Putting Together Gaming PC for Friends

[Qman87765]

Hey guys, I am in the process of attempting to convert a few of my old console buddies to PC, and am trying to put together a good budget build for them. They aren't really down to spend more on a PC than if they were to buy a next gen console, and it has been a challenge trying to put together a PC that would fit their needs and perform at 1080p/60fps. I personally have an Intel build, but it seems as though the best processor for a budget PC would be the AMD FX-6300, and, given that I've only ever build one PC, I don't know AMD as well as I know Intel, and was wondering if you guys might know more. I was wondering if you guys could build me a decent PC around $500. Having an OS included in that price would be optimal but is not entirely necessary. Plus, any tips on how to try to convince them that PC is superior not only in graphics, but in overall experience? I've already convinced one of 4 to make the switch if the others do, and I know if one of the other 3 decides to switch they all will. The one I am trying to convince was previously a part of the PC scene until the 360 came out, then he got away from it and moved to console. I haven't been around the PC scene for all of the past 8 years, and was wondering if there have been any major changes on PC over those years, besides advances in hardware technology, that I can use to convince him that PC is so much more than it was back then.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

This was the best I could do for $500 (console equivilant)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($25.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $515.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-22 18:16 EDT-0400

It's hard to beat a console when you have to buy an OS. However, remind your friends that you often pay less for PC games, so rather than $60 perhaps $30 or $40.

 

[lesmore2222]

This was the best I could do for $500 (console equivilant)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($25.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $515.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-22 18:16 EDT-0400

It's hard to beat a console when you have to buy an OS. However, remind your friends that you often pay less for PC games, so rather than $60 perhaps $30 or $40.

Only one thing I would change on this build. Ditch the 2x2GB ram and just get a 1x4GB stick. It is cheaper and dual channel is of minimal importance for gaming and you will have an extra ram slot open (that MB only has 2 mem slots.) if you decide to upgrade to 8GB of ram..

 

[turkey3_scratch]

This was the best I could do for $500 (console equivilant)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($25.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $515.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-22 18:16 EDT-0400

It's hard to beat a console when you have to buy an OS. However, remind your friends that you often pay less for PC games, so rather than $60 perhaps $30 or $40.

Only one thing I would change on this build. Ditch the 2x2GB ram and just get a 1x4GB stick. It is cheaper and dual channel is of minimal importance for gaming and you will have an extra ram slot open (that MB only has 2 mem slots.) if you decide to upgrade to 8GB of ram..

I was considering that actually but thought a new mobo might be bought for a RAM upgrade in a couple years.

 

[lesmore2222]

This was the best I could do for $500 (console equivilant)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($25.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $515.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-22 18:16 EDT-0400

It's hard to beat a console when you have to buy an OS. However, remind your friends that you often pay less for PC games, so rather than $60 perhaps $30 or $40.

Only one thing I would change on this build. Ditch the 2x2GB ram and just get a 1x4GB stick. It is cheaper and dual channel is of minimal importance for gaming and you will have an extra ram slot open (that MB only has 2 mem slots.) if you decide to upgrade to 8GB of ram..

I was considering that actually but thought a new mobo might be bought for a RAM upgrade in a couple years.

Sorry but that doesn't make much sense. Why buy a new MB and mem if you could just keep the same motherboard and just get another 4GB stick of mem. I'd prefer to not pay the extra $50-$100 for a new MB if I didn't have to.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

This was the best I could do for $500 (console equivilant)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($25.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $515.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-22 18:16 EDT-0400

It's hard to beat a console when you have to buy an OS. However, remind your friends that you often pay less for PC games, so rather than $60 perhaps $30 or $40.

Only one thing I would change on this build. Ditch the 2x2GB ram and just get a 1x4GB stick. It is cheaper and dual channel is of minimal importance for gaming and you will have an extra ram slot open (that MB only has 2 mem slots.) if you decide to upgrade to 8GB of ram..

I was considering that actually but thought a new mobo might be bought for a RAM upgrade in a couple years.

Sorry but that doesn't make much sense. Why buy a new MB and mem if you could just keep the same motherboard and just get another 4GB stick of mem. I'd prefer to not pay the extra $50-$100 for a new MB if I didn't have to.

I guess I was thinking of maybe a large upgrade including CPU, mobo, and RAM but that woud not be necessary. I hereby agree with you.

 

[Qman87765]

This was the best I could do for $500 (console equivilant)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($25.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $515.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-22 18:16 EDT-0400

It's hard to beat a console when you have to buy an OS. However, remind your friends that you often pay less for PC games, so rather than $60 perhaps $30 or $40.

A build I came up with based on turkey3_scratch's:

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Qman87765/saved/cDkqqs

The wireless adapter isn't needed, so with the extra cash I threw in 8 gigs of ram. Thoughts?

 

[lesmore2222]

This was the best I could do for $500 (console equivilant)
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($25.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $515.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-22 18:16 EDT-0400

It's hard to beat a console when you have to buy an OS. However, remind your friends that you often pay less for PC games, so rather than $60 perhaps $30 or $40.

Only one thing I would change on this build. Ditch the 2x2GB ram and just get a 1x4GB stick. It is cheaper and dual channel is of minimal importance for gaming and you will have an extra ram slot open (that MB only has 2 mem slots.) if you decide to upgrade to 8GB of ram..

I was considering that actually but thought a new mobo might be bought for a RAM upgrade in a couple years.

Sorry but that doesn't make much sense. Why buy a new MB and mem if you could just keep the same motherboard and just get another 4GB stick of mem. I'd prefer to not pay the extra $50-$100 for a new MB if I didn't have to.

I guess I was thinking of maybe a large upgrade including CPU, mobo, and RAM but that woud not be necessary. I hereby agree with you.

I know where you are coming from. It is always nice to think of upgrade possibilities but it rarely happens. Yeah it would be nice to throw an i7 and a GTX970 into the case. But will that ever happen? Probably not. Most likely you will just build a whole new system. I know , I've been there many times.