Need Help with $500 Gaming Build

This build will be for my friend, who is in dire need of some sort of PC.

Here's his current setup...

 

  •  AMD CPU at 1.4GHz (Dual Core)
  •  4GB of RAM, not sure what speed (3.7GB usable)
  •  1080p Gateway monitor
  •  Gateway mouse
  •  Gateway keyboard
  •  Already has a desk
  •  Blown speakers

 (#TheStruggle)

His mom thinks that building custom computer is pointless. So we really need to spend the $500 wisely, to get her to change her mind.
All your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
I love how people actually help you on this forum other than some morons out there!
 
*No APU's, and no overclocking will be done. Just gaming, and web browsing* 

This is the closest thing I could find to his current rig. Minus the fact that it has a little more ram, and a better processor.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gateway-Black-SX2110G-UW24-Desktop-PC-Bundle-with-AMD-E1-1500-Accelerated-Processor-6GB-RAM-19.5-Monitor-500GB-Hard-Drive-and-Windows-8-Operating/24766513 

Here is a really good budget gaming PC I just upgraded from

CPU: AMD 6300 FX 3.5/4.1GHZ  119.99 Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/AMD-FD6300WMHKBOX-FX-6300-Processor-Edition/dp/B009O7YORK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380592833&sr=8-1&keywords=AMD+fx+6300 

RAM: Corsair Vengance 2x4gb=8gb 79.99 Newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

Case: Antec One computer case 49.99 Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-One-Computer-Case/dp/B006TVQU6C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1380593055&sr=8-3&keywords=antec

HDD: Seagate Barracuda HD 500GB 57.04 Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST500DM002/dp/B005CT56R6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380593089&sr=8-1&keywords=seagate+500gb

Motherboard: MSI 760GM-P23 (FX) 47.24 Amazon Note: The motherboard may be cheap, but it lasts me long nights and hours of gaming I highly recommend it if your on a budget

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Computer-Corp-760GM-P23-FX/dp/B005SEB336 

GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX 650 108.25 Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-1024MB-Graphics-01G-P4-2650-KR/dp/B00966IU4M/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1380593214&sr=1-1&keywords=gtx+650

PSU: Thermaltake 500W Amazon 48.96

http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Power-Supply-240-Pin-TR-500/dp/B0058FAYQC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380593645&sr=8-1&keywords=thermaltake+500w

 

 

Total: 511.46

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Mb4P

$500 before rebates

I tried to leave some money for a smaller initial cost.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1MboE

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor.  Newer games are starting to utilize more cores.  Having a 6 core will help.

MOBO: Asus M5A78L-M LX PLUS Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard.  It had everything I looked for.

RAM: Kingston Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory.  Cheap ram.  If you can extend the budget, try getting some 1600mhz ram.

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive.  Typical storage.

GPU: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card.  A lot of the load will be on the GPU.  I used to have a 1GB 7850, and it worked great for Bioshock Infinite and Source Engine games.

CASE: Rosewill RANGER-M MicroATX Mini Tower Case.  Cheap, should fit everything.

PSU: EVGA 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply.  Plenty of power for this build.

OD: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer.  Cheap DVD drive if you need it.

If his old computer has parts which are salvageable (e.g. DvD writer), you can save some money here and there.  It looks to old to be much use, though.

Some Tech Noob has an awesome build. :)

Only thing I'd change is the HDD.. I'd get a Seagate instead, but that's because I have had very bad experiences with Western Digital. Their drives always seemed to fail faster than any of my Seagate's or Samsung's... You can get a Seagate for the exact same price. So either way you go, that's a pretty awesome build. :) If you can, a 7870 would be a better choice. It would allow you to play WoW & stuff on Ultra settings.

Check out this website: http://www.logicalincrements.com

:) Happy gaming!

BTW, that build Some Tech Noob posted is similar to mine. I have a slightly more expensive mobo that allows up to 32 GB ram & has USB 3.0 ports & a crappier GPU that I need to update. LOL :)

Just wanted to mention that the AMD FX-8120 is on sale for 48 hours only (11 hours ago!) for $124.. using promo code EMCWXXM25 @ Newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103961

My WDs and Seagates have been pretty good on me.  None have ever failed.  I've just had more WD drives than Seagates.  Personal brand, preference, really.

Modified of Some Tech Noob

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1MqyN

Okay, here's another build.. You'd have to buy everything by 10/9, though... Because of all of the promo codes & stuff. Some of them expire then.

CPU: AMD FX 8120 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103961

Promo Code: EMCWXXM25

$124.99

--------------

MoBo: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128565

-- Allows up to 125 W Processor, which is the 8120. Has USB 3.0.

Promo Code: EMCWXXS26

$48.49, after $10 Mail In Rebate

------------------------------

GPU: PowerColor 7870 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131484

$149.99 after $30.00 Mail In Rebate + has 2 free games

-------------------

PSU: 500W Thermaltake - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153165

Promo Code: EMCWXXM237

$19.99 after Mail In Rebate

----------------------------

RAM: 8 GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3 1600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148540

$64.99

--------------

HDD: Seagate 1TB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

Promo code: EMCWXXT22

$59.99

---------------

Optical Drive: Lite-On DVD Burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Promo Code: EMCWXXT23

$14.99

--------------------

Case: Rosewill RANGE-M - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147122

Promo Code: EMCWXXT34

$24.99
------------

Total before Mail In Rebates & Promo Codes: $632.92

Total AFTER Promo Codes: $568.42

Total AFTER Mail In Rebates: $508.42

If your friend can spend just a few more dollars, then he can get a Ghz edition 7870 for slightly more money. It ends up being $154.99, instead of $149.99 after the mail in rebate. Also by PowerColor. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131492

If you were to purchase all of these at the listed retail price, it'd cost you over $700.. Plus tax.. And $50 for the 2 free games, plus tax.. So around $800+ !!!... 

To save some more $ you could drop down to an FX-6300 or drop down to a 7850, but i wouldn't if i didn't have to.. xD lol If his mom will fill out the mail in rebates, then that computer will be awesome! It'll play a lot of games on high/ultra settings! :)

If your friend wanted to get an SSD instead of an HDD, or if he can reuse his old HDD, Newegg has a refurbished 120GB SSD on sale from OCZ for $61.99..

SSD: OCZ Refurb 120GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227928

Promo Code: EMCWXXM57

 

To avoid any shipping costs, just sign up for a free trial of Shop Runner. Then cancel it in a couple weeks. :)

 

If you need an operating system, here's 2 FREE and LEGAL options..

 1.) Ubuntu - http://www.ubuntu.com/ You can game on this using WINE or PlayOnLinux.

2.) Windows 8.1 Beta: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/preview-iso

 

Don't try to overclock without some kind of aftermarket cooling! :)

This could do it, made it really quickly though. Emphasized the GPU.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1MrKA

Would you say that this case is better than the one you posted? http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Three-Hundred-Two-Gaming/dp/B006TVQTHW/ref=pd_cp_pc_0

You're missing a power supply :/