The $600 New PC

[Monti]

Hello guy or gals. I have been waiting to start a new PC build. I have a good 550 to 600 USD (tax not included) to spend on this. I will be using it to play games, general use, and I also run my friends servers. I already have a AMD 7870 and I don't need windows. If it won't be too much trouble if you can make a Intel and a AMD build or just make one you think will fit my needs. I already have a monitor and all the other peripherals. I need an upgrade from a core 2 quad and 4 gb of ram. I'm think bottle necking my whole system with the 7870. The hard drive doesn't have to be huge because if have a storage drive (WD green). An SSD isn't needed for my computer. I need at least 8gb of RAM. Quietness isn't a fator for me and a good CPU cooler would be nice to have. I live by a tiger direct and a Micro center if that helps anything. You also don't have to hit the $600 mark you can go less. Any help is appreciated and thank you for any time you spend on this.

[Prince32780]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU:  AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor  ($186.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($25.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard:  Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($93.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory:  Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case:  NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($32.43 @ Amazon)
Power Supply:  Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply  ($56.50 @ Newegg)
Total: $605.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-23 19:56 EDT-0400)

[WoodenMarker]

Here you go: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1SqRN

Crossfire ready.

Take out the Hyper 212 Evo and add it later down the line if it's a bit too expensive.

[chromeboy42]

I can't do much better than @Prince32780 so I'd say go with his build, @WoodenMarker 's build is also good although I don't know if you really need 2tb

[WoodenMarker]

PCPartPicker part list

Why 16GB ram?

I can't do much better than @Prince32780 so I'd say go with his build, @WoodenMarker 's build is also good although I don't know if you really need 2tb

Game can take up quite a bit of space. 2TB I consider plenty for just gaming but it's rarely the case that all one does is game. 1TB will do for most but more storage is always nice.

[chromeboy42]

Game can take up quite a bit of space. 2TB I consider plenty for just gaming but it's rarely the case that all one does is game. 1TB will do for most but more storage is always nice.

Yea, but why buy more storage then you need? I just buy more storage when I need it, almost always cheaper since prices continue to drop

[Prince32780]

Why 16GB ram?

Game can take up quite a bit of space. 2TB I consider plenty for just gaming but it's rarely the case that all one does is game. 1TB will do for most but more storage is always nice.

 

It's better to have more RAM when running servers and playing games.

I chose a 1TB drive because he says he already has a fairly large caviar green drive, and doesn't require an SSD.

[JoshM]

Here you go: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1SqRN

Crossfire ready.

Take out the Hyper 212 Evo and add it later down the line if it's a bit too expensive.

Why not a 990x board? 

[WoodenMarker]

Yea, but why buy more storage then you need? I just buy more storage when I need it, almost always cheaper since prices continue to drop

It's better to have more RAM when running servers and playing games.

I chose a 1TB drive because he says he already has a fairly large caviar green drive, and doesn't require an SSD.

It seems I missed a bit of the OP's post due to it being a bit of a brick wall. 

I guess there's no need to a mass storage drive if the OP already has one. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Sr3x

Why not a 990x board? 

It costs more? 

[JoshM]

It seems I missed a bit of the OP's post due to it being a bit of a brick wall. 

I guess there's no need to a mass storage drive if the OP already has one. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Sr3x

It costs more? 

You pulled up under budget, may as well put the rest towards a better board

[WoodenMarker]

You pulled up under budget, may as well put the rest towards a better board

It'll give very little improvement to spend more on a better board for what the OP's usage.

If he wants to spend more, I'd say go get some food

[JoshM]

It'll give very little improvement to spend more on a better board for what the OP's usage.

Yer but better OCing the future and tend to have more features

[helping]

. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Sr3x

 

Use this build, and I implore you to take the SSD with it. It will make one of the biggest impacts on performance and usability experience especially for the price. 

 

If you don't mind spending more, go for a 990x chipset, the 970 one by ASrock is 8x/8x config, but it won't really be that big of a frame hit (2-5% MAX per lane penalty in CFX). Upgrade to an 8350 at the same time if you can swing it. 

 

Though, if you so choose to spend more than 500$ (since this build is perfectly fine) you might want to put that towards a 700w ish PSU since I'm not entirely sure how a 650w Fractal (rebrand) will work out. IIRC 7870 is 170 or 180 TDP 2x + and OC'd 8320 might be pushing it. 

[Ryan Leech]

Buy a QX9650/QX9770 and upgrade to 8GB DDR2. Problem solved.

[Monti]

Buy a QX9650/QX9770 and upgrade to 8GB DDR2. Problem solved.

yes but DDR2 is $200. Also new games have dropped the core 2 line for minimum requirements. I bottle neck my GPU with my CPU. I can't run Black Mesa on max with a 7870.

