PC Build Ideas: $600 - $750 Budget

Greetings,

I’ve put together a preliminary build that looks something like this:
http://www.microcenter.com/shopping_cart.php
ASUS B85 Pro4, LGA 1150, Intel Haswell
Intel Core i5-4440 Processor (3.10GHz, 1MB, 6MB, 84 W, 1150) Box
DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Corsair 1600MHz CL9, Black
XFX R9-270A, R9-270A-CDFC, Double Dissipation Edition 925M Boost
TOSHIBA 500GB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA050
Corsair CX430M Power Supply, Corsair CX Series Modular, EPS12V v2.3
Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk Black DVD burner, SATA
Thermaltake Versa II, Midi tower, ATX, mATX, 5.25" bay
$650.00 at Micro Center

Now, my primary goal is to trim this total down as close to $550 as possible without making any massive sacrifices in terms of actual performance.
I have never been much of an overclocking enthusiast myself; I just want things to work reliably.
I generally prefer shopping at Micro Center, though I am certainly not strictly wedded to them if there's a better deal elsewhere. :P
The main thing is that I am working with a very specific amount of cash on hand.

Thank you all so much.

Here is the AMD version:

1 x AMD FX-Series X6 6300 3.5GHz, 14MB, 95W, AM3+, FD6300WMHK
1 x ASUS M5A97 LE R2.0, AM3+, AMD 970/SB950, DDR3, 4 slots
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x SCYTHE Katana 3 SCKTN-3000A White Box, 754/939/AM2/AM2+/AM3
1 x XFX Core edition 80 + 450 w pas - EasyRail Technology 1 x Thermaltake Versa ii
1 x Thermaltake Versa II, Midi tower, ATX, mATX, 5.25" external bay
1 x TOSHIBA 500GB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA050
1 x XFX R9-270A, R9-270A-CDFC, Double Dissipation Edition 925M Boost

$1430 adm.com

It’s cheaper than your option, but you'll still get the same performance in games. I kept the case you picked since I assume you actually liked it. You also get a higher quality, more powerful power supply. For a little $93 more, you could grab an AMD Radeon R9 280, which is an absolute best buy—it's actually cheaper than some R9 270X cards and performs better. You could save a bit on the PSU if you went with the one you chose, which is slightly weaker and lower quality than this XFX unit, or maybe on the motherboard, though I wouldn't recommend that. If you're up for it, I think you should go with the 280; it'll likely end up slightly cheaper than your current build, stay under $500, and give you a noticeably stronger gaming rig.😉

Honestly, just grab the 1TB drive; the price gap is basically nonexistent anyway, so why even bother?

rustydriver11

i5-4460
ASUS B85 Pro4-M
Kingston Fury 8GB @ 1866 MHz
Seagate Barracuda, 3.5" 1TB SATA 3
XFX AMD Radeon R9 270X 2GB Black Edition
Lite-On DVD-RW SATA
XFX PRO 450W 80+ BRONZE
Aerocool GT Black Midi ATX

= $1685 Futura it.

If you want a solid, well-balanced build around an i5, this is exactly how you should set it up. Since you aren't really worried about overclocking, you might be tempted to cut corners, but honestly—stick with the Intel H97 Chipset. It’s worth it just because it gives you way more breathing room for future upgrades—you'll be able to swap in anything from the current Intel Haswell / Devil's Canyon chips to the upcoming Intel Broadwell stuff later on.

On top of that, I bumped up the power supply—swapped out the old unit for a repackaged Seasonic, which actually puts out more juice than the Corsair CX and comes with a solid 5-year warranty. I also tossed in a faster, higher-capacity HDD, and right now, the best bang-for-your-buck move is grabbing an X model AMD Radeon R9 270. It’s got a quiet cooler and some decent overclocking headroom—honestly, there's really no point in stretching the budget for the pricier cards since they're sitting so close in price to the AMD Radeon R9 280 anyway.

Just toss in a 120 GB SSD later on—you'll be golden. 😉

graniteharbor85 said:bblack_adder

Intel Core i5-4440
ASRock H97 PRO4-M
KINGSTON FURY 8GB 1866 MHz
Seagate Barracuda, 1TB SATA 3, 3.5" drive.
XFX R9 270X 2GB BLACK EDITION
LITE ON DVD-RW SATA
XFX Core edition 80...
AEROCOOL GT BLACK MIDI ATX case.

