$500-$600 general use PC

fluffyPC · July 5, 2014

I had a thread started earlier and got a great amount of feedback from people, but im back with a more final draft of my build. Don't reply if you think im polluting these forums, and in advance I apologize. But i figure its best to get the most opinions possible. I will be using this PC for half gaming and half school work and some light android rooting/modding.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.97 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: Asus H81M-D PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($52.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.98 @ OutletPC)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($37.74 @ Amazon)

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Rosewill QN100 ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)

Total: $588.61

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

I will be adding a SSD later on, thats the reason for the small HDD. I would like to shave off as much money as possible in this build as I am already over budget, but of course i don't wan't to sacrifice too much performance.

Thanks

CoolBeans · July 5, 2014

I would go with an FX6300 over a i3

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

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

Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M LX PLUS Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.89 @ Amazon)

Memory: Team Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($72.98 @ OutletPC)

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

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card ($139.20 @ Newegg)

Case: Zalman ZM-T1 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($32.99 @ Mwave)

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)

Total: $602.93

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

AlwaysFSX · July 5, 2014

I would go with an FX6300 over a i3

I wouldn't..

@fluffyPC Spend an extra ~$20 to get a Seagate Barracuda 1 TB drive.

fluffyPC · July 5, 2014

@CoolBeans I have been recommended that before, why would you suggest that? the more cores?

CoolBeans · July 5, 2014

@CoolBeans I have been recommended that before, why would you suggest that? the more cores?

More cores, overclockable, a little more powerful

Hidden Orange · July 5, 2014

I was bored... So, how about an ITX build? Also, for Windows, you can try your luck with G2A; users here have had mixed results. Some of them were able to get Windows 8.1 for under $20 while others got screwed since G2A's not selling them, rather, the marketplace - third-party - are selling them. If you're a college student, you might be able to get it for free if your school is part of Dreamspark and then there's the $65 Windows 8.1 Pro from Microsoft - you'll need to prove you're student to do this. The reason why I added an aftermarket cooler is cause the case is small and I don't know if a stock cooler would be fine for it.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ Newegg)

CPU Cooler: Scythe BIG Shuriken 2 Rev. B 45.5 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.95 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($65.38 @ Newegg)

Memory: Kingston XMP Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.99 @ Amazon)

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

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $593.18

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

fluffyPC · July 5, 2014

@Hidden Orange, is G2A like used products or something. I went to their website and their was a copy of windows for $20, but im confused on what makes it that low of a price?

Also, would you say that the lesser amount of higher performing cores in an i5 or even an i3 is better for the more basic things that I will be doing? I know that more cores will make a bigger difference in games in the future, but gaming is not the priority for me, so will more cores be more important in general use in the future?

Hidden Orange · July 5, 2014

@Hidden Orange, is G2A like used products or something. I went to their website and their was a copy of windows for $20, but im confused on what makes it that low of a price?

Key re-sellers or something. This forum has a thread on this: [World] Windows 8.1 Pro 32/64 $35. The price fluctuates by the way.

fluffyPC · July 5, 2014

would you try it for $20 @Hidden Orange?

Hidden Orange · July 5, 2014

would you try it for $20 @Hidden Orange?

Sure, but I'd need a finalized PC build for myself. If anything, you could use their "Shield" program or whatever it's called. I think they just have a G2A employee connect with you and see if everything goes all right. Or, you could build a $600 PC and during shipping, scrounge up for Windows 8.1.