Help needed: $6500 PC build advice!

Hey everyone :P

I've been putting together a gaming rig with a $6,500 budget, but I’m feeling a bit unsure—where did I mess up in your eyes? Does anything here actually need to change?
Seriously, rip my ego apart if you have to; any criticism is welcome. Since I’m paying with an American Express card, I know most big retailers offer some kind of points or perks, and obviously, prices vary everywhere, so if you have a specific shop recommendation, let me know. Right now, I’ve just thrown everything into a cart at Best Buy.

Also, keep in mind I’m trying to build this to last for the next 3 or 4 years, so I'm trying to squeeze out every bit of value possible. I mostly play League, all the Call of Duty series, and CS, so I want the best performance I can get within the $2167 range—nothing more, nothing less. 😁

DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) PC3-12800 1600MHz CL9 Corsair Vengeance LP, CML8GX3M1A1600C9, CML8GX3M1C1600C9
Intel Core i5-4670K (4MB Cache, up to 4.30 GHz)
EVGA GeForce GTX 1060, 8 GB DDR5, 256-bit, 1254/6700 MHz
ASUS ROG Maximus, sAM3+
Corsair VS Series VS450, ATX 2.31, CP-9020096
Zalman Z9 PLUS mid tower case. 207(W) x 464(H) x 504(D)mm. MB standard: Standard ATX / Micro ATX. P

So, basically, everything listed here is what I'd buy—I already have a CD drive, some hard drives, and an SSD that probably needs an upgrade anyway. If I pull the trigger at Best Buy, the total on a payment plan comes out to about $5,700, which leaves me with roughly $267 left over.

Please, tell me the best way to go about this—what should I scrap and what should I keep? It’s always that endless tug-of-war between Intel and AMD, or GeForce vs. Radeon... I'm stuck. And look, the budget is set in stone because my wife won't let me spend a single cent more than this. 😁

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, critiques, or info you can throw my way.

Angela Ramirez96 said:Hey everyone :P

I've been putting together a gaming rig with a $6,500 budget, but I’m feeling a bit unsure—where did I mess up in your eyes? Does anything here actually need to change?
Seriously, rip my ego apart if you have to; any criticism is welcome. Since I’m paying with an American Express card, I know most big retailers offer some kind of points or perks, and obviously, prices vary everywhere, so if you have a specific shop recommendation, let me know. Right now, I’ve just thrown everything into a cart at Best Buy.

Also, keep in mind I’m trying to build this to last for the next 3 or 4 years, so I'm trying to squeeze out every bit of value possible. I mostly play League, all the Call of Duty series, and CS, so I want the best performance I can get within the $2167 range—nothing more, nothing less. 😁

DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) PC3-12800 1600MHz CL9 Corsair Vengeance LP, CML8GX3M1A1600C9, CML8GX3M1C1600C9
Intel Core i5-4670K (4MB Cache, up to 4.30 GHz)
EVGA GeForce GTX 1060, 8 GB DDR5, 256-bit, 1254/6700 MHz
ASUS ROG Maximus, sAM3+
Corsair VS Series VS450, ATX 2.31, CP-9020096
Zalman Z9 PLUS mid tower case. 207(W) x 464(H) x 504(D)mm. MB standard: Standard ATX / Micro ATX. P

So, basically, everything listed here is what I'd buy—I already have a CD drive, some hard drives, and an SSD that probably needs an upgrade anyway. If I pull the trigger at Best Buy, the total on a payment plan comes out to about $5,700, which leaves me with roughly $267 left over.

Please, tell me the best way to go about this—what should I scrap and what should I keep? It’s always that endless tug-of-war between Intel and AMD, or GeForce vs. Radeon... I'm stuck. And look, the budget is set in stone because my wife won't let me spend a single cent more than this. 😁

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, critiques, or info you can throw my way.

