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Looking to build a light gaming rig for around $750

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usafguy999

Junior Member
My old E2180 has finally given up the ghost after 6 good years. Nothing much can be salvaged from the the old system except maybe the DVD burner, 500GB HD, and possibly the graphics card (5770).

I am leaning towards either an Intel 4-core or AMD 8-core rig. I do very light gaming (older MMORPG's and some flash-based gaming) so every day performance is the most important thing at this time. Whatever I put together should be able to last me another 5 years (or more).

I am needing to purchase a MB, CPU, 8GB RAM, Case, PSU, SSD (120GB), and if possible with my budget, a new graphics card. Not looking to do any overclocking this time around unless it easily done. Most gaming is done @ 1920X1080. I already have Windows 7 so no need for an OS.

There are so many possibilities out there... I could come up with 10 different variations with my budget easily but I'm looking for something that might give me some chance to upgrade in the future and won't feel dated in a year. I guess I am just looking for the most "bang" for my buck so to speak. Don't want to get stuck with something that is soon out of date or buying way more CPU or MB that I really need or will ever use.

Any ideas and suggestions are appreciated. Since my old comp has passed on permanently, I am looking to get something very soon. I usually buy from Newegg but that is not etched in stone - just prefer to buy everything from the same company if possible.

Here is one configuration that I really like... anything wrong with it?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($86.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R7 265 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Logisys CS369BK ATX Mid Tower Case w/480W Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $735.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Thanks!
 
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If you have a microcenter nearby I would look at the 7850k for CPU/GPU. At full newegg/amazon prices I would probably go for an i3 or i5 processor + discrete graphics. Do you do any video encoding? That would be the only way I can see that 8 core processor being worthwhile. Older MMOs aren't going to care if you have 2 cores or 20. The single core performance of the even a cheap i3 beats that FX-8350
 
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system looks good to me. unless you're in love with the case or case/psu, i would get a psu that seems more reputable and reliable.
 
usafguy999 said:
CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($86.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R7 265 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Logisys CS369BK ATX Mid Tower Case w/480W Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $735.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Given your budget and use cases, there is no reason to consider AMD. It is simply slower at single or lightly threaded tasks (web browsing, flash gaming, and MMO's) and produces more heat for the same price as an Intel. You also need to change the case and PSU, the PSU that's included with that Logisys case is absolute junk. The SSD is also fairly behind the times, you can get a faster one for about the same price.

Here's what I'd do:

i5 4430 $180 AP
ASRock H87M Pro4 $80
Sapphire R9 270 $145 AR
Team DDR3 1600 8GB $75
Crucial MX100 256GB $115
Toshiba 7200RPM 2TB $77 AP
Corsair CX430 $20 AR
NZXT Source 210 $30 AR
Total: $722 AR AP
 
Unfortunately I don't live anywhere near a MicroCenter so that is not an option.

The main reason I am looking for multiple cores is to future-proof myself. I know that right now it doesn't make much difference but it might in the future! 😛

95% of the time the computer will just be used to web surfing and watching video's and I know that configuration is overkill. But I might start doing some distributed computing again and I know more cores is good for that.

Also going to dump that case/PSU and go with a Corsair CX500 and any mid-ATX case that isn't a total POS.

Edit: Now that I look at the post above I am seriously thinking of going with that configuration. Seems like it would be better for what I need.

i5 4430 $180 AP
ASRock H87M Pro4 $80
Sapphire R9 270 $145 AR
Team DDR3 1600 8GB $75
Crucial MX100 256GB $115
Toshiba 7200RPM 2TB $77 AP
Corsair CX430 $20 AR
NZXT Source 210 $30 AR
Total: $722 AR AP
 
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usafguy999 said:
95% of the time the computer will just be used to web surfing and watching video's and I know that configuration is overkill. But I might start doing some distributed computing again and I know more cores is good for that.
Click to expand...

You can ask in the DC sub-forum here, but I was under the impression that the AMD 8-core FX CPUs weren't as good as the 4770K CPUs, but drew a lot more power, costing more $$$ in the long run running DC with them.

Don't underestimate the vector-processing power of Intel's AVX/AVX2 support.
 
Ok... tweaked that Intel rig a little. Would this be OK?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 265 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $759.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
 
@usafguy999

Buy the 270, it performs better and is cheaper.
Do you really 2TB of storage? You could just buy a 512GB Crucial MX100 and add a 2TB drive if you need it in the future.
 
The 270 won't feel dated for a while. It is a good spot on the value ladder imo. The 265 is, at the moment, a slower product for similar money. The sapphire card he picked has a lot of good reviews on the egg. It also looks like the cooler would be pretty quiet. Seems like a good choice.

I don't see any issues with the case/psu you changed. Case is very much personal opinion of aesthetics. PSU is $10 more for 70w. You don't need it but there is nothing wrong with it either. The only change I might make to the build would be drop the 2tb HDD if you don't feel you need it. You can throw your 500gb in and upgrade later is you truely need more space. Also, the above recommendation for a 512gb ssd isn't a bad one. I filled my 256gb and was wishing I had gone 512gb from the start. Ended up buying a 750gb this time around.
 
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OK... I've made a few final changes. Not to beat a dead horse but does this look good enough to put in my order?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI CSM-H87M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $763.58
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

I bumped my HDD down to 1TB. I download a lot of TV shows but don't need to keep them forever.

Thanks again!
 
usafguy999 said:
OK... I've made a few final changes. Not to beat a dead horse but does this look good enough to put in my order?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI CSM-H87M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $763.58
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

I bumped my HDD down to 1TB. I download a lot of TV shows but don't need to keep them forever.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

That looks fine, but the current best deal on the CPU is the i5 4570 for $190 AP. There's only 100 MHz difference, but you save $10 and get guaranteed mobo support since it's a original Haswell instead of Haswell Refresh.

The motherboard is also $5 more expensive but it is pretty much equivalent unless you really need onboard DisplayPort.
 
Tweaked the order slightly... going to H97 for proper CPU support instead of the H87.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($95.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $768.30
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
 
usafguy999 said:
Tweaked the order slightly... going to H97 for proper CPU support instead of the H87.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($95.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card ($147.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-01 RED ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $768.30
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Click to expand...

Why not just get the 100 MHz slower part and save $10 along with getting guaranteed mobo compatibility?
 
Honestly... not really sure. Stubborn I guess - just decided I wanted the 4590 for some reason. LOL! Maybe future proof it just a little bit more?
 
usafguy999 said:
Honestly... not really sure. Stubborn I guess - just decided I wanted the 4590 for some reason. LOL! Maybe future proof it just a little bit more?
Click to expand...

It's your money, but there's really no reason to spend more for no noticeable difference. There is no "future proofing" argument to be made because there will never be a situation where an i5 4590 is fast enough but an i5 4570 is too slow.
 
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