Budget gaming PC build under $900?

I was planning on putting together a gaming rig for under $2000. I spent some time scouring sites for the cheapest parts possible and finally pulled this build together... but since I haven't actually tested it yet, I wanted to see if anyone thinks this configuration is even worth anything. I know the GPU usually costs less than the CPU, but prices shifted—so I used the difference to grab a slightly better motherboard:

PSU: AEROCOOL KCAS 500W - $139
Motherboard: ASROCK H97 Pro4 - $208
GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N960G1 GAMING-4GD GTX960 4GB GDDR5 PCIE- $595
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.50GHz 1150 BOX - $604
RAM: HyperX Fury 8GB DDR3 1600MHz CL10 KIT HX316C10FK2/8 - $127
HDD: WD Blue 1TB 7200rpm 64MB SATA3 WD10EZEX - $135
Case: NZXT Source 340 black-blue - $174

Any thoughts?

amberangler15 said:I was planning to put together a gaming PC for under $2000 and I've been browsing sites for the cheapest parts possible. I've built the rig but haven't been able to test it yet, so I'm wondering if this setup is actually any good. I know the GPU is cheaper than the CPU, but prices shifted, so I used that extra cash to grab a better motherboard:

PSU: AEROCOOL KCAS 500W - $139
Motherboard: ASROCK H97 Pro4 - $208
GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N960G1 GAMING-4GD GTX960 4GB GDDR5 PCIE- $595
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.50GHz 1150 BOX - $604
RAM: HyperX Fury 8GB DDR3 1600MHz CL10 KIT HX316C10FK2/8 - $127
HDD: WD Blue 1TB 7200rpm 64MB SATA3 WD10EZEX - $135
Case: NZXT Source 340 black-blue - $174

????

Oof, nothing here is working for me.🙂

1 x Asrock H81M-HDS, s1150, Intel H81, M-ATX, dual Channel 2 xDDR3
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 Processor (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston, HyperX Fury, 1866MHz, CL10
1 x Gigabyte GTX970 WF3 OC 4GB GDDR5, GV-N970WF3OC, 256 bit,
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100
1 x Zalman Z1 mid tower case. 199(W)x432(H)x457(D)mm. MB standard
1 x Fortron 500W PSU, Hyper, PPA5005003, 12cm fan

$2122 reddit.com

I went over $60, but the card I picked is way more powerful than the one you listed, so your gaming experience would be much smoother. If that's too pricey, you could swap in THIS card instead, which would save you some $1733money. Honestly though, I'd suggest spending that extra $30 or so because it's definitely worth it. 😉

So, what’s your take—do you think this rig can actually handle modern titles at 1080p on High settings while maintaining a steady 60 fps?
Anyway, thanks a lot...

amberangler15 said:Also, what do you think? Can this setup handle newer games at 1080p on High settings at 60 fps??
thanks a ton

No worries 🙂 With the build you put together, you could run most things just fine, though you might need to dial back a few settings for the really demanding titles. With this, you can pretty much max out almost everything🙂

What’s your take on me just swapping in your RAM and GPU with my current setup—I mean, it’s $2233... but if it actually performs better, I’m down. Plus, it looks significantly cleaner this way. So, tell me straight—would upgrading just the RAM and the graphics card actually result in a better rig overall?

So, what’s the plan—are you actually planning to overclock? If you aren't, there's really no reason to go for the 4690K. You might as well just grab the Intel Core i5-4460 and call it a day.
Also, you should probably look for a more reliable power supply than an AeroCool; stick to something like an EVGA or Corsair. As for the RAM and the GPU, those can be whatever you prefer.

I’m leaning toward overclocking—mostly because this current generation of games is getting increasingly demanding and poorly optimized... so I figure if I’m going to do it, I might as well push both the CPU and the GPU. Even if the processor itself isn't the main bottleneck, $22333 doesn't seem like much of an effort to justify. I’m planning to pull this whole build together around 2016, so I expect the total cost to sit right around $2000 once prices drop—especially if I just swap out the RAM and go with a graphics card similar to the one
mentioned.

amberangler15 said:I’m leaning towards overclocking because this next generation of games is looking increasingly demanding. Honestly, while the CPU isn't always the most critical component, I'm thinking about overclocking both the processor and the GPU just to be safe... $22333 It’s not that much to save up, honestly. I’m planning on putting this build together around 2016, so I figure that configuration should still be pretty solid by then... $2000 Is it really going to drop prices just by swapping out the RAM and the GPU for the stuff he sent me?

I’m not entirely sure what you’re getting at, but if I’m reading you right, you're planning on picking up a new rig next year? If that's the case, there's really no point in hunting for advice right now. By then, the next generation of components will be out and prices will have shifted completely, so building a parts list today just doesn't make sense.