Optimizing Sub-$500 Gaming PC Build

[InTheAir]

So, I've been waiting forever to get approval for a PC build, and now I'm wondering how to streamline this build I found on PCPartPicker. Key things I wanted to go over included;

1. Overclockabilty of the Intel Pentium G3258, and if it's ready for more CPU-intensive games such as XCOM
2. And any other graphics card besides the GTX 950 2GB

I was also wondering if I could get a 512GB hard drive, as I'm not expecting this to be my primary computer. And finally, it would also be incredibly helpful to link towards PC building tips/help guides, I'm really hoping to get this build ready!

[aeroencychris]

CX power supply is awful on its own, regardless of a budget build. Save ~$20 and get a EVGA 500B

Use that money to buy a Hyper 212 Evo so you can get a decent OC

Also why no 950? Seems like a good card to me. That or go last-gen and get a 700 series card or something (or venture into some low-end AMD cards)

[Moonzy]

11 minutes ago, InTheAir said:

 

i think you're better off like this...

the fx 6300 should be better than that pentium

also changed your psu to a better one

Spoiler

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yTbLvK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/yTbLvK/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor  ($98.89 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: MSI 970 GAMING ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($92.98 @ Newegg) 
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($45.89 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 950 2GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($147.99 @ NCIX US) 
Case: Thermaltake Versa H23  ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($53.98 @ Newegg) 
Total: $504.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-15 23:12 EDT-0400

 

edit:

1. the g3258 is very overclockable, but also not that strong to begin with anyway

2. there's a ton but the 950 is a solid choice

 

a 512gb hard disk is really not worth getting, add a few bucks for double the capacity, why not

[astranger200]

dont get a cx. also a 950 and pentium will work well, but if he can get second hand (a 680, 770) and n i5 2500 or something, that would be better

[HKZeroFive]

Much better build for that amount of money. Those two cores and threads will restrict you in quite a few games:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($44.99 @ Micro Center) 
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($45.89 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 950 2GB OC Edition Video Card  ($143.98 @ Newegg) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($39.99 @ Newegg) 
Total: $454.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-15 23:15 EDT-0400

[Aereldor]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($44.99 @ Micro Center) 
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($45.89 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 380 4GB Video Card  ($184.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Xion XON-310_BK MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($22.98 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: XFX XT 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($36.98 @ Newegg) 
Total: $485.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-15 23:34 EDT-0400

[papapoi]

amazon has the gtx 960 4gb for $165 after rebate, not in stock no but available on the 20th

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GeForce-GDDR5-Graphics-GV-N960OC-4GD/dp/B013LDXPFO/

 

or amazon warehouse has the 2gb version for $166 with rebate,  used but in original packaging which you can still get the $20 rebate($18 if you want the rebate processed faster)

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GeForce-GDDR5-Graphics-GV-N960OC-2GD/dp/B013LDXEMS/

 

i bought this motherboard and should be compatible with your cpu

https://www.blinq.com/detail/electronics/desktops-monitors/computer-components-parts/asus-lga-1150-atx-mb-motherboard-z97-ar/364873?condition=new-open-box

$94 plus 10% off for new customers

[Frame Drops]

At that price i will go with i3 6100 OR Fx6300. It depends on what games you are going to play. i3 6100 has better per core performance and with 2 cores 4 thread it can easily beat FX 6300 in most of the games but the real loss with i3 is no. of core. Some games are locked for 2 or less core, that means if you don't have at least 4 core CPU , you will not be able to play those games & this kind of thing may also happen with coming games. In short if you are looking for performance go with i3 but if you want future proofing from no. of cores than go with Fx 6300.

i3 build : go with @HKZeroFive

Fx 6300 : http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qPGJvK

[InTheAir]

Okay, after looking around all day, here's the build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tcCr23

 

NOTE: Additional components such as OS and monitor weren't included in the budget, but it'd obviously be great to keep a budgeted focus in mind.