A Challenge: Console Killer PC - Between 350 and 400 USD

[Jacktastic-Mofo]

I'm challenging the people of the LTT forums to design the best gaming PC they can between 350 and 400 USD. There are three things to keep in mind, I'm looking for high quality components (no 10$ PSU's, etc.), a generally good aesthetic (color matching, capable of good cable management), and it must be able to outperform a console. Since these are all theoretical builds we can't necessarily benchmark them however I will go back and look over them and see what ones I believe are the best and then I'll make a follow up post where people can vote for there favorite!

I'm not looking to build the best PC, I'm just curious what people choose for hardware!

To specify, we're aiming for the current generation of consoles, XB1 and PS4.

[iamdarkyoshi]

you never specified which console. I pick the atari.

[Jacktastic-Mofo]

you never specified which console. I pick the atari.

Current console generation.

[dizmo]

Won't happen.

Considering you need an OS, and a controller included in the costs to truly be a "console killer".

[Cvdasfg]

I'm challenging the people of the LTT forums to design the best gaming PC they can between 350 and 400 USD. There are three things to keep in mind, I'm looking for high quality components (no 10$ PSU's, etc.), a generally good aesthetic (color matching, capable of good cable management), and it must be able to outperform a console. Since these are all theoretical builds we can't necessarily benchmark them however I will go back and look over them and see what ones I believe are the best and then I'll make a follow up post where people can vote for there favorite!

I'm not looking to build the best PC, I'm just curious what people choose for hardware!

To specify, we're aiming for the current generation of consoles, XB1 and PS4.

If the os, monitor, keyboard, mouse, controller have to be included not gonna happen. If you mean just hardware wise then maybe  

[Inception9269]

This is the cheapest still decent one i could do, was still $40 over

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($73.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard  ($89.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($42.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($122.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($35.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $440.70
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-14 01:18 EDT-0400

[Jacktastic-Mofo]

To clear some stuff up, this would be something you hook up to your living room TV so lets assume you're using Steam OS, and are getting a 15$ Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse. You just need hardware.

[EarthboundHero]

Won't happen.

Considering you need an OS, and a controller included in the costs to truly be a "console killer".

 

 

If the os, monitor, keyboard, mouse, controller have to be included not gonna happen. If you mean just hardware wise then maybe

OS can be gotten for free, or if you really need Windows, MicrosoftSoftwareSwap has it for $15. If you buy a console you need a TV, which can also be used for a PC. M+KB can be gotten for like not even $10 at a thrift store. Same with a controller.

[Amazingasian]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.89 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($36.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 250GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($24.80 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($109.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Xion XON-310_BK MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($22.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($35.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Keyboard: V7 Multimedia USB Keyboard Combo Wired Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($14.69 @ Mwave) 

Total: $400.33

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-14 01:32 EDT-0400

[Deletive]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($73.88 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-DS2H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($43.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($36.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Toshiba  1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.56 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($89.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Cougar MG100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Mwave) 

Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($35.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Other: SteamOS 

Other: Controller of choice ($60.00)

Total: $418.38

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-14 01:26 EDT-0400

 

[Lotus]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($73.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M PRO3+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Dark 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston HyperX Fury 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($56.99 @ Mac Mall)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R7 260X 2GB Video Card  ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1300 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($44.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $373.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-14 02:06 EDT-0400

[SImoHayha]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($73.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-DS2H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($43.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($19.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($19.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card  ($132.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill FBM-02 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $395.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-14 01:35 EDT-0400

[Jacktastic-Mofo]

I'm 10$ over but being someone who's used this combo of CPU and GPU I really dig it, and it performs really well.

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VxjsNG

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/VxjsNG/by_merchant/

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.89 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($47.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($122.98 @ Newegg) 

Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($40.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Total: $409.81

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-14 01:34 EDT-0400

[Fgtfv567]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.89 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX/WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 260X 2GB Core Edition Video Card ($115.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Micro Center)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($86.98 @ OutletPC)

Total: $507.79

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-14 01:39 EDT-0400

ERM... Take out Windows, that's about 400 bucks

[dizmo]

OS can be gotten for free, or if you really need Windows, MicrosoftSoftwareSwap has it for $15. If you buy a console you need a TV, which can also be used for a PC. M+KB can be gotten for like not even $10 at a thrift store. Same with a controller.

