Budget gaming pc: not looking for a build but some guidelines

[bryks]

So if I were to choose a CPU for a bugdet gaming pc I would use an AMD Athlon X4 860K ($70 on newegg) and if I wanted to make videos or stream I would use an AMD FX-6300 ($105 on newegg).

For memory 8gb (4gb x 2) is good ($50). DDR3 1600, Timing 9-9-9-24 and Cas Latency 9 seems like the go to settings.

All I know is Socket FM2+ for the Athlon x4 860k and Socket AM3+ for the FX-6300 for the motherboard. For a budget build I would be using a single gpu. How would I choose a mb? I'll just assume $75 is a good price.

GPU: GTX 960 ($210) or AMD equivalent to the highest clock speed so there shouldn't be any bottlenecking and it will run most games at high quality. For a budget GPU Radeon R7 250 ($90) or NVIDIA equivalent, hopefully it beats console graphics.

PSU: I guess 400-500w and $50 seems like a good price.

I don't know what makes a good case. The NZXT Source 210 ($40) seems like a good price. Is there a cheaper case that is also good quality?

I think most people use wifi so is any $20 pci wifi adapter good enough?

For the OS Windows is $20 on reddit microsoftsoftwareswap. I'm too scared to pirate.

This should be in like a $500-600 range. Any suggestions or fixes are appreciated.

[psycho_666]

Hey... OK, i'll answer each thing one by one...

So if I were to choose a CPU for a bugdet gaming pc I would use an AMD Athlon X4 860K ($70 on newegg) and if I wanted to make videos or stream I would use an AMD FX-6300 ($105 on newegg).

Yes and no... Yes, 6300 will be way better for content creation, but it will also be not bad at all for gaming. There is no reason, if you can afford 6300 to go for 860K. Especially, when 6300 is also opening a door for potential cheap upgrade with a second hand 8350 or something.

For memory 8gb (4gb x 2) is good ($50). DDR3 1600, Timing 9-9-9-24 and Cas Latency 9 seems like the go to settings.

Yes.

All I know is Socket FM2+ for the Athlon x4 860k and Socket AM3+ for the FX-6300 for the motherboard. For a budget build I would be using a single gpu. How would I choose a mb? I'll just assume $75 is a good price.

FM2+ go for Asrock or Gigabyte. Models: Asrock FM@A88X Extreme 4+, Asrock Fatal1ty FM2A88X+ Killer, Gigabyte GA-F2A88X-D3H
AM3+ go for Asus or Gigabyte. Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P. Worth the overprice.
I always check a few things: power phases on the CPU socket, front USB3 (AM3+ motherboards are really old, some of them don't have it), enough expansion slots, enough SATA, USB, etc slots, SOUND CHIP (Realtec 800 series and more), Lan chip (I have Qualcom onboard, killer nic is better, Intel nic is best as far as people say)...

GPU: GTX 960 ($210) or AMD equivalent to the highest clock speed so there shouldn't be any bottlenecking and it will run most games at high quality. For a budget GPU Radeon R7 250 ($90) or NVIDIA equivalent, hopefully it beats console graphics.

ATM: GTX750Ti < R7 370 < GTX950 < R7 270X < GTX960 < R9 285 < R9 380 < R9 280X
I would not go for lower than 750/750Ti. Simply, any lower is on the level of the APUs...

PSU: I guess 400-500w and $50 seems like a good price.

Depends... R9 280X and 6300 will eat up 450W, so you may want to go 550.
R9 380 and 860K will eat about 350W max, so just in case, i would go for 500...
Price is not really a factor. 80+ bronze from respected brand is my minimum. Respected brands - as many as you like. Cooler Master, Fractal Design, EVGA, Seasonic, FSP(Fortron), etc...

I don't know what makes a good case. The NZXT Source 210 ($40) seems like a good price. Is there a cheaper case that is also good quality?

For me a few things. Dust filtering (Source 210 have non), lot of fan spots (NZXT says Source 210 have up to 7), cable management (it's OK), airflow (actually it's good), looks (it's OK)... Looks go for last place. I can live with slightly uglier case if it have better features.

I think most people use wifi so is any $20 pci wifi adapter good enough?

I don't... Actually i know 1 person, from my friends circle, that uses WiFi on a PC...

For the OS Windows is $20 on reddit microsoftsoftwareswap. I'm too scared to pirate.

Yeah... Or you can go Linux...

So that's it... I suggest you get yourself some extra fans, may be a couple, some fan splitters or a fan hub, oh yeah...
SSD... 40$ for an SSD... Get yourself one of THOSE, install the OS on it and some basic software. No games, no nothing... Just the OS, Drivers, Skype, Players and browser... That's it. You welcome...

That's all i can think of at the moment... If you think of something else - just ask :)

[bryks]

Thanks man just what I was looking for. I forgot about the storage lol.

What would recommend for a case? I'm not sure what would be a good amount to spend for one. It doesn't have be be fancy just good airflow and dust filtering I guess.

[psycho_666]

What would recommend for a case?

Oh, that's a baaaaaaaaad rabbit hole...
Phanteks Enthoo Pro M. My GoTo favorite case atm... Get a couple of fans for intakes and you are set...
If you are willing to spend some extra cash - Arc Midi R2. I use this one for myself, can't say anything bad about it.
Now if you want to go really cheap:
Thermaltake Core V31. Have a really good feature list. You may want to get an extra fan for intake. Otherwise it's really really feature rich and well laid out case. Nice cable management, etc...
My absolute minimum, even though it's a bit flimsy, is Zalman Z3 Plus. The cable management is a bit tight, but damn, comes with 4 fans, a fan controller, fully dust proof, etc etc... Only 2 issues with it... The build quality is not the best. The panels are a bit flimsy, but once all is put together, it's OK. The other bad thing is the PCI-E slot covers. They are not reusable. Otherwise, it's better case than S210 imho.

I can talk to you about cases for hours :D That's why i said this is a bad rabbit hole...

[Streetguru]

Your choice is mostly better higher resolution lower fps gaming, or high fps gaming at 1080p

860k + 390 vs i5 4460 + 380

Unless you really need the 8 cores of the 8320e

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/4GZRdC
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/4GZRdC/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-DS2H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($46.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Elite Plus 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.33 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 390 8GB Video Card ($299.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($38.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill HIVE 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($63.00 @ Newegg)
Total: $606.28
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-24 18:55 EDT-0400

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sBBbJx
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sBBbJx/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($173.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($42.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Team Elite Plus 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.33 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 380 4GB PCS+ Video Card ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($38.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill HIVE 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($63.00 @ Newegg)
Total: $606.18
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-24 18:56 EDT-0400