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Build Guide

Entry Level Intel Gaming Build

by ThoughtA

18
115 Comments

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Revision History

Description

CPU

Our CPU of choice is the Intel Core i3-8100. This quad-core CPU will run games like Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege, and CSGO without issue. It includes a stock cooler, so a 3rd-party cooler isn't necessary.

Motherboard

We're using a parametric filter to constantly select the best-priced mATX motherboard while meeting selected criteria. In this case, we are filtering for B360 chipsets and 4 DDR4 DIMM slots for future expansion. The compatibility engine will filter out anything not compatible with the build. The motherboards are also capable of using the CPU's integrated GPU, in case you need to RMA your GPU or are waiting for a sale or upgrade.

Memory

A parametric filter is being applied to choose the best priced 2x4GB kit of memory within Intel's recommended specifications. With this selection, we have space on the motherboards for 2 more sticks of RAM, leaving room for future expansion.

Storage

We're also using a parametric filter to select the best priced SSD available that is at least 240GB. The SSD can be used for your OS and a handful of games. Additionally, we're using a parametric filter to select the best-priced 2TB drive. Everyone's needs are different, so feel free to increase capacities or remove a drive to fit yours.

GPU

We have set a parametric filter for the best-priced Radeon RX 570, which will let you play any popular game available today, including Fortnite, PUBG, and Apex Legends.

Case

The Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L is an mATX mini tower case with 2x front panel USB 3.0 Gen 1 ports and fits full-size graphics cards without issue. It provides several cable management holes and a couple patterned magnetic dust filters for easy removal and cleaning. If you so wish, you can also move the I/O panel to up to six different locations on the case.

PSU

For the PSU, we're using a parametric selection of a few well-reviewed semi-modular and modular units, which are all rated for good power efficiency and can provide plenty of power for this build.

AMD Version

Here is the AMD version of our Entry Level Gaming Guide..

Part List Customize This Part List

Compatibility Check: No issues/incompatibilities found.

Estimated Wattage: 280W
Component Selection Base Promo Shipping Tax Price Where
CPU €139.00 €9.95 €148.95 Komplett Buy
Motherboard
From parametric filter
  • Form Factor: Micro ATX
  • Chipset: Intel B360
  • RAM Slots: 4 - 16
  • RAM Type: DDR4
 €89.24 €89.24 Custompc Buy
Memory
From parametric filter
  • Speed: DDR4-2400, DDR4-2666, DDR4-2800, DDR4-2933, DDR4-3000, DDR4-3200, DDR4-3300, DDR4-3333, DDR4-3400
  • Type: 288-pin DIMM
  • Size: 8GB (2x4GB)
 €68.05 €68.05 Custompc Buy
Storage
From parametric filter
  • Capacity: 240 GB - 15360 GB
  • Type: SSD
 €34.23 €34.23 Custompc Buy
From parametric filter
  • Capacity: 1000 GB - 15360 GB
  • Type: 7200RPM
  • Form Factor: 3.5"
 €44.55 €44.55 Custompc Buy
Video Card
From parametric filter
  • Chipset: Radeon RX 570
 €258.26 €258.26 Custompc Buy
Case €49.00 €9.95 €58.95 Komplett Buy
Power Supply
From parametric selection (show)
€76.61 €76.61 Custompc Buy
Base Total: €758.94
Shipping: €19.90
Total: €778.84
* Using your selected merchants and only including nearby in-store pickup prices)
* Some physical dimension restrictions cannot (yet) be automatically checked, such as cpu cooler / RAM clearance with modules using tall heat spreaders.

Comments Sorted by:

chimpyxx 7 points 15 days ago

You guys have probably received a message like this before, but have you guys ever considered creating a recommended peripherals list for these build guides. That correspond with the budget of course.

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h0pT0_Gaming 3 points 25 days ago

What is better for money and performance, an Intel or AMD PC? I've been told AMD is better also because some monitors have Free-Sync. But what about the performance?

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eesti 1 point 25 days ago

It just depends on whichever is cheaper, it's also good to note that if you stream, the QuickSync protocol on Intel iGPUs can be a