Build my own PC (Budget: $550) - Hardware & Software

I was talking to some people on Amazon about getting a new PC. Well, a graphics card for my current PC (Dell Optiplex 755), but then I found a buyer for my PS2 and game collection, so now I have more to spend. I was looking at prebuilt, but was told I could come build a better PC myself. The limit is $550. I can maybe go a dollar or two higher than that, but that is really the cutoff. I want a good gaming PC, or at least as good a gaming PC as I can get for that price. I have the disc here for my Dell, with Windows 7 Home Premium printed on it. I'm pretty sure that is the OS, it says it has Service Pack 1 on it. It was given to me by the refurbisher I purchased the Dell from. So, is there anyone who can help me with this? I was looking at these two PCs on Amazon, to figure which was the best purchase. From what I was told, the graphics cards are bad. As far as the rest of the specs, 8gb DDR3 Ram, Six Core 3.5GHz, that all looks like what I found on another page, about PC building. This is a link for the CyberPower, at $539. [url]http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L5GWCC2/ref=psdc_565098_t2_B00CF1T15W[/url] And this is the first one I looked at, a Cybertron. [url]http://www.amazon.com/CybertronPC-Borg-Q-GM4213C-Desktop-Red/dp/B00J9D4MZS/ref=sr_1_11?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1418063172&sr=1-11&keywords=gaming[/url] They are largely the same. The Cybertron is 3.8 instead of 3.5, both have 1TB hard drives, 8gb DDR3 RAM, and dual layer DVD drives. The graphics cards are different. CyberPower: AMD R7 250 2GB Cybertron: NVIDIA GeForce GT610 1GB So...can anyone tell me what I should do? I have no experience building a PC. I do have access to screwdrivers, I'm not sure what else I'd need besides the parts. From one of the guides I read, if the prices are similar, I could get something similar to the CyberPower, but with a better graphics card, for about $550. This was a build someone posted that I found with a Google search. CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg) Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.79 @ Newegg) Memory: A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg) Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.96 @ Amazon) Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg) Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Microcenter) Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg) Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC) Total: $550.68

[QUOTE=Ghaleon;46670600]So...can anyone tell me what I should do? I have no experience building a PC. I do have access to screwdrivers, I'm not sure what else I'd need besides the parts.[/QUOTE] The only things you'll need are a phillips screw driver, maybe a flathead and a small wrench for tightening down motherboard standoffs. Here's a build I tossed together: Case: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147159[/url] PSU: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046[/url] Motherboard: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128672[/url] CPU: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116995[/url] RAM: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422[/url] GPU: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202090[/url] HDD: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840[/url] Optical: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106393[/url] The build you selected isn't bad, but AMD has really fallen behind the performance curve. Hitachi Deskstars are also "Deathstars". (I'm the guy from Amazon by the way)

Well, that was a build someone else had made, I found via a Google search. I'm working on a build on there now, or at least trying to. The upper limit on spending is $570. But I need mail in rebates to drop it to $550 or less. I'm getting $570 for my PS2 (unless something bad happens), and I have to pay my mom at least $20, but with the rebates, I can pay it to her a bit later. Free Shipping is also a good thing for this. Funny, the Graphics card you chose is the same one I picked. Here is the build I tried to go with. Of course, I have to wait for the check to arrive via UPS, so I don't have the money yet. I will have to tweak things when I get it and have it loaded onto my Bluebird card, so I can get online and make the orders. [url]http://pcpartpicker.com/p/FxkB4D[/url] Component Selection Base Price Promo Shipping Tax Price Where CPU AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor $99.99 Free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime $99.99 Amazon (Overridden) Motherboard Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard $74.99 $1.99 $76.98 Newegg (Overridden) Memory A-Data XPG V2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory $69.99 FREE $69.99 Newegg Storage Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive $53.99 FREE $53.99 Newegg (Overridden) Video Card Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card $149.99 FREE $149.99 Newegg Case Rosewill REDBONE ATX Mid Tower Case $34.99 Free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime $34.99 Amazon Power Supply Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply $39.99 FREE $39.99 Newegg (Overridden) Optical Drive Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer $19.99 FREE $19.99 Newegg (Overridden) Base Total: $543.92 Shipping: $1.99 Total: $545.91 The mail-in rebates aren't showing. It's actually this price: Base Total: $543.92 Mail-in Rebates: -$40.00 Shipping: $1.99 Total: $505.91 Hopefully I can get a good design with this. I really want to play Sacred 2 and Mass Effect 2. I also have The Sims 3, Dragon Age, Injustice, and others. Do you think they would run with the card I get? Low settings isn't that big a deal for me, so long as I can play the games.

