A Good Budget Gaming PC Build?

I want to get into gaming on a PC at 1080p or at least 720p but I'm on a tight budget like $450-$500. I've used PC Part Picker to find some of the parts I need. I don't want to spend more than $700 for a budget gaming PC. Here's a possible best bang for a buck gaming build.

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/FqMFHx

Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/FqMFHx/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 760K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($86.50 @ Vuugo)

CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS7000V(AL)-1-PWM CPU Cooler ($9.82 @ DirectCanada)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A58M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($52.50 @ Vuugo)

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg Canada)

Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ DirectCanada)

Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($106.98 @ Newegg Canada)

Case: Zalman ZM-T1 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.98 @ NCIX)

Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Memory Express)

Total: $413.74

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-07 11:01 EST-0500

Mind spending a little bit more on GPU? at least a 7850 will break the deal. Get the 7850 and you have a PC build equivalent or in some cases better than the PS4.

I'll think about that but for now, the Radeon HD 7850 is a bit too expensive at the moment and with the current CPU paired up with it, it might bottleneck. I'll probably get a Radeon R7 260x or something like a Radeon R9 270 to pair up with the CPU.

Good choice. I say, go for the R9 270.

On a budget build I think its a good idea to leave upgrade options as open as possible. I'd go for an AM3+ motherboard and an FX processor like the 4350.

You could have potential to upgrade to 8350 if you saw it fit at a later date

Here's an update to the budget gaming build:

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/FZbpFT

Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/FZbpFT/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 760K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($86.50 @ Vuugo)

CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS7000V(AL)-1-PWM CPU Cooler ($9.82 @ DirectCanada)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A58M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($52.50 @ Vuugo)

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg Canada)

Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ DirectCanada)

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($149.99 @ NCIX)

Case: Zalman ZM-T1 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.98 @ NCIX)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)

Total: $461.75

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-07 11:50 EST-0500

That's true. I could upgrade to AMD Athlon X4 860K later down the line but it's only nearly $10 more for only slightly more performance.

If I have left a significant upgrade option down the line, here's the budget gaming build list for that:

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/GPrGVn

Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/GPrGVn/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-4300 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($106.98 @ DirectCanada)

CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS7000V(AL)-1-PWM CPU Cooler ($9.82 @ DirectCanada)

Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M LX PLUS Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($52.05 @ Vuugo)

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg Canada)

Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ DirectCanada)

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($149.99 @ NCIX)

Case: Zalman ZM-T1 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.98 @ NCIX)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX)

Total: $481.78

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-07 12:02 EST-0500

So for $520 without an OS this is the literally the strongest build I could come up. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wg2xWZ

So FX 6300, 8gb ram, GTX 280 and a 1tb drive, all in a nice Coolermaster case(I've used this version and it's built with quality.)

Here's a much more powerful build for you for $500.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7TQyQ7
CPU: FX-6300 @ 3.5GHz - $100
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus - $20
Mobo: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 - $60
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2X4GB) @ 1600mhz - $72
HDD: 1TB Hitachi Ultrastar - $45
GPU: PowerColor PCS+ R9 270X - $140
Case: Corsair Spec-03 - $40
PSU: Corsair CX500 - $25
Total: $500

@insane_metalist: decent...for this budget the am3 socket is better than fm2 that build shows it

He's from Canada... Those are US prices.

For that build he would be paying almost $700.

That is a rather nice looking build. Unfortunately, the prices in Canada (where I currently live in) are more expensive than the ones in the United States so I won't be able to use that build. Still, it's a really nice build you've listed. :)

@ZetaRidge7: This was the best I could do - http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/fFBvNG

At this point of time imo i wouldnt get an AMD rig ( not that is bad or anything ) because AM3+ platform is pretty much dead and that will limit your upgrade choices in the future

For a bit less than $600 you can get this. http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/pH98zy

There is no aftermarket cooler but that i3 does not need one since is energy efficient and that intel cooler is more than decent enough ( heck before changing mine it could keep my i5 under 60C when playing BF4 )

Also it has no dvd drive but you can use your current one . No need for new dvd as it became nothing more other than installing windows ( and even that is unnecessary since now days you can install them from a USB )

Is based on H97 motherboard so it will be compatible with upcoming intel CPU's so you can upgrade later to an i5 or i7 and that i3 as long as the game is not heavily multithreaded will beat fx6300 easily.

