Robert Rodriguez2 said:Look, if you aren't actually reading the post before acting like an expert, the intro clearly states everything right there...
And honestly, the guy is asking for a build priced up to $1000, yet you're out here insulting him by suggesting a budget closer to $167...
If you actually have those $167 available to offer him, then go ahead—I doubt he'd complain...
Personally, I’ve read this entire thing about ten times now, and I still don't see anything mentioning a 24-month payment plan. Am I losing my mind? Because I simply don't see it. Besides, he mentioned he can go up to $3,000, so who knows if he could stretch it by another $150? I gave him a suggestion—if he doesn't want to spend that much, he can just pick one of the many other builds being offered. I'm not obligated to provide his perfect setup!
fadedorca66 said:For newer games, he’ll probably run out of 8GB of RAM way before he hits any CPU limits. An Athlon isn't exactly some weakling, and it should handle this just fine. But hey, you clearly have a crystal ball, so I guess you know exactly when every processor becomes obsolete.
Look, I already pointed out that upgrading RAM is the easiest fix. I’m not sure if you actually know how to read a quote or what the issue is here, but I know that processor will be way too weak—especially if he decides to pick up a more powerful graphics card a year from now.
Robert Rodriguez2 said:Fine, then just give him the extra cash he needs for the i5 processor.😁
Look, you slap in the i5, probably the cheapest motherboard you can find... and a GTX 750 Ti.😂 The CPU won't even hit 40% usage... the GPU won't be able to keep up anyway.
With these budget builds, when you only have four slots to fit everything including the monitor, you have to balance things out. You want components that actually work together, not just maxing out one part while the rest of the rig suffers.🙂
What kind of nonsense are you talking? Hahaha! Everything here is perfectly balanced, and there is absolutely no need for a more powerful graphics card right now. Besides, you always have to look at the platform first—and in this case, that means the processor and the motherboard. You can swap out a GPU whenever you feel like it, but you rarely, if ever, touch the core platform. If he picks a processor like that, it probably won't even be able to handle games coming out in six months, let alone a year from now. And let’s be honest, he isn't going to be able to pair it with a high-end card anyway without hitting a massive bottleneck, which would just limit him immediately. I set him up with an Intel Core i5 instead, and it's perfect. He can easily drop in a much stronger graphics card a year down the road once he saves up enough cash.
Robert Rodriguez2 said:Those games aren't even that heavy. You don't need an i5 for this stuff... www.newegg.com (check $667 for free assembly and shipping)
1 x MSI A88XM-E35,FM2+, micro ATX, S FM2 Chipset: AMD A88X Memory 1 x Intel Core i5-2500K Processor 3.40GHz 4cores 1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11 1 x SanDisk Ultra USB DVD burner, SATA Bulk Black, SATA 1 x Zalman 500-GS_II PSU, 500W, ATX12V V2.31, active PFC 1 x TOSHIBA 500GB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA050 1 x MS LOGIC A32 without PSU, Midi tower, ATX, 5.25" 1 x Sapphire GTX 750 Ti 1GB GDDR5 OC, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm 1 x AOC E2250SWDAK, 21.5", 16:9, 1920x1080, speakers, 200 cd/m2 1 x Apple iPhone 11 Pro ARCTIC-COOLING 92mm PWM Fan
$1360
He stated that he wants to be able to play newer titles in addition to those three specific ones, and in that case, an i5 makes a huge difference—especially when we consider the next generation of even more intensive games coming out in a year or two. Furthermore, from a long-term upgrade perspective, isn't an i5 clearly the superior choice?
Larry Ortiz5 said:That’s all fair enough, but for $67 it definitely blew the budget. I mean, maybe the guy doesn't "just" have those extra $67 lying around—that's my point, anyway.
Even if he does, wouldn't it be smarter to just sit tight for a few days and slow down? He stands to gain so much more by being patient.
Larry Ortiz5 said:$67 You actually gave him more—plus you bumped his RAM up to 4GB.
Honestly, even 4GB is plenty for most games right now, and upgrading RAM is easily the simplest fix.$93 When the time comes, he won't have much trouble saving up for another 4GB stick. As for the processor—once he picks one up, he isn't going to touch it again. That’s why I went with the i5; it gives him peace of mind for the next four years. You can keep acting like a know-it-all all you want,$67 but it isn't much over budget considering the performance boost he gets from them.