I'd recommend going with the Intel build, it's more efficient and uses less power. It's right on $550 with shipping included. The 430W PSU you chose is a bit anemic for an AMD processor and that video card. As for the rebates, just pretend like they don't exist. Rebates are really gimmicky and usually fulfilled by third party processing centers that most likely will give you tons of grief.

I'll post some more here once I have the money. I'm also trying to sell my Xbox, a copy of Lunar 2 Eternal Blue, some PSX Final Fantasy games, and an Ocarina from Legend of Zelda. So I might be able to get more and have a better GPU.

I was putting your build into the Part Picker site. Would this Sapphire be better than the one you chose, or worse? Getting this one with a cheaper G.Skills RAM would provide a combo. The G.Skills is this: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 MemoryG.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory. The difference between it and the one you chose, it is DDR3-2133 instead of DDR3-1333. But the card is cheaper, as yours was 70.98 as listed, and that one is 59.99. The combo is with the Sapphire linked here, for a $12 discount. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202047&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=[/url] Here is the updated list: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor $99.99 FREE $99.99 Newegg Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard $55.99 -$10.00 FREE $45.99 Newegg G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory $59.99 FREE $59.99 Newegg Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $59.99 FREE $59.99 Newegg Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Tri-X Toxic Video Card $199.99 -$20.00 $2.99 $182.98 Newegg Rosewill REDBONE ATX Mid Tower Case $34.99 Free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime $34.99 Amazon (This one is subject to change, but is still a few bucks cheaper than NewEgg, with free shipping.) Cooler Master Elite Power 460W ATX Power Supply $39.99 -$10.00 $3.99 $33.98 Newegg Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer $19.99 FREE $19.99 Newegg Base Total: $570.92 Combo Discounts: -$12.00 Mail-in Rebates: -$40.00 Shipping: $6.98 Total: $525.90 Which, if that list is okay to you, and the prices don't fluctuate before I get a chance to order, would save me $24 to put towards something else. I'm saving the design on the site, so I can get back to it quickly to make edits if necessary. I'm hoping I didn't make a mess of things with the GPU.

The CPU doesn't support DDR3-2133, the max is DDR3-1600. As for the GPU, try and find one that doesn't have the words "toxic edition" "black edition" "1337 XXX HAWT EDITION" because it's just overpriced rice. The R9 270X is better than an R9 270 though, just find one that isn't factory overclocked and riced up and you'll be fine.

From reading them on the NewEgg pages, it seems yours has OpenGL 4.3, whereas the one I linked has OpenGL 4.2. Also, it says a 500W PSU is required. But you linked one that is 460W. Wouldn't that cause problems? There are some around $50 that are 500W. Cougar and Corsair. Corsair CX500 Builder ATX 80+ Bronze 500W No (165) $54.99 That one says >80% efficiency. And the rating is 4.5 stars with (165) for the raters. Would it be better than the 460W? If I use the new RAM I selected, and the Corsair PSU, the price comes in at 505.92 after $30 for the rebates.

I mean if you can find one factory overclocked that's not more expensive than any of your other options, there's no issue in buying it. They aren't inherently worse in any way, they just usually jack up the price for what you can do yourself.

