$500 build, most parts already owned

[Bluethulhu]

Like most of you, I built my PC. I was obsessed with upgrading, and now I have all sorts of parts lying around. Cases, RAM, hard drives, etc. My friend currently has a laptop, which really can't run anything over low settings. I asked on this forum and a couple of other places, I had lots of suggestions for $500. I own a HAF XB, 16GB of Corsair Vengeance, and a 1TB Caviar Black not in use. I made him a deal to pay me when he can for the parts. What I need is for a build without RAM, a case, or a hard drive that will add up to around $450-500 USD. He will mostly be playing modern games, on high, ultra if possible. Pure gaming, no Adobe apps, 3D modeling, nothing. I would really like expandability, such as CF/SLI support. The monitor he will be running is just a generic 1080p, 60Hz, ASUS VE248H. Nothing too extreme. He has a full set of peripherals already, so that is not a problem. He wants to upgrade because a 630m is not sufficient at all for what he wants to play. To save you some research, the HAF XB can support 2x 3.5 Hard drives via hot swap, and the maximum board size is standard ATX. Do not worry about the OS, I have a copy of Windows 7 Pro x64.

 

Summary:

 

Budget: $450-500 USD

Aim: Pure gaming, no overclocking

Monitors: 1x 60Hz 1080p

Peripherals: No need to buy

Reason for upgrading: 630m not sufficient

[Thibaudv]

So you need a PSU, mobo, CPU and GPU, right?

 

I'd go with something like this: overclockable, silent and deadly. 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1r2NR

[Langdon]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1r2Nw

I think this is good.

[XzzDSA]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1r2Vw

Something like that.

Even though your friend will not be overclocking. A nice cooler is in my opinion always desireable simply because it will be much quiter and cooler, thereby be more reliable.

I don't know if you need windows though. If you do you could possibly take out the cooler and MAYBE sqeeze in a windows 7 64bit OEM

[XzzDSA]

The awkward moment when you post almost the exact same thing.

[Bluethulhu]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1r2Vw

Something like that.

Even though your friend will not be overclocking. A nice cooler is in my opinion always desireable simply because it will be much quiter and cooler, thereby be more reliable.

I don't know if you need windows though. If you do you could possibly take out the cooler and MAYBE sqeeze in a windows 7 64bit OEM

Whoops, forgot to mention I have a school license of W7 so it's not a problem.

[WoodenMarker]

Here you go: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1r32M

Crossfire ready

 

If you can't deal with rebates: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1r34c

[ShadowRaven]

Like most of you, I built my PC. I was obsessed with upgrading, and now I have all sorts of parts lying around. Cases, RAM, hard drives, etc. My friend currently has a laptop, which really can't run anything over low settings. I asked on this forum and a couple of other places, I had lots of suggestions for $500. I own a HAF XB, 16GB of Corsair Vengeance, and a 1TB Caviar Black not in use. I made him a deal to pay me when he can for the parts. What I need is for a build without RAM, a case, or a hard drive that will add up to around $450-500 USD. He will mostly be playing modern games, on high, ultra if possible. Pure gaming, no Adobe apps, 3D modeling, nothing. I would really like expandability, such as CF/SLI support. The monitor he will be running is just a generic 1080p, 60Hz, ASUS VE248H. Nothing too extreme. He has a full set of peripherals already, so that is not a problem. He wants to upgrade because a 630m is not sufficient at all for what he wants to play. To save you some research, the HAF XB can support 2x 3.5 Hard drives via hot swap, and the maximum board size is standard ATX. Do not worry about the OS, I have a copy of Windows 7 Pro x64.

 

Summary:

 

Budget: $450-500 USD

Aim: Pure gaming, no overclocking

Monitors: 1x 60Hz 1080p

Peripherals: No need to buy

Reason for upgrading: 630m not sufficient

Here is my suggestion for your build

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1r4lM

 

 

[XzzDSA]

Whoops, forgot to mention I have a school license of W7 so it's not a problem.

Well then something like what i posted or what Wooden did.

[davidvu396]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1rqCJ

Highly overclockable, because of extra VRM.

CF capable.

8-core AMD

600W PSU for a bit of headroom.