Trying to build a pc for 500 bucks

• Cyrene wrote on 2014-04-25 07:29
  So far I've just copied a video with this build http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Crye/saved/4tJl and I wanted to know what nation thought about it. Could I expect to run something like Dark souls 2 on high and 60 fps or be prepared to run it on medium-low
  
  I didn't bother to add a monitor to the price because I'll just be using my Tv until I have saved some more cash.
  
  I also picked out this Ibuypower PC for 785 (including shipment fees and warranty) to compare
  
  [SPOILER="Ibuypower"]1 x NZXT Phantom 410 Gaming Case - White
  Processor 1 x AMD FX-4300 CPU (4x 3.80GHz/4MB L2 Cache) - FREE Upgrade to FX-6300
  Processor Cooling 1 x Liquid CPU Cooling System [AMD] - Standard 120mm Fan
  Memory 1 x 8 GB [4 GB X2] DDR3-1600 Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand
  Video Card 1 x AMD Radeon R7 250 - 2GB
  Motherboard 1 x Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P -- AMD 970
  Power Supply 1 x 500 Watt - Standard - Free Upgrade to 500W OCZ ModXStream Pro - 80 PLUS
  Primary Hard Drive 1 x 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 32M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s - Single Drive
  
  Optical Drive 1 x 24x Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black
  Sound Card 1 x 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard
  Network Card 1 x Intel Pro 10/100/1000 Network Card
  USB Expansion Card 1 x PCI-Express USB 3.0 Expansion Card (2x External Port + 1x Header)
  Operating System 1 x None- Pre-formatted Hard Drive Only
  [/SPOILER]
• Ashikoki wrote on 2014-04-25 07:33
  Just go find a tall building that looks like an office and see if they'll give you an old computer for free or ridiculously cheap. And then throw in a Nvidia GTX 750 Ti and you've got a functional gaming computer for 150!
  
  And then you can spend the other 350 dollars on two 21 inch monitors, a sleek keyboard, and a shiny mouse, and pretend you've got a bad ass rig going.
• Cyrene wrote on 2014-04-25 14:34

  Quote from Ashikoki;1217068:

  Just go find a tall building that looks like an office and see if they'll give you an old computer for free or ridiculously cheap. And then throw in a Nvidia GTX 750 Ti and you've got a functional gaming computer for 150!
  
  And then you can spend the other 350 dollars on two 21 inch monitors, a sleek keyboard, and a shiny mouse, and pretend you've got a bad ass rig going.

  
  
  Won't that like blow it up or something.. Can I really do that
• Compass wrote on 2014-04-25 14:52
  Err $500 without OS
  http://reddit.com/r/softwareswap/ you can get a Windows OS product key for about $30 or less here.
  
  There are a few things I dislike in the build you posted.
  1. Single Module RAM. Two 4GB modules in dual channel will always be better.
  2. Processor cooler. It's not really needed, AMD comes with their own, but if you want to overclock just save $3 for a Hyper 212 EVO
  3.Motherboard. Just avoid MSI AMD motherboards, they really do have the worst VRMs which makes overclocking unsafe.
  4. The case. No, just no. The Corsair 200r is a great case that is often found in the $30-$40 price range, not only that but the 500r isn't even the best case in the price range.
  
  
  

  Quote from Ashikoki;1217068:

  Just go find a tall building that looks like an office and see if they'll give you an old computer for free or ridiculously cheap. And then throw in a Nvidia GTX 750 Ti and you've got a functional gaming computer for 150!

  
  

  [Image: http://i.imgur.com/uFCgD7S.gif]

  
  The R7 265 is better, why are you recommending an inferior graphics card?
  
  

  Quote from Crye;1217077:

  Won't that like blow it up or something.. Can I really do that

  
  Depending on the desktop it's possible, but honestly odds are if you can build it yourself you're better off that way.
• Cyrene wrote on 2014-04-26 14:17

  Quote from Compass;1217080:

  Err $500 without OS
  http://reddit.com/r/softwareswap/ you can get a Windows OS product key for about $30 or less here.
  
