Please help me build 500$ gaming PC.

[BitterKingSkyler]

I would like to buy build a new gaming PC however I'm not sure what is best to put in it with this budget.

Budget : $500.

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers. Further, I do not require a video card OR a PSU, I currently own a Geforce GTX 550 Ti 2gb and a 650W PSU.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com

Country: USA

Preferences: AMD or Intel is fine, which ever one will give me most for my buck.

Overclocking: No

Additional comments: Please include the OS into the budget (windows 7).

This is my current build, I would like the new build to blow it out of the water so to speak. The Processor is outdated, as well as the motherboard. Feel free to suggest changes to this current build if you believe I will get more out of the budget by buying new parts for my current PC instead of getting a new system altogether. However please note that the RAM is maxed and the motherboard can't use any of the newer processors so I believe it is very limited.

Current Build:

Operating System
MS Windows XP Home 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 @ 2.33GHz
Conroe 65nm Technology
RAM
4.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 399MHz (6-6-6-18)
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0RN474 (Socket 775)
Graphics
M237WD @ 1920x1080
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
Hard Drives
244GB Western Digital WDC WD2500JS-75NCB3 (IDE)
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H73N
PSU: 650W





Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read and respond.

 

[Kamen_BG]

If you really want to use this as a gaming PC, you definetly need a new graphics card as the one you're using right now is lowend/outdated and building a system around it is just pointless.
You would get 40% more FPS tops.
The graphics card's memory capacity has almost no impact on its performance by the way.It's all about the GPU.


You also didn't list your PSU's brand or model which is much more important than its wattage.Remember that wattage really has no meaning if it's not a high quality unit.

First I'm going to build a build that will be exactly what you want.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($61.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($91.78 @ eCost)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.28 @ CompUSA)
Total: $509.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-31 06:27 EST-0500)

And the second build will actually bring you good gaming performance.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H61M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($164.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $513.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-31 06:34 EST-0500)

 

[Guest]

Assuming you keep the case..

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v8pW
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock B75 PRO3-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $405.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-31 06:40 EST-0500)

 

[BitterKingSkyler]

Thank you for the reply's. I have decided to go with nconde25's suggestion. You said assuming I keep the case, how can I be sure my current case is big enough for the motherboard you suggested also, will I have to get a different cooling fan for the new processor? I'm using a Dell vostro 400 case. Although I don't have the name of the PSU (I don't have the box on me) It's brand new, and I'm pretty sure it will be sufficient.

 

[wolfkraut]

Assuming you keep the case..

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v8pW
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock B75 PRO3-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($76.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $405.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-31 06:40 EST-0500)

Why are you giving him an unlocked CPU with a B75 board? That kind of defeats the whole purpose of getting an unlocked CPU. He'll either need a better mobo or you could just save him money and drop down to a 3470.

 

[Guest]

Why are you giving him an unlocked CPU with a B75 board? That kind of defeats the whole purpose of getting an unlocked CPU. He'll either need a better mobo or you could just save him money and drop down to a 3470.

You are right, the CPU should be 3470, my mistake.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53470

Thank you for the reply's. I have decided to go with nconde25's suggestion. You said assuming I keep the case, how can I be sure my current case is big enough for the motherboard you suggested also, will I have to get a different cooling fan for the new processor? I'm using a Dell vostro 400 case. Although I don't have the name of the PSU (I don't have the box on me) It's brand new, and I'm pretty sure it will be sufficient.

I looked up your motherboard size and it's the same size of the new mother i suggested, both are Micro ATX Form Factor: 9.6-in x 9.6-in, 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm, so it should fit perfectly.
The processor comes with it's own fan included.
As for the PSU if it was enough for your old build it should be also for the new one, since the power consumption is almost the same of the old build.

Happy new year!

 

[BitterKingSkyler]

I see, thanks for the help man I really appreciate it.

 

[BitterKingSkyler]

Best answer selected by BitterKingSkyler.