How do I know if it is Factory Overclocked? Anything with a series name would be bad? These are some listed as the cheapest. Gigabyte Windforce - 137.99 PowerColor Devil - 149.99 HIS IceQ X2 - 154.99 Sapphire Dual-X - 154.99 Sapphire Dual-X - 161.99 I'm pretty sure those Sapphires would be okay. The 154.99 one is on NewEgg, so it's a $20 rebate. I've switched the RAM to this: G.Skill Ares Series DDR3-1600 240-pin DIMM 9 2x4GB 8GB $6.87 (46) $54.99 And I found this Sapphire GPU: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB Dual-X Video Card $194.99 -$20.00 $1.99 $176.98 Those, with the Corsair 500W PSU, and the rest of the stuff as what you linked, brings the pricing to this: Base Total: $565.92 Mail-in Rebates: -$50.00 Shipping: $1.99 Total: $517.91

[QUOTE=Ghaleon;46673557]From reading them on the NewEgg pages, it seems yours has OpenGL 4.3, whereas the one I linked has OpenGL 4.2.[/QUOTE] You'll never be doing anything important enough to worry about what sub version of OpenGL a card supports. [QUOTE=Ghaleon;46673557]Also, it says a 500W PSU is required. But you linked one that is 460W. Wouldn't that cause problems? Would it be better than the 460W?[/QUOTE] It's just a recommendation based on an average system. The real power usage of the card is ~180W max. [QUOTE=Ghaleon;46673655]How do I know if it is Factory Overclocked?[/QUOTE] Compare the stock clocks listed here: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Radeon_Rx_200_Series#Chipset_table[/url] To the ones listed on the cards retail page.

I'd recommend the Sapphire. They've got great coolers and great build quality.

Okay, I found a card that is slightly more expensive, but it's an R9 280, which would be better than an R9 270X, right? The Core Clock is listed as 850 on the site, and on the Wiki page you gave, it says the Boost for it is 933. It is also a 3GB instead of a 4GB. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202112&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=[/url] However, I think it would be worth the slightly increased cost? Base Total: $570.92 Mail-in Rebates: -$45.00 Total: $525.92 It's only about $7 more, with the final cost after rebates.

Yes, the 280 is better but remember not to rely on actually getting rebates.

I think I will risk it. Assuming the prices are still the same. Hopefully I'll have a check for the PS2 in a few days and I can get this stuff ordered and on it's way. Thanks for the help. If the prices change too much, I'll come back here and get some help from you guys on figuring out replacements.

If you come across extra money in the future, you can upgrade your Dell machine too and get a decent second system for hosting game servers or something.

I have a guy from Craigslist, he has a gaming laptop that he doesn't use, he has moved on to a PS4. He is willing to give it to me for $100, and said it was a $900 laptop, 2 years ago. Here are the stats I have so far. 2013 ASUS that ran Mass Effect 3 on it's highest settings, and Witcher 2 on High, not Highest. It would include a Steam account with all three Mass Effects, Witcher 2, Crisis 3, and some others. Crisis 3 has some issues on on anything but Mid with low contrast. Full 1080p 240 hz display, he thinks it has a Quad Core and an AMD graphics card, 8gb of DDR3. I'll run a DXDiag to check before I buy, but do you guys think this is a better investment than building the design we tried here? The Intel i3 has gone up in cost this morning, almost $30 more. And with the laptop, I could afford a cable and a new TV, to have a better gaming display.

That's a really shady deal and I guarantee you it doesn't have a 240hz display, it's probably got an a8 or a10 with dual graphics which is plagued with heat and driver issues

But I should be able to see if it is A8 or A10 through the DXDiag, right? Or is there somewhere else I can look while it is running to check this. I told him I was going to look before I paid for it. He was going to give it free for helping him move some furniture, but I can't because I have a bad knee. (Insert arrow joke...)

Running speccy would be your best option.

