Help - PC build in Seattle under $500

Actually, I wouldn't say so, since 500GB hard drives are usually about $10 cheaper anyway.

At Best Buy, the 500GB version is either $30 or $13 cheaper, so I guess you wouldn't even be able to pick up an extra case fan for the difference 😬

Do you think this motherboard would actually work with my current GPU? I'm thinking about jumping up to an 8-core processor—is the price jump really worth it?

Nah, no way. That's a different socket altogether.

Alright, so could you guys walk me through putting together this exact same build, but swap in an 8-core processor? I don't mind if it bumps up the price a little bit.

I reached out to the folks over at Comcast in Cleveland, and here’s what they sent back:

Dear Customer,

The quote you requested is attached. These prices apply to credit card payments, though the quote also includes a discount if you pay cash ($1583). We’ll handle the assembly and testing of the PC at no extra charge.

They made a few tweaks to the specs:

1. Swapped the motherboard to the Pro3 instead of the Extreme3. Performance-wise, they're basically twins—you just get an extra port on the Pro3. The main difference is the power delivery; the Extreme3 theoretically has a slightly beefier VRM, but honestly, unless you're planning to push some serious overclocking, you won't even notice.

2. Instead of the XFX R9 270, they suggested a Gigabyte model because its Windforce cooling is better and much quieter. Apparently, they had some complaints with the XFX version due to a known issue where people couldn't get the audio chip to install properly.

3. They went with a solid Cooler Master case paired with a stronger power supply. Since the AMD 6300 pulls a decent amount of juice, they don't recommend anything under 500W—actually, hitting at least 550W would be the smart move.

4. Tossed in a Zalman CPU cooler.
__________________________________________________ _____
__________________________________________________ _____

CPU AMD FX6300 AM3+AMD FX Series X6 6300 (3.5GHz, 6MB/8MB, 95W,Socket AM3+), Box

MB Asrock 970 PRO3 R2.0 (AM3+) 18837 VGA AMD Gigabyte GV-R927OC-2GD

VGA AMD Gigabyte GV-R927OC-2GD

DVD-RW LG GH24NSB0 22x sata 1 120.63 25.00

HDD 1.0 TB WD Caviar Blue 10EZEX

RAM Kingmax DDR3 8GB 1600MHz

CPU cooler Zalman CNPS5X 163.50

Kućište Cooler Master K350 gaming 500W


Total: $900 Best Buy
cash price $1583

So, what do you guys think??

Ronald Bishop58 said:1. We swapped the Extreme3 motherboard for the Pro3. The Pro3 delivers basically the same performance and actually gives you an extra SATA port. The main difference is the power delivery, which might be slightly beefier on the Extreme3, but honestly, unless you're planning to overclock, you probably won't even notice.

2. Instead of the XFX R9 270, we went with a Gigabyte card featuring their quieter, higher-quality Windforce cooling. We had some complaints regarding the XFX model because of a known issue where the audio chip was nearly impossible to install properly.

3. We included a solid Cooler Master case with a more robust power supply. Since the AMD 6300 pulls quite a bit of power, I wouldn't recommend anything under 500W—actually, aiming for at least 550W would probably be a safer bet.

4. We installed a Zalman CPU cooler.[/I]
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1. True, though for the price gap, the Extreme3 is likely worth it. It really would have been ideal if they used the Gigabyte 970 A-DS3P.

2. Fair enough, though it feels like they might just be pushing you toward the pricier version for no reason.

3. That's just silly... and they probably threw in a cheap power supply too, since they didn't specify the model. Maybe something like a Zalman Z1 case and an XFX 450W.😁

4. Got it.

By the way, is their website out of date? I can't seem to find half of these parts listed on their site.

crimsonstag84 said:1. Fair point, but honestly, for the price gap, the Extreme3 is actually worth it. It would be perfect if they just threw in a Gigabyte 970 A-DS3P motherboard.

2. Yeah, though they might just be trying to upsell you to the expensive version for no real reason.

3. Complete nonsense... plus they slapped some questionable power supply in there—they don't even list the specific model. 😁 Like a Zalman Z1 case paired with an XFX 450W or something.

4. True.

Btw, is their site just outdated or what? I can't find half these parts listed on their actual webpage.

So, in this other quote they actually included a PSU since I asked for one.
ATX real Power RP600


Not everything is on the webshop—they told me they don't keep every single component in stock when I asked why half their stuff was missing from the site...
I'll post the photos here since they aren't online; they sent them to me via email...

CPU:

GPU:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=4840#ov

COOLER:
http://www.zalman.com/eng/product/Pr...ad.php?Idx=450

Look, I know exactly what components we're talking about. I'm just saying, when I actually tried to put together something a bit better back then, some of the parts just weren't available.

The power supply is pretty mid-range quality-wise, so I'd probably lean toward the XFX 450W or maybe a CX500W 80+ Bronze.

That Real Power Bronze might get you through, but honestly, if you're looking at builds like this on that kind of budget, an XFX 450, a Corsair CX430/500, or even an EVGA LC6460gp3 is the true sweet spot. You'll get a much better balance of wattage, price, and overall reliability.

I’ve finally pulled the trigger on Comcast—they actually dropped the price on me $67
Got an 8-core processor tucked in there at this price point, too. Here’s the breakdown:

CPU AMD FX8320 (AM3+) (8 core, 3.5/4.0GHz, 16MB, 125W,Socket AM3+), Box

16370 MB Asrock 970 PRO3 R2.0 (AM3+)

18837 VGA AMD Gigabyte GV-R927OC-2GD

5650 DVD-RW LG GH24NSB0

16423 HDD 1.0 TB WD Caviar Blue 10EZEX

16730 RAM Kingmax DDR3 8GB 1600MHz

6517 CPU cooler Zalman CNPS5X 163.50

17943 Kućište Cooler Master K350 gaming

8391 Napajanje ATX real Power RP600


The price (quote me on that), $1667 if you pay cash—you're getting 8 GB of RAM, a decent enough graphics card, that 8-core processor, a 600W power supply, and the case you guys liked.

