Looking for a Budget gaming PC

[schwank05]

Hello, I am in the market for a new Gaming rig and have a pretty tight budget of $500.00 I will play mainly WOW: Classic, and LOL possibly some 7 Days to Die . I like other survival games also so ARK, Conan, Satisfactory may all be in the future as well. I have never played on anything other than a Laptop so I am guessing anything will be better than what Im used to never raided in wow with higher than 30fps. Id love to be in the 60FPS range if at all possible.

Budget
$500.00

Resolution
1080P

Games / Settings Desired
WOW Classic, LOL and Survival games- whatever will get me at a consistent 60fps

Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc)
No gaming and web surfing only

Country
US

Parts that can be reused
None fresh first build

Do you need an OS?
Yes, Windows 10

Do you need peripherals (e.g. monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc)?

I do not need Peripherals, have everything other than a Keyboard Ill get one of them at some point.

[Temp name]

If you're hardset on the 500 budget:
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/W9W2yX
You might get 30fps at low-ish settings

If you can find a cheaper windows (From resellers, etc):
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/DZ8Why
You'll get a better CPU and graphics from it, probably getting 30fps at mid-ish

If you can stretch to 600:
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/GtJvJ8
You'll get *VASTLY* better graphics. Can probably get 60fps at medium+ at 1080p on all the games you want

[schwank05]

I could stretch to $600.00, but Id need to be able to get windows somehow so if it can be found cheaper or can be reused more times from another PC?

[Temp name]

I could stretch to $600.00, but Id need to be able to get windows somehow so if it can be found cheaper or can be reused more times from another PC?

If you're fine with a little water mark in the bottom right and not being able to change your background, you don't even have to pay for Win10, just download it from Microsoft's website and don't activate it.

If you want to activate it for cheaper than Microsoft sells it, try googling "Cheap Win10 keys" and find a reseller site. I'd stick away from the very cheapest ones, but they should be available for 30USD or in that neighbourhood.

You could also try digging up the Windows key from your laptops and see if that works, and if it doesn't you could try contacting Microsoft. They're fairly lenient when it comes to windows keys all things considered.

[Onikaroshi]

If you're fine with a little water mark in the bottom right and not being able to change your background, you don't even have to pay for Win10, just download it from Microsoft's website and don't activate it.

If you want to activate it for cheaper than Microsoft sells it, try googling "Cheap Win10 keys" and find a reseller site. I'd stick away from the very cheapest ones, but they should be available for 30USD or in that neighbourhood.

You could also try digging up the Windows key from your laptops and see if that works, and if it doesn't you could try contacting Microsoft. They're fairly lenient when it comes to windows keys all things considered.

I've had great luck getting home keys for around 12 bucks, not going to link any sites here because idk if that's against ToS, but it's not some wild west land were they're ripping you off constantly.

As for windows and reusing keys....... my experience has been the complete opposite with 10, i haven't gotten them to move over a SINGLE key.

[schwank05]

If you're fine with a little water mark in the bottom right and not being able to change your background, you don't even have to pay for Win10, just download it from Microsoft's website and don't activate it.

If you want to activate it for cheaper than Microsoft sells it, try googling "Cheap Win10 keys" and find a reseller site. I'd stick away from the very cheapest ones, but they should be available for 30USD or in that neighbourhood.

You could also try digging up the Windows key from your laptops and see if that works, and if it doesn't you could try contacting Microsoft. They're fairly lenient when it comes to windows keys all things considered.

So I guess what does it look like building it with no OS included in the pricing?

[Temp name]

So I guess what does it look like building it with no OS included in the pricing?

If you can stretch to 600 and can find a cheap OS: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/XXHvJ8
Your storage is still fairly limited, one of the first things I'd do when you get a bit of extra money is to buy either bigger SSD, or some spinning storage in whatever capacity you need. I'd recommend 1-2 TB and you have plenty of storage for games and whatever else you want to put on it for a while.

edit -
If you want suggestions:
1TB hdd: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/MwW...drive-wd10ezex
2TB hdd: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/CbL...ve-st2000dm006
500gb SSD: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6yK...e-mz-76e500bam or https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6j4...ve-wds500g2b0b .
1TB SSD: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/yzf...e-mz-76e1t0bam or https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DgJ...ve-wds100t2b0b

For the SSDs, the samsung will perform a bit better, but the WD won't require you to run wires

[pansertjald]

I wont link to the direct site, but just the article on Guru3d on spring sale on win 10 pro

Guru3d urcdkey spring sale(up-to-86-off)-windows 10 pro

[schwank05]

If you can stretch to 600 and can find a cheap OS: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/XXHvJ8
Your storage is still fairly limited, one of the first things I'd do when you get a bit of extra money is to buy either bigger SSD, or some spinning storage in whatever capacity you need. I'd recommend 1-2 TB and you have plenty of storage for games and whatever else you want to put on it for a while.

edit -
If you want suggestions:
1TB hdd: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/MwW...drive-wd10ezex
2TB hdd: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/CbL...ve-st2000dm006
500gb SSD: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6yK...e-mz-76e500bam or https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6j4...ve-wds500g2b0b .
1TB SSD: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/yzf...e-mz-76e1t0bam or https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DgJ...ve-wds100t2b0b

For the SSDs, the samsung will perform a bit better, but the WD won't require you to run wires

I like the looks of that price, How will this run the game do you think? Isn't a regular HD like $30-40? I have never had more than a 500gb total in a HD, remember laptop gaming is all Ive ever done. I just want something that is going to be fairly easy to assemble, wiring does not scare me a whole lot I build performance hot rods for a living and wire them up and do EFI tuning so I am pretty comfortable with wiring and cable management.