Okay, I have Speccy Portable on a small usb drive. I can take that to plug in and check it all out before I pay anything for it.

Yeah, go ahead and post the specs here before if you can. It could just be a great deal, but it definitely seems way too good to be true.

Well, I posted about it on Craigslist, asking if there were any gamers, who had upgraded to a new system, and had an older one that they no longer used. He texted me this morning about it. Said he has been playing a PS4 and doesn't use the laptop anymore. He wanted me to help move the furniture tomorrow, he is getting some stuff for doing the work, and he was gonna give me the laptop for helping. But with my knee I can't. And he wasn't interested in my original Xbox, so we came to the agreement of 100 for it. I don't think I can post the specs, because I'm supposed to get the $570 in a check by Thursday, and if so I will go to town this weekend to maybe pick it up. There wouldn't be really the time for it. From what he says, you can play Mass Effect 3 at the highest settings, and Witcher 2 at high. He has Injustice playing on it as well. It cannot run Metro Last Light at all. On low it lags and stutters. He doesn't know why that is.

Any chance you could get a computer make and model?

He said it was an Asus 2013 laptop. And it has Windows 8.1

Well the PC idea is shot to hell. The $570 isn't coming. The guy says he is shipping me the check with UPS, and this is how it works. I cash it, keep out the $570 for my PS2 and stack of games, then I am to use Western Union or Moneygram to send the remainder to his movers, who will cover shipping the games to him in New York. The part that got me was the check was for $2500. That means I was to wire $1,930 for the "shipping costs". Of course if you Google it, you see it's a fraud scam they run. So I'm screwed out of the money, and back to the $2.95 that I have. Life really truly sucks sometimes. I can't even get the Laptop now, whether it was a bad one or not. I might as well give up on ever getting to play the PC games I wanted.

So you gave him your PS2/Xbox without getting the money first? well that was stupid if you did. You should only deal locally on CL and always use escrow if you're dealing with large sums of money or long distances. Also only accepting cash is a must, no checks, no credit cards and no money transfer services.

No. I put it on CL to sell, he contacted me via text. Told me he was sending a check via UPS. That he would give me an extra 70 to hold it for him, and that he would pay for shipping to get the games to NY. He said he sent the check today, that I should get it by Thursday. When I asked how much it was for, I find out that it's supposed to be for $2,500.75. That is $500 for my PS2, $70 for holding it, leaving $1,930 I am supposed to send to his "Mover" via Western Union or Moneygram. Once they get the cash, they would come to pick up my PS2 and games. I grew suspicious and Google'd it, and found out it's a type of fraud scam. So I still have my PS2 and games, just really pissed because I was counting on that money. I had hopes to get that laptop and to be able to purchase a television as Christmas gifts for myself, so I can stop using the 13" TV I have now, and be able to end this year in a positive way. Since really the entire year has treated me like crap.

Welp you can go back to the cheapest upgrade option and get a better CPU for your Dell. [url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-Duo-CPU-E8400-3-0Ghz-6M-1333-SLB9J-SLAPL-/151474354201?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2344933819[/url] It will give you a considerable performance boost for $13.

I have almost made enough for the laptop. I lucked out in selling some games with Craigslist. So I may be lucky enough to get it this Saturday. He says he has a PS4 hard drive in it. Do you guys know the type of drive I would need to use in order to go bigger than 500gb? He said on the phone something about it being a newer format and all. That a 120gb one costs about $70. I'm trying to figure out the compatibility so I can look at prices on the Picker site. But I'm unsure, beyond needing a 2.5" and that it be 9.5mm thick or less? Maybe this one would work? [url]http://pcpartpicker.com/part/hitachi-internal-hard-drive-0j22423[/url] There are people on Amazon who seem happy with that one. If it worked in a PS4, it should also theoretically work in the laptop. Since the PS4 drive works in the laptop. I'm just trying to figure what my options are if I need to replace the drive. I'd rather know now than later if it needed to be replaced.