Hey, can anyone help me out?

hey, I'm looking for some advice on pre-built PCs. My budget is capped at $4300 max.
If you guys could check CNN... I found a couple of options and figured you could tell me what they're missing. Mostly just using this thing for gaming... Call of Duty, Far Cry, GTA... basically all the new stuff. Also curious which one you'd pick if you had my cash.

Processor: AMD FX-6300 @ 3.50/4.10GHz Hexa Core (6MB Cache)
Motherboard: AMD 960 Chipset
Memory: 1x 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Hard Drive: 500GB SATA 3.5" 7200rpm
Optical Drive: DVD±R DL 24x SATA
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 2GB DDR5
Sound Card: integrated, 5.1 CH HD Audio
Network Card: Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s
Ports: PS2, 2x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, LAN, Audio, DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI
Case: Midi tower
Power Supply: 500 W

$1.25

Processor: Intel Core i5 4460 @ 3.20/3.40GHz quad Core (6MB Cache) Haswell
Motherboard: Intel H81 chipset
Memory: 1x 4GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Hard Drive: 500GB SATA 3.5" 7200rpm
Optical Drive: DVD±R DL 24x SATA
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GT 730 2GB DDR3
Sound Card: integrated, 5.1 CH HD Audio
Network Card: Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s
Ports: PS2, 2x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, LAN, Audio, VGA, DVI-D, HDMI
Case: Midi tower
Power Supply: 400 W

$1.25

Processor: Intel Core i5 4460 @ 3.20/3.40GHz quad Core (6MB Cache) Haswell
Motherboard: Intel H81 chipset
Memory: 1x 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Hard Drive: 1000GB SATA 3.5" 7200rpm
Optical Drive: DVD±R DL 24x SATA
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GT 730 2GB DDR3
Sound Card: integrated, 5.1 CH HD Audio
Network Card: Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s
Ports: PS2, 3x USB 3.0, 5x USB 2.0, LAN, Audio, VGA, DVI-D, HDMI
Case: Mini tower
Power Supply: 500 W

$1.50

None of them are any good. Pre-built bundles are just a death sentence. I don't even know why there isn't a sticky post for this already. 🙂

1 x ASUS GA-970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
1 x AMD FX-6300 Processor 3.5GHz,14MB,95W,AM3+, FD6300WMHK
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Seagate BarraCuda 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB
1 x Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler, 1156/775/FM1, 96.5×51×125 mm ,92mm
1 x FORTRON 500W Power Supply, Hexe plus 500 , 12cm fan
1 x XFX AMD Radeon R7 265 925M Boost 2GB DDR5 Display
1 x MS PHOENIX case without PSU, Midi tower MBO: ATX, mATX

$1445 CNN

You can go with 4 GB of RAM for now, then swap in a beefier graphics card later, and eventually add another 4 GB stick. You won't be able to run certain games on just 4 GB, but you'll have a much stronger GPU, so it's up to you to decide what your priority is.

Nathan Long9 said:hey, I'm looking for some advice on pre-built PCs. My budget is capped at $4300 max.
If you guys could check CNN... I found a couple of options and figured you could tell me what they're missing. Mostly just using this thing for gaming... Call of Duty, Far Cry, GTA... basically all the new stuff. Also curious which one you'd pick if you had my cash.

Processor: AMD FX-6300 @ 3.50/4.10GHz Hexa Core (6MB Cache)
Motherboard: AMD 960 Chipset
Memory: 1x 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Hard Drive: 500GB SATA 3.5" 7200rpm
Optical Drive: DVD±R DL 24x SATA
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 2GB DDR5
Sound Card: integrated, 5.1 CH HD Audio
Network Card: Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s
Ports: PS2, 2x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, LAN, Audio, DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI
Case: Midi tower
Power Supply: 500 W

$1.25

Processor: Intel Core i5 4460 @ 3.20/3.40GHz quad Core (6MB Cache) Haswell
Motherboard: Intel H81 chipset
Memory: 1x 4GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Hard Drive: 500GB SATA 3.5" 7200rpm
Optical Drive: DVD±R DL 24x SATA
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GT 730 2GB DDR3
Sound Card: integrated, 5.1 CH HD Audio
Network Card: Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s
Ports: PS2, 2x USB 3.0, 6x USB 2.0, LAN, Audio, VGA, DVI-D, HDMI
Case: Midi tower
Power Supply: 400 W

$1.25

Processor: Intel Core i5 4460 @ 3.20/3.40GHz quad Core (6MB Cache) Haswell
Motherboard: Intel H81 chipset
Memory: 1x 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Hard Drive: 1000GB SATA 3.5" 7200rpm
Optical Drive: DVD±R DL 24x SATA
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GT 730 2GB DDR3
Sound Card: integrated, 5.1 CH HD Audio
Network Card: Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s
Ports: PS2, 3x USB 3.0, 5x USB 2.0, LAN, Audio, VGA, DVI-D, HDMI
Case: Mini tower
Power Supply: 500 W

$1.50

Man, that's a total disaster. Especially those builds with the Nvidia GeForce GT 730 DDR3—you won't even be able to play GTA 4 properly with that thing.

