$500 Budget Build [US Dollars]

[The Official Czex]

"Just because yours is fine doesn't mean his will be - I use to use a cheap CM PSU without proper protections during thunderstorms - it still works" - I have that on my clipboard because I got tired of repeating it

 

I just trust Antec. A good experience once is good enough for most. Plus, in his budget, a HQ PSU is really going to affect the budget.

[The Official Czex]

Do I need to do a BIOS update on the MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX Board?

 

Maybe. It shouldn't be too difficult. Just go to MSI's website and find the MOBO and look under "Support" or something like that for the BIOS update.

[don_svetlio]

Do I need to do a BIOS update on the MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX Board?

nope

 

I just trust Antec. A good experience once is good enough for most. Plus, in his budget, a HQ PSU is really going to affect the budget.

The only brand you can trust blindly is SeaSonic - they've not had a bad unit in a decade really. Antec have howerver - the lower end stuff by FSP or Compucase usually.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/CQFhzy

If any one wants to edit this please do so it can fit Cyan's budget. Went with Black + Blue but went over budget.

Get rid of the W1 - that's a horribly PSU which might kill his machine. Also - 380 is faster than a 960 for the same price for the most part. 960 also cannot use more than 2GB of memory due to the extremely low memory bandwidth - you need to OC it to 10GHz effective for it to be possible.

[don_svetlio]

Maybe. It shouldn't be too difficult. Just go to MSI's website and find the MOBO and look under "Support" or something like that for the BIOS update.

that one is updated out of the box

[The Official Czex]

that one is updated out of the box

 

Well, then, it should make it easier for him.

[Zentorno56]

nope

 

The only brand you can trust blindly is SeaSonic - they've not had a bad unit in a decade really. Antec have howerver - the lower end stuff by FSP or Compucase usually.

 

Get rid of the W1 - that's a horribly PSU which might kill his machine. Also - 380 is faster than a 960 for the same price for the most part. 960 also cannot use more than 2GB of memory due to the extremely low memory bandwidth - you need to OC it to 10GHz effective for it to be possible.

Thats why I said maybe someone edit it. My knowledge of PC building is extremely low.

[don_svetlio]

Thats why I said maybe someone edit it. My knowledge of PC building is extremely low.

We all live and learn - I use to think SLI/CF stacks RAM

[CyanThunder]

don_svetlio, For the http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dG7BBm list could you get me a list with maybe only 2 Retailers? If not thanks anyways.

[don_svetlio]

don_svetlio, For the could you get me a list with maybe only 2 Retailers? If not thanks anyways.

Meaning? only from 2 places? PCpartpicker is a great tool since it lists the lowest price available but you could always look up the parts on a different retailer.

Also, use @ in front of the username to send a notification

[Giggidy25]

Ookay - I goofed. i3 + 380 - optimal choice

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($102.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($42.89 @ OutletPC)

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB Nitro Video Card ($198.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($26.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $504.72

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-23 21:58 EDT-0400

This^^

[Thunder Down Under]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7LCcD3

[vSyNd1c4t3]

Mine doesn't have mail in rebates included with the price like most of the other options here.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($102.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($67.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card  ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($60.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $499.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-24 00:08 EDT-0400