500-600 Dollar Build

[EpIcPoNaGe]

Hey everyone! I'm helping my friend with a build that he's planning on building sometime in March. His main use for it would be gaming, programming, and possible CAD in the future. When he first told me to help him, I was thinking it wouldn't be that hard but then he told me he needed to get an OS and a monitor as well in the same budget... 

 

Here's what I've come up with: 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($67.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($99.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($35.98 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($69.99) <--- buying with student discount

Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor  ($87.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $600.89

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:02 EST-0500

 

The lucky guy lives close to a Microcenter so I tried taking advantage of that when choosing a CPU. 

[KamiKatze]

It's not gonna get much better for that money.

 

Maybe consider AMD GPUs in your budget range and compare some performance sheets. Otherwise it's guud.

[EpIcPoNaGe]

It's not gonna get much better for that money.

 

Maybe consider AMD GPUs in your budget range and compare some performance sheets. Otherwise it's guud.

 

Thanks. I was hoping that I would be able to get a better GPU that would fit in this budget but it seems the 750ti was the best I could find... If i were able to stretch my friend budget, what is the highest end GPU i could use with the i3 before bottlenecking?

[Lotus]

Seems okay, but you really should go for the R9 270 if possible as well as the i5-4460. If it helps, you can step down to an original haswell refresh CPU (i3-4130 is haswell, 4160 is haswell refresh, i5-4440 is haswell, i5-4460 is haswell refresh) and get a cheaper h81 motherboard.

 

Something like this if you don't mind rebates and live near a microcenter (which judging by your first post you do):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($171.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($39.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($133.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($69.99)
Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor  ($87.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $674.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:19 EST-0500

 

The extra money for the CPU will be worth it in my opinion, but if not, then do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($100.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($39.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($133.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($69.99)
Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor  ($87.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $603.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:12 EST-0500

[Imakuni]

Well, I did some updates. I got you a better card. While it SEEMS that my build is more expensive, it's because of discount inputs (that I don't factor in my format). Your build is going for 644, so mine is actually cheaper.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($39.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Xtreem Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270X 2GB PCS+ Video Card  ($169.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($69.99)
Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor  ($87.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $639.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:11 EST-0500

[EpIcPoNaGe]

Seems okay, but you really should go for the R9 270 if possible as well as the i5-4460. If it helps, you can step down to an original haswell refresh CPU (i3-4130 is haswell, 4160 is haswell refresh, i5-4440 is haswell, i5-4460 is haswell refresh) and get a cheaper h81 motherboard.

 

Something like this if you don't mind rebates and live near a microcenter (which judging by your first post you do):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($159.99 @ Micro Center)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($39.89 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($133.98 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($69.99)

Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor  ($87.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $662.80

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:12 EST-0500

 

The extra money for the CPU will be worth it, but if not, then do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($100.95 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($39.89 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: Kingston Fury Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($133.98 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($69.99)

Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor  ($87.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $603.76

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:12 EST-0500

 

Damn, I didn't think it'd be possible to squeeze an i5 in with the given budget and constraints. I'll see if I can get him to stretch his budget a bit more. Thanks so much!

 

Well, I did some updates. I got you a better card. While it SEEMS that my build is more expensive, it's because of discount inputs (that I don't factor in my format). Your build is going for 644, so mine is actually cheaper.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($39.89 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: Team Xtreem Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($60.98 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270X 2GB PCS+ Video Card  ($169.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($69.99)

Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor  ($87.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $639.80

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:11 EST-0500

 

Thanks! I've never heard of Team Xtreem before. Are they a decent brand? 

[Lotus]

snip

You're actually including the same discounts he is on the CPU, OS, and Case. That being said, you went with a haswell refresh CPU and an 80 series motherboard, which is something I recommend avoiding. 80 series motherboards always need a bios update (sometimes they're shipped with the update) to make a haswell refresh CPU work. The problem is you need a working CPU to update the bios to make your CPU work, which leaves you in a catch-22 where your parts wont work and you have no way of making them work without borrowing a CPU or getting someone else who has a working CPU to flash your board for you.

[SImoHayha]

Hey everyone! I'm helping my friend with a build that he's planning on building sometime in March. His main use for it would be gaming, programming, and possible CAD in the future. When he first told me to help him, I was thinking it wouldn't be that hard but then he told me he needed to get an OS and a monitor as well in the same budget... 

 

Here's what I've come up with: 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($67.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($99.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($35.98 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($69.99) <--- buying with student discount

Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor  ($87.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $600.89

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:02 EST-0500

 

The lucky guy lives close to a Microcenter so I tried taking advantage of that when choosing a CPU. 

does he have a tv ? he could just use a TV for the PC just plug it into the HDMI port..... for the windows key he can use this reddit.... http://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/comments/2un904/h_all_keys_windows_7881_office_20131011_mac_visio/  I bought one from there and it works, but only from this guy...

 

here is a cheaper build

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($171.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($51.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Mushkin Silverline 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card  ($140.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($27.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $516.93

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-04 18:27 EST-0500

[Imakuni]

You're actually including the same discounts he is on the CPU, OS, and Case. That being said, you went with a haswell refresh CPU and an 80 series motherboard, which is something I recommend avoiding. 80 series motherboards always need a bios update (sometimes they're shipped with the update) to make a haswell refresh CPU work. The problem is you need a working CPU to update the bios to make your CPU work, which leaves you in a catch-22 where your parts wont work and you have no way of making them work without borrowing a CPU or getting someone else who has a working CPU to flash your board for you.

That's odd... he says that his build goes for 600$, but when I fired it up, it showed 644$. So I assumed he was going a bit over budget.

 

About the Haswell... ye. I must have misclicked the 4150 thinking that it was the 4130.

[EpIcPoNaGe]

-snip-

 

He's going to be using the computer in college and will need a monitor 

That's an interesting way to get windows. I haven't actually heard of doing that before. It seems kinda... sketchy... 

[Lotus]

He's going to be using the computer in college and will need a monitor 

That's an interesting way to get windows. I haven't actually heard of doing that before. It seems kinda... sketchy... 

It is sketchy. I recommend not doing it. G2A and other sites like them operate in the grey market area:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market#Computer_games

 

Some of which are downright banned by the Windows EULA, but you can still technically get away with because there's no way of proving it.

[Imakuni]

Thanks! I've never heard of Team Xtreem before. Are they a decent brand? 

Well, they aren't as super good as some other brands, but yes, they are good. You'll only see any difference in RAM brands once you start OCing it... but I bet 10 bucks that's not gonna be your case.

[EpIcPoNaGe]

It is sketchy. I recommend not doing it. G2A and other sites like them operate in the grey market area:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market#Computer_games

 

Some of which are downright banned by the Windows EULA, but you can still technically get away with because there's no way of proving it.

 

Ok, yeah I think I'll stick with getting it with a student discount.

 

 

Well, they aren't as super good as some other brands, but yes, they are good. You'll only see any difference in RAM brands once you start OCing it... but I bet 10 bucks that's not gonna be your case.

 

I see. Makes sense. Thanks