You can get used consoles for around $250. So, is that the price one has to aim at now to beat them?

Used items do open a tricky door, don't they?

[The Official Czex]

I'm challenging the people of the LTT forums to design the best gaming PC they can between 350 and 400 USD. There are three things to keep in mind, I'm looking for high quality components (no 10$ PSU's, etc.), a generally good aesthetic (color matching, capable of good cable management), and it must be able to outperform a console. Since these are all theoretical builds we can't necessarily benchmark them however I will go back and look over them and see what ones I believe are the best and then I'll make a follow up post where people can vote for there favorite!

I'm not looking to build the best PC, I'm just curious what people choose for hardware!

To specify, we're aiming for the current generation of consoles, XB1 and PS4.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($73.88 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Asus A88XM-E Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($55.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($38.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Sandisk Solid State Drive 64GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($37.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 370 4GB Nitro Video Card  ($181.97 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ NCIX US) 

Other: Shoebox (Purchased For $0.00)

Total: $396.80

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-14 01:45 EDT-0400

 

Upgrade storage later.

[EarthboundHero]

You can get used consoles for around $250. So, is that the price one has to aim at now to beat them?

Used items do open a tricky door, don't they?

No, because a used console poses a lot more risk than a $5 keyboard.

[dizmo]

No, because a used console poses a lot more risk than a $5 keyboard.

Not really. There's loads of good ones out there.

[Prysin]

to those suggesting a G3258. Dont, compared to a console, youd get rekt in AAA games. The PS4 and XBONE both has 8 core CPUs (not FX, they are derived from Phenom, so they dont suck that much). Unless you get a i3 or Athlon 860k, your CPU wont beat the console CPU. AMD has made a good APU for the consoles, if only it had faster RAM and CPU clock speed, it would run way way way faster then they do today... Cooling solutions like the one in the COrsair Bulldog case would make such a thing realistical.

Building a console killer for console prices are not possible unless you use used parts. Current Gen consoles are way too strong for their price, this is why they are sold with a loss...

[Fgtfv567]

to those suggesting a G3258. Dont, compared to a console, youd get rekt in AAA games. The PS4 and XBONE both has 8 core CPUs (not FX, they are derived from Phenom, so they dont suck that much). Unless you get a i3 or Athlon 860k, your CPU wont beat the console CPU. AMD has made a good APU for the consoles, if only it had faster RAM and CPU clock speed, it would run way way way faster then they do today... Cooling solutions like the one in the COrsair Bulldog case would make such a thing realistical.

Building a console killer for console prices are not possible unless you use used parts. Current Gen consoles are way too strong for their price, this is why they are sold with a loss...

We're not comparing straight CPU to APU performance on benchmarks. As long as the game runs well with G3258 and a discrete card, that's all that matters

[Prysin]

We're not comparing straight CPU to APU performance on benchmarks. As long as the game runs well with G3258 and a discrete card, that's all that matters

we are comparing cpu for cpu.

AAA games uses MORE CORES. Some of them wont even run on a dual core. So the G3258, comparing that to a PS4, is pointless, because the CPU itself wont be able to play all the games the PS4/XBONE can. SO HAH!!!

 

IF YOU CANNOT PLAY THE SAME GAMES, WHEN BOTH ARE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH PC, PS4 AND XBONE, THEN YOUR SYSTEM IS A FAIL!

[Fgtfv567]

we are comparing cpu for cpu.

AAA games uses MORE CORES. Some of them wont even run on a dual core. So the G3258, comparing that to a PS4, is pointless, because the CPU itself wont be able to play all the games the PS4/XBONE can. SO HAH!!!

IF YOU CANNOT PLAY THE SAME GAMES, WHEN BOTH ARE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH PC, PS4 AND XBONE, THEN YOUR SYSTEM IS A FAIL!

