U.S. $500 Gaming Build

[Elardoven]

I've made a post like this before, but it didn't include keyboard/mouse/headset. What is the best build for $500 with a keyboard, mouse, and headset included? This would be for me to recomend to friends for a "console killer." Thanks!

[The Official Czex]

I've made a post like this before, but it didn't include keyboard/mouse/headset. What is the best build for $500 with a keyboard, mouse, and headset included? This would be for me to recomend to friends for a "console killer." Thanks!

 

If he needs those peripherals then does he need a monitor too?

[jkraghify]

If he needs those peripherals then does he need a monitor too?

I'm fairly certain if you are building a console killer, it's fair to not include the price of the monitor. Do you include the price of a TV with the console?

[Elardoven]

I mean, if it's even possible to fit into that budget, then sure, but I figured they could just use a tv, since with a console you don't get a monitor.

[Whorax]

I don't think you'll make anything that kills consoles for $500 including peripherals.

[vectorx5000]

Maybe with a super old AMD APU and super cheap everything.

[ThatOneRussian]

Maybe with a super old AMD APU and super cheap everything.

Aha that would be a great console killer.

[Gale]

At first I wanted to give you an APU build, but if your friends don't mind being a little over budget:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Elite Plus 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card  ($194.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($48.45 @ Directron)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $524.18
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-26 15:45 EDT-0400

[vectorx5000]

Aha that would be a great console killer.

Yeah I know. Not a great option. Builds usually don't include peripherals in their cost.

[ThatOneRussian]

Yeah I know. Not a great option. Builds usually don't include peripherals in their cost.

Yeah I mean if you got that go for a laptop lol

[vectorx5000]

At first I wanted to give you an APU build, but if your friends don't mind being a little over budget:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.89 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: Team Elite Plus 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($44.89 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card  ($194.99 @ NCIX US)

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($48.45 @ Directron)

Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($29.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $524.18

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-26 15:45 EDT-0400

I like that actually. Reasonable.

[jimakos234]

here you go man

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M PRO3+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($56.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory  ($40.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 950 2GB SSC ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($159.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case  ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($48.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($27.99 @ NCIX US)
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 202 II Headphones  ($21.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $507.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-26 15:52 EDT-0400

[jkraghify]

I didn't make this list, but found it on the PCMR subreddit. This leaves like $75 for OS and peripherals, which is more than enough if you know where to shop around.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($69.89 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M PRO3+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($52.38 @ Newegg)

Memory: *PNY Anarchy 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($35.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $426.11

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-26 15:52 EDT-0400

[The Official Czex]

I didn't make this list, but found it on the PCMR subreddit. This leaves like $75 for OS and peripherals, which is more than enough if you know where to shop around.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($69.89 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M PRO3+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($52.38 @ Newegg)

Memory: *PNY Anarchy 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($35.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $426.11

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-26 15:52 EDT-0400

 

No. Just. No. R9 270? Nope. EVGA B-series PSU? Fuck that. Single channel RAM on a dual channel board? Nada...

[mosin40]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A78M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.33 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 380 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($32.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($48.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($27.99 @ NCIX US)
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 202 II Headphones  ($21.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $534.15
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-26 16:14 EDT-0400

[jkraghify]

No. Just. No. R9 270? Nope. EVGA B-series PSU? Fuck that. Single channel RAM on a dual channel board? Nada...

It would beat or match a PS4. It might not be up to your hardware standards - it surely isn't up to mine - but it answers the proposed question without much research at all. I'm sure if you or I dug around a little more that we would find something better that atill fits the budget.

But that build would work.