$600 i3 Build

[tuberolector]

I am currently working on a budget ($600) gaming build for someone, and I don't really want to go AMD. I am trying to put together a build based on an i3, but I am having some issues keeping the price under $600.

 

Can you please help? Normally it would be easy, but he also needs a WiFi card, so that makes it a bit more difficult. 

 

A case is not needed, but please leave just $20 allotted to it. (He is buying a cheap case from me)

 

Thanks for your help.

[Wtalk2]

I am currently working on a budget ($600) gaming build for someone, and I don't really want to go AMD. I am trying to put together a build based on an i3, but I am having some issues keeping the price under $600.

 

Can you please help? Normally it would be easy, but he also needs a WiFi card, so that makes it a bit more difficult. 

 

A case is not needed, but please leave just $20 allotted to it. (He is buying a cheap case from me)

 

Thanks for your help.

What do you think of using the Pentium G3258 instead of an i3?

[Megazero]

I am currently working on a budget ($600) gaming build for someone, and I don't really want to go AMD. I am trying to put together a build based on an i3, but I am having some issues keeping the price under $600.

 

Can you please help? Normally it would be easy, but he also needs a WiFi card, so that makes it a bit more difficult. 

 

A case is not needed, but please leave just $20 allotted to it. (He is buying a cheap case from me)

 

Thanks for your help.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.99 @ NCIX US) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($103.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($82.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Core Edition Video Card  ($139.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case: Aerocool Strike-X One ATX Mid Tower Case  ($51.75 @ Mwave) 

Power Supply: Silverstone Strider Essential 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($56.24 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $599.93

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

The mobo have a build in wifi

[Rheinwasser]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($69.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-D PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Fury White Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($58.74 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB ACX Video Card  ($224.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N150PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($10.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $577.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

[Wtalk2]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

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

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

Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($115.99 @ Newegg) 

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  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280 3GB DirectCU II Video Card  ($204.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($11.99 @ Newegg) 

Other: Case ($20.00)

Total: $609.80

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

$10 over but it will play almost any game at max settings at 1080P 60FPS. Also with that Z97 motherboard and good CPU cooler you can overclock that Pentium G3258 a decent amount and get the same performance as a i5 4690K in games. Also in the future he can upgrade to a i5 4690K or a i7 4790K without changing his motherboard and since he has the cooler he can overclock whatever unlocked CPU he installs to get some extra performance.

 

PS: Just out of curiosity, what case are you giving him?

[tuberolector]

What do you think of using the Pentium G3258 instead of an i3?

I thought about it, but the problem with overclocking for him is that he doesn't know that much, and if it becomes unstable, I won't really be around to help him. (Going to college)

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

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

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

Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($115.99 @ Newegg) 

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  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 280 3GB DirectCU II Video Card  ($204.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($11.99 @ Newegg) 

Other: Case ($20.00)

Total: $609.80

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

$10 over but it will play almost any game at max settings at 1080P 60FPS. Also with that Z97 motherboard and good CPU cooler you can overclock that Pentium G3258 a decent amount and get the same performance as a i5 4690K in games. Also in the future he can upgrade to a i5 4690K or a i7 4790K without changing his motherboard and since he has the cooler he can overclock whatever unlocked CPU he installs to get some extra performance.

 

PS: Just out of curiosity, what case are you giving him?

 

The case is NZXT Apollo that my younger brother originally used before upgrading. It's not a great case, but it works alright. 

[Wtalk2]

I thought about it, but the problem with overclocking for him is that he doesn't know that much, and if it becomes unstable, I won't really be around to help him. (Going to college)

 

The case is NZXT Apollo that my younger brother originally used before upgrading. It's not a great case, but it works alright. 

I know overclocking can be daunting but after reading a few guides and possibly getting some help from us here at LTT it is pretty easy The first time I overclocked was when I was 12 years old and I had no one to help me and everything ended up fine. It is definitely worth it to learn to overclock since it is essentially free performance and it is quite fun once you get the hang of it

[KPZ211997]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

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

Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($99.99 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($74.70 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card  ($219.99 @ Newegg) 

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

Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($18.95 @ Amazon) 

Total: $548.60

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

+20$ = 568$, this build also has room for future i5 i7 overclockable upgrade

[tuberolector]

I know overclocking can be daunting but after reading a few guides and possibly getting some help from us here at LTT it is pretty easy The first time I overclocked was when I was 12 years old and I had no one to help me and everything ended up fine. It is definitely worth it to learn to overclock since it is essentially free performance and it is quite fun once you get the hang of it

It's not that I would have trouble, but that the person I'm building for has no idea about it. I have heard of overclocks becoming unstable after some time, and I am worried that will happen to him while I'm not around. The person I'm building for would have no desire to learn how to overclock.

 

Also, would you mind linking a good overclocking guide if you know of one? I know generally how to do it, but I'm not 100% sure. 

[Wtalk2]

It's not that I would have trouble, but that the person I'm building for has no idea about it. I have heard of overclocks becoming unstable after some time, and I am worried that will happen to him while I'm not around. The person I'm building for would have no desire to learn how to overclock.

 

Also, would you mind linking a good overclocking guide if you know of one? I know generally how to do it, but I'm not 100% sure. 

Based on my experience with overclocking, once you find a stable overclock you can just set it and forget it. I've had my 3570K running at 4.4GHz for almost a year and I've never had to adjust anything for it. So if you can get a good, stable overclock for him you can just set it and not have to worry about it

 

http://lifehacker.com/a-beginners-introduction-to-overclocking-your-intel-pr-5580998