Cheap gaming pc

[Flinken123]

Hi!

I am planning a new gaming pc for my brother. Because I will buy it in Sweden, I cannot tell you a specific price in USD but think that it would be around 700-800 USD.

Here are the parts I have chosen:

ASUS H97M-E mATX

1TB Seagate Desktop SSHD 8GB 7200rpm 64MB

ADATA 8GB (2x4GB) CL9 1600MHz XPG

Intel Core i5 4460 3,2 GHz, 6MB

Cooler Master TX3 EVO

XFX Radeon R9 270X 2GB (Curacao XT) / R9 280 3GB

AMD Never Settle Forever - SILVER

Fractal Design Core 1100, USB 3.0, Black

Fractal Design Integra R2 500W 80+ Bronze

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM

Is it OK or should I change something?

[TheTiger]

I would go with an Intel Pentium 3258 (65€) and a cheap Z87 Chipset mobo (~130€) and a Thermalright Macho (35€), would be less money for a better system, also you can overclock the CPU and get better performance.

[Flinken123]

I would go with an Intel Pentium 3258 (65€) and a cheap Z87 Chipset mobo (~130€) and a Thermalright Macho (35€), would be less money for a better system, also you can overclock the CPU and get better performance.

I was thinking about that earlier but think that 2 threads are too few.

Also I would rather not overclock, but it's still an option.

[TheTiger]

Just look @ a few benchmarks, most games don't give a shit about the numbers of cores, the G3258 OC is easily competing with a 4670K OC.

[Flinken123]

Just look @ a few benchmarks, most games don't give a shit about the numbers of cores, the G3258 OC is easily competing with a 4690K OC.

Yes, but will it keep up with other use than games like browsing, watching videos and using Skype, sometimes at the same time as gaming?

[Wano97]

Yes, but will it keep up with other use than games like browsing, watching videos and using Skype, sometimes at the same time as gaming?

is 700-800 usd your budget?

[TheTiger]

 

Yes, but will it keep up with other use than games like browsing, watching videos and using Skype, sometimes at the same time as gaming?

 

I would say an OC 3258 would just laugh @ tasks like browsing, vids and skype, even when your gaming @ the same time 

 

But let's wait for some other opinions on that.

[Flinken123]

is 700-800 usd your budget?

It's 7000 Swedish krowns wich would be around 700-800 USD.

[ZacDaMan72]

Looks good, just don't get the Pentium if you do some CPU intensive stuff on the side. Also you don't need a SSHD.

[Wano97]

It's 7000 Swedish krowns wich would be around 700-800 USD.

If you want to play safe, you can always stretch 40 dollars and get a i5-4690?

[Flinken123]

Looks good, just don't get the Pentium if you do some CPU intensive stuff on the side. Also you don't need a SSHD.

Why not an SSHD?

Also, what would you count as "CPU-intensive". It won't be used for any video/photo-editing I think.

[ZacDaMan72]

Why not an SSHD?

Also, what would you count as "CPU-intensive". It won't be used for any video/photo-editing I think.

Like 3D rendering, CAD blah blah. I'm making a build for you right now.

[Flinken123]

If you want to play safe, you can always stretch 40 dollars and get a i5-4690?

It's already a very stretched budget. But if the processor turns out to not be enough I can always upgrade.

[ZacDaMan72]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xLJYQ7

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xLJYQ7/by_merchant/

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($187.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: Asus H97M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($98.24 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($236.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.98 @ OutletPC) 

Power Supply: Cooler Master VSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($74.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $763.14

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

There

[Flinken123]

Like 3D rendering, CAD blah blah. I'm making a build for you right now.

Thank you, but I don't think it will be used a lot for that kind of work.

[dragoon20005]

It's already a very stretched budget. But if the processor turns out to not be enough I can always upgrade.

hmm

 

but if you go for the Pentium and Z97 combo

 

you can use it as a stepping stone for a bigger upgrade later when Broadwell comes out

[Flinken123]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xLJYQ7

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xLJYQ7/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($187.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: Asus H97M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($98.24 @ Amazon)

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($236.98 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.98 @ OutletPC)

Power Supply: Cooler Master VSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $763.14

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

There

Thank you! I will look more into that later.

[Flinken123]

hmm

but if you go for the Pentium and Z97 combo

you can use it as a stepping stone for a bigger upgrade later when Broadwell comes out

I think that that would be an great option. I may go for that.