  There are a few things I dislike in the build you posted.
  1. Single Module RAM. Two 4GB modules in dual channel will always be better.
  2. Processor cooler. It's not really needed, AMD comes with their own, but if you want to overclock just save $3 for a Hyper 212 EVO
  3.Motherboard. Just avoid MSI AMD motherboards, they really do have the worst VRMs which makes overclocking unsafe.
  4. The case. No, just no. The Corsair 200r is a great case that is often found in the $30-$40 price range, not only that but the 500r isn't even the best case in the price range.
  

  
  
  Thanks for the tips! I've changed it using your info and how does it look? http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Crye/saved/4tJl
  
  I'm not keen on the brands so I kind of just picked stuff based on prices. I also don't plan to overclock but I changed my motherboard anyways cus I'm starting to hear a lot of bad things about MSI. I also picked a dual 4gb module. I'm not sure about the brand and if I'm paying to much.
  
  I also removed the case, I'll look for one once I get home from work.
  
  Oh, and I set the price for windows 8.1 to thirty dollars because that store on reddit looks pretty rad.
  
  Thanks Compass and Ashikoki for the tips again.
• Ashikoki wrote on 2014-04-26 20:49

  Quote from Compass;1217080:

  
  The R7 265 is better, why are you recommending an inferior graphics card?

  
  
  Because it will run any game out today without a problem, but is significantly smaller and uses less power supply, therefore NOT blowing up old computers you get for free.
• Compass wrote on 2014-04-26 23:34

  Quote from Crye;1217217:

  Thanks for the tips! I've changed it using your info and how does it look? http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Crye/saved/4tJl
  
  I'm not keen on the brands so I kind of just picked stuff based on prices. I also don't plan to overclock but I changed my motherboard anyways cus I'm starting to hear a lot of bad things about MSI. I also picked a dual 4gb module. I'm not sure about the brand and if I'm paying to much.
  
  I also removed the case, I'll look for one once I get home from work.
  

  
  
  MSI is actually pretty aside from their AMD MoBos.
  
  It looks good, but you don't really need a FM2 A88X motherboard since those are meant for overclocking.
  Also I noticed the 650 Ti doesn't have a price when I look at it, is it because you already have the card?
  Also why do you want to keep the X4 760k? It's outdated. The i3 is better, but if you want an AMD you can find a better one like the FX-6300. But I recommend the i3 because Intel has the better single-core performance which a majority of the games use like Dark Souls II for example which means better performance.
  
  
  

  Quote from Ashikoki;1217237:

  Because it will run any game out today without a problem

  
  And so can the R7 265, but better.
  
  
  

  Quote from Ashikoki;1217237:

  but is significantly smaller and uses less power supply, therefore NOT blowing up old computers you get for free.

  
  Wait you were actually serious about using an old free computer?
  That's honestly one of the worst gaming advice I've heard in a long time and no one should follow it.
• Cyrene wrote on 2014-04-27 00:23

  Quote from Compass;1217249:

  MSI is actually pretty aside from their AMD MoBos.
  
  It looks good, but you don't really need a FM2 A88X motherboard since those are meant for overclocking.
  Also I noticed the 650 Ti doesn't have a price when I look at it, is it because you already have the card?
  Also why do you want to keep the X4 760k? It's outdated. The i3 is better, but if you want an AMD you can find a better one like the FX-6300. But I recommend the i3 because Intel has the better single-core performance which a majority of the games use like Dark Souls II for example which means better performance.
  

  
  
  The price is no longer showing up for me either on the 650ti. It's probably sold out again.. I should really buy that first.
  
  I'm looking for an i3 but I can't seem to find one for a reasonable price. I'm not sure what I did but now I'm nearing 600 bucks.
  
  [S]I'm horrible at this[/S]
• Ashikoki wrote on 2014-04-27 01:39

  Quote from Compass;1217249:

  Wait you were actually serious about using an old free computer?
  That's honestly one of the worst gaming advice I've heard in a long time and no one should follow it.

  
  
  So is trying to game on 500 dollars.
• Aubog007 wrote on 2014-04-27 05:12
  You can game on 500 bucks, just don't expect it to be pretty or run smooth.
• Compass wrote on 2014-04-27 05:50

  Quote from Crye;1217255:

  The price is no longer showing up for me either on the 650ti. It's probably sold out again.. I should really buy that first.
  
