Best CPU option

[Tigercub72]

I'm planning to do a really budget build but then spend around $400 NZD on a graphics card. What would be the cheapest CPU I could get away with. Currently looking at getting a 290x as the graphics card

 

Thanks

[Morgan MLGman]

The 290X is the best you can get for the money, indeed a fine choice.

The least I can recommend is the i5-4460. Or its Skylake counterpart, a newer i5-6400 (if the price difference isn't too big of course)

Remember to get a quality PSU along with it, at least a 650W is recommended.

[Killervolt]

Yeah, a 4460/6400 or higher would be a good compliment.

[Tigercub72]

The 290X is the best you can get for the money, indeed a fine choice.

The least I can recommend is the i5-4460. Or its Skylake counterpart, a newer i5-6400 (if the price difference isn't too big of course)

Remember to get a quality PSU along with it, at least a 650W is recommended.

Would the PSU need to be larger if I got a GTX 690? For some reason the price is the same.

[Morgan MLGman]

Would the PSU need to be larger if I got a GTX 690? For some reason the price is the same.

The 290X is the better option imo. The 690 is not that good of a card right now, it runs very hot (not that 290X is a cool card but 690 are two 680's under a reference style cooler), yes, possibly a 700W would be better if you wanted a 690. I still do recommend the 290X. I switched to it from a GTX 970 and I see a noticeable improvement. Also, remember to look for Sapphire/Powercolor versions of the 290X, their coolers are efficient.

[marldorthegreat]

I'm planning to do a really budget build but then spend around $400 NZD on a graphics card. What would be the cheapest CPU I could get away with. Currently looking at getting a 290x as the graphics card

 

Thanks

8350 or maybe an 8320. I know Im going to get hate, but its cheap it works and Im running it and it runs fine. yeah it uses a little more power, but the mobos are cheaper and so is the ram. which gives you a little more money to maybe get a 390x?

[SteveGrabowski0]

I'm planning to do a really budget build but then spend around $400 NZD on a graphics card. What would be the cheapest CPU I could get away with. Currently looking at getting a 290x as the graphics card

 

Thanks

 

An i5, i7, or Xeon E3 is what you want to look at to pair with such a strong GPU to use it to its full potential. This is the best build for the money I could find on NZ pcparticker. The i5-4460 is the lowest you should go to keep from bottlenecking a 290x, and it's a very strong gaming CPU.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($299.95 @ Computer Lounge) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($159.99 @ Mighty Ape) 

Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($119.95 @ Computer Lounge) 

Total: $579.89

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-04 14:09 NZDT+1300

[Nena Trinity]

i3 wont do for sure you need a i5 or a FX but its much easier to deal with a i5!  (FX can be cheaper but go for i5 if its same price)

[Analog]

I'm planning to do a really budget build but then spend around $400 NZD on a graphics card. What would be the cheapest CPU I could get away with. Currently looking at getting a 290x as the graphics card

 

Thanks

 

If you are willing to buy used components, perhaps you could even fit two of those 290X for 400 bucks.