$300 build!

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1

Hey guys I want to build this system for my lil bro. He wont be doing any "hardcore" gaming probably just MMO's and Age of Empire type games. I pretty much based this off a mix of the "Cheap ass gaming pc" and the "$350 gaming build" I just wanted to see if anyone on the forum had any other suggestions! Thanks guys! 

~ Parker 

*Heres what I came up with* 

"CPU: AMD A6-5400K 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.28 @ DirectCanada) 

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Canada Computers)


Memory: Kingston HyperX 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($25.49 @ Newegg Canada)


Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)


Case: Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX)


Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Memory Express)


Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Canada Computers)


Total: $304.72

 

2

do you have a PCPartPicker link?

3

Yea here sorry. 

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/smdQ

 

4

looks pretty good, note that you will get worse efficiency with such a high power supply, but you might not care about that.

The only thing is the processor. Get an A10, or at the very least, get an A8, the extra two cores are worth the cost.

5

I would go with the original build, and try to squeze in the extra $40. If you can, use an old DVD drive, or go to you local computer store and ask if they have any cheap ones.

6

i realy like quad cores http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/sn2e $299 with A8

7

Nice, but very high PSU

8

ya i was looking for somthing that would match the power needs but i couldn't find any thing cheeper that was reliable, but this way if he adds a good gpu later it will still work

9

True.

10

Hey this really helped me out thanks! I just changed a few things just because I'd rather order all from the same place. check it out for me please? http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/sno8

11

I don't see why someone wouldn't buy more wattage than that someone needs( unless the lower wattage one is that much cheaper, or the higher one is a bad brand or something along those lines). It's always good to buy more than you need. You'll have the capability to add a dedicated graphics card.

If you can, add a around $10 more and you'll be able to buy a 1TB Seagate Barracuda drive.

If you don't know how to OC ram, buy faster speeds. AMD APUs really benefit from faster ram speeds. If you know how to OC, then it's alright

12

I know how thats why I was looking at the kingston RAM apperently it handles OC nicer then some other brands. What's your experience?

13

Here we are, changed a few things made it nice and compatible (I think). 

As for where to buy, I would say, don't listen to PCPartPicker. Find deals at places like www.NCIX.com, www.Newegg.ca, www.TigerDirect.ca, and www.CanadaComputers.com. NCIX has some sales on, I would look through that, and subscribe for emails from all of the above, as well as check for daily deals.

You should find out what things that you want are worth, and buy it when you see a good deal.

Other than that, if you can, wait for boxing day, other wise, buy it over the corse of a few weeks, not all at one time (unless you find alot of good deals). You will save money, and inturn, get a better computer.

14

i would find a lower watt psu Just because psu's are most efficient around 50% load and you won't be using more than 200 watts most likely it will only use 150 w

15

I have look on PCPartPicker, and they don't seem to get much better. And it provides room for expantion, and the inefficiencys likly arn't any cause for worry, seeing as they wont be more then a few watts. (maybe 20?) 

16

ya i know slim pickings for low watt psu's unless you go the to $50 price range.

17

Thanks for all the help guys! The only thing is that if I go dual channel memory (2x4GB) I'll get higher FPS. Correct me if I'm wrong.. 

 

18

It wont make a difference worth noting, and if you get single, you can add another chanel later.

19

more ram is always better but you should have 8gb imo. so if you can get 2x4gb now get it or buy one 4gb stick now and one later. yes, having mem in dual chanal will improve things. if you cant wait or if you wont upgrade from 1x4 to 2x4 in a week or two then get the 2x2gb

20

yeah please do yourself a favor and go to an a8 or a10.

you might wanna go with this case because it's got usb 3 and your mobo does http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147160

 besides that, i like it. the psu is a good deal and i like apu's and was pretty impressed with the mobile a8's overall performance, and that's a mobile processor that can't be oc'ed or anything and is just overall a little slower.