£650 Gaming PC

Hi guys I am wanted to build a gaming pc. After looking at laptops are seeing how expensive they are for one with decent specs, I decided I want to get a PC instead as I know I won't use the laptop as it is meant to be used. 

So I just want to best value for money PC that will last me at least 3 years without an upgrade. I need a copy of Windows so it will be Windows 8.1. Also I need an optical drive to install it off. That dents the budget by around £100 so it leaves £550 for the rest of the PC. I don't need anything else with it, just the PC and the operating system. 

Thanks in advance.

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/H2dMTW

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor (£70.20 @ Aria PC)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£25.28 @ CCL Computers)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£64.49 @ Amazon UK)

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£63.50 @ Ebuyer)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£40.31 @ Amazon UK)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card (£186.82 @ Scan.co.uk)

Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case (£59.98 @ Amazon UK)

Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (£60.06 @ CCL Computers)

Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer (£11.27 @ Scan.co.uk)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) (£72.88 @ Ebuyer)

Total: £654.79

Is there any chance of squeezing down in a few places so I can get a 64gb SSD for the OS. Is a SSHD a good buy? Also im sure you can get an i5 micro atx build for this price.

4gb ram is enough. get a single kit and a cheaper psu.

Why do you want a Intel build? 

(not being a dick, just want to know before suggesting a build)

if your sure about it why don't you try to do it

You said you want intel so here is one grat bang fo buck PC http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/LGpDkL

If you would manage to go with windows 7 and install it from a USB stick, you could get:

i5-4460

8GB of ram

120GB SSD + 1 TB HDD

and an R9 280

For 649£

The case is a bit basic but it has room for everything and will keep everything running cool with that extra included fan ( i would mount it on the sidepanel to give the GPU nice fresh air)

Hope I helped :)

I asked for Windows 8.1 and there is no optical drive.

Im sure the i5 4570 is better than the FX 6300 even when it is over clocked. 

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/MMXhmG

Is there any chance of squeezing down in a few places so I can get a 64gb SSD for the OS. Is a SSHD a good buy? Also im sure you can get an i5 micro atx build for this price.

Intel dosent make much sense at this price point you just sacrifice GPU horsepower for cpu power and thats the opposite of what you need but whatever here you go.

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/PLjqBm

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£164.39 @ Aria PC)

Motherboard: MSI Z87M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£64.69 @ CCL Computers)

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£55.34 @ Scan.co.uk)

Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 64GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£46.72 @ Amazon UK)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£39.99 @ Amazon UK)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card (£129.59 @ Overclockers.co.uk)

Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case (£31.44 @ Aria PC)

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (£49.93 @ CCL Computers)

Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer (£11.27 @ Scan.co.uk)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) (£72.88 @ Ebuyer)

Total: £666.24

 

If you would manage to go with windows 7 and install it from a USB stick, you could get:

I said this, that's the only way to get a good intel build for the price point

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/MMXhmG

Isn't this much better than the FX 6300 build?

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/FZpVGX

This gets you everything, but its a little over budget at 688 pounds.

  • i5-4690 (this will beat a fx 6300 overclocked)
  • GTX 760 (for a little more you can get a R9-280, it is ever so slightly better)
  • fractal design arc mini (much better than core 1000 due to front fan clearance)
  • 120GB samsung evo SSD
  • 1TB HDD
  • asrock B85 pro4 mobo with intel nic
  • corsair 600w semi-modular power supply.

This should give you the most performance and longest lasting system. The processor is good enough that you could drop in a new graphics card in a few years and still be good to go (unless 8 thread games start taking over the market). This build has everything but processor overclocking.

Will the B85 motherboard need a BOIS update or does it support Haswell refresh out of the box?

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/qnzH8d

i personally have the fx 6300 and it is quality for the price and i have not oc'd it yet as i lack a cooler unlike your good self with the build above. It's a little over price but well worth the money and if i was you id save a little more and get a better case like the switch 810 as it is currently on sale for £86 and is a bargain for a full tower of it's caliber. I would also then get an ssd probably a Samsung evo or a kingston hyper.

I'm not trying to be rude however it sounds like your a bit of an intel fanboy and at this price range you would be very mislead and obnoxious to consider an i5 as your other components wouldn't match the caliber of an i5.

Hope i helped :)

I read people say it does, but check the website to make sure.. its my bed time right now.... sorry.

Yes, but better at what?

I prefer Intel so yes you can call me a fanboy :P

Anyway about the price. FX 6300 (£75), a motherboard that gives you a good overclock (£65) and a decent CPU cooler (£25). Adds up to £165. i5 4440 (£130) and a motherboard with decent features (£40). Adds up to £170. I also prefer not to overclock so that is an advantage of Intel. Also the lower power consumption of the overall build is important as electricity is quite expensive the UK compared to other places.  

Can someone build something in the Elite 130 as after measuring the tiny amount of space I have in my room I think a small ITX build is the best option.