Budget gaming build under $700?

Hi,
I'm looking to put together a new PC and could use some advice.
Gaming is my main priority here.
My budget is around $4,800, though I might be able to stretch to $5,000 if necessary.
I also need a monitor included in that—nothing smaller than 19''.
Payment method: using a Visa card with 12 monthly installments.
Thanks in advance.

1 x LG monitor 22M35A-B
1 x AMD FX X6 6300 3.5Ghz (4.1GHz) box
1 x Crucial 4GB DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) CL11
1 x Gigabyte 970A DS3P, AM3+
1 x LC POWER LC-CC-95, socket 775/1155/1156/AMD
1 x Seagate BarraCuda 500 GB 3.5"
1 x LG GH24NS sat Bulk Black 24x
1 x Zalman Z1, USB3.0 black, 2x120mm
1 x Fortron Hexa+ 400W, 80+, active, 12 cm
1 x Gigabyte R7 260X OC, 2GB GDDR5, HDMI, DVI

Price is $1667 via credit card. Available through FUTURA IT, which includes free assembly and shipping.

1 x Dell LCD 21.5 Wide, IPS monitor, WLED, 1920x1080@60 Hz
1 x Intel Pentium G3258 (3.20GHz, 512KB, 3MB, 54 W, 1150) Box
1 x MSI R7 265 2GD5 OC, 2GB DDR5, DVI-I, DVI, DP, HDMI, R7 265 2GD5
1 x Gigabyte GA-B85M-D3H, Socket : 1150, Intel® B85, 4xDDR3 1600
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Seagate BarraCuda 500 GB 3.5, 1TB, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, ST1000DM003
1 x FORTRON HEXA 400W Power Supply, 12cm fan, Active PFC 1 x
1 x Zalman Z1 mid tower case. 199(W)x432(H)x457(D)mm. ATX standard
1 x LG GH24NS sat Bulk, DVD±RW, 24x DVD±R ,8x DL , 40x CD-R

$50.00
eBay

AMD FX X6 6300 vs. Intel Pentium G3258
MSI R7 265 2GD5 OC vs. Gigabyte R7 260X OC
😕

If you're looking for a better CPU than the AMD FX 6300, you'll need to step up your game.
The R7 265 is definitely the superior GPU here.
If you're looking to upgrade, I’d definitely suggest going with an AOC—specifically one that features an IPS panel. You'll notice a massive difference in color accuracy and viewing angles compared to what you might be using now. It's a much better way to go if you want a cleaner, more vibrant picture.

Thanks,
Quick question: would this power supply
and this hard drive
fit this current setup? I'm hoping to avoid buying entirely new parts if they aren't compatible.
If they work, I might have enough left over to upgrade to a better CPU or maybe a decent GPU.

It’s doable, but you probably shouldn't go too crazy with the other components since that power supply isn't exactly high-end—it’s not junk, but it’s nothing serious either.

For instance, instead of an R7 260x, you could grab an NVIDIA GTX 750 to take some load off the PSU. Similarly, rather than an R7 265, a slightly lower-powered GTX 750Ti would also help reduce the strain. Or, instead of sticking with the AMD FX 6300, you might consider an Intel Core i5-4460 paired with an Intel H81 or B85 motherboard.

Here is an example of a build without an optical drive:

1 x Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz, 1MB, 6MB, 84 W, 1150) Box / - or an i5 4440 which wouldn't require a BIOS update
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x Gigabyte GTX750Ti OC 2048 GDDR5 128bit
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. Standard MB size
1 x Dell LCD 21.5 Wide, IPS, WLED, 1920x1080@60 Hz
1 x Asrock H81M-HDS, s1150, Intel H81, M-ATX, dual Channel 2 xDDR3

$1488 - admin note - price is for cash; financing would be up to 10% more expensive.

The CPU is more powerful than the AMD FX 6300 while pulling less power, and the GPU is stronger than the 260X but slightly weaker than the 265, all while being more energy efficient.

BTW, you can just reuse the optical drive and the case from your old PC if the drive uses a SATA connection; you could even skip the drive entirely.

Well, let him leave it. It's not like Xilence is known for top-tier quality, but at least he can save enough for a decent lunch...🙂

I don't really have any use for a disc drive, but I definitely need a new case—mine is over 10 years old now, haha.

edit: What exactly would happen if I swapped in this more powerful GPU?

It might be nothing. Typically, signs that you're pushing a power supply too hard include rising temperatures, louder fan noise, or even random restarts under load. In a worst-case scenario, the unit could fail entirely, though it’s rare for it to take other components down with it.

Look, this isn't some high-end, top-tier power supply (there are several versions out there anyway), and you won't find many deep-dive reviews or much user feedback online. Because of that, nobody can tell you with absolute certainty where its breaking point lies. An i5 paired with a GTX 750 Ti should be a safe bet, but an R7 265 would likely hold up just fine too.

Dell LCD 21.5 Wide, 6ms, 16:9, IPS
Crucial 8GB 1600MHz RAM module
MSI H81M-P33,1150
Intel Core i5-4460 soc 1150
Zalman ZM-T2 plus micro tower case black
MSI GF GTX 750 TI TF, 2GB DDR5

4,$220 PCPartPicker

And that Xilence unit holds up just fine without any issues...

Kimberly Gomez34 said:It might be nothing. Typically, signs that you're pushing a power supply too hard include rising temperatures, louder fan noise, or even random restarts under load. In a worst-case scenario, the unit could fail entirely, though it’s rare for it to take other components down with it.

Look, this isn't some high-end, top-tier power supply (there are several versions out there anyway), and you won't find many deep-dive reviews or much user feedback online. Because of that, nobody can tell you with absolute certainty where its breaking point lies. An i5 paired with a GTX 750 Ti should be a safe bet, but an R7 265 would likely hold up just fine too.

Since I'm about to drop roughly $1667 on a new gaming build (already got my peripherals sorted), can I just keep using my current power supply? It's a Corsair 550W and it's about 5 years old.

thanks

Jesse Williams13 said:Since I'm about to drop roughly $1667 on a new gaming build (already got my peripherals sorted), can I just keep using my current power supply? It's a Corsair 550W and it's about 5 years old.

thanks

As long as it's a decent model—like the VX or HX series—you should be fine.

Kimberly Gomez34 said:As long as it's a decent model—like the VX or HX series—you should be fine.

Are we forgetting about VS? 😛 If it actually is VS, I wouldn't bother putting it in a $5,000 build, ESPECIALLY if you're leaning toward AMD. Check the exact model and let me know; it's right there on the label.

Yeah, but there's no way it's VS since that thing is already 5 years old 😉

graniteharbor85 said:Yeah, but there's no way it's VS since that thing is already 5 years old 😉

Smartass 😛