So i set out to build the best PC i could for around $350. I chose $350 because its cheaper than the Xbox One, and it seems to be the minimum to build a rig that can really play games.
Here is what i went with, and why: (NOTE: all pricing is from Newegg.com)
CPU: AMD Athlon X4 750K Trinity 3.4GHz Quad Core $79.99
The CPU is important for a gaming build, so no dual cores! Also this is a low end part but it packs a punch! With a Passmark score of 4359 it has about the same performance as an A10 for $50 cheaper.
GPU: Radeon HD 7790 $109.99
This is the heart of a gaming machine. Its what pushes all the pixels and lets you play lag free. It's not the most powerful card out there, but with a Passmark score of 3000 it has the performance of a GTX 560 for $70 less.
Motherboard: MSI FM2-A55M-E33 $29.99
This is a crazy deal, and it is a decent little board too. Its got DDR3 2133 support too.
The rest really is personal preference, but here are some parts i would choose.
HDD: TOSHIBA DT01ACA050 500GB 7200 RPM $44.99
PSU: Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V $35.99
RAM: Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB $34.99
CASE: Rosewill FB-04 Dual Fans ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $24.99
Some of these items are on sale for the holiday (unlike the Xbox One...) so get them while you can!
Let me know what you guys think of this build, and if you have any suggestions / improvements!