Build A Pc 300 dollar somewhat gaming pc

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This pc is for all you guys who want to get out of the console and play with the big boys pc gamers.

This build is the absolute entry level pc but it has a lot of upgrade possibilities.

To start it off the cpu is the A6-5400k 3.6 GHz FM2 CPU not the greatest apu out there but you can always upgrade to a A8 or A10 which would give you a vast performance upgrade. 49.99@Microcenter

For the motherboard we will be going with the MSI FM2-A75MA-E35 this motherboard gives you everything you need and nothing you don't it has 6 SATA 6 ports which is really nice also it supports up to 16Gb of DDR3-2133 memory which is really nice for this price 59.99@microcenter

For the HDD we will be using the Toshiba 7,200 RPM SATA 6 Hard Drive its cheap and the reviews about it seems very positive 49.99@microcenter

For the memory we will be going with the Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3-1866 2 X 4 GB sticks this ram is very high quality and this stuff is really really fast people use this ram in 1500 dollar builds a little bit pricey but worth it 74.99@microcenter

For the Psu we will be going with the Diablotek EL 400w psu people may say don't skimp on the psu but I have the same exact psu and I had it for 3 years and its still running strong also it comes with a 1 year warranty all for 14.99@microcenter

The DVD drive is a LG DVD burner its 15.99@microcenter hate optical drives we need flash everything

The case is the Diablotek Gamer Series Citadel ATX case its just a house for your machine for 10 dollars more you can get a way better case but we need every penny 21.99@microcenter

The total is $287 before tax.

Upgrade Possibilities:

SSD around 99 dollars

A10-5800k 100 dollars at microceter

80+ bronze psu around 40 dollars

Better case around 35 bucks for a decent case

 

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This is from an unpublished guide I made. I still haven't finished it. This section targets the $400 range.

However, the prices have fluctuated quite a bit, especially for RAM, so here is an updated build:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/RAnm ($397.69)

$400 - The Casual gamer ($394.93) - Link (original)

Secondary Focus: Expandability/Upgrades, Small Form Factor (mATX)

CPU - AMD A10-5800K

Armed with 2 Piledriver modules (4 cores), a capable iGPU, and plenty of OC headroom, this represents the best value you can find on a tight budget. It's still a very capable CPU should you upgrade to a dedicated GPU down the road.

Altenatives:

  • Intel Pentium G2020
  • Athlon II x4 640
  • AMD A8-5600K

I have a difficult time recommending anything intel at this price point, but if you can find a capable discrete GPU to accompany this dual-core Ivy Bridge CPU, it will offer a fantastic gaming experience. With more games able to effectively utilize 4 threads, the Athlon II x4 is making a comeback in the value segment, though that doesn't mean dual-cores are obsolete (yet). If you plan on getting dedicated graphics sooner, rather than later, the A8 is a nice price reduction while still offering 2 unlocked Piledriver modules (4 cores).

Motherboard - ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-m

This board as everything you'd expect from a motherboard: SATA 6Gb/s, USB3, OC capabilities, and 4x RAM slots for future upgrades. You get a lot of features for a modest price tag. One of my personal favorite value-oriented boards.

Alternatives

  • ASRock H77M (for Intel)
  • Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3

More or less the same story. With support for Intel's Smart Response (SSD caching), support for integrated graphics, and RAM expandability, this is about as good value as you can get from Intel's platform. The Gigabyte AMD board is rocking an older 700 series chipset, but packs in some newer features such as USB3, and support for AM3+ CPUs.

GPU - Radeon 7660D (Integrated)

Just enough GPU to give you playable frame rates on most games at up to 1080p. More than enough for the casual gamer, and strong enough to last until an upgrade for the gamers who decide they want to get a bit more serious.

Alternatives

  • HIS Radeon 7750
  • Radeon 7770
  • EVGA GeForce GTX 650

I also have difficulty recommending a GPU under $100 because of the poor price/performance ratio. If you have a bit of wiggle room, spring for a 7770, or if you're on the Green Team, go GTX 650.

RAM - 8GB DDR3-1866 Patriot Viper series (UPDATED - 4GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1866)

PSU - 530w Rosewill Green Series 80plus

Storage - 1TB Seagate Barracuda

Case  - Fractal Core 1000