$400-$500 Gaming PC Build

[SKVizionz]

If anyone has a good build between the 400-500$ range please reply. Do not need to include an os. Or monitor or keyboard or mouse. And no optical drive either. I was looking to run 1080p games from high to ultra settings. Preferably Arma 3.

[C0LL0SS0S]

arma 3 at ultra for 500$ won't be possible

[Imakuni]

If anyone has a good build between the 400-500$ range please reply. Do not need to include an os. Or monitor or keyboard or mouse. And no optical drive either. I was looking to run 1080p games from high to ultra settings. Preferably Arma 3.

Allright. Then go find used parts. You won't be able to achieve your goal by buying new.

 

Look for cheap used Gtx 970, any i5-4xxx and a mobo to match it. The only thing you can (and should) buy new is the HD. And maybe a PSU, if you can't find a decent one.

[Mao_Zedong]

This is what I would get, it should be great for basically all 1080p gaming.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($103.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($45.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: PNY XLR8 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card  ($172.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Enermax REVOLUTION X't 430W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $501.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-14 13:26 EDT-0400

[SKVizionz]

How about arma 3 on high settings? Bc right now I'm running on an alienware with a gtx 765m. So I want a preformance boost. So any better gpu build from 400-500$

[Imakuni]

How about arma 3 on high settings? Bc right now I'm running on an alienware with a gtx 765m. So I want a preformance boost. So any better gpu build from 400-500$

As I said, go get used parts. Linus also told us that; at low budgets, get used, and just rape the competition.

 

Used GTX 970 for cheap should be "easy" to find, due to the vram gate.

[Lotus]

If you're okay with rebates and can stretch your budget, this is where you really want to be performance wise:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($173.61 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Elite Plus 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card  ($159.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: BitFenix Neos Black/Blue ATX Mid Tower Case  ($33.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $546.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-14 13:45 EDT-0400

 

However if you're strict with your budget and can't do any rebates, you're limited to this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Elite Plus 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.97 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 270 2GB TurboDuo Video Card  ($149.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: BitFenix Neos Black/Blue ATX Mid Tower Case  ($33.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $485.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-14 13:47 EDT-0400

 

Remember, the R9 270 and the R9 270x are the exact same chip, just the 270x is sometimes binned higher and has better power delivery, but usually the R9 270 can be overclocked above 270x stock speeds. I have my R9 270 running at 1100 MHz, which is higher than any R9 270x stock speeds, and since they're the same chip, that means my R9 270 performs better than any R9 270x out of the box. This makes the R9 270x not a good buy from a price to performance standpoint.