Maxed Out $400 Gaming Build.

[AlanAlan]

What is the best gaming pc I can make for a budget of $400 USD? I want to play some steam games like CSGO and Team Fortress. What is the best pc build for that price range.

[_JohnB330ci]

Probably something like a FX 6300/I3 and a low end GPU, I'd advise (Before I did a parts list) that you try to increase your budget more, to allow for more upgrade ability in the future, preferably to around $600

[ForsakenLive]

$400 is not a bad budget for a system, you can defenitively achieve 1080p gaming.

However if you really want to make the best out of that money you should really consider used hardware, at least for the GPU, there are decent offerings between the $90-150 in the used section. Stuff like R9 270X, R9 280, R9 280X, HD 7970, GTX 660ti, GTX 670, GTX 680, GTX 760, R9 380, GTX 770, Heck, even R9 290 and GTX 780 sometimes; now that the RX 480 is here to replace most midrange cards launched on the last couple of years many users can consider to sell their current stuff in order to purchase the new GPU.

If you really want to avoid used hardware (I advice you not to, as you can get the performance of a $600-750 system with your mere $400), then wait, as AMD is supposed to launch the RX 470 and RX 460 soon, those might be good performing cards at an entry level price.

The only piece of hardware I would avoid (at least IMO) are PSUs and HDDs. CPUs, GPUs, RAM, Mobos and cases don't usually age that much proving to have amazing value if you can find the right seller. 

[Wolther]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/t3FqkT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/t3FqkT/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($29.98 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.49 @ OutletPC) 
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($43.99 @ NCIX US) 
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($29.85 @ Amazon) 
Total: $312.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-29 20:43 EDT-0400

 

 

**Wait for the 460 to come out very soon** this will be way more than enough for the games you mentioned. Only thing not added is the OS.. People mostly know ways of getting it for cheaper

 

Also. Check around for used parts. Especially now that people might be selling their old graphics cards because the new ones have just came out

[Streetguru]

1 hour ago, AlanAlan said:

What is the best gaming pc I can make for a budget of $400 USD? I want to play some steam games like CSGO and Team Fortress. What is the best pc build for that price range.

APU rig could play those type of games for $300, no GPU exactly needed, this is only if you wanted the cheapest thing possible with no real plans to upgrade anytime soon

 

but FM2+ gives you no upgrade path, too bad we have no info on the AM4 launch date

the 7600 would be slightly slower, but the faster memory would make up for the lesser GPU clock speed, and Kaveri APUs lock the CPU to 3ghz when the iGPU is under heavy load, so buying a more expensive one isn't exactly worth it
 

A8 7650K | CS:GO/Dota 2/SC2 benchmarks Tested With 1866Mhz RAM
http://www.technologyx.com/featured/amd-a8-7650k-apu-review-the-little-apu-that-could/4/

A8 7650K | Various AAA titles Tested with 2133Mhz RAM
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9217/the-amd-a8-7650k-apu-review-also-new-testing-methodology/7
 

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/C3y3Fd
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/C3y3Fd/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $274.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-29 21:13 EDT-0400


-

-

Or just get the i3 6100 and a 460 shortly ya

[AlanAlan]

3 hours ago, Streetguru said:

APU rig could play those type of games for $300, no GPU exactly needed, this is only if you wanted the cheapest thing possible with no real plans to upgrade anytime soon

 

but FM2+ gives you no upgrade path, too bad we have no info on the AM4 launch date

the 7600 would be slightly slower, but the faster memory would make up for the lesser GPU clock speed, and Kaveri APUs lock the CPU to 3ghz when the iGPU is under heavy load, so buying a more expensive one isn't exactly worth it
 

A8 7650K | CS:GO/Dota 2/SC2 benchmarks Tested With 1866Mhz RAM
http://www.technologyx.com/featured/amd-a8-7650k-apu-review-the-little-apu-that-could/4/

A8 7650K | Various AAA titles Tested with 2133Mhz RAM
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9217/the-amd-a8-7650k-apu-review-also-new-testing-methodology/7
 

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/C3y3Fd
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/C3y3Fd/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory  ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $274.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-29 21:13 EDT-0400


-

-

Or just get the i3 6100 and a 460 shortly ya

 

4 hours ago, Wolther said:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/t3FqkT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/t3FqkT/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  ($29.98 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.49 @ OutletPC) 
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($43.99 @ NCIX US) 
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($29.85 @ Amazon) 
Total: $312.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-29 20:43 EDT-0400

 

 

**Wait for the 460 to come out very soon** this will be way more than enough for the games you mentioned. Only thing not added is the OS.. People mostly know ways of getting it for cheaper

 

Also. Check around for used parts. Especially now that people might be selling their old graphics cards because the new ones have just came out

 

4 hours ago, ForsakenLive said:

$400 is not a bad budget for a system, you can defenitively achieve 1080p gaming.

However if you really want to make the best out of that money you should really consider used hardware, at least for the GPU, there are decent offerings between the $90-150 in the used section. Stuff like R9 270X, R9 280, R9 280X, HD 7970, GTX 660ti, GTX 670, GTX 680, GTX 760, R9 380, GTX 770, Heck, even R9 290 and GTX 780 sometimes; now that the RX 480 is here to replace most midrange cards launched on the last couple of years many users can consider to sell their current stuff in order to purchase the new GPU.

If you really want to avoid used hardware (I advice you not to, as you can get the performance of a $600-750 system with your mere $400), then wait, as AMD is supposed to launch the RX 470 and RX 460 soon, those might be good performing cards at an entry level price.

The only piece of hardware I would avoid (at least IMO) are PSUs and HDDs. CPUs, GPUs, RAM, Mobos and cases don't usually age that much proving to have amazing value if you can find the right seller. 

 

4 hours ago, SherifsDog22 said:

Probably something like a FX 6300/I3 and a low end GPU, I'd advise (Before I did a parts list) that you try to increase your budget more, to allow for more upgrade ability in the future, preferably to around $600

Used parts are ok as long as they are working and in good condition.

[Streetguru]

51 minutes ago, AlanAlan said:

 

 

 

Used parts are ok as long as they are working and in good condition.

A used case or SSD is probably fine, but used hardware is entirely dependent on your area, so I don't really bother with it, just don't buy a used hard drive, or PSU most likely