  I'm looking for an i3 but I can't seem to find one for a reasonable price. I'm not sure what I did but now I'm nearing 600 bucks.
  
  [S]I'm horrible at this[/S]

  
  What about the build I posted? Something you didn't like? I'll see if I can change anything around if it's not to your liking.
  Also is the $500 price range with the 650 ti if not what's the total?
  And do you live near a micro center, and are you okay buying used parts? Only part I have in mind is the graphics card and nothing else.
  
  
  

  Quote from Ashikoki;1217266:

  So is trying to game on 500 dollars.

  
  So getting an old free computer and sticking a 750ti is better?
  
  I'm really going have to question your knowledge with PC builds. I really doubt you know what you're talking about and I'm going to assume you saw one of the dozens "750ti runs Titanfall better than Xbone" article
  Obviously it's not going to run games at 1080p maxed, but there are other resolutions and graphical settings you have access to.
• Cyrene wrote on 2014-04-27 07:04

  Quote from Compass;1217303:

  What about the build I posted? Something you didn't like? I'll see if I can change anything around if it's not to your liking.
  Also is the $500 price range with the 650 ti if not what's the total?
  And do you live near a micro center, and are you okay buying used parts? Only part I have in mind is the graphics card and nothing else.

  
  
  Oh I didn't even realize you posted one, I'll check it out
  
  
  With the 650ti its about 600 bucks
  
  **edit** It looks pretty nice, thanks I'll probably edit the 200r with the 500r case and it said there was a compatibility issue with the power usage but I don't know how accurate this site is in its judgement. Otherwise I'll probably follow this build
  
  And I think there's one 30-45 minutes from me, I have to check it out. I just realized that the Eva was overclocked and I'm not sure if that's my thing. If the build goes up to 600 dollars though, that is totally fine. Thanks for the build again, looks sweet.
• Ashikoki wrote on 2014-04-27 09:02
  I don't know what the big issue is. Most offices I've been to lately are using pretty decent PCs.
  
  The standard rate of changing out computers is around 2~4 years here. They all go in the trash unless you ask for it. I'm using one right now, and there isn't anything I can't run with it. Saved a lot of money, so I got a new monitor, mouse, and headphones instead.
  
  Overall my best advice is to just save up money, but this still works out.
• Compass wrote on 2014-04-27 18:31

  Quote from Crye;1217313:

  Oh I didn't even realize you posted one, I'll check it out
  With the 650ti its about 600 bucks

  
  Ah okay, I'll give you a beefier graphics card than the 650ti and the R7 265 then.
  
  
  

  Quote from Crye;1217313:

  **edit** It looks pretty nice, thanks I'll probably edit the 200r with the 500r case and it said there was a compatibility issue with the power usage but I don't know how accurate this site is in its judgement. Otherwise I'll probably follow this build

  
  Ah, that was actually that RAM's fault, not the power supply's.
  
  
  

  Quote from Crye;1217313:

  And I think there's one 30-45 minutes from me, I have to check it out. I just realized that the Eva was overclocked and I'm not sure if that's my thing. If the build goes up to 600 dollars though, that is totally fine. Thanks for the build again, looks sweet.

  
  Micro Center has great deals on processors and motherboards. They processor prices are the lowest around, and if you buy a select processor with a motherboard you can get up $50 off, lowest is $30 off. the 4130 doesn't qualify for the motherboard discount, but you can get it for $99.
  
  Here's what I did with the build.
  - Switched the RAM. (Sorry about that).
  - Switch the graphics card to a beefier one
  - Switched the case to the 500r
  
  http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3zvCp
  
  Remember this is with Mail-In rebates, you'll get the money back, but it wont be right away.
  
  If you were to update your build I would upgrade your i3 into an i5. Which i5 depends on the cost at the time and how much you will have, but any i5 processor is fine.
• Cyrene wrote on 2014-04-27 20:43
  Wow, this looks pretty legit. Thanks a ton for taking the time to make this build, I really appreciate it.