= $1685 Futura it.

This is how you get a well-balanced build using an i5. Since you aren't interested in overclocking anyway, you should still aim for this direction—I’ve gone with the H97 chipset specifically to give you a much wider selection of CPUs if you decide to upgrade later, covering both the upcoming Broadwell and the current Haswell / Devil's Canyon options...

On top of that, I upgraded the power supply—it's a repackaged Seasonic that delivers more juice than the CX and comes with a 5-year warranty. I also tossed in a faster, higher-capacity HDD, along with what’s currently the best bang-for-your-buck X model, the R9 270, which features a quiet cooler and solid overclocking potential. Honestly, there's not much point in stretching the budget for more expensive models since they're priced so close to the R9 280 anyway.

Just throw in a 120 GB SSD later on and you'll be golden... 😉

If you're already bumping the budget up to $5,000, you might as well squeeze in a Sapphire R9 280. The guy originally asked for something closer to the $4,000 mark, so this $5,000 build doesn't really offer any significant performance gains... It’s just a slightly more balanced configuration, and that's about it.

rustydriver11 said:Hey,

I put together something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/shopping_cart.php
Asrock B85 Pro4, s1150, Haswell
Intel Core i5-4440 (3.10GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Corsair 1600MHz CL9, Black
Black XFX R9-270A, R9-270A-CDFC, Double Dissipation Edition 925M Boost
TOSHIBA 500GB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA050
CORSAIR 430W Power Supply, CX430M, CX Series Modular, EPS12V v2.3
Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk Black, SATA
Thermaltake Versa ii, Midi Tower, ATX, mATX, 5.25" external bay
$420 at Best Buy

Now I want to drop the price closer to $350 without killing the performance.
Overclocking isn't my thing.
I prefer shopping at Best Buy, but they aren't exactly set in stone. :P
It's all about the cash.

Thanks.

1 x ASUS M5A97 R2.0, AM3, AM3+, AMD 970, SB950, BUS 5200 MHz, DDR3
1 x AMD FX-Series X6 6300 Processor 3.5GHz, 14MB, 95W, AM3+, FD6300WMHK
1 x XFX R9-270A, R9-270A-CDFC, Double Dissipation Edition 925M Boost
1 x CORSAIR 430W Power Supply, CX Series 80+ Bronze, EPS12V v2.3, 80+
1 x Spire Maverick 6009, ATX/mATX case
1 x ASUS DRW-24F1ST/BLK/B/AS SATA, DVD-R 24x, DVD-RW 6x, DVD+R 24x
1 x WD 1TB HDD, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3, 64 MB, 3.5", 24mo warranty
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x ZALMAN CNPS 5X, socket 775/1155/1156/AM2/AM2/AM3

$1485

www.newegg.com
You've got the option to overclock (even if you said you don't care, it's nice to have) and you can upgrade to a better CPU later. 😛 🙂

If you want to cut the cost even more, just go with 4GB of RAM. That brings the price down. $1391

1 x XFX R9-270A, R9-270A-CDFC, Double Dissipation Edition 925M Boost
1 x CORSAIR 430W Power Supply, CX Series 80+ Bronze, EPS12V v2.3, 80+
1 x ASUS DRW-24F1ST/BLK/B/AS SATA, DVD-R 24x, DVD-RW 6x, DVD+R 24x
1 x WD 1TB HDD, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3, 64 MB, 3.5", 24mo warranty
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H, Socket 1150, Intel ® B85
1 x Intel Core i5-4440 (3.10GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x Spire Maverick 6009, ATX/mATX case

$1550

Or go Intel.

Looking at the specs, 😉 the R9 270 is basically just an R7 265 in disguise. That XFX card being suggested actually keeps pace with the base Sapphire R9 280 because its clock speeds are noticeably higher—so we're talking about a tiny difference, maybe just a few FPS, which you won't even notice. Plus, if he's aiming for the R9 280, he'd need to jump to an H81 or B85 chipset, which honestly makes zero sense to me. Why deal with that when the H97 gives him way better build quality, more features, and support for newer CPUs for basically the same price?

