450-500 dollar Witcher 3 build.

[Dubesta11]

So my friend bought a computer at bestbuy (actually this one) and thought it would run witcher 3 fine. Well it doesn't. So he is looking to have one built, which is what I recommended in the first place.

 

 So what would be a decent build for 1280x1024 30-45FPS gaming on low-medium settings? The total budget is 500 dollars, and I might be able to go to Microcenter.

[stconquest]

Do you mean driving to a NY location?  (Microcenter)

[Searinex]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($118.49 @ B&H) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($45.00 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.69 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.60 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card  ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: Deepcool TESSERACT BF ATX Mid Tower Case  ($25.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $492.75

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-24 21:23 EDT-0400

[Guest]

-snip-

I would get  a cheap corsair carbide case.   prob can find one online for the same price as the deepcool case.

[stconquest]

$34 over, but worth it:

 

$534:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($163.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($45.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($44.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280 3GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT BF ATX Mid Tower Case  ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $504.01
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-24 21:34 EDT-0400

[Dubesta11]

Do you mean driving to a NY location?  (Microcenter)

 

From Maine to Boston, its a long drive but I am going there anyways.

[stconquest]

From Maine to Boston, its a long drive but I am going there anyways.

 

I'll check...

[stconquest]

This can save you a bit:  http://www.microcenter.com/product/433391/250GB_7200RPM_IDE_35_Desktop_Hard_Drive_WD2500JB_-_Refurbished

 

It is enough to get your system up and running, with games, until you can buy a SSD.

 

Looking for more, but CPUs are not much cheaper.  There is this:  http://www.microcenter.com/product/432161/Core_i5-4590_33GHz_LGA_1150_Boxed_Processor

 

But... with the i5 4590 you will probably need a newer H97 motherboard.  The i5 4440 will work with 100% of 1150 socket motherboards.

 

There is not much else, but you should keep checking clearance and stuff... it changes.