put in this budget but if you want a really cool case this is it.

 

[SuperRafal]

It's almost impossible to build a decent gaming rig with this budget from one vendor. Maybe buying separate parts from where is the cheapest would get you somewhere but I guess it's not an option.

Here is the cheapest reasonable build from Newegg:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Pro3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($70.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: NZXT HALE82 V2 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Logitech MK120 Wired Slim Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($16.98 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech M560 Wireless Laser Mouse ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $799.55
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-25 09:38 EST-0500

You could get cheaper CPU but newegg doesn't have 8320. FX-6300 is cheaper but for little price diffrence FX-8350 is much better choice.

Case is something to change according to preference. However I wouldn't get one with front USB 3.0 panel because motherboard doesn't not support it. Otherwise other mainboard is also an option, maybe Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P.

 

[Gracodana]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Kw2KkL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Kw2KkL/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($94.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z11 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.43 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Samsung S24D300H 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Gigabyte Force K3 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Gigabyte GM-M6800 Wired Optical Mouse ($9.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $708.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-25 09:47 EST-0500

Brought it in budget sacrificing no performence.

 

[dzirkelb]

Thanks guys. For al of these builds, how much improvement will he expect to see from this laptop currently in use?

 

[SuperRafal]

Yeah but with totally sh***y motherboard and dual core processor. Kid will start playing newer games and in few months guy will have to buy him a new PC.

 

[logainofhades]

Yeah but with totally sh***y motherboard and dual core processor. Kid will start playing newer games and in few months guy will have to buy him a new PC.

And they won't with the already 2yr old, outdated FX? That motherboard can be upgraded to a Haswell/Haswell refresh i5, i7, or a 1231v3. What does your board upgrade to? Oh that's right, nothing, because AM3+ is dead, and your crap board cannot even support the space heater FX 9xxx series, nor will it overclock, because it is a junk board.

 

[SuperRafal]

Of course not, this will be enough power to play upcoming games for years to come but on low settings of course.

 

[logainofhades]

Of course not, this will be enough power to play upcoming games for years to come but on low settings of course.

It cannot compete with an i5, without an overclock, won't touch a 1231v3, when overclocked, and can get beat by an i3 at stock. No it is not enough. AMD needs their new arch out, and badly. I have an FX 8320 @ 4.0ghz, and it is slower than my i5 2400 @ 3.5ghz.

 

[Gracodana]

Yeah but with totally sh***y motherboard and dual core processor. Kid will start playing newer games and in few months guy will have to buy him a new PC.

duel core with hyper threading, this cpu outperforms the fx 8350 in most games and this is a gaming focused build.

 

[Gracodana]

Of course not, this will be enough power to play upcoming games for years to come but on low settings of course.

It cannot compete with an i5, without an overclock, won't touch a 1231v3, when overclocked, and can get beat by an i3 at stock. No it is not enough. AMD needs their new arch out, and badly. I have an FX 8320 @ 4.0ghz, and it is slower than my i5 2400 @ 3.5ghz.

Forgot to mention the upgrade paths and that really is a huge factor, the i3 will still be playing games pretty well into the future.

 

[dzirkelb]

Ok, so the kid really wants an i7. The dad is willing to up the build by another 200 dollars to get an i7.

Is there any benefit of an i7 over an i5?

Can we get a build for 1000 dollars, or should I post a new thread?

 

[logainofhades]

No real benefit of an i7 vs an i5, for gaming. If they are adamant about i7, go with the Xeon 1231v3. It is basically an i7 4770, without the integrated graphics, and is cheaper.

 

[logainofhades]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-E ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($349.95 @ B&H)
Case: Enermax ECA3253-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.43 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $996.31
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-26 09:34 EST-0500

 

[Gracodana]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($234.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-E ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($349.95 @ B&H)
Case: Enermax ECA3253-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.43 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $996.31
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-26 09:34 EST-0500

I would second this the i7 isn'y going to make enough difference .