If you go with the Intel option, this setup will handle all the major titles quite nicely. It features a strong processor that should keep up with most games for at least another four years, and you’ll have the flexibility to swap in a more powerful graphics card down the road whenever this one starts feeling sluggish. Eventually, if he manages to save up some extra cash, adding another 4GB of RAM would turn this into a very solid gaming rig.
-LG 21.5" LED 22M35A, VGA, FHD, 5ms
-Intel CPU desktop Core i5-4440 (3.1GHz, 6MB,LGA1150) box -Gigabyte GA-H81M-DS2V, 1150, iH81, D3, S3, U3, DVI, mA -Sapphire Radeon R7 260 x OC, 1GB GDDR5, DVI, DP, HDMI 11222-05-20G -Fortron PSU 400W, Hexa, 80+, active, 12 cm -Patriot Sig. DDR3 1600Mhz, 4GB PSD34G160081 -Toshiba DT01ACA050 500 GB 3.5 -Zalman micro tower case black, ZAL-ZM-T2 plus sveukupno
You could also take this route—everything is brand new, fully under warranty, and comes with a solid processor. That way, if you find this graphics card isn't cutting it later on, you can just save up and swap in whatever high-end GPU you want:
-Intel CPU desktop Core i5-4440 (3.1GHz, 6MB,LGA1150) box -Gigabyte GA-H81M-DS2V motherboard, 1150, iH81, D3, S3, U3, DVI, mA -Sapphire Radeon R7 260 x OC, 1GB GDDR5, DVI, DP, HDMI 11222-05-20G -Fortron power supply 400W, Hexa, 80+, active, 12 cm -Patriot Sig. DDR3 1600Mhz, 4GB PSD34G160081 -Toshiba DT01ACA050 500 GB 3.5 -Zalman micro tower case black, ZAL-ZM-T2 plus sveukupno
placidstag18 said:crimsonstag84 recommended the R7 265 to me (thanks, crimsonstag84!), but I’ve decided to wait a bit, bump up my budget, and now I have roughly $0.57. I’m looking for recommendations in that range that would work with the build and power supply I mentioned earlier.
Try setting it up like this:
Sell off your current power supply, take whatever cash you have left over from the graphics card budget, and grab this instead:
jadetiger81 said:So, what's the verdict on the Intel Core i5-3350P?
The reason is simple: that processor is powerful enough to handle pretty much any graphics card you'd want to throw at it—aside from those absolute monsters like an R9 295x2 or a Titan Black, which, let's be honest, none of us could actually afford anyway. It runs much cooler than the AMD FX-8320, too. You won't even need to waste money on an expensive cooler, saving you some extra cash $83. Plus, it works with much cheaper motherboards, allowing you to save at least $83 compared to what you'd spend on an FX-8320, money that can go straight toward a better GPU. Personally, I’d take the Intel Core i5-3350P paired with an NVIDIA GTX 770 over an AMD FX-8320 and an R9 270x/280 any day. You’re going to have to replace the CPU eventually anyway, and this one will stay relevant for the next four years. Why not put that budget into a stronger graphics card now? Besides, if you're dealing with local shops here in Washington, D.C., they'll assemble everything for you for free and offer free home delivery with cash on delivery. If you're nearby, you can even just walk into the store yourself. You really don't want to be ordering from some random overseas vendor thinking you're getting a deal, only to realize you've inherited a nightmare with the warranty. If a component fails, you'll have to ship everything back across the ocean and deal with endless procedures that could take forever.
One AOC 23.8" LCD monitor featuring an IPS WLED panel, equipped with HDMI and a 6ms response time.