[Flinken123]

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xLJYQ7

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xLJYQ7/by_merchant/

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($187.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: Asus H97M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($98.24 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($236.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.98 @ OutletPC) 

Power Supply: Cooler Master VSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($74.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $763.14

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

There

 

 

 

hmm

 

but if you go for the Pentium and Z97 combo

 

you can use it as a stepping stone for a bigger upgrade later when Broadwell comes out

 

 

 

 

 

I would say an OC 3258 would just laugh @ tasks like browsing, vids and skype, even when your gaming @ the same time 

 

But let's wait for some other opinions on that.

 

I have modified the options to what is avaliable in sweden. Now i have these main options:

ASUS H97M-E mATX 

1TB Seagate Desktop SSHD 8GB 7200rpm 64MB

ADATA 8GB (2x4GB) CL9 1600MHz XPG

Intel Core i5 4460 3,2 GHz, 6MB

Cooler Master TX3 EVO

XFX Radeon R9 270X 2GB (Curacao XT) / R9 280 3GB 

AMD Never Settle Forever - SILVER

Fractal Design Core 1100, USB 3.0, Black 

Fractal Design Integra R2 500W 80+ Bronze

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM

and

Gigabyte GA-Z97M-D3H

1TB Seagate Desktop SSHD 8GB 7200rpm 64MB

ADATA 8GB (2x4GB) CL9 1600MHz XPG

Intel Pentium Anniversary Edition G3258 3,2 GHz, 3MB

Cooler Master TX3 EVO

XFX  Radeon R9 270X 2GB (Curacao XT)

AMD Never Settle Forever - SILVER

Fractal Design Core 1100, USB 3.0

Fractal Design Integra R2 500W 80+ Bronze

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Svensk OEM, SP1

 

Wich one would be best and should I change something?

The graphic card may be switched for a R9 280 from an other store.

ZacDaMan72 Why should I switch out the SSHD?

[i_build_nanosuits]

!snip!

Get the R9 280, and let go the TX3 cpu cooler you wont need it with a locked i5 like that...

get the H97 board and i5-4460

i'd also pick windows 8.1 instead...everything else is perfect.

[Flinken123]

Get the R9 280, and let go the TX3 cpu cooler you wont need it with a locked i5 like that...

So you think that the i5 build should be best?

[i_build_nanosuits]

So you think that the i5 build should be best?

sry i was editing my post, heres the whole quote:

Get the R9 280, and let go the TX3 cpu cooler you wont need it with a locked i5 like that...

get the H97 board and i5-4460

i'd also pick windows 8.1 instead...everything else is perfect.

Yes the core i5 is worlds superior to the 2 thread pentium...you will thank yourself so much down the road not to buy the pentium. 2 threads is not enough for nowadays modern games

The R9 280 is also a substential upgrade to the R9 270X

[Flinken123]

sry i was editing my post, heres the whole quote:

Get the R9 280, and let go the TX3 cpu cooler you wont need it with a locked i5 like that...

get the H97 board and i5-4460

i'd also pick windows 8.1 instead...everything else is perfect.

Yes the core i5 is worlds superior to the 2 thread pentium...you will thank yourself so much down the road not to buy the pentium. 2 threads is not enough for nowadays modern games

The R9 280 is also a substential upgrade to the R9 270X

Ok, I may go that route instead. Without the cooler it's also a bit cheaper.

I don't know what I'll choose as operating system yet.

I will choose the R9 280 if I can (it is on sale and they only have 2 in stock)

[Flinken123]

sry i was editing my post, heres the whole quote:

Get the R9 280, and let go the TX3 cpu cooler you wont need it with a locked i5 like that...

get the H97 board and i5-4460

i'd also pick windows 8.1 instead...everything else is perfect.

Yes the core i5 is worlds superior to the 2 thread pentium...you will thank yourself so much down the road not to buy the pentium. 2 threads is not enough for nowadays modern games

The R9 280 is also a substential upgrade to the R9 270X

What difference would it be if I changed to the Gigabyte GA-Z97M-D3H motherboard?

Also, would the motherboard I have choosen be a good choice if I want to upgrade to Broadwell later?

[i_build_nanosuits]

What difference would it be if I changed to the Gigabyte GA-Z97M-D3H motherboard?

Also, would the motherboard I have choosen be a good choice if I want to upgrade to Broadwell later?

the Z97 cost more because it have overclocking ready features, wich you don't need unless you plan to go with an unlocked intel CPU...wich cost more money. And you also need a proper CPU cooling solution to do that. About broadwell i can't tell you the future will it be the same socket i think so and if it is both the H97 and the Z97 should support it, both the H97 and Z97 are the latest intel chipsets.