Advice for buying a gaming PC!

Man... 21 pages just to assemble a damn coffee maker.
You could've probably built a NASA space shuttle in that time instead. 😳

So, here's the deal... just looking to build out the tower itself, skipping the monitor for now. By the end of the month, I should definitely have about $5,000 sitting there ready to go. What do you guys think, though... do people actually pick up these older rigs for a bargain? Like, they grab them cheap and then slowly swap in some decent modern parts to beef them up...
Also, I really wanted to mention that if there's any way to get something that can actually handle Assassin's Creed or GTA, that would be huge. And maybe a sound card that isn't total garbage for music and stuff like that. If anyone feels like helping me out with that, just let me know... 😁

briskorca11 said:So here’s the deal: I’m just building the tower, no monitor. By the end of the month, I should have about $5,000 sitting there. Do you guys think people buy old rigs for cheap? Like, they grab an old one and swap in some decent new parts.
I'm really hoping it can at least run something like GTA or Assassin's Creed, and maybe a better sound card for music too. If anyone knows, let me know. 😁

Wait until a few days before you actually buy. Prices shift constantly; what's a good deal today might be gone by the time you have the cash in hand three weeks from now.

So you're telling me if I waited those three weeks, I'd actually save some cash? Fine... I guess I can hold out hope that you guys will put a build together for me 🙂

briskorca11 said:Are you suggesting it might be cheaper if I wait those three weeks? Fine. Can I at least count on you guys actually putting this together for me when the time comes? 🙂

Nobody can give you a guarantee on whether the price will drop. You were told to reach out once you actually have the cash because there’s no point in locking anything in now if you aren't buying until three weeks from today. When you have the money in hand, come back and we'll get it built.

Alright, I get it, but I gotta be a little annoying for a sec :P
What do you guys think about this build:
-Processor: AMD CPU Richland A8-Series X4 6600K (3.9GHz,4MB,100W,FM2) (4 cores)
-Motherboard: AMD A58 chipset
-Hard drive: 1000 GB sata
-CD/DVD burner black
-RAM: 8GB ddr3 1600mhz
-Graphics: Radeon R7 250 2gb & Radeon HD 8570D
-Case: Coolermaster K380...LED
-Power supply: 550W 120mm vent
-Sound card: onboard
-Network card: onboard

A buddy of mine is looking at picking this up for roughly $1300... so is it actually worth the cash?

Nothing too crazy here, but this would actually be a solid choice for $1333:

XFX AMD Radeon R9 270A 2GB DDR5, XFX-R9-270A-CDFC

AMD X6 FX-6100

Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P,AM3,A970,D3,S3,U3,A

Thermaltake Contac 16 patriot sig

Patriot Sig. DDR3 1600Mhz, 4GB PSD34G160081

Silverstone Strider ST50F-230 AC 180-264V, 50/60Hz, DC 3.3/5/±12V, 500W, Retail, Active

WD Caviar Blue 1TB SATA 3 WD10EZEX

LG GH24NSC0 sat Bulk Black 24 x MS PHOENIX

MS PHOENIX case without PSU

Total:$1362 Best Buy, free assembly included!
Down the road, you could just pop in another 4GB stick to hit 8GB total. They cost about $87 You literally just click them into the slot and you're done.

briskorca11 said:Got it, but I gotta be a bit annoying here :P
What do you guys think of this:
-CPU: AMD CPU Richland A8-Series X4 6600K (3.9GHz,4MB,100W,FM2) (4 cores)
-Motherboard: AMD A58 chipset
-Hard drive: 1000 GB sata
-CD/DVD burner black
-RAM: 8GB ddr3 1600mhz
-Graphics: Radeon R7 250 2gb & Radeon HD 8570D
-Case: Coolermaster K380...LED
-Power Supply: 550W 120mm fan
-Sound card: onboard
-Network card: onboard

A buddy of mine is thinking about grabbing this for about $1300 so is it actually worth the cash?

For $390, you can build something way better without going over budget:

Something like this:

1 x Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P, AM3+
1 x AMD CPU Desktop FX-Series X6 6100 (3.3/3.9GHz,14MB,95W,AM3+) box
1 x Crucial 4GB DDR3 1600 Mhz (PC3-12800) CL11
1 x Toshiba DT01ACA050 (3.5", 500GB, 32MB, SATA III-600)
1 x Fortron 500 w, 80+
1 x MS PHOENIX case without PSU
1 x XFX AMD Radeon R7 265A 2GB DDR5 Graphic Card
1 x LC POWER LC-CC-95, socket 775/1155/1156/AMD
Total: $1295

Without going over 😳 but you can always add more later 👍 maybe grab a used one

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a new PC pretty soon, and I wanted to get your take on this specific build. They seem to have a really solid selection, though I'm honestly not entirely sure how their pricing stacks up against other big retailers or shops out there. My goal is to land on something right around the $900 mark.