Half these parts won't even work together.
For $6,500, try this instead:
1 x ASUS B150M, LGA 1151, DDR4/2133, PCIe, D-Sub/DVI/HDMI, S-ATA3, G-LAN, 8ch., Micro ATX
1 x Intel Core i5-6402P
1 x PNY DDR4 8GB, 2133MHz
1 x EVGA RX 480 CORE 1288M 8GB D5 3xDP HDMI
1 x Zalman Z3, USB3.0 black, 3x120mm
1 x Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDD, 64MB, 7200rpm, High-Performance
1 x EVGA SuperNova 550W, 80+ SILVER
1 x SSD 120GB

Total: $2078

Robert Rodriguez2 said:Half these parts won't even work together.
For $6,500, try this instead:
1 x ASUS B150M, LGA 1151, DDR4/2133, PCIe, D-Sub/DVI/HDMI, S-ATA3, G-LAN, 8ch., Micro ATX
1 x Intel Core i5-6402P
1 x PNY DDR4 8GB, 2133MHz
1 x EVGA RX 480 CORE 1288M 8GB D5 3xDP HDMI
1 x Zalman Z3, USB3.0 black, 3x120mm
1 x Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDD, 64MB, 7200rpm, High-Performance
1 x EVGA SuperNova 550W, 80+ SILVER
1 x SSD 120GB

Total: $2078

Which local shop put this together? And what exactly makes you think these parts don't work together?

Angela Ramirez96 said:Which local shop put this together? And what exactly makes you think these parts don't work together?

futura

You paired a processor that won't fit the board. It's an AM3 socket motherboard with an FM2+ chip. Plus, that power supply is absolute junk.

Well, my bad :/
By the way, what's the actual difference in FPS between the processor I picked out and that cheapest Intel Core i5 they have listed?
And while we're at it, how good is this graphics card actually?

Also, I requested the build without any drives—that way I can decide later if it makes more sense to beef up the GPU or the CPU, you know? Which one would be the better move?

One more thing—what kind of difference would it make if I paid with an American Express card, assuming I don't push the budget past $6,500?

You’re trying to put an FM2 processor on an AM3 motherboard, which just isn't going to work. Also, that power supply isn't exactly top-tier. Honestly, an i5 is a much better call than what you picked. Its closest match in the Intel camp for that socket would be the Intel Core i7-4770K, which is roughly in the same ballpark, but the i5 is probably the smarter move since it's newer (that i7-4770K architecture is basically five years old at this point).

What Robert Rodriguez2 posted is the sweet spot. Honestly, if you've got a little extra cash, just grab a bigger SSD instead.

I guess it's pretty obvious now that I’m a total newbie when it comes to building PCs...:/
That's why I'm reaching out—can someone please tell me if this build is actually any good? Since I'm not picking up a used GPU or an SSD right away, I'm wondering where I should really sink my money—should I go for a beefier graphics card or try to squeeze out more power with a better processor? Also, will things like Call of Duty or CS run smoothly on High settings?

Hey, does anyone know if it's possible to put a build together through Amazon? I've got an American Express card that lets me split things into 12 monthly payments. Or maybe there's some other cheaper option out there that still offers a 12-month installment plan?
So, I’m looking at a budget of $650—just for the motherboard, CPU, GPU, RAM, case, and power supply. I'll skip the SSD and HDD since I already have those lying around! Thanks.

It depends on what you’re after. If you skip the SSD and HDD, you've got a much bigger budget for everything else. Basically, you could stick with that same i5 but grab a GTX 1070 for a massive jump in graphics performance. Or, keep the same GPU but swap the i5 for an i7, which gives you a way better platform for future upgrades. So, it's really up to you... do you want a better foundation for later, or better frame rates right now? An i5 + RX480 is a balanced setup on its own, but those two alternatives are also solid combos depending on what I just said. Personally, I'd go with the i7 + RX480 if you plan on sticking to 1080p for a while. But if you're planning on getting a higher resolution monitor before you ever touch the GPU again, then the i5 + GTX 1070 is the smarter move.