I've got one MSI GeForce GTX 770 OC TF on hand, featuring 2GB of GDDR5. One Intel Core i5-3350P processor. One Gigabyte B75-HD3 motherboard, LGA 1150 socket, featuring Intel chipsets and support for USB 3.0, DVI, and SATA 3. Looking to pick up a power supply? Here we have a single Silverstone Strider ST50F-230 unit. It operates on an AC range of 180-264V at 50/60Hz, providing DC outputs of 3.3V, 5V, and ±12V. This is a 500W model, sold in Retail packaging, featuring Active PFC and a 120mm fan. It boasts an 80% efficiency rating and comes in Black. Is anyone else looking at this setup? I've got a single kit of Kingston DDR3 HyperX Black RAM here—1600MHz, totaling 8GB via two 4GB sticks. Just wondering what the consensus is on this specific configuration. Just one Samsung 840 EVO 120GB SSD. Just one Seagate hard drive here—1TB capacity, spinning at 7200rpm, with a SATA 6 interface and 64MB cache. Simple enough, right? One Aerocool GT Black Adv. Edition, featuring USB 3.0, in Black.
Total:$2603 Looking for some help getting your gear set up? futur IT offers free assembly and delivery!
What about peripherals? (You could even just grab my own setup if you want, I'm just giving you an idea of what I’d personally pick up):
Looking to upgrade your setup? Check out this bundle featuring a Cooler Master Devastator keyboard and mouse combo—perfect for gaming. It’s currently on sale! Grab this deal now at the following price: $76 Is there anything more frustrating than a sudden loss of momentum? One moment everything is running smoothly, and the next, you're staring at a screen that just won't respond. It’s enough to make anyone lose their patience! Does anyone know the current going rate for a single pair of Asus ROG HS-W1 headphones? Looking for the price.$128 Instar Genius SW-5.1 1800 5.1 Speaker System. What’s the price?$130 futur IT
Bradley Wright47 said:Hey there! I'm looking for a PC for my nephew to play modern games, but I need to keep the total under $1667. I've noticed people on this forum advising against buying pre-built rigs, but honestly, I just don't have the time to source parts and assemble everything myself. I have no clue what to pick without accidentally wasting money on junk. Also, getting a proper receipt is crucial because I'll be getting reimbursed by my company... Does anyone have any recommendations on where or how I should go about this?
Look, I've got a fantastic option for you here. You'll get a powerful eight-core processor that's essentially future-proof and even offers decent overclocking potential. It includes a stellar graphics card capable of running most games on ultra settings, 8GB of RAM, a massive hard drive, a reliable power supply and motherboard, plus a solid CPU cooler that allows for light overclocking. The case even features a USB 3.0 connector. You could actually skip the optical drive to save some cash—that would bring the price down to $40, making the final cost $1650. Plus, installing Windows via USB is a breeze nowadays!
1xGraphics Card MSI Radeon R9 270 x gaming, 2GB GDDR5 1xMotherboard Asus M5A97 R2 1xProcessor AMD X8 FX-8320 1x Raijintek CPU Cooler Aidos P/N: CPRT-001 1xPower Supply SILVERSTONE Strider Essential ST50F-ES AC 90-264V, 47/63Hz, DC 3.3/5/±12V, 500W, Retail 1xADATA MEM DDR3 8GB 1600MHz (2x4) XPG v1 kit AD AX3U1600W4G9-DB 1xHard Drive WD Caviar Blue 3.5 1TB SATA 3 WD10EZEX 1xOptical Drive Asus DRW-24F1ST/BLK/B/AS 1xCase Midi ATX Gamer Akyga AKY003BL colorFan/12cm 1xUSB3.0 w/o PSU
The Athlon x4 760 k? It hits 3.8GHz on an FM2 quad core. Is that really all it takes to get things moving? MSI A88XM, FM2, SATA3. 8GB DDR3 patriot Viper 1866MHz The MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti, featuring 2GB of GDDR5 and a dual-fan cooling setup. Any takers? Is anyone else looking at the Kingston HyperX Ssd 120? I've been weighing my options lately. Should I pull the trigger on this one? Is there anything more essential than a reliable power supply? I've been looking closely at the Fractal Integra R 500W 80+ Bronze. It’s a solid choice for anyone trying to balance efficiency and stability in their build. Is there anything more reliable than a Samsung drive? I honestly don't think so.
$1267Of course, everything is brand new here—honestly, there's no way to top this!