Don't even bother looking at pre-built configurations under any circumstances; just read through this thread.

If you can somehow manage to stretch your budget toward this option while browsing CNN, do it.



Free assembly

There's no disc burner included, but you can always install Windows from a USB, and all your drivers come online anyway. Nobody really uses a DVD-RW these days.

If you absolutely have to stick strictly to $4,300 including a disc burner, then ditch that R9 270 graphics card and swap it for this or this (the second one is slightly more powerful, while the first offers an extra year of warranty). Add a disc burner and a higher-quality, better-equipped case like the Z1—with those changes, it will be $1430

AMD FX-6300 processor
Spire Maverick 6009 gaming case, no PSU included
ASUS GA-970A-DS3P motherboard
2x Adata DDR3 4GB 1600MHz, AD3U1600C2G11-R
Silverstone Strider Essential ST40F-ESB (400W) power supply
Spire Kepler Rev.2 cooler
XFX AMD Radeon R7 265A 2GB DDR5, XFX-R7-265A-CNF4 graphics card
Seagate BarraCuda HDD (3.5", 1TB, 32MB, SATA III-600)

Total: $1425 CNN

There’s a similar case available with two fans (it's on sale), a slightly better power supply from Hexe plus, and a drive with a 3-year warranty—everything else stays the same. You'd probably have to pay an extra $27 for shipping, though.

Alright, here’s one more budget build (EDIT: excluding the power supply 😬)

AMD FX-4300
Corsair Value Select 8 GB, 1600 MHz, 2x4 GB
ASUS GA-78LMT-USB3
LC-Power PRO-923B - Red Captor
Arctic F12 Case Fan - 120mm
Seagate BarraCuda 1 TB SATA
Cosmo Cool LC-CC-95 - CPU cooler
PowerColor R9 280 3GB GDDR5 OC

Total: 4 $109 with a 3% discount (let me know if you want the link) - roughly $1400

Newegg - includes free assembly and shipping

A very beefy graphics card here + there's actually enough room for a DVD-RW and a proper case

It’s probably not worth it; he's definitely going to run into a bottleneck with that FX 4300.

It’s just a small tweak, but if you bump the multiplier up to 21 or 21.5, it should be solid—that's why this build is such a vibe 😬

EDIT: Wait, where's the power supply? 🤔

Hehe, late-night building session! I’ve gotta run, but honestly, I'm still shocked by how cheap this turned out.

It isn't an extreme combo at all. Sure, you might hit a bottleneck in specific scenarios—like certain multiplayer titles—but realistically, this setup will deliver the best gaming performance out of everything listed, especially when it comes to single-player games.

Check out how this little guy performs with similar processors (like an FX 4320, which is basically an FX 4300 pushed to 4GHz, or an FX 4170) running some newer titles paired with a GTX 980, which is nearly twice as powerful:

Dragon Age: Inquisition at 1200p
Dying Light
Shadow of Mordor (FX 4170) - okay, this one isn't actually that CPU intensive.
this one is quite demanding Psychological Observation

And all of that is on a GPU that's roughly twice as strong as the R9 280.

Getting an FX 4300 at this price is a total steal for $208

Here is the build (pushed to the limit, but doable without an expensive cooler, using a budget motherboard and a 500GB HDD):

AMD FX-4300 Box 3.8GHz - 8MB Cache - 95W BOX
Corsair Value Select 8 GB, 1600 MHz, 2x4 GB
ASRock 980 DE3/U3S3
LC-Power PRO-923B - Red Captor
Seagate BarraCuda 500GB 3.5" 7.2k SATA III 32MB
Cosmo Cool LC-CC-95 - CPU cooler
PowerColor R9 280 3GB GDDR5 OC
XFX Pro 450W

$1444with a discount

Quote : Kimberly Gomez34

Kimberly Gomez34 said:Hehe, late-night building session! I’ve gotta run, but honestly, I'm still shocked by how cheap this turned out.

It isn't an extreme combo at all. Sure, you might hit a bottleneck in specific scenarios—like certain multiplayer titles—but realistically, this setup will deliver the best gaming performance out of everything listed, especially when it comes to single-player games.

Check out how this little guy performs with similar processors (like an FX 4320, which is basically an FX 4300 pushed to 4GHz, or an FX 4170) running some newer titles paired with a GTX 980, which is nearly twice as powerful:

Dragon Age: Inquisition at 1200p
Dying Light
Shadow of Mordor (FX 4170) - okay, this one isn't actually that CPU intensive.
this one is quite demanding Psychological Observation

And all of that is on a GPU that's roughly twice as strong as the R9 280.