Alright, I just put this together in the admin panel

ASUS B150M Motherboard, LGA 1151
Intel Core i5-6402P Processor (6MB Cache, up to 3.40 GHz), LGA 1151
16GB (1x16GB) DDR4 PC4-17000 2133MHz CL14 Corsair Vengeance, HX421C14FB/16 🍿
EVGA 550W Power Supply, ATX 2.3, EVGA 550W, PPA5502301
Zalman Z9 PLUS mid tower case. 207(W) x 464(H) x 504(D)mm. MB standard: Standard ATX / Micro ATX. P
= $1297

I have a few questions, so if anyone could weigh in, I’d appreciate it.
1. I bumped the RAM up to 16GB—is that actually necessary? Is it better to stick with 8GB just to keep things cheap and easy?
2. I’m missing a GPU because the one we originally picked isn't in stock at the shop, and waiting 10 days is just too long. What's the best move here? Should I grab something around $250, or should I just pick up a $200 card, drop the RAM down to 8GB to save some cash, and then upgrade both later when I can swap in a beefier processor?
3. How reliable is this processor when it comes to actual gaming performance and FPS?

If the CPU holds up, should I go for this specific card? It's an EVGA RX 480 8G D5 OC Nitro+, 8 GB DDR5, 256-bit, 1342/8000 MHz... or is there something better out there right now?

Look, I'm not exactly some hardcore tech enthusiast or anything, so my plan would be to grab everything plus this graphics card. As a gamer, I’m assuming this GPU can handle most stuff on High settings, and the processor should be enough for a while—unless I'm totally wrong about that. Maybe I should get a weaker GPU and a stronger CPU instead? But honestly, that feels like a bad play since $650 isn't exactly pocket change either. I’m playing on a 23-inch monitor—not looking to go bigger or smaller—and I mostly run at 1080p, though 😁 I might turn up the visual settings for newer titles just for the hell of it. I'm just hoping to squeeze every bit of value possible out of this $650 budget. :d

So many people hanging around here, yet absolutely nobody is answering 🙂

You don't really need 16GB, and I think the EVGA RX 480 is a solid pick. As for the CPU, I guess you've already had a few people answer that just a couple posts up.

So, nobody’s actually giving me a real breakdown on what this processor is really doing—like, what’s the actual difference between this one and, say, the $2,000 beast? Is the FPS jump actually massive, or are we just talking about some tiny, negligible gains?

Which one for $2000? Next step is an i7, which costs way more than $2000—already told you that above.

Angela Ramirez96 said:So, nobody’s actually giving me a real breakdown on what this processor is really doing—like, what’s the actual difference between this one and, say, the $2,000 beast? Is the FPS jump actually massive, or are we just talking about some tiny, negligible gains?

That i5 you were looking at is probably a solid deal. You could grab an i5 with a higher number, like an i5-6500, I guess, but it’ll cost you more just to see maybe 2 or 3 extra FPS. Might be better to put that extra cash toward a better GPU or an SSD instead.

You don't really need an i7 for gaming right now, honestly. If you had a bigger budget, maybe it would make sense, but in this case, the graphics card is still your top priority.

Angela Ramirez96 said:Well, my bad :/
By the way, what's the actual difference in FPS between the processor I picked out and that cheapest Intel Core i5 they have listed?
And while we're at it, how good is this graphics card actually?

Also, I requested the build without any drives—that way I can decide later if it makes more sense to beef up the GPU or the CPU, you know? Which one would be the better move?

One more thing—what kind of difference would it make if I paid with an American Express card, assuming I don't push the budget past $6,500?

CPU: Intel Core i5 6500 BOX, LGA 1151, 3.2GHz, 6MB cache, GPU, Quad Core
Motherboard: ASROCK H170M Pro4S, Intel H170, DDR4, audio, G-LAN, SATA3, USB 3.0, DVI, HDMI, mATX, LGA 1151
RAM: Memory PC-17000, 8 GB, Kingston ValueRAM, KVR21N15D8/8, DDR4 2133 MHz
GPU: Sapphire AMD Radeon RX 480 Nitro + , 8GB GDDR5, HDMI, DP
PSU: 550W Power Supply, ANTEC True Power Classic TP-550C, ATX, 120mm fan
CASE: Fractal Design Core 1100, MIDI, black, no PSU included
extra case fan: SCYTHE Kama PWM Fan, 92mm, 2500 rpm

Best Buy $2150 for Amex (1-12 monthly installments)

In this build, the processor is the only part that isn't a great value, but Best Buy doesn't have a cheaper i5 than this one... otherwise, Best Buy usually has the best prices on cards, though their stock selection can be a little "thin." ☕