There's not a lot of games that can't be played on it, FC4 and dragon age inquisition come to mind but that's about it

I'm not sure you know what I mean by "CPU to CPU"

When I say that, I mean looking at benchmarks from both CPUs and then judging them directly. In gaming terms, as long as it doesn't slow down the GPU, and the game's not pushing the CPU to the limit, then it's fine and will play games just fine

[Suika]

Alienware Alpha. Can be had for $350-400.

[Prysin]

There's not a lot of games that can't be played on it, FC4 and dragon age inquisition come to mind but that's about it

I'm not sure you know what I mean by "CPU to CPU"

When I say that, I mean looking at benchmarks from both CPUs and then judging them directly. In gaming terms, as long as it doesn't slow down the GPU, and the game's not pushing the CPU to the limit, then it's fine and will play games just fine

you cannot compare the CPUs, because there exist no real benchmark between the two. Unless someone DID install windows on the PS4 in the few months you could do that without wrecking it (why did you remove that function sony? why?)....

 

Either way, it is a 8core Phenom... Closest you get on desktop is the Phenom II X6 1090T or 1100T, but clock speeds and cache levels arent the same, so it wont be the same really.

 

The G3258, no matter what you say, is a overclocking toy. Without OC, it is rubbish, and will forever be so. Just accept that and move on. With OC, it is tolerable, but it struggles in more then just a few games. It cannot start the games you mentioned, and games like GTA 5 is completely unplayable due to stuttering (several users on these forums have made complaint posts about that), this does not only happen in GTA 5, but in other games too. Just because you got high FPS in the benchmark does NOT mean the gaming experience is good. Stuttering, freezes or other forms of lag absolutely destroys any form of gaming experience, but these things do not show up in benchmarks unless the review specifically adresses frame timing, but not many does that (shame, because frame timing is more important the FPS ever will be).

 

For the price, the Athlon 860k is superior. It is slower FPS wise then say a 4.8GHz G3258. But it is a true 4-core (4 broken CMT cores) regardless of how you look at it. It can easily surpass a i3 4330 in multi threaded workloads, thus for the price, it is forever a better pick then the G3258.

 

I3 or Athlon 860k. Anything lower is wasting money as gaming performance will not be great.

[Fgtfv567]

you cannot compare the CPUs, because there exist no real benchmark between the two. Unless someone DID install windows on the PS4 in the few months you could do that without wrecking it (why did you remove that function sony? why?)....

Either way, it is a 8core Phenom... Closest you get on desktop is the Phenom II X6 1090T or 1100T, but clock speeds and cache levels arent the same, so it wont be the same really.

The G3258, no matter what you say, is a overclocking toy. Without OC, it is rubbish, and will forever be so. Just accept that and move on. With OC, it is tolerable, but it struggles in more then just a few games. It cannot start the games you mentioned, and games like GTA 5 is completely unplayable due to stuttering (several users on these forums have made complaint posts about that), this does not only happen in GTA 5, but in other games too. Just because you got high FPS in the benchmark does NOT mean the gaming experience is good. Stuttering, freezes or other forms of lag absolutely destroys any form of gaming experience, but these things do not show up in benchmarks unless the review specifically adresses frame timing, but not many does that (shame, because frame timing is more important the FPS ever will be).

For the price, the Athlon 860k is superior. It is slower FPS wise then say a 4.8GHz G3258. But it is a true 4-core (4 broken CMT cores) regardless of how you look at it. It can easily surpass a i3 4330 in multi threaded workloads, thus for the price, it is forever a better pick then the G3258.

I3 or Athlon 860k. Anything lower is wasting money as gaming performance will not be great.

Alright you do you have a point about stuttering and overall gameplay smoothness, but the point of the G3258 is a cheap CPU to throw in a tight budget rig. An i3 4160 is about 130 dollars. The G3258 is only 70 dollars. Do some quick overclocking on an h or b series motherboard, and you have a quick little chip that won't bottleneck your GPU for very little money

Besides, don't you think that it could be possible for stuttering to happen on the 860k or i3?