Look, the FX 8320 really pushes power consumption up, so you definitely want a higher-quality motherboard to handle the load. Personally, I wouldn't dream of pairing it with anything less than a Gigabyte 970 A-DS3P.

If I were in your shoes, I’d opt for an i5 4xxx paired with a budget-friendly H81, B85, or H87 motherboard...

Hey, don't go killing my vibe here... 🤣

So, what's the verdict on this build?

1 x ASUS M5A97 R2, AM3,AM3+, AMD 970, SB950, BUS 5200 MHz, DDR3
1 x AMD FX-Series X8 8320 Processor 3.5GHz,16MB,125W,AM3+, FD8320FRHK
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Fortron 500W Power Supply, Hyper, PPA5005003, 12cm fan
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. Standard MB size
1 x LG GH24NS DVD burner, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R ,8x DL , 40x CD-R
1 x TOSHIBA 500GB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA050
1 x Gigabyte R9 270X 2GB OC, 2GB GDDR5 256bit, GV-R927XOC-2GD, 28nm
1 x ZALMAN CNPS 5X Performa, socket 775/1155/1156/AM2/AM2/AM3

$1665

www.newegg.com

It's a solid choice... much higher quality motherboard...

As for why not go with an i5—I assume you aren't planning on overclocking and will just stick to stock settings. Honestly, that specific setup might actually end up being cheaper and likely performs better for what you need...

EDIT

Here, if you have the option (especially if you're paying cash), an R9 280 will fit, specifically the Windforce model.

1 x Intel Core i5-4440 Processor (3.10GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x Asrock H81M-HDS, s1150, Intel H81, M-ATX, dual Channel 2xDDR3
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x WD 1TB HDD, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3,64 MB, 3.5", 24mo
1 x Fortron 500W Power Supply, Hyper, PPA5005003, 12cm fan
1 x Gigabyte R9 280 3GB OC, 3GB GDDR5 384bit, GVR928WO3D-00-G, 28nm,
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standard

$1652 + and if you want a real beast $40

Timothy Kim60 said:It's solid... way better quality board than the other one...

So why not go with an i5? I'm guessing you aren't planning on overclocking anyway—just sticking to stock settings—so this setup actually ends up being cheaper and probably fits what you need much better...

EDIT

Oh, and if you have the cash on hand (especially if you're paying upfront), an R9 280 Windforce would fit just fine in there too.

1 x Intel Core i5-4440 Processor (3.10GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x Asrock H81M-HDS, s1150, Intel H81, M-ATX, dual Channel 2xDDR3
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x WD 1TB Caviar Blue HDD, 1000 GB, SATA3,64 MB, 3.5", 24mo
1 x Fortron 500W Hyper Power Supply, PPA5005003, 12cm fan
1 x Gigabyte R9 280 3GB OC, 3GB GDDR5 384bit, GVR928WO3D-00-G, 28nm,
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. Standard MB size

$1652 + and if you want a total beast $40

Thanks!

How many cores does that processor have?

4, you can't look at it that way, even if that seems to be how you're approaching it. You shouldn't compare cores and GHz across different architectures and manufacturers. It’s like comparing apples to oranges. Intel's cores are more efficient and modern.

An i5 paired with an R9 280 will outperform an FX 8320 combined with an R9 270/X when it comes to Electronic Arts titles.

Generally speaking, the more powerful the graphics card, the better the games run—provided the CPU can keep up and is capable enough for high-end gameplay, which all the processors mentioned here certainly are.

Timothy Kim60 said:It's 4 cores, but you can't look at it the way you're looking at it—seriously. You can't just compare core counts and GHz between different architectures and different manufacturers. It's like comparing apples to oranges. Intel's cores are more efficient and just more modern.

An i5 paired with an R9 280 is going to crush an FX 8320 plus an R9 270/X when it comes to Electronic Arts titles.

Basically, the beefier the GPU, the better the games run—assuming the CPU can actually keep up and isn't a total bottleneck—which all those CPUs mentioned definitely aren't.

Hmm okay, thanks for clearing that up. My issue, though, is this whole $43 budget thing—unfortunately, I've got exactly $500 $0.00 to my name, not a penny more. Plus, I have no clue how to install Windows via a USB stick. Even my buddy who helps me out with my PC—and I'm talking about a guy who's basically a pro—doesn't know how to format a drive so it'll actually boot Windows from it. He claims he followed the tutorials to the letter, but the system just refuses to recognize the USB.😢

Got cash on you? If you do, just order it online and don't bother checking out Links or Netcom.

Netcom is a decent shop, I guess, but their prices are a bit steep. You can probably find the 8320 for $67 cheaper elsewhere.

And honestly, you can't really call someone a PC expert if they don't even know how to put Windows on a flash drive. That’s kind of an insult to people who actually know what they're doing.

Just grab a Windows ISO from the web and download this little tool called Rufus. It pretty much does everything automatically, and your stick will be bootable without any drama.

He definitely messed something up. Let’s be honest, you’re only going to use that optical drive for installing macOS or God knows what else once in a blue moon...

Let's try this approach:

Take that rig of yours with the Intel Core i7-4770K, pull out the current motherboard and that Zalman cooler, and swap them for these instead:

Then, you should be able to fit the R9 280 plus the optical drive 🙂
It's a perfect match—everything fits just right.
EDIT - Or not. Might cost a few bucks more.

Keep in mind, those are Micro Center cash prices.