Strict budget - Been a while since I built a desktop

[Tibb]

Hi all, last time i built a desktop windows XP had just came out (and that computer happens to be the one i use currently to play WoW.)

I'll follow the procedures in the sticky:

• Budget: $600
• Resolution: 1920x1200
• Games / Settings Desired: WoW Ultra (High when in Raids), GTA5, possibly ESO
• Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc): None
• Country: USA
• Parts that can be reused: None
• Do you need an OS?: No
• Do you need peripherals (e.g. monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc)?: None

I have a list picked out on PC partpicker, im just looking for advice/maybe better options that might stick within my budget. im not planning on any overclocking so im told the stock cpu cooler will do just fine. here we go.

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/wphenry84/saved/9XxWGX

Thanks again.

For those of you that dont want to use the partpicker website;

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($96.69 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($88.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: AMD R9 Gamer Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($119.50 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($41.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $517.03
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-30 02:05 EST-0500

[Vash The Stampede]

With a bit of tweaking we can do better. Here's my AMD build using your case choice. It's personally an ugly case and overpriced but that's what you selected. The system is a lot better for a small price increase. BTW no Seagate drives. Those things have a high failure rate.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($132.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($75.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill AEGIS 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($41.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $574.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-30 04:05 EST-0500

And likely requested by other members of this forum, here's an Intel i5 build. Slightly higher in price but I think it meets your price range. Just get a Radeon R9 270 instead if it doesn't. Surprisingly the i5 4440 is nearly the same price as a FX-8350. That's quite a surprising turn of events. At that price range I don't think the 8350 is worth a damn anymore. Not without price drops. AMD needs to do some serious price adjusting.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($168.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81-D3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill AEGIS 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($41.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $599.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-30 04:09 EST-0500

[Deleted]

Just shy of $600 before rebates. You should be able to raid on mostly high settings (turn Shadows and SSAO to low or off) and be fine:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4350 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($142.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($174.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Xigmatek Recon ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $568.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-30 04:15 EST-0500

The higher IPC of Intel's chips (even the dual-core) outstrip the FX-6300 in your specific circumstances. If you needed it for other things, I'd say go ahead and get the 6300, but for MMO usecases, get the i3 I suggested.

[Deleted]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($111.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($41.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $615.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-30 05:54 EST-0500

If you can't afford the 280X go with the Gigabyte above tenagry posted or a gtx760.

[Vash The Stampede]

Here's my suggestion with a different better and cheaper case. No idea why they're recommending you an i3 when your budget can support an i5.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($168.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81-D3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill AEGIS 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Azza SIRIUS ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $582.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-30 11:28 EST-0500

[Tibb]

I went with AMD for mostly Brand loyalty. my experiences with Intel have been less than pleasant but again i haven't built a pc from the ground up in almost 10 years.

have intel improved their pcu's? from my experience they are very temperamental when it comes to their temperature as where AMD's seem to run better when they are running a little hot..

The Case was recommended to me by a friend, i have no preference on design as long as there are front usb 3.0 ports, so im thankful some of you provided other options.

Im also not familiar with G.Skill memory - is this just a relabel of a more expensive/reliable/unreliable brand?

Thanks again for all your input, its greatly appreciated.

[Vash The Stampede]

have intel improved their pcu's? from my experience they are very temperamental when it comes to their temperature as where AMD's seem to run better when they are running a little hot..

Not the case anymore. If anything AMD has temperature issues, but with their motherboards. You can read more from this link. Basically the VRMs supply power to the CPU and etc, and motherboard makers have been cheap about it. As a result AMD chips tend to get throttled down in speed. Not AMD's fault but an issue with motherboards.

If you play WoW then go Intel. Honestly there's no reason not to go Intel with the i5 being so cheap. You can easily overclock the FX-8320 but I don't like other people to depend on something like overclocking. The AMD system is $30 cheaper but that's about it.

Im also not familiar with G.Skill memory - is this just a relabel of a more expensive/reliable/unreliable brand?

They're one of the better memory brand makers now.