First Gaming Rig ($500)

[nchilds98]

Hello everyone! This is my first post on the forum and I just wanted to show you guys what my first gaming rig will be. I will post pictures of the rig when I finish it and hope you enjoy! Tell me what you think of the build and if you have any suggestions  Remember, prices are subject to change along with mail in rebates!

 

Parts List:

NZXT Source 210 Black w/ Window

Corsair CX500

AMD FX-6350

MSI R9 270 2gb

Biostar TA970

Corsair Vengeance (2 x 4gb) 

 

[WyvernAbstracts]

biostar mobo dafeq, you would want to change that mobo once you get the chance. Using harddrive from old pc? 

[Coombzy]

Change the motherboard biostar are cheap for a reason like foxconn.

[Thebman712]

hdd/ssd?

 

good budget build though 

[CoolBeans]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor  ($109.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($44.99 @ NCIX US) 

Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($67.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.91 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($27.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $538.85

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

40$ over ok also do you need a HDD?

[nchilds98]

hdd/ssd?

 

good budget build though 

Yep, I'm using an old 320gb drive for 2008. Gets the job done and I'm not concerned with space and speed

[Akolyte]

My recommendations:

 

Change the 6350 to a 6300 or even better an i3 4150 for better gaming performance.  

 

Change the motherboard to an Asus M5A97 or go intel and get a decent Gigabyte or Asus H97 motherboard.

 

Get a little better case, Trust me.  For your first build every little thing matters.  I recommend getting a Corsair Spec Case, they are affordable and are easy to build in, they have a little standoff to hold the motherboard in place which I found REALLY helpful esspecially since it allowed me to align the motherboard easier too. 

 

Get an SSHD.  SSHDs are great because you get SSD bootup times and Hard drive space, SSDs are becoming a absolute must these days even in budget builds, and an SSHD is the perfect balance. 

 

Get an aftermarket cooler, the Cooler master hyper 212 evo is cheap and can really allow some basic overclocks and even just keep your processor cool and calm on those really hot days.  

[aidenrelkoff]

Change the motherboard biostar are cheap for a reason like foxconn.

lawl those 2 mobo brands suck

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor  ($109.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($44.99 @ NCIX US) 

Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($67.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.91 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card  ($199.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($27.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $538.85

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

40$ over ok also do you need a HDD?

 

not too far off from my build

[nchilds98]

My recommendations:

 

Change the 6350 to a 6300 or even better an i3 4150 for better gaming performance.  

 

Change the motherboard to an Asus M5A97 or go intel and get a decent Gigabyte or Asus H97 motherboard.

 

Get a little better case, Trust me.  For your first build every little thing matters.  I recommend getting a Corsair Spec Case, they are affordable and are easy to build in, they have a little standoff to hold the motherboard in place which I found REALLY helpful esspecially since it allowed me to align the motherboard easier too. 

 

Get an SSHD.  SSHDs are great because you get SSD bootup times and Hard drive space, SSDs are becoming a absolute must these days even in budget builds, and an SSHD is the perfect balance. 

 

Get an aftermarket cooler, the Cooler master hyper 212 evo is cheap and can really allow some basic overclocks and even just keep your processor cool and calm on those really hot days.  

Thanks for the response! What is your reasoning for switching to the 6300? I'm open to it but I was just wondering. 

 

Also, I'm trying to keep a red/black theme going in this build so I'm not going to be using the M5A97. Is there any good motherboard under $60 that's either black, red, or gray? I was looking a reviews of the Biostar motherboard and everyone said they like it and it was a good budget build mobo.

 

I planned on getting the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus anyway because I heard the CPU coolers on AMD's processors aren't too great!

[nchilds98]

biostar mobo dafeq, you would want to change that mobo once you get the chance. Using harddrive from old pc? 

Yep, I'm using an old 320gb drive from 2008 lol gets the job done for me because speed and space aren't affecting me at this point.

[Akolyte]

Thanks for the response! What is your reasoning for switching to the 6300? I'm open to it but I was just wondering. 

 

Also, I'm trying to keep a red/black theme going in this build so I'm not going to be using the M5A97. Is there any good motherboard under $60 that's either black, red, or gray? I was looking a reviews of the Biostar motherboard and everyone said they like it and it was a good budget build mobo.

 

I planned on getting the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus anyway because I heard the CPU coolers on AMD's processors aren't too great!

Well, you can overclock the FX6300 and the FX 6350 offers nearly none performs boost over the 6300 and costs more.  Get the hyper 212 evo instead of the 212 plus because the Evo's Direct contact can really help.  

 

Something like this should do the trick for your motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128627 (I know its not red and black, but its black.  And will do the trick.)

The motherboard has Ultra Durable which means its going to last the years!  Its got dual bios too, that means if you ruin a BIOS you can just switch and boom!  

 

EDIT: I recommend this Red and black case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139040&cm_re=corsair_spec-_-11-139-040-_-Product

[nchilds98]

Well, you can overclock the FX6300 and the FX 6350 offers nearly none performs boost over the 6300 and costs more.  Get the hyper 212 evo instead of the 212 plus because the Evo's Direct contact can really help.  

 

Something like this should do the trick for your motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128627 (I know its not red and black, but its black.  And will do the trick.)

The motherboard has Ultra Durable which means its going to last the years!  Its got dual bios too, that means if you ruin a BIOS you can just switch and boom!  

 

EDIT: I recommend this Red and black case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139040&cm_re=corsair_spec-_-11-139-040-_-Product

OK, thanks! With that extra $20 off the CPU I can put it towards that mobo This mobo will fit in my case correct? 

[Akolyte]

OK, thanks! With that extra $20 off the CPU I can put it towards that mobo This mobo will fit in my case correct? 

All you need to make sure is that your case is ATX.  Once again I recommend the Corsair Spec 03 for the best bang for the buck.   But as long as your case is ATX it will fit  trust me, this motherboard will be allot better, esspecially since dual bios gives you that peice of mind.  

[AlwaysFSX]

Well here's my opinion.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ NCIX US)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-DS2V Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($56.69 @ Amazon)

Memory: Kingston Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($71.88 @ NCIX US)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.92 @ Amazon)

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($157.98 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($37.98 @ OutletPC)

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

Total: $487.43

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

[austin541]

i thought biostar was pos, but i got one second hand for a secondary build and it handles pretty well..

[consoleconvergence2pc]

Why not try out intels new Pentium k and overclock it like crazy 

[MrDucco]

wow looking at the prices of hardware in the US it is so much cheaper I guess because the cost of shipping to the UK is include to the retail price over here, I have a budget of £580 and I can't even fit in a GPU can anyone help me?.

[TeddyMcSwag]

To me this seems obvious, its a killer machine, for a killer price:

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg) \

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg) \

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg) \

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg) \

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg) \

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg) \

Total: $514.92\

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available}

Made a minor whoopsie in the unedited post...

[TeddyMcSwag]

To me this seems obvious, its a killer machine, for a killer price:

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg) \

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg) \

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg) \

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270X 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($159.99 @ Newegg) \

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg) \

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg) \

Total: $514.92\

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available}

Made a minor whoopsie in the unedited post...

I realized you want a windowed case, so get the Corsai Cardbide SPEC-02

[nchilds98]

The build part 1. So far all I have is the PSU, motherboard, and case. Pretty solid cable management huh? Will be updating this topic when everything arrives within the next few days