If you need to save more money drop the GPU to an r7 260x also find a bit cheaper case and if necessary just use 4gb of Ram for now and upgrade when you get the money to 8gb. Those thinks will save you about $70-90 so it will drop to $500

Either get a Playstation 4 on your current budget, or save until you can afford at least a Core i5, 8GB RAM, GTX 970, and decent sized SSD. I wouldn't bother building a cheap PC out of junky parts. You're just going to have a bad experience.

That's a really good build thanks. :)

When it comes to budget, AMD is normally where I go to for CPUs and certain GPUs. However, there is a very powerful and easily overclockable Intel CPU that's within my budget. It's the Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHZ Dual-Core processor.

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/2bM33C

Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/2bM33C/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($66.98 @ DirectCanada)

CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS7000V(AL)-1-PWM CPU Cooler ($9.82 @ DirectCanada)

Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($46.00 @ Vuugo)

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg Canada)

Storage: Seagate 500GB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.99 @ Canada Computers)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 1GB Superclocked Video Card ($114.99 @ Memory Express)

Case: Zalman ZM-T1 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.98 @ NCIX)

Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 400W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Memory Express)

Total: $393.74

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-08 12:55 EST-0500

Eh. There's not a lot of games that I'm interested in for the PS4. Plus, for a minimum of at least $500-600 budget for a gaming PC, I could achieve 60fps 1080/720p on medium-high video settings and I don't mind lowering the settings a bit on more demanding games like Crysis 3. Plus I like playing some of the older games/low end games like Race Driver Grid, Counter-Strike Source, etc. So at least around $400-450, I could get into PC gaming and not just for gaming. Spending around $900 or even $1200 is kinda unnecessary for my needs at the moment.

That pentium is also a solid option but imo i'd spent another $100 and get an i3 and H97 mobo. You are limiting your upgrade options in the future since that H81 mobo will not support the upcoming intel Cpu's. Or at least stay with that pentium but find an entry level z97 mobo that allows overclocking and will compatible with new intel cpu's

Also dont get a 2,5" 5400 rpm hard drive since it will be painfully slow. A normal 3,5" 7200rpm costs more or less the same and will perform alot better.

Finally if you decide to stay with pentium while it will be faster when overclocked from an i3 in Cpu intensive games that need 4 threads the i3 will be far and above the pentium

I've updated the motherboard, hard drive, and PC case of the build

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KXzkzy

Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/KXzkzy/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($66.98 @ DirectCanada)

CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS7000V(AL)-1-PWM CPU Cooler ($9.82 @ DirectCanada)

Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.00 @ Vuugo)

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg Canada)

Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ NCIX)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 1GB Superclocked Video Card ($114.99 @ Memory Express)

Case: Antec NSK4100 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)

Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 400W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Memory Express)

Total: $425.75

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-08 14:03 EST-0500

Get an r7 260x. Not only is faster than gtx 750 ( the non TI version ) but is also cheaper and there is no reason to go with gtx750 unless you have a crappy power supply and you need a gpu with really low power consumption ( and in your case the Power supply you chose is quite decent )

With the money you save from the GPU get a z97 mobo so you can overclock that pentium or get an i3 if you are not gonna overclock ( and if you go with i3 you dont need an aftermarket cooler since the one intel has is more than up to the task )

Get an r7 260x. Not only is faster than gtx 750 ( the non TI version ) but is also cheaper and there is no reason to go with gtx750 unless you have a crappy power supply and you need a gpu with really low power consumption ( and in your case the Power supply you chose is quite decent )

With the money you save from the GPU get a z97 mobo so you can overclock that pentium or get an i3 if you are not gonna overclock ( and if you go with i3 you dont need an aftermarket cooler since the one intel has is more than up to the task )

Updated the motherboard and video card

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/LNVDhM

Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/LNVDhM/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($66.98 @ DirectCanada)

CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS7000V(AL)-1-PWM CPU Cooler ($9.82 @ DirectCanada)

Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.98 @ Newegg Canada)

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg Canada)

Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ NCIX)

Video Card: Asus Radeon R7 260X 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($109.50 @ Vuugo)

Case: Antec NSK4100 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)

Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 400W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Memory Express)

Total: $431.24

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-08 14:21 EST-0500

Looks good. Should be a decent gaming pc for at least medium/high settings in most games and most important is future proof. The first think though you are gonna want to upgrade is to pick another 4gb of ram