[Temp name]

I like the looks of that price, How will this run the game do you think? Isn't a regular HD like $30-40? I have never had more than a 500gb total in a HD, remember laptop gaming is all Ive ever done. I just want something that is going to be fairly easy to assemble, wiring does not scare me a whole lot I build performance hot rods for a living and wire them up and do EFI tuning so I am pretty comfortable with wiring and cable management.

A 580 will be able to do basically anything at 1080p max settings at 60fps currently on the market, and if you're fine with putting down settings, should be fine for a year or two. The only thing you should be wary of is things like WoW that are horribly optimized. You should be able to raid at 30+ if you put the settings way down.

If you can justify the money, get an SSD then, since they'll be faster, so you won't have to wait as long for loading times. But nothing really comes close to hard drives for GB per dollar

[schwank05]

A 580 will be able to do basically anything at 1080p max settings at 60fps currently on the market, and if you're fine with putting down settings, should be fine for a year or two. The only thing you should be wary of is things like WoW that are horribly optimized. You should be able to raid at 30+ if you put the settings way down.

If you can justify the money, get an SSD then, since they'll be faster, so you won't have to wait as long for loading times. But nothing really comes close to hard drives for GB per dollar

So wow in raids will be 30FPS on low settings? even classic you think? Will I be able to upgrade parts in this in the future to get better performance?

[Saphyron]

So wow in raids will be 30FPS on low settings? even classic you think? Will I be able to upgrade parts in this in the future to get better performance?

Wow, raiding is CPU-bound, you won't see much difference between cards. Which is also why you won't see 60+ fps in raids.

i.e. the better your CPU is the more fps you will see in raids.

Example:
I5-9400f + 1070 vs I5-9400f + 1080
The difference in fps is so small that you won't really see it during normal play.

Now if it was I3-9100 + 1070 vs I5-9600k + 1070
The difference is quite noticeable.

[schwank05]

Would this SSD work in place of the lesser sized one? Western Digital WDS500G2B0A

[Temp name]

So wow in raids will be 30FPS on low settings? even classic you think? Will I be able to upgrade parts in this in the future to get better performance?

We don't really know how Classic will run, but it's running the 7.3 client I believe, and considering the clusterfuck that is the current WoW engine, I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't handle 40 people in a raid particularly well.

As for upgrades, you can fairly easily replace RAM, CPU, storage, GPU, and PSU. If you want to replace Case or MOBO, you'll need pretty much a full disassembly to do so.

Anything on this list is fully compatible with the first list I gave you, and you can just pick and choose which component you'd rather: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/PvwwsZ

[schwank05]

Wow, raiding is CPU-bound, you won't see much difference between cards. Which is also why you won't see 60+ fps in raids.

So what would be needed to get there?

- - - Updated - - -

We don't really know how Classic will run, but it's running the 7.3 client I believe, and considering the clusterfuck that is the current WoW engine, I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't handle 40 people in a raid particularly well.

As for upgrades, you can fairly easily replace RAM, CPU, storage, GPU, and PSU. If you want to replace Case or MOBO, you'll need pretty much a full disassembly to do so.

Anything on this list is fully compatible with the first list I gave you, and you can just pick and choose which component you'd rather: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/PvwwsZ

Cool deal, I think Ill just grab some of the better recommended parts and buy things as I can afford so I can start putting stuff together over time, I have 3-4 months to get this put together as I don't see Classic releasing any time before July.

[Saphyron]

So what would be needed to get there?

Updated original post. But there is not really any system that will let you get 60+ fps in raiding at all.
WOW raiding is simply unoptimized piece of shit. Because of the way MMO's work.

But I would recommend temp name's builds. He and I usually agree on most points (usually).

[Bryntrollian]

So what would be needed to get there?

- - - Updated - - -



Cool deal, I think Ill just grab some of the better recommended parts and buy things as I can afford so I can start putting stuff together over time, I have 3-4 months to get this put together as I don't see Classic releasing any time before July.

Good luck with your building.

Also, get Windows 10 here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

[Temp name]

Updated original post. But there is not really any system that will let you get 60+ fps in raiding at all.
WOW raiding is simply unoptimized piece of shit. Because of the way MMO's work.

But I would recommend temp name's builds. He and I usually agree on most points (usually).

It's not entirely the fault of MMO's in general, but also just WoW being fucking ancient and (probably) being a mess under the hood

[Dilbon]

Here's a video of how different CPUs do in dungeons and raids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5fHtDZehmw

[Neighbor]

Around $600-$1000 should be doable for such a build.