He also mentioned he doesn't plan on overclocking, but—let's be real—that’s usually assumed with any GPU, and that’s exactly where the R9 280 really shines. The only real perk there is the 3GB of VRAM, but even that isn't going to matter much unless he's pushing past 1200p resolution. Honestly, 2GB is still plenty for most modern and upcoming titles.

If he's really trying to cut corners and save cash, I'm on board with the FX 6300 route, but here's how I'd actually build it:

FX 6300
SPIRE KEPLER R2.0
GIGABYTE 970A-DS3P
KINGSTON 2+4 GB 1600 MHZ (6GB) / 1X8 GB 1866 MHZ
SEAGATE BARR. 3,5 1TB SATA 3
XFX R9 270X 2GB BLACK EDITION
LITE ON DVD-RW SATA
XFX PRO 450W 80+ BRONZE
AEROCOOL GT BLACK MIDI ATX

Total comes to about 4520/$1532.

There's really no reason to overspend on an Asus board, especially that Le model which skips out on heatsinks for the power phases. A Gigabyte board will be more than enough to handle an FX 6300 or even an FX 83xx if he decides to run Turbo. If he does end up wanting that R9 280, he should probably switch to an AMD board and grab the Sapphire version. Though, in that case, the pricier XFX model would actually be the smarter move since it has better overclocking potential and a much quieter, more efficient cooler.

Adam Moore3 said:Here is an alternative build using AMD components:

1 x AMD FX-Series X6 6300 Processor, 3.5GHz, 14MB, 95W, AM3+, FD6300WMHK
1 x ASUS M5A97 R2, AM3+, AMD 970/SB950, DDR3, 4 slots
2 x 4GB DDR3 Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x SCYTHE Katana 3 SCKTN-3000A White Box, 754/939/AM2/AM2+/AM3
1 x XFX Core edition 80 + 450 w pas - EasyRail Technology
1 x Thermaltake Versa ii, Midi Tower, ATX, mATX, 5.25" external bay
1 x TOSHIBA 500GB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA050
1 x XFX R9-270A, R9-270A-CDFC, Double Dissipation Edition 925M Boost

$1430 us-tech-forum.com

This setup actually comes in a bit cheaper than your initial list, yet I truly believe it will deliver essentially the same level of performance when you're gaming. I decided to stick with the case you originally picked out, mainly because I assumed you had a particular fondness for its design. You also end up with a significantly higher quality, more robust power supply here. For some people, $93 it might even be worth stretching the budget just a little to grab the R9 280; honestly, it's such a fantastic value right now, often priced lower than certain R9 270X cards despite being objectively more powerful. You could potentially save a few extra bucks on the PSU if you went with a weaker, less reliable unit than this XFX model, or maybe shave some cost off the motherboard, though I really wouldn't advise compromising there. If you're feeling ambitious, I think you should definitely go for that 280—it would likely still keep your total under $500 and result in a noticeably beefier gaming rig. 😉

Yeah, this looks like a solid configuration with the AMD processor, pretty much mirroring what I put together myself.
I was looking into that R9 280, but I'm having second thoughts about whether it's actually worth the premium; from what I've seen in the reviews, the jump in power isn't massive, even if the price difference is relatively small.

graniteharbor85's build looks excellent, but I'm just not sure if paying 15% more money is worth chasing a tiny percentage increase in actual performance.
Unless, of course, that better balance makes the whole system run smoother and last longer without any hiccups.

graniteharbor85 said:In terms of performance, 😉 the R9 270 is basically just an R7 265, whereas that suggested XFX card actually trails behind the base Sapphire R9 280 because of its significantly higher clock speeds—so the difference is negligible, maybe even unnoticeable, since we're talking about just a few FPS. Plus, if he goes with the R9 280, he'd need an H81 or B85 chipset, which makes zero sense to me when the H97 offers better build quality, more features, and support for newer CPUs for roughly the same price.

He also mentioned he doesn't plan on overclocking, which is usually assumed with a GPU, but that’s exactly where the R9 280's true potential lies. Its only real edge is the 3GB of VRAM, but that won't matter much unless he's playing at higher than 1200p, and honestly, 2GB is still plenty for most current and upcoming titles.