[Monti]

Sorry for a double post but could one of you make an Intel build just to see what my options are. Also Micro center is an option for parts. they have good CPU and Mobo combos.

[WoodenMarker]

Sorry for a double post but could one of you make an Intel build just to see what my options are. Also Micro center is an option for parts. they have good CPU and Mobo combos.

There's little point going intel at this price point unless you want a smaller form factor. AMD is the better bang for your buck in this case.

[Ryan Leech]

yes but DDR2 is $200. Also new games have dropped the core 2 line for minimum requirements. I bottle neck my GPU with my CPU. I can't run Black Mesa on max with a 7870.

How many sticks of ram do you currently have? Also, a QX9770 @4.0GHz(easy oc) is just as good as an i5 3570K. You could probably push a QX9770 to 4.6GHz if you have good cooling. I got my QX9650 to 4.9GHz under water, but that was at 1.62v (it died).

[Monti]

How many sticks of ram do you currently have? Also, a QX9770 @4.0GHz(easy oc) is just as good as an i5 3570K. You could probably push a QX9770 to 4.6GHz if you have good cooling. I got my QX9650 to 4.9GHz under water, but that was at 1.62v (it died).

I have 4 1gb sticks. My current mother board can only support 8gb. I don't know if that is 8gb sticks or 8gb total.

[Ryan Leech]

I have 4 1gb sticks. My current mother board can only support 8gb. I don't know if that is 8gb sticks or 8gb total.

You could sell your current DDR2 and buy a 4x2GB kit. You could find a QX9650 on ebay for $190 that could overclock to 4.2GHz

[Monti]

After doing some looking up of pricing and creating many builds, and I will see if I can stretch my budget and extra $40 for taxes to get 16gb or RAM. Here is the build.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Monti/saved/25Hn-----16gb RAM

 

The other build I have only changes to 8gb of ram.

 

It's better to have more RAM when running servers and playing games.

I chose a 1TB drive because he says he already has a fairly large caviar green drive, and doesn't require an SSD.

 

Use this build, and I implore you to take the SSD with it. It will make one of the biggest impacts on performance and usability experience especially for the price. 

 

If you don't mind spending more, go for a 990x chipset, the 970 one by ASrock is 8x/8x config, but it won't really be that big of a frame hit (2-5% MAX per lane penalty in CFX). Upgrade to an 8350 at the same time if you can swing it. 

 

Though, if you so choose to spend more than 500$ (since this build is perfectly fine) you might want to put that towards a 700w ish PSU since I'm not entirely sure how a 650w Fractal (rebrand) will work out. IIRC 7870 is 170 or 180 TDP 2x + and OC'd 8320 might be pushing it. 

 

Yer but better OCing the future and tend to have more features

Just better tell you all about my post

[helping]

After doing some looking up of pricing and creating many builds, and I will see if I can stretch my budget and extra $40 for taxes to get 16gb or RAM. Here is the build.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Monti/saved/25Hn-----16gb RAM

 

The other build I have only changes to 8gb of ram.

 

 

 

Just better tell you all about my post

Looks good, you don't really need more than 8 for gaming (2x4 kit) 

 

you can add another 8 in the future if you need it for some reason. 

[JoshM]

After doing some looking up of pricing and creating many builds, and I will see if I can stretch my budget and extra $40 for taxes to get 16gb or RAM. Here is the build.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Monti/saved/25Hn-----16gb RAM

 

The other build I have only changes to 8gb of ram.

 

 

 

Just better tell you all about my post

Where is your gpu?

[WoodenMarker]

Where is your gpu?

Read the OP. He already has a 7870. 

After doing some looking up of pricing and creating many builds, and I will see if I can stretch my budget and extra $40 for taxes to get 16gb or RAM. Here is the build.

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Monti/saved/25Hn-----16gb RAM

Edits: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Tk54

[ShadowRaven]

Hello guy or gals. I have been waiting to start a new PC build. I have a good 550 to 600 USD (tax not included) to spend on this. I will be using it to play games, general use, and I also run my friends servers. I already have a AMD 7870 and I don't need windows. If it won't be too much trouble if you can make a Intel and a AMD build or just make one you think will fit my needs. I already have a monitor and all the other peripherals. I need an upgrade from a core 2 quad and 4 gb of ram. I'm think bottle necking my whole system with the 7870. The hard drive doesn't have to be huge because if have a storage drive (WD green). An SSD isn't needed for my computer. I need at least 8gb of RAM. Quietness isn't a fator for me and a good CPU cooler would be nice to have. I live by a tiger direct and a Micro center if that helps anything. You also don't have to hit the $600 mark you can go less. Any help is appreciated and thank you for any time you spend on this.

Here's my suggestion for a Intel build

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1TlmN

 

Here is my suggestion for a amd build

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1TlAT