Need help building a $500 pc that is easy to upgrade.

[carrickwater]

Hello guys. Please i need help building a $500 PC that is easy to upgrade and can run games at 1080p. I will want to upgrade in the future to something that can run an oclus rift  cause I will be using it very soon, but right now my budget is $500.

Thank You

[Juanse]

$500 is a bit short for modern games at 1080p, I'll what I can do, do you have any component you could save from a previous build?

[techguru]

Hello guys. Please i need help building a $500 PC that is easy to upgrade and can run games at 1080p. I will want to upgrade in the future to something that can run an oclus rift  cause I will be using it very soon, but right now my budget is $500.

Thank You

can do a gaming pc....but it won't be very good

[Curufinwe_wins]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($66.60 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($34.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card  ($139.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($59.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $501.54

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 14:16 EST-0500

 

When it comes time to upgrade cpu, get any haswell i5 or i7 and you will be good enough, you don't need overclocking and overclocking makes the build over budget by a lot.

 

Likewise the case will support better graphics/cpus as will the power supply.

 

Good Luck.

[TheAmazingCookieFromSquare]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($66.60 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($34.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card  ($139.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($59.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $501.54

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 14:16 EST-0500

 

When it comes time to upgrade cpu, get any haswell i5 or i7 and you will be good enough, you don't need overclocking and overclocking makes the build over budget by a lot.

 

Likewise the case will support better graphics/cpus as will the power supply.

 

Good Luck.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: *Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($163.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: *ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($61.20 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: *PNY Anarchy 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.66 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: *Zotac GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card  ($139.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: *Azza Cosmas ATX Mid Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $487.81

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 14:20 EST-0500

 

My list has a i5

[Juanse]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: *Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($163.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: *ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($61.20 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: *PNY Anarchy 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.66 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: *Zotac GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card  ($139.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: *Azza Cosmas ATX Mid Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $487.81

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 14:20 EST-0500

 

My list has a i5

 

dis, I support it

[Curufinwe_wins]

 

My list has a i5

 

It also isn't convenient whatsoever to upgrade as it uses a terrible non-modular PSU, and an awful case. It is a joke to give a better build even than you listed if you completely ignore the part where he says he plans to upgrade in the near feature and wants it to be as painless as possible.

 

Like so:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($163.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($41.40 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 380 2GB Double Dissipation Black Edition Video Card  ($159.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Azza Cosmas ATX Mid Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $480.85

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 14:30 EST-0500

[TheAmazingCookieFromSquare]

It also isn't convenient whatsoever to upgrade as it uses a terrible non-modular PSU, and an awful case. It is a joke to give a better build even than you listed if you completely ignore the part where he says he plans to upgrade in the near feature and wants it to be as painless as possible.

The case aint half bad tbh

[carrickwater]

But Can the Builds easily upgrade to support the oclus rift

[Clear17Mud]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: *Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($163.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($33.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 380 2GB Double Dissipation Black Edition Video Card  ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.70 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $498.05
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 14:38 EST-0500

 

here you go a ok case and a gpu that is made to max stuff out a 1080p.

​

[Clear17Mud]

But Can the Builds easily upgrade to support the oclus rift

the gpu alone would cost more then $500 to run an oculus...

[carrickwater]

Curufinwe_wins- I like your build but will i need to upgrade anything like the motherboard and power supply in the near future to run the oclus rift. And can the R9 380 run the oclus rift.

Thank You.

 

 

It also isn't convenient whatsoever to upgrade as it uses a terrible non-modular PSU, and an awful case. It is a joke to give a better build even than you listed if you completely ignore the part where he says he plans to upgrade in the near feature and wants it to be as painless as possible.

 

Like so:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($163.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($41.40 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 380 2GB Double Dissipation Black Edition Video Card  ($159.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Azza Cosmas ATX Mid Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $480.85

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 14:30 EST-0500

 

[Curufinwe_wins]

Curufinwe_wins- I like your build but will i need to upgrade anything like the motherboard and power supply in the near future to run the oclus rift. And can the R9 380 run the oclus rift.

Thank You.

Yes. You will have to upgrade both the cpu. Hence why my original build used a i3 anyways. 

You will need an unlocked i5 (then you need a new mobo) or any i7 (or xeon 1231v3) If you grab an i7 then you won't need a new mobo.

 

The 380 will not come close to Rift min specs and what it will take to run it to a standard that makes it worthwhile will be MUCH higher.

 

That psu might not end up working anyways for a stronger gpu. Hence why my original build may have seemed disproportionately weighted towards case and psu. It will make upgrading in the future incredibly less painful.

[BigDay]

save up more money for a i5-4590 with a b85 board and an r9 380 @ 4gb or an r9 390

[carrickwater]

Curufinwe_wins PC part picker says Some Intel H81 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Haswell Refresh CPUs.

Does this pose any problems.

Thanks

 

It also isn't convenient whatsoever to upgrade as it uses a terrible non-modular PSU, and an awful case. It is a joke to give a better build even than you listed if you completely ignore the part where he says he plans to upgrade in the near feature and wants it to be as painless as possible.

 

Like so:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($163.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($41.40 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ SuperBiiz) 

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 380 2GB Double Dissipation Black Edition Video Card  ($159.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Azza Cosmas ATX Mid Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $480.85

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 14:30 EST-0500

 

 

 

[BigDay]

@carrickwater

 

this is probably the best you'll get without spending too much money. this will play games at 1080p very well. personally, i wouldn't buy anything less than this build for gaming at the moment. it's just not worth it in the long run. you should buy the os from g2a or through reddit software swap

 

edit:

 

you can buy an ssd in the future. i'd go with the 850 evo @ 120gb. if you want to spend less, go with the ssd plus from sandisk

 

edit:

 

the reason i chose the 4590 is because it has a higher frequency than the 4460 and it's not that much more expensive at the moment

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($52.20 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($40.50 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 380 4GB Video Card  ($229.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.60 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $647.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-01 15:14 EST-0500

[BigDay]

Curufinwe_wins PC part picker says Some Intel H81 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Haswell Refresh CPUs.

Does this pose any problems.

Thanks

 

@carrickwater

 

i would stay away from h81 boards and go with the b85 instead as it has more to offer in terms of features. you should be able to use the motherboard with the haswell cpu straight out of the box as the new motherboards that are manufactured come pre-installed with the latest bios