$600 Light Gaming/Programming/General PC

[xXAndrew28Xx]

Hey LTT forums, I am trying to upgrade from my current system which is absolutely horrible for games purchased years ago (i5-2300 integrated graphics [no dedicated GPU], 6GB ram, 1440p ). This list is in USD (US Dollars) and in Minnesota. Micro Center Twin Cities is near by but the tax on a system like below is $47 (still a $30 off motherboard/cpu combo though). I am doing light gaming such as Portal 2, CS:GO, & Minecraft. I am also programming in Java and some web languages (probably not too intensive to develop with but HTML, JS, CSS, and PHP as it just needs a text editor/basic IDE). Right now I am doing this on my current PC as the specs are listed above utilizing almost at peak times 100% ram, and 90% CPU . 25% ram on idle. I really need an upgrade. Minecraft (not very resource intensive) will be running while I develop in Java. When developing Java I have Chrome, Skype, Eclipse, Filezilla, Putty, & 7ZIP open. Lastly I have one monitor 1680 x 1050

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI H110M Gaming Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($65.98 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($59.99 @ Adorama) 
Storage: PNY CS1311 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($39.99 @ Best Buy) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.49 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 360 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card  ($99.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.95 @ NCIX US) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.99 @ NCIX US) 
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer  ($13.99 @ Newegg) 
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit  ($92.95 @ B&H) 
Case Fan: Kingwin CF-012LBR 40.0 CFM  120mm Fan  ($3.98 @ OutletPC) 
Total: $625.29 (around the same using just one merchant such as Newegg)
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-06 15:27 EDT-0400

The CPU is a 17% increase http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-2300-vs-Intel-Core-i3-6100/m291vs3511.

The GPU is a 1829% increase http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-HD-2000-Desktop-11-GHz-vs-AMD-R7-360/m7697vs3572

10GB more RAM 

[Energycore]

I wouldn't call the i3-6100 an upgrade to the i5-2300, bit more of a sidegrade.

 

You're spending a big chunk of your budget on Windows. You Don’t Need a Product Key to Install and Use Windows 10

 

I'd do this

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B150M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($64.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($59.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: PNY CS1311 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($39.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card  ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($47.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer  ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Kingwin CF-012LBR 40.0 CFM  120mm Fan  ($3.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $623.27
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-06 15:41 EDT-0400

 

In fact, if you're not going to store that many big fat games, you can go SSD only.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/8Z6TCy

[xXAndrew28Xx]

Thanks so much, I'll probably pickup a key anyways for ~$30 on Reddit as you just reminded me somehow of it. 

[Energycore]

Just now, xXAndrew28Xx said:

 

Make sure to buy from a verified seller on reddit and you're good

 

And as an i3 user, you'll be doing yourself a favour getting the i5. I literally can't keep smooth scrolling in a browser while watching twitch.

 

Oh the GTX 950 should be about 40% faster than the R7 360, maybe a bit less.

[Matias_Chambers]

I would go for something like this and pick up a Windows key later from here.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/D2H6RG
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/D2H6RG/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: Asus H110M-A/M.2 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($49.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Kingston ValueRAM 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.49 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GAMING Video Card  ($249.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Case: Raidmax Viper II ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $646.43
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-06 15:51 EDT-0400

[Energycore]

5 minutes ago, Matias_Chambers said:

I would go for something like this and pick up a Windows key later from here.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/D2H6RG
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/D2H6RG/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: Asus H110M-A/M.2 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($49.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Kingston ValueRAM 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.49 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GAMING Video Card  ($249.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Case: Raidmax Viper II ATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $646.43
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-06 15:51 EDT-0400

I dunno man. OP said light gaming so I think the 1060 would be wasted here

[xXAndrew28Xx]

Just now, Energycore said:

I dunno man. OP said light gaming so I think the 1060 would be wasted here

Yeah I think a 1060 would be wayyy overkill for what I am doing. I already get ~20fps with only integrated graphics.

[Matias_Chambers]

 

Just now, xXAndrew28Xx said:

Yeah I think a 1060 would be wayyy overkill for what I am doing. I already get ~20fps with only integrated graphics.

It's not overkill when it's only 20$ more expensive to get a build with a 1060 instead of a 950. 

[xXAndrew28Xx]

Just now, Matias_Chambers said:

$20 more expensive

Oh, I'll consider it then, thanks.

[Matias_Chambers]

3 minutes ago, Energycore said:

I dunno man. OP said light gaming so I think the 1060 would be wasted here

 

1 minute ago, Matias_Chambers said:

 

It's not overkill when it's only 20$ more expensive to get a build with a 1060 instead of a 950. 

 

[Energycore]

1 hour ago, Matias_Chambers said:

 

It's not overkill when it's only 20$ more expensive to get a build with a 1060 instead of a 950. 

But you have to cut an SSD, one of the most important upgrades for a slight gaming user. No-go.

[xXAndrew28Xx]

Anyways thanks to everyone in this post. A similar pre-built on Best Buy without an SSD and half the ram costs ~950, so this saves me a lot.

[Energycore]

Just now, xXAndrew28Xx said:

Anyways thanks to everyone in this post. A similar pre-built on Best Buy without an SSD costs ~950, so this saves me a lot.

That's not bad. Check the PSU quality on the prebuilt and buy a 240GB SK Hynix SL308 to use as your boot drive.

[xXAndrew28Xx]

1 minute ago, Energycore said:

That's not bad. Check the PSU quality on the prebuilt and buy a 240GB SK Hynix SL308 to use as your boot drive.

But building it myself is $300 cheaper?

[Energycore]

Just now, xXAndrew28Xx said:

But building it yourself is $300 cheaper?

Oh derp. I read the price wrong

[xXAndrew28Xx]

Final Build:
 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI H110M Gaming Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($65.98 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($59.99 @ Adorama) 
Storage: PNY CS1311 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Best Buy) 
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 950 2GB Video Card  ($139.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.95 @ NCIX US) 
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($47.98 @ Newegg) 
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer  ($13.99 @ Newegg) 
Case Fan: Kingwin CF-012LBR 40.0 CFM  120mm Fan  ($3.98 @ OutletPC) 
Other: Windows 10 Home N ($25.00)
Total: $651.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-07 13:21 EDT-0400

Might pickup an i5-6500 at Micro Center as it's the same price as an i5-6400