If he's looking to cut costs, I'm on board with the FX 6300 route, but here's how I'd build it:

FX 6300
SPIRE KEPLER R2.0
GIGABYTE 970A-DS3P
KINGSTON 2+4 GB 1600 MHZ (6GB) / 1X8 GB 1866 MHZ
SEAGATE BARR. 3,5 1TB SATA 3
XFX R9 270X 2GB BLACK EDITION
LITE ON DVD-RW SATA
XFX PRO 450W 80+ BRONZE
AEROCOOL GT BLACK MIDI ATX

= $45.20/$1532.

There's no reason to stretch the budget for an Asus board, especially the Le model that lacks heatsinks on the power phases, when the Gigabyte will be more than enough for an FX 6300 or even an FX 83xx with Turbo enabled. If he really wants the R9 280, he should switch to an AMD board and grab the Sapphire; though, in that case, the pricier XFX model would actually be the better pick due to its higher overclocking headroom and a more efficient, quieter cooler.

Look, the R9 270 and 270X are essentially the same card, just with one having a higher clock speed. 🤷Wouldn't it make more sense to just grab the cheaper 270, do a little overclocking, and save about $20 instead of $33 paying nearly as much for a 280 when he could achieve those same performance levels just by overclocking the cheaper model?

It’s sitting just north of $400, featuring an i5 processor—which I'd say edges out the FX 6300—plus a solid cooling setup and a three-year warranty on the Asus 265 graphics card.

1 x Intel Core i5-4440 Processor (3.10GHz, 1MB, 6MB, 84 W, Socket 1150) Box
1 x ASUS H81M-K, 1150, Intel ® H81 express chipset, DDR3
1 x ASUS R7265-DC2-2GD5, AMD Radeon R7 265, PCIe 3.0, 2GB DDR5
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x XFX Core edition 80 + 450 w pas - EasyRail Technology 1 x Thermaltake Versa ii
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x Zalman ZM-T1 PLUS micro tower case. 189(W) x 427,5(H) x 364(D)mm
1 x Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk Black, SATA

$1390

Robert Rodriguez2 and Amy Vaughn12, I really appreciate you both walking me through those i5 configurations,

While I realize that having 8GB of RAM has become pretty much a non-negotiable standard these days, I can't help but feel that opting for an H81 motherboard might be a bit too risky given the tier of components we are looking at, so I find myself wondering just how much of an upgrade moving up to a B85M would actually be...
One other thing on my mind is the actual performance gap between CL9 and CL11 RAM; is that something I'll even notice during real-world use, or am I just chasing diminishing returns?

rustydriver11 said:Robert Rodriguez2 and Amy Vaughn12, thanks for the i5 builds,

but 8GB of RAM is pretty much mandatory these days. Also, using an H81 board feels like a gamble for parts at this level; how much better is the B85M actually?
One more thing—is there even a noticeable difference between CL9 and CL11 RAM, or am I wasting my time?

I’m not a fan of building budget rigs with bottom-of-the-barrel parts. I'd rather grab a cheaper GPU; you can always swap a card later, but a motherboard limits your upgrades.

As for the RAM, you won't notice any difference during normal daily use.🙂

Robert Rodriguez2 said:I generally don't enjoy building systems in this budget range using the absolute cheapest components available, so I'd honestly rather pick a slightly more affordable GPU; it offers much better potential for future upgrades than a motherboard would.

And when it comes to RAM, you really won't notice any difference at all during your everyday tasks.🙂

It’s all a bit of a toss-up, really. I think we all dream of building a rig from top-tier, high-end parts, but we have to work within the reality of our actual purchasing power. It isn't that I can't afford a better machine, but life happens—there are other responsibilities and expenses to take care of, so you just have to make compromises.
Besides, it feels a bit pointless to build an overkill PC just to make the specs look impressive on paper for the games and apps I actually run. At the end of the day, this setup will probably be obsolete in just a few years anyway.

It looks like this is what I'll be going with:

Gigabyte GA-H81M-DS2V, Socket 1150, Intel® H81 express chipset, 2 x 1.5V
Intel Core i5-4440 (3.10GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
XFX R9-270A, R9-270A-CDFC, Double Dissipation Edition 925M Boost
HDD WD 1TB, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3,64 MB, 3,5", 24mj
XFX Core edition 80 + 450 w pas - EasyRail Technology 1 x Thermaltake Versa ii
Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk Black, SATA
Thermaltake Versa ii, Midi Tower, ATX, mATX, 5,25" external slot

I really want to thank everyone for all the helpful advice you've given me.