Getting an FX 4300 at this price is a total steal for $208

Here is the build (pushed to the limit, but doable without an expensive cooler, using a budget motherboard and a 500GB HDD):

AMD FX-4300 Box 3.8GHz - 8MB Cache - 95W BOX
Corsair Value Select 8 GB, 1600 MHz, 2x4 GB
ASRock 980 DE3/U3S3
LC-Power PRO-923B - Red Captor
Seagate BarraCuda 500GB 3.5" 7.2k SATA III 32MB
Cosmo Cool LC-CC-95 - CPU cooler
PowerColor R9 280 3GB GDDR5 OC
XFX Pro 450W

$1444with a discount

Think I'm gonna roll with that first one you posted. Just gotta add a little extra context to the situation... but either way, thanks.

Maybe just swap out that Daytona 500 w power supply for this one:

crimsonstag84 said:Maybe just swap out that Daytona 500 w power supply for this one:

Thanks

Alright, so I'm pulling the trigger on that setup you guys put together for me—thanks for the help there. Quick question though... what's your take on this monitor/TV combo?
http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/p.../LT22D390EW/XU

So, do you already own it, or are you looking to buy?

If you're buying, keep in mind that's just a TN panel. You'd probably be better off grabbing something with an LCD or OLED panel, though they do run a bit higher in price.

For instance,

Are you really looking for a TV to use as a monitor? Honestly, for that kind of budget, you can find much higher-quality monitors equipped with superior LCD or OLED panels.

But if you absolutely insist on a TV,

crimsonstag84 said:So, do you already own it, or are you looking to buy?

If you're buying, keep in mind that's just a TN panel. You'd probably be better off grabbing something with an LCD or OLED panel, though they do run a bit higher in price.

For instance,

I've been wondering about this for a while, but I just haven't found the right moment to ask 😵... why does everyone on this forum seem to prefer LCD over TN? Is it strictly about the "color," or is there something else to it? 😬

EDIT: (and the viewing angles)

Generally speaking, you get a noticeably better picture quality, less eye strain, and those viewing angles you mentioned.

In scenarios where input lag is the priority—like gaming—there isn't much of a difference anymore between TN and LCD/OLED/VA panels compared to how things were a few years back.

analogtiger19 said:I've been wondering about this for a while, but I just haven't found the right moment to ask 😵... why does everyone on this forum seem to prefer LCD over TN? Is it strictly about the "color," or is there something else to it? 😬

EDIT: (and the viewing angles)

Why aren't those two factors enough on their own? 😬

Especially since lately, LCD or OLED panels are priced pretty much the same as various TN options.

Kimberly Gomez34 said:Why aren't those two factors enough on their own? 😬

Especially since lately, LCD or OLED panels are priced pretty much the same as various TN options.

+1
I don't see the logic in picking a "cheap and crappy" panel when you can grab an LCD/OLED one for the same price, or sometimes even less.

crimsonstag84 said:Generally speaking, you get a noticeably better picture quality, less eye strain, and those viewing angles you mentioned.

In scenarios where input lag is the priority—like gaming—there isn't much of a difference anymore between TN and LCD/OLED/VA panels compared to how things were a few years back.

Wait, aren't TN monitors 120-144Hz? 🤔

Kimberly Gomez34 said:Why aren't those two factors enough on their own? 😬

Especially since lately, LCD or OLED panels are priced pretty much the same as various TN options.

Just asking because I want to know what you guys think. Haven't really thought about it before, but personally, viewing angles don't mean anything to me... once you set up your desk, the angle doesn't matter (unless you're doing acrobatics while sitting at your PC). The only real pain is when they don't have an adjustable stand.😁

Robert Rodriguez2 said:+1
I don't see the logic in picking a "cheap and crappy" panel when you can grab an LCD/OLED one for the same price, or sometimes even less.

Looks like everyone jumped to conclusions immediately. I don't have a solid opinion on this yet, which is why I'm asking for clarification. This is actually my first time looking into the differences between LCD/TN/OLED and other types of panels.😬

And I think I might have been looking at the "wrong" TN monitors, considering they all seem to be nearly 60% more expensive than LCD monitors.🤣 🤦

analogtiger19 said:Wait, aren't TN monitors 120-144Hz? 🤔

Just asking because I want to know what you guys think. Haven't really thought about it before, but personally, viewing angles don't mean anything to me... once you set up your desk, the angle doesn't matter (unless you're doing acrobatics while sitting at your PC). The only real pain is when they don't have an adjustable stand.😁

Looks like everyone jumped to conclusions immediately. I don't have a solid opinion on this yet, which is why I'm asking for clarification. This is actually my first time looking into the differences between LCD/TN/OLED and other types of panels.😬

And I think I might have been looking at the "wrong" TN monitors, considering they all seem to be nearly 60% more expensive than LCD monitors.🤣 🤦

Not these budget ones, just the pricey high-end gaming models...
According to Best Buy, the cheapest 144Hz option right now is $633 +

Otherwise, you might find something for maybe $1600-$567 but it'll likely be bottom-of-the-barrel quality.

That's really more for competitive or pro gamers (think Counter-Strike and stuff like that), because I don't see many accessible games where you'd actually push past 60 fps (with high or ultra settings).