$600 PC Build

[rphawks]

Building a $600 PC for one of my friends. I think this list is pretty solid, but I thought it would be good to run it by a forum. 

 

Some notes: 

He has a 500GB HDD from his old Alienware, so I'm just adding the 128GB SSD.

Wanted for him to have a good case, so splurging a bit on the Phanteks.

Not doing mail in rebates.

 

Thanks in advance.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor	$159.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	MSI - B450-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard	$59.99 @ Newegg
Memory	G.Skill - Aegis 8 GB (1 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory	$49.99 @ Newegg
Storage	ADATA - Ultimate SU800 128 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$28.99 @ Amazon
Video Card	Asus - Radeon RX 580 8 GB DUAL Video Card	$184.99 @ Newegg
Case	Phanteks - ECLIPSE P400 TEMPERED GLASS ATX Mid Tower Case	$59.99 @ Newegg Business
Power Supply	Corsair - CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply	$19.99 @ Newegg
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$598.93
	Mail-in rebates	-$35.00
	Total	$563.93
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-11-21 22:18 EST-0500

 

 

[bleedblue]

Could spend a little extra for 1 more ram module.

[Taf the Ghost]

@rphawks either go 4 Gb x 2 or find a way to work 8 Gb x 2 into the build. 6 Cores/12 Threads and single channel is going to bottleneck under most loads.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor	$159.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	MSI - B450-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard	$59.99 @ Newegg
Memory	Team - Vulcan 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory	$99.99 @ Newegg
Storage	ADATA - Ultimate SU800 128 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$28.99 @ Amazon
Video Card	PowerColor - Radeon RX 570 8 GB Video Card	$149.99 @ Newegg
Case	Phanteks - ECLIPSE P400 TEMPERED GLASS ATX Mid Tower Case	$59.99 @ Newegg Business
Power Supply	Corsair - CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply	$19.99 @ Newegg
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$613.93
	Mail-in rebates	-$35.00
	Total	$578.93
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-11-21 23:14 EST-0500

 

Is what I'd try to work if you can. If not, 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor	$159.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	MSI - B450-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard	$59.99 @ Newegg
Memory	Crucial - Ballistix Tactical 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory	$69.99 @ Newegg
Storage	ADATA - Ultimate SU800 128 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$28.99 @ Amazon
Video Card	Asus - Radeon RX 580 8 GB DUAL Video Card	$184.99 @ Newegg
Case	Phanteks - ECLIPSE P400 TEMPERED GLASS ATX Mid Tower Case	$59.99 @ Newegg Business
Power Supply	Corsair - CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply	$19.99 @ Newegg
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$618.93
	Mail-in rebates	-$35.00
	Total	$583.93
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-11-21 23:15 EST-0500

 

[rphawks]

@Bleed_4_Me @Taf the Ghost Thanks. I was on the fence about that one. I think I'll try to push for 2x8GB. Everything else looks good?

 

[Taf the Ghost]

1 minute ago, rphawks said:

@Bleed_4_Me @Taf the Ghost Thanks. I was on the fence about that one. I think I'll try to push for 2x8GB. Everything else looks good?

 

It's fine for a 2600 Build. Pretty much any B450 is fine for a 2600, even under high OC. It's the 2700 builds that'll fry a VRM if you get stupid with it.

 

But it's a 6 core processor and Dual Channel memory really matters. 8 Gb x2 is the most optimal, especially for basic Near-Term proofing. If you have to cut, seeing if you can get a cheaper RX 570 is an option. It's about 10% down on the RX 580, but upwards of 50USD cheaper. If that's what it takes to sneak in a build, so be it. The CPU will outlast the GPU.

[rphawks]

3 minutes ago, Taf the Ghost said:

It's fine for a 2600 Build. Pretty much any B450 is fine for a 2600, even under high OC. It's the 2700 builds that'll fry a VRM if you get stupid with it.

 

But it's a 6 core processor and Dual Channel memory really matters. 8 Gb x2 is the most optimal, especially for basic Near-Term proofing. If you have to cut, seeing if you can get a cheaper RX 570 is an option. It's about 10% down on the RX 580, but upwards of 50USD cheaper. If that's what it takes to sneak in a build, so be it. The CPU will outlast the GPU.

He's switched to 2x8 GB. Thanks for the tip about cutting to an RX570 if I need to.

[Taf the Ghost]

34 minutes ago, rphawks said:

He's switched to 2x8 GB. Thanks for the tip about cutting to an RX570 if I need to.

Truth is we'll have a new generation of GPUs by late next year or early 2020, all on the 7nm node. 1080p/Ultra is going to be CPU bottlenecked for 60Hz gaming from that generation onward. The RX570 should be able to handle anything at 1080p/60Hz on High settings that'll be coming out. (This exact same thing happened to 720p a few generations ago.)

 

You can see here why. Any GTX 1070 owner has no reason to upgrade their GPU for at least 2 more cycles if they don't move to either 1440p or high-refresh rate panels.

 

Frankly, 1440p/144Hz is the actual "Holy Grail" for PC Gaming. There's only room for improvements in visual quality from there, just given the reality of human eyes. We're rapidly approaching a functional saturation point, which will be great for everyone as it'll drive prices down.

[rphawks]

11 hours ago, Taf the Ghost said:

Truth is we'll have a new generation of GPUs by late next year or early 2020, all on the 7nm node. 1080p/Ultra is going to be CPU bottlenecked for 60Hz gaming from that generation onward. The RX570 should be able to handle anything at 1080p/60Hz on High settings that'll be coming out. (This exact same thing happened to 720p a few generations ago.)

 

You can see here why. Any GTX 1070 owner has no reason to upgrade their GPU for at least 2 more cycles if they don't move to either 1440p or high-refresh rate panels.

 

Frankly, 1440p/144Hz is the actual "Holy Grail" for PC Gaming. There's only room for improvements in visual quality from there, just given the reality of human eyes. We're rapidly approaching a functional saturation point, which will be great for everyone as it'll drive prices down.

So are you suggesting I switch for a RX570? Bit lost. 

 

Also... 1070 and 1440p144hz user here

[Taf the Ghost]

1 minute ago, rphawks said:

So are you suggesting I switch for a RX470? Bit lost. 

 

Also... 1070 and 1440p144hz user here

Haha.

 

No, just suggesting the RX570 is a perfectly adequate option, and the next cycle in 9-18 months there should be reasonably priced upgrade options. Thus, if there is a place to cut in a budget gaming build, dropping from a 580 to a 570 makes a lot of sense.