Gaming PC for $399.00-$499.00

[Magix]

Well games don't really require 8 Cores, from my research ( and maybe I am wrong as I just got into building PCs) but I think the most they use is 4-5 Cores. Of course you are probably better off getting an 8 core anyway because presumably, you'll use your PC more than just to play games even though a good part of the PC would be for gaming.

People put way too much emphasis towards cores. I don't know who started this misconception, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the marketing department of a CPU producer (so AMD since they're the ones that seem to be pushing cores way more than Intel).
There are so many things to look at in a CPU's specs including clock rate, cache, etc, and the amount of cores is only one detail. Not to mention hyperthreading exists. A dual core Intel hyperthreaded cpu will perform just fine in most cases. As for your last sentence, I can't imagine what most people would do "more than just games" that would require 8 cores from their CPU.

When it comes down to it, you're better off just comparing CPU benchmarks from review sites and seeing which unit performs the best for what you want to do.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

for Xbox price you can get double the power if you use the correct parts, even with consumer prices that are above that of bulk buying manufacturer prices.

Sadly Strazdas has not ponied up the details so I'm left to ask you guys on what they are. Twice the power of an Xbox One at $399 is pretty darn good and would make a hell of a gift (a little on the expensive side for a gift, but hey I think it'd be a nice one) for my brother or father (already got a nice enough PC that I got for more than $399). As it'll come up I'm sure I'll just say they'll need windows 7.

No idea if he meant $399 or $499 so I put both. I hope it isn't a US only thing too as a lot of the sites with prices like that don't ship to GB sadly.

Now this isn't double the power, and I don't have a blu ray drive on it (just dvd/cd, no pc games utilize that so going to cut that part out) or mouse/speakers/monitor, but I did put windows 7 on there, and I was able to get it to this:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6rTwCJ

440 bucks not including mail in rebates and junk, which isn't bad for about 10 minutes of tweaking.

It's not a perfect conversion, due to the consoles using mobile based parts while computer parts are well..desktop based parts. That said, it is a respectably cheap build that can play quite a few games on respectable frame rates. (I would attach a better CPU cooler on there myself if I were to suggest this to someone, APU's run quite toasty I can imagine since they are doing both the CPU and GPU's job.)

 

[Rayce Archer]

This is just a personal taste thing, but from now on I'm not gonna build a PC without an SSD boot drive. I like a sub-10-second post-to-booted time, I'm not going back.

 

[Easton Dark]

This is just a personal taste thing, but from now on I'm not gonna build a PC without an SSD boot drive. I like a sub-10-second post-to-booted time, I'm not going back.

Just join the sleep mode master race. No need to turn your computer off and on all the time.

 

[Strelok]

This one does so nicely:
[Link Removed]

CPU - Athlon X4 700 (older than the current 800 series) outperforms Pentium and i3, approaches i5 in real-world usage scenarios.
GPU - R9 270 is capable of 1080p @ 60FPS on Ultra, PS4/XB1 only does 900p/720p @ 60FPS on Medium.

Don't know if that is double the power though, but seems like a strange request anyway... May have to *gasp bring the budget up to $600 or so for that.

 

[DoPo]

This is just a personal taste thing, but from now on I'm not gonna build a PC without an SSD boot drive. I like a sub-10-second post-to-booted time, I'm not going back.

Just join the sleep mode master race. No need to turn your computer off and on all the time.

I'm of the sleep mode master race. Also, the SSD is really nice: software and games load really fast, so there isn't much waiting while booted, either. The only downside is that same games show some information while loading and I can't read it. The loading screen flashes past if it doesn't have "press any key to continue at the end". I personally like reading those loading tips.

 

[Dandres]

Thanks to everyone who posted the pcpartpicker links. I have been looking for a site like this.

 

[Rozalia1]

Thank you to those who have posted I've taken note of your suggestions. I'll be spending more money as suggested to make one more near my own for my father+younger brother (brother sticks to mostly indie games on PC, but he does play some bigger games). On reflection I've spent a lot of money on excessive things I likely didn't need, and being currently rolling in dosh I might as well splurge a bit for this gift PC I've been thinking of making.

 

[Vault101]

Wait, wait, waitwaitwaitwaitwait. WAIT. Did you seriously create and ENTIRE thread to call out ONE user? I don't care if Strazdas was claiming you could make a gaming PC from pocket change and a stick of gum, that is incredibly rude and a fast way to incur mod wrath. You could have asked about assembling a gaming PC on that budget without quoting Strazdas to draw attention to your little quarrel. The fact that you did directly quote him to bring him into this shows a good part of this is "Hey, help me prove another user wrong."

as I've observed in any PC gaming thread its like an on going saga

OT: look OP I get...you don't like PC gamers, but this big old axe to grind thing is really not helping

 

[Rayce Archer]

This is just a personal taste thing, but from now on I'm not gonna build a PC without an SSD boot drive. I like a sub-10-second post-to-booted time, I'm not going back.

Just join the sleep mode master race. No need to turn your computer off and on all the time.

I'm of the sleep mode master race. Also, the SSD is really nice: software and games load really fast, so there isn't much waiting while booted, either. The only downside is that same games show some information while loading and I can't read it. The loading screen flashes past if it doesn't have "press any key to continue at the end". I personally like reading those loading tips.

I have a dinky SSD, but I committed left 4 dead to it since i play that a lot in MP. Nobody i play with loads as fast though, so i just load in an instant then sit there watching the load screen as long as i normally would.

 

[LaochEire]

Wait, wait, waitwaitwaitwaitwait. WAIT. Did you seriously create and ENTIRE thread to call out ONE user? I don't care if Strazdas was claiming you could make a gaming PC from pocket change and a stick of gum, that is incredibly rude and a fast way to incur mod wrath. You could have asked about assembling a gaming PC on that budget without quoting Strazdas to draw attention to your little quarrel. The fact that you did directly quote him to bring him into this shows a good part of this is "Hey, help me prove another user wrong."

as I've observed in any PC gaming thread its like an on going saga

OT: look OP I get...you don't like PC gamers, but this big old axe to grind thing is really not helping

I think his issue is more with PC Elitists. Big difference between the two.

 

[Funyahns]

two biggest things to get are a medium to high range video card. I usually buy something that has been out for 6-12 months and has dipped in price a bit. Then you need a solid state hard drive, that is probably one of the best improvements to computers in years. From there its just a matter of shopping around for the mobo and chipset you want. Can find ram on sale quite a lot, same with cases and anything else you need.

 

[Vault101]

I think his issue is more with PC Elitists. Big difference between the two.

I don't know....sometimes you stipulate some reason why a game not being on a console is a good thing and then you can be considered an elitist

in fact maybe I AM en elitist because I just think its a better platform...probably

 

[Rozalia1]

as I've observed in any PC gaming thread its like an on going saga

OT: look OP I get...you don't like PC gamers, but this big old axe to grind thing is really not helping

I game on the PC... but honestly its disturbing me that I can't create a thread regarding PCs without a bunch of folk coming out and accusing me of all sorts.

I should have checked the first post, removed my link, didn't know this was part of the ongoing Jihad by local extremists.

So you do auto respond to threads without reading the OP as I've said... okay.
So because I own more than one platform (a great many in fact) and take issue with your toxic comments (I could care less if you mark for PC, AJ, TNA or whatever else, its the divisive bile that I oppose) I'm a Jihadist...wow, that is something.

I think his issue is more with PC Elitists. Big difference between the two.

Bingo, however that matter shouldn't be coming up in this thread, no place for it.
So if anyone has any continued qualms with me they can take it up through PM.