Why don't you just take that first Intel build from Robert Rodriguez2 and pull out only the hardware? Since you mentioned you have those parts lying around, it might just work out perfectly! $1167And once again, you end up with a significantly more powerful configuration because of that damn processor! You won't have to worry about swapping it out for at least five years, and besides, you'll be able to pair it with just about any graphics card on the market! So, here’s how it goes: One Asrock B75 Pro3M—featuring an Intel B75 chipset, microATX form factor, and dual Channel 4 xDDR3 support. One Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz processor—featuring a 6MB cache and a Max Turbo frequency of up to 3.3 GHz. Is this the right fit for your build? Is there anything more reliable than a solid set of memory? I’ve got my hands on two sticks of 4GB Corsair DDR3, running at 1333MHz with a CL9 latency—specifically the Value series, model CMV4GX3M1A1333C9. Just standard, dependable hardware. Is there anything more essential than a reliable power supply? I have one Zalman 500-GS_II PSU on hand—it delivers 500W, follows the ATX12V V2.31 standard, and features active PFC. Simple, effective, and ready to work. I have one Zalman ZM-T2 PLUS micro tower case available. Its dimensions are 189mm (W) x 427.5mm (H) x 364mm (D). So, I’ve got my hands on one of these: a single Sapphire r7 260 x 1GB GDDR5 OC. It features 1GB of GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit bus, all built on that 28nm process. Just thought I'd put that out there!
$1167 I just wish Robert Rodriguez2 would tell me which shop actually put this thing together!
Timothy Kim60 said:Well, the OP didn't exactly show much enthusiasm for overclocking, did he? If we're looking at this from a pure gaming perspective—strictly for his brother—something like an R9 280 would cut it. But honestly, wouldn't it be smarter if he skipped the dedicated GPU entirely for now? It might be better to wait until he hands the rig over to his brother in six months or a year. Why waste power on a 280 right now if he just needs a basic office machine? My suggestion would be to grab a solid CPU with integrated graphics, like an i5-4440. It’ll handle everything he needs for work, and then later on, he can just drop in a GPU. By then, he'll likely get a much more powerful card for the same price anyway, and the current setup won't have been a wasted investment.
But look, he specifically mentioned he isn't planning to overclock while he's the one using the PC. However, once it passes to his brother, who might actually want to use it for gaming, things could change! Shouldn't we be looking at the long-term potential here rather than just focusing on today?
Robert Rodriguez2 said:And you went ahead and installed that SSD? You know, people have already been talking about how much of a letdown those Kingston drives are because of the cheap flash they use inside. 😁
+1
I’ve gone ahead and installed everything in my rig, since the components are already there. $1667 Is it possible to have an i5, an SSD, 8GB of RAM, and a graphics card capable of handling heavy gaming all at once? 😳
I’m aware of that, but I really have to trim things down so I don't blow my budget too far out of proportion. That SSD will serve him more than well enough, and he won't have to worry about anything. People talk a lot of nonsense these days, and half of what you hear is just empty noise.
Robert Rodriguez2 said:Yeah, you can't just shove an ATX board into a micro-ATX case ☕
I got a bit carried away thinking about the case while trying to figure out how to keep this build budget-friendly enough to let him keep that i5k in the config. My mistake! I've corrected the error—he can absolutely go with what I originally posted. I swapped in a Zalman Z3 case, so everything will fit perfectly without any issues! Thanks for pointing that out.
Check out this build. You've got an i5 that can be overclocked beautifully on a solid motherboard paired with a decent cooler, plus 8GB of RAM, an SSD, a reliable power supply, a good graphics card, and more...$67I definitely went over budget here, but was it worth it? Absolutely!
1xIntel BX80637I53570K, Core i5 3570 K CPU 1xAsrock Z77 Extreme3, Intel Socket 1155 Z77 Extreme3 ATX Motherboard 1xMSI MSI Video Card GeForce GTX 750-titanium GDDR5 2GB/128bit, 1085MHz 1xZalman CNPS10X OPTIMA CPU cooler. FAN: 120mm, fan speed: 1000rpm-1700rpm - 10% 1xSILVERSTONE Power Supply SILVERSTONE Strider ST50F-230 AC 180-264V, 50/60Hz 2xPatriot Sig. DDR3 1600Mhz, 4GB 1xKingston SSD disk Kingston 120GB, SSDNow V300 SATA 3, SV300S37A/120G SSD V300 120GB, 1xZalman Z3 mid tower case