What's the payment method? Also, do you need a monitor, or is this strictly for gaming?

crimsonstag84 said:What's your budget looking like? Are you hunting for a full setup including a monitor, or is this strictly for a gaming rig?

It's definitely for gaming, though I'm just looking for the tower itself—I want to make sure there's enough left over to grab a solid graphics card.

1 x Asrock H81M-HDS, s1150, Intel H81, M-ATX, dual Channel 2 xDDR3
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz, 1MB, 6MB, 84 W, 1150) Box
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingmax, 1600MHz, non-ECC, CL9.0, FLGG
1 x HDD Seagate 1TB, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, ST1000DM003
1 x Fortron 500 w, Hyper, PPA5005003, 12cm fan
1 x XFX R9-280A-TDFD, Double Dissipation Edition Radeon R9 280 933 m
1 x Zalman R1 mid tower case. 192(W) x 465(H) x 450(D)mm.

$1834(Plus 10% for graphics cards ~ $2017) ADM

1 x Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H, Socket : 1150, Intel ® B85
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingmax, 1600MHz, FLGF
1 x XFX R9-280A-TDFD, Double Dissipation Edition Radeon R9 280 933 m
1 x Zalman Z1 mid tower case. 199(W)x432(H)x457(D)mm. MB standard
1 x Fortron 500 w, Hyper, PPA5005003, 12cm ventilator
1 x Seagate 1TB HDD, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, ST1000DM003

$1840 + 10% on graphics cards 😬

www.newegg.com

I'd rather grab a better motherboard and save some cash on a cheaper case. Your current case already has 2 fans, which is 👍

So, are you guys definitely suggesting I stick with Micro Center instead of Best Buy, Newegg, or any of those other big retailers? 🙂

Could you suggest something closer to the $6,000 mark? Ideally, let's set an upper limit around $6,400, give or take $100, 😉 just so I can really see what kind of power I can squeeze out of that budget.

EDIT: I don't really need an SSD, and I almost never touch an optical drive, so let's skip those. I'll settle for a 1TB HDD at most. I’m looking for 8GB of RAM—honestly, that’s plenty for me—and most importantly, I want a high-quality, durable processor. I'm looking for something known for being a workhorse, something that won't run crazy hot under pressure. To give you some context, my current rig is running an AMD Phenom x4 9650, and it’s been chugging along faithfully for seven years now. It still handles titles like Payday 2, The Witcher 2, and Skyrim without much complaint. 😁

Instar is definitely more expensive, and if my memory serves me right, I think Protis still charges extra for assembly services.

You should also check out places like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart if you're looking for options.

EDIT

Here it is, minus the optical drive and the SSD:

One Intel Core i5 3350 processor.
MSI B75MA-E33 motherboard, LGA 1155 socket, DDR3 support, S3/U3, HDMI, GL.
1 x Crucial 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3-12800) CL11
Sapphire R9 290, TRI-X edition, featuring 4GB of GDDR5.
1 x Seagate Barracuda Hard Drive (3.5", 1TB, 64MB, SATA III)
One Fortron Aurum S 600W PSU, featuring an 80+ GOLD rating.
One Zalman Z3, featuring USB3.0 in black, equipped with three 120mm fans.

Total: $2182

It’s all about what lies ahead.

Look, even though we're dealing with an older socket here, picking up an I5 3350p is absolutely worth it right now. It’s just such a solid value play. $83It's actually a better deal than the Intel Core i5-4460. In terms of raw performance, they’re basically neck and neck. The only catch is that the I5 3350 lacks integrated graphics, so you'll need a dedicated card, and the power supply situation is a bit swagg. Still, given how low the price is, you can easily save some cash by picking this up instead. This is what we're working with. ili This is it.Honestly, man, I can't even. 750W. Just checking in. $13 It’s definitely pricier, and you don't necessarily need that much raw power, but honestly? It’s worth the investment.

Timothy Kim60 said:It feels like Instar is definitely charging a premium for their services, whereas if you look at Protis, I have a hunch they might still be tacking on extra fees for the actual assembly work too.

If you're looking for more options beyond the usual suspects like ADM or Centro, you might want to check out places like IT Futura, Uzishop, or Magazin RS—they're all solid spots to browse through.

EDIT

So, here’s the breakdown of what we've got on the table, keeping in mind that this setup doesn't include an optical drive or an SSD:

I've got one Intel Core i5 3350 sitting here ready to go.
I’ve got one MSI B75MA-E33 sitting here—it's an LGA 1155 socket board that runs on DDR3. It comes equipped with S3 and U3 support, plus an HDMI port, so it's a pretty solid little unit if you're looking to put together a reliable build.
I’ve got a single 8GB stick of Crucial DDR3 RAM here, running at 1600 MHz with a CL11 latency. It’s a solid little module if you're looking to add some breathing room to an older machine.
I’ve got one Sapphire R9 290, specifically the TRI-X model with 4GB of GDDR5, up for grabs.
If you're looking to add some extra breathing room to your storage, you can't go wrong with a single 1TB Seagate Barracuda hard drive. It’s a standard 3.5-inch SATA III drive with 64MB of cache, which makes it a reliable, old-school workhorse for anyone needing to stash away a massive library of files or games without breaking the bank.
So, I just picked up one of those Fortron 500 w units—specifically the Aurum S PSU 600W with that 80+ GOLD rating. It’s one of those components where you really want to feel like you're getting some actual stability for your build, rather than just tossing money at a generic power supply and hoping for the best.
I’ve got one Zalman Z3 here—it's that sleek USB3.0 version in black, featuring those three 120mm fans.

Total: $2182

It’s all about what lies ahead—that sense of looking toward the horizon and wondering exactly where we're headed next.

So, looking at things now, even though we’re dealing with an older socket, the Intel Core i5 3350 is honestly such a steal right now. It’s one of those situations where the age of the hardware doesn't quite tell the whole story, because when you look at the value you're getting for the price, it really does make sense to pick one up. $83It’s actually quite a bit more affordable than the Intel Core i5-4460, and if you look at the raw performance, they're pretty much neck and neck. The only real catch is that the I5 3350 doesn't come with integrated graphics, so you'll definitely need to budget for a dedicated card, and the power supply is a little bit swagg, but honestly, given how low the price is, it's hard to argue with. You can easily shave even more off the total cost if you pick up some used parts. ovim I honestly can't decide which way to go with this one. It's like being stuck at a crossroads in the middle of nowhere, staring at two different paths and trying to figure out which one leads to a better view or a smoother ride. One option feels safe and reliable, almost like sticking to the main interstate, while the other has that bit of unpredictability that might just pay off if you're feeling adventurous. It’s a tough call when both sides have their own unique merits, and there isn't a clear winner jumping out at me just yet. I'm not quite sure what you're getting at with this one—it feels like we've just jumped into the middle of a conversation without the opening act. If you were trying to point something out or share a thought, go ahead and lay it all out for me. I'm all ears and ready to dive into the details once I know what we're actually talking about!Honestly, man, I was just sitting here thinking about how much things change... If you're looking at a 750W power supply, you really have to consider how much breathing room that gives your entire setup. It’s kind of like having a massive reservoir behind a dam; you don't just need enough water to keep things running right now, you want that extra capacity so when the pressure builds up—like when you're pushing a heavy load during a marathon gaming session—everything stays steady and reliable without breaking a sweat. Moving up to a 750W unit provides a nice bit of overhead that can handle those sudden spikes in power draw from your GPU or CPU, ensuring your system doesn't just stumble under pressure. Hey there, just dropping in to say hi. $13 It’s definitely going to cost you a bit more upfront, and honestly, you might not even need that much raw horsepower for what you're doing, but in my opinion, it’s absolutely worth the investment.

What do you think, Swagg xd? I’ve noticed the R9 290 keeps popping up all over this forum lately, which makes me wonder if it’s actually one of the top contenders for that specific price bracket. Also, I have a bit of a question for you since I haven't really kept up with everything happening in the hardware world for a while now; from what I can gather, most of the newer cards seem to come with those built-in shrouds and integrated cooling setups. Is there still anything out there that’s actually high quality but comes as a more open, "naked" design without its own custom housing?

The R9 290 is easily the most powerful card you can grab right now, offering a noticeable step up from anything else in its class.

Regarding the power supply, while there are certainly cheaper options that might get the job done, this unit stands out because it’s a bit more premium than the rest of the build. That said, the value is actually incredible when you consider what a high-quality Gold-rated unit usually costs, especially with that 5-year warranty included...

I'm not quite following your question about the cooling setup. The TRI-X features an aftermarket cooler; if you were thinking about the stock blower-style fan, then no, you definitely don't want that kind of setup on a card like this.naturally,for example, 😬

Check out this TRI-X review here:

Timothy Kim60 said:if that’s what you mean, then you definitely don't want to run that on a GPU like, say, 😬

😵 I was laughing my head off, though I honestly couldn't believe this one actually had worse results. I fully expected them to at least be even...😁

The CPU was actually bottlenecking the graphics card, plus part of the benchmark was just heavy on the processor anyway.

I also suspect that when they were picking up those used components, they ended up with an older CPU paired with such high-end GPUs.

Well, obviously. I have no idea what kind of pricing models they used to build this budget, but in the US, an Intel Core i7-920 sits in the same price bracket as a Q8400 or even some of the 9xxx series. Given that reality, I’d imagine the high-end tier for us would look more like an AMD Radeon R9 280x.