Budget Gaming Build under $500

Hey everyone,

I was hoping someone could help me put together a gaming build for under $1167. Actually—if we could shave about 200-$100 off that, even better, I guess. I'm planning to pick everything up at Best Buy, so if you can find a way to make the parts work within their site, that would be great. If not, no big deal.

From my old rig, the only thing worth saving is this drive...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152181

Thanks in advance!

Here’s an example:



Add a power supply if you actually need one. Regarding the CPU, if you grab an unlocked Pentium for overclocking, you should be able to push it on this motherboard based on what these two guys say here: click
Pick whatever case catches your eye; the cooler is an absolute steal for that price. As for the rest, you could definitely squeeze in a beefier graphics card if you plan on overclocking—think something like an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti, an HD7850, or an AMD Radeon R9 270.

If you don't think you'll ever bother with overclocking, you can just go with a cheaper Pentium click, which would let you cut the LC-CC-120
out of the budget entirely.
Keep in mind, if you're paying cash, you might find better deals at other local retailers.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 2GB
560W Power Supply, LC POWER Silent Giant
ANTEC VSK-3000E Case
4GB G.SKILL Value Series 1600MHZ RAM
AMD Athlon II x4 760K Black Edition
ASUS H81-Plus Cooler Scythe Katana 3
Biostar A78MD, AMD A78, DDR3 FM2+

$1176

Intel

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 2GB
560W Power Supply, LC POWER Silent Giant
ANTEC VSK-3000E Case
4GB G.SKILL Value Series 1600MHZ RAM
ASUS H81-Plus
ASUS H81-Plus Cooler Scythe Katana 3
Intel Pentium G3258 Processor

$1190

dustyskipper77 said:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 2GB
560W Power Supply, LC POWER Silent Giant
ANTEC VSK-3000E Case
Memory, 4GB, G.SKILL Value Series 1600MHZ
AMD Athlon II X4 760K Processor
ASUS H81-Plus Cooler Scythe Katana 3
Biostar A78MD, AMD A78, DDR3 FM2+

$1176

Thanks a million!

@dustyskipper77—would it be an issue if I used this power supply instead of yours—or just anything similar that's actually available at my local Amazon store (since yours isn't)
for example: 650W Power Supply, LC POWER Silent Giant GREEN POWER LC6650GP3 V2.3, 140mm fan.

As for the rest, I guess it would look like this...?

Biostar A78MD Motherboard, AMD A78, DDR3, audio, S-ATA, RAID, G-LAN, PCI-E 3.0, USB 3.0, D-SUB, DVI, HDMI, Micro-ATX, FM2+ socket
$35.00

AMD Athlon II x4 760K Black Edition Processor, FM2 socket, 3.8GHz, 4MB cache, Quad-core
$65.00

PC-12800 Memory, 4GB, G.SKILL Value Series, F3-1600C11S-4GNS, DDR3 1600MHz
$35.00

PCI-E NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti GS Graphics Card, 2GB DDR5, D-SUB, DVI, miniHDMI
$120.00

And I was wondering about the RAM—is that enough? I don't really know much about this stuff, so I'm asking...

PS: also, where in Indianapolis could I find something cheaper than at Amazon?

Maybe you could also mention how you're planning to pay—that way we can figure out where the purchase actually makes sense—and if you could throw in some better recommendations while you're at it, that would be awesome!

graniteharbor85 said:Maybe you should just list how you're paying—that way we can actually figure out where the purchase fits and give better advice, I guess.

I'm thinking it'll be cash.

If you're paying cash, there is absolutely no point in buying from Amazon because they are way overpriced. Like I said before... Just grab this build from an American retailer; it's all pre-assembled and shipped right to your door for free.

1 x Asrock 970 Pro3 R2.0 AMD 970, AMD SB950, ATX, FSB2400,4xDDR3
1 x AMD FX-Series X6 6300 3.5GHz,14MB,95W,AM3+, FD6300WMHK
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 ,hladnjak, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm ,92mm
1 x Napajanje FORTRON 400W, HEXA 400, 12cm ventilator, Active PFC
1 x Zalman ZM-T1 PLUS micro tower case. 189(W) x 427,5(H) x 364(D)mm
1 x Sapphire R7 260X 1GB GDDR5 OC, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm

$1144

Way better than Amazon.

James Gomez2

Alright, here's the breakdown:

AMD FX 6300
LC CC 95
Gigabyte 970A-DS3P
Kingston 2+4 GB 1600 MHz
MSI AMD Radeon R7 260 1GB DDR5 OC
Fortron Hyper 600W 80+
Zalman mATX USB 3.0

= $1090 including shipping and assembly.

- I dropped the price just like you asked—without touching the performance at all.
- I'm not totally sure what resolution you're running, but let's say you're on 1080p (which can be pretty demanding): that R7 260 is actually on a great sale right now, and paired with the recommended FX chip and plenty of RAM, it'll handle most newer games on medium/high settings just fine.
- Plus, keeping the cost low like this gives you some breathing room to upgrade other parts later (motherboard, PSU, RAM, case)—because honestly, it’s not really worth shelling out extra cash for a slightly better 260X. Sure, you could squeeze in an R7 265 or even an AMD Radeon R9 270 if you pushed it, but I think this is the smarter move for you.
- With this kind of setup, you're good to go right out of the gate, and down the road, you've got a clear path to swap in a much beefier GPU, or even jump up to an AMD FX 8300 and a matching card—basically, it's a solid foundation for long-term use with easy little upgrades.
- Eventually, all you'll need to do is toss in a 120 GB SSD—something like an Intel HD Graphics 520 or a Samsung EVO—and you're golden.
- You can just hang onto the HDD you already have.

Adam Moore3

Your motherboard is ATX, but the case is Micro-ATX—besides that, there's no heatsink, the voltage regulation is pretty weak (watch out for overvoltage issues), and it won't cut it if you try to run a heavier AMD FX 8300 (those 125W models).

graniteharbor85 said:James Gomez2

Then there's this:

AMD FX-Series X6 6300
LC CC 95
GIGABYTE 970A-DS3P
KINGSTON 2+4 GB 1600 MHZ
MSI AMD Radeon R7 260 1GB DDR5 OC
FORTRON HYPER 600W 80+
ZALMAN Z1 MIDI ATX USB 3.0

= $1090 including shipping and assembly.

- I dropped the price just like you asked, without sacrificing any performance.
- I'm not sure what resolution you're running, but if we assume Full HD—which can be pretty demanding—this AMD Radeon R7 260 is on a great sale right now. Paired with that recommended FX chip and plenty of RAM, it’ll handle most modern games on medium/high settings just fine.
- Plus, keeping the cost low here leaves you room to upgrade other parts later (motherboard, PSU, RAM, case). It doesn't make much sense to overspend on a slightly better 260X; sure, an R7 265 or even an AMD Radeon R9 270 would fit if you pushed it, but I think this is the smarter move for you.
- With a build like this, you're set for a while. You have a clear path to upgrade to a significantly stronger GPU later, or even jump to an AMD FX 8300 and a beefier card to match. Basically, it’s a solid foundation that stays relevant through small, smart upgrades.
- Eventually, all you'll need to do is pop in a 120 GB SSD like an Intel HD Graphics 520 or a Samsung EVO, and you're golden.
- You can just keep using the HDD you already have.

Adam Moore3

That motherboard is ATX, but the case is Micro-ATX. Besides that, there's no heatsink, the voltage regulation is weak (watch out for overvoltage issues), and it isn't really built to handle the heavier AMD FX 8300 models (the 125W ones).

Hm yeah, I didn't even realize that Zalman was Micro-ATX, my bad. 😁 As for the motherboard, I was just trying to be logical about saving some cash, though even this didn't really blow my budget, so switching to the Gigabyte would be easy. Though, honestly, building it that way at Future would probably be a much better deal, so your option is likely the better way to go. 🙂

for maximum cash

1 x AMD FX-Series X6 6300 Processor 3.5GHz, 14MB, 95W, AM3+, FD6300WMHK
1 x Gigabyte 970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
1 x MSI AMD Radeon R7 265 2GB GDDR5 OC, 2GB DDR5, DVI-I, DVI, DP, HDMI, R7 265 2GD5
1 x Fortron 500W Power Supply, HEXA 500, 12cm fan, Active PFC
1 x Crucial 4GB DDR3 (1x4GB), 1600MHz CL11
1 x Zalman Z1 mid tower case. 199(W)x432(H)x457(D)mm. ATX standard
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm, 92mm

$1153
adm

If I were putting this together, I’d go with something like this:

1 x Sapphire R7 260X 1GB GDDR5 OC, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm
1 x AMD FX-Series X8 8320 Processor 3.5GHz, 16MB, 125W, AM3+, FD8320FRHK
1 x Gigabyte 970 A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm, 92mm
1 x Fortron 600W Power Supply, Hyper, PPA6003302, 12cm fan
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Zalman Z1 mid tower case, 199(W)x432(H)x457(D)mm, ATX standard

Total:$1184 Available via ADM.com, including free assembly and shipping!
Right out of the gate, you're looking at a solid motherboard paired with a beefy processor—one that should hold its own against most games for years to come and gives you plenty of headroom to drop in a high-end GPU down the road. You've also got a reliable power supply and a graphics card that performs quite well on medium to high settings. Looking ahead, if you just pop in another 4GB stick of RAM to hit 8GB total—which is a five-minute job and honestly isn't complicated at all—and eventually swap in a more substantial graphics card, you'll be playing everything on max settings comfortably for a good long while.

Dennis Carter3 said:If I were building it, I'd go this way:

1 x Sapphire R7 260X 1GB GDDR5 OC, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm
1 x AMD FX-Series X8 8320 3.5GHz, 16MB, 125W, AM3+, FD8320FRHK
1 x Gigabyte 970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm, 92mm
1 x Fortron 600W Power Supply, Hyper, PPA6003302, 12cm fan
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Zalman Z1 mid tower case. 199(W)x432(H)x457(D)mm. MB standard

Total:$1184 Amazon, free assembly and shipping included!
Right out of the gate, you've got a solid motherboard paired with a beefy processor that'll handle pretty much any game for years, and it's strong enough that you can slap a high-end GPU in there down the road; plus, you get a reliable power supply and a card that runs games beautifully on medium/high settings. Later on, just toss in another 4GB stick of RAM so you're sitting at 8GB total, swap in a decent graphics card—which is basically a five-minute job and totally painless—and you'll be cruising through everything on max settings for a long time.

Putting that CPU on that piece of junk motherboard is practically a crime punishable by life in prison.

EDIT: Look for a used ASRock 990 FX Extreme 4 (you can find them for about $133 already), or you might even snag a used ASUS Sabertooth 990 FX for a good price.
Just stay far away from that Gigabyte trash motherboard.

Your comment doesn't really hit the mark here—the guy is looking for all-new gear, yet you're out here trying to pitch used MBO parts that are basically impossible to find these days.

If you're working with a tighter budget and don't care about overclocking, a Gigabyte board paired with an ASUS M5A97 R2 is easily your best and most affordable bet for AM3+.

graniteharbor85 said:Your comment is totally irrelevant here. This person is looking for brand new gear, yet you're trying to push used parts that are practically extinct.

Gigabyte is the best budget choice alongside the ASUS M5A97 R2 if you're watching your wallet and don't care about overclocking.

You claim ASRock isn't good because of its overclocking potential, then you immediately contradict yourself...
For $17 more, the ASRock 990 FX Extreme 4 is actually an excellent board.

😵 Man, you guys are really something else...

What exactly are you struggling to understand here?

Are you even paying attention to which ASRock board we're actually talking about in the previous post? I didn't mention overclocking because that specific board isn't exactly known for being an OC beast—even if it wasn't going out of production.

I guess I need to spell everything out for you—I already said the Gigabyte isn't great for overclocking, and my point was reacting to feralcanyon73, who was criticizing that board specifically because of the FX 8320. If you're running an FX 6300 instead, since it pulls less power and doesn't stress the motherboard nearly as much, hitting a decent OC of around 4.5GHz is totally doable—provided, of course, you have a solid cooler like a Themis, a Hyper 212, or a Prolimatech Basic 65.

Just try finding me a new 990 FX EX 4 for $17 more than what the Gigabyte costs 🤦

@Dennis Carter3/">@@Dennis Carter3

There’s really no need to jump up to a 650W unit; it’s more expensive and honestly unnecessary. You can just order that LC 560W directly from your local branch and have it arrive in a day or two. Otherwise, the selection of budget-friendly, high-quality power supplies at Best Buy is a bit limited...

graniteharbor85 said:😵 You guys are really something else...

What exactly is confusing you?

Are you even paying attention to which ASRock motherboard we're discussing here (not the post)? I didn't mention overclocking because this specific board isn't great for it anyway, regardless of availability.

I clearly need to spell everything out for you—I stated that Gigabyte isn't ideal for overclocking, and my post is actually responding to feralcanyon73, who is criticizing this board due to the FX 8320. If we're looking at the FX 6300, which draws less power and puts less strain on the board, a decent overclock of around 4.5GHz is doable, provided you have an adequate cooler like a Themis, Hyper 212, Prolimatech Basic 65, or something similar.

Just try finding a new 990 FX EX for $17 more than what the Gigabyte costs. 🤦

I wasn't talking about the 990, I was talking about

and the FX 6300. If there isn't going to be much overclocking, you don't need your Gigabyte; it's no better than this ASRock.

What are you guys even talking about? For the price, the Gigabyte 970 A-DS3P is an absolute steal. It actually delivers more stable voltages than some of those supposedly "high-end" boards from ASRock or MSI built for the AM3+ socket. A massive Vdrop and inconsistent socket temperatures compared to the core are just typical flaws you see with those other brands.

On paper, the Gigabyte 970 A-DS3P might look similar to an ASRock board like the 970 extreme3, but in real-world testing, they are worlds apart. And honestly, the ASRock 990 FX Extreme 4 is probably one of the most overpriced boards out there—buying one new costs as much as a premium enthusiast board. It’s no wonder you can pick them up used for pennies on the dollar.

Alexander Moore67

Timothy Kim60 already laid it all out for you, and honestly—I've gotta back him up on this one. The Gigabyte 970 A-DS3P carries the exact same issues as the Pro3; the only real difference is that the EX version comes with a heatsink. Just a heads-up though—maybe do a little more digging before jumping in if you haven't actually tested them yet. You don't want to end up giving bad advice to someone just looking for a solid recommendation.

They’ve been struggling with this for a long time—ever since the 8xx and 7xx chipsets came out. Honestly, ASRock and especially MSI are pretty much useless when it comes to overclocking or high-end builds on the AM3+ socket. If you're looking for stability, you can get a Gigabyte or an ASUS board for basically the same price that won't let you down. You have to look at real-world performance; on paper, everything looks identical, but that's not how it works in practice. To reiterate my point:

Has anyone here actually gotten hands-on experience with the 970A DS3P, UD3P, MSI 970A-G46, 970 Extreme 3, 970 Pro 3, M5A97, or the M5A97 EVO?

I can say from my own personal experience.

The 970A-UD3 Rev 1.1 features an 8+2 power phase, and we all know that’s a solid, reliable motherboard.

Running a 970A-DS3P paired with an FX 8320 overclocked to 4.8GHz at 1.406V. I've got an Antec H20 650 powering the build, and everything is running perfectly—zero throttling or issues whatsoever.

The 970A-G46 is a total freak of a motherboard, and honestly, that GD80 I tested was complete garbage.

The 970 Extreme 3 and the 970 Pro 3 both suffer from insane throttling—it’s enough to drive you crazy. Even when testing the 990FX Extreme 9, the socket temperature stays absolutely massive, and there is just no way to cool it down. At this rate, the whole launch is going to be a total disaster.

The M5A97 is top-tier, just like a major league LLC—it’s a must-have, period.

Look, this guy isn't some rookie; he’s successfully overclocked on pretty much every board available for the AM3+ socket.

Anyone have any experience running an fx 6300 on a Gigabyte DS3P? I'm currently torn between that and the ASRock Extreme3.

The first league, man—a buddy of mine is running an 8350 on it and everything works flawlessly. He’s even got it overclocked to 4.6GHz, and it runs perfectly without any throttling at all.

Avoid ASRock.

...
Believe me, if I haven't tested pretty much every single revision of those 900 series boards out there, then I haven't really tested anything at all.
...
The power delivery on this board is exceptionally well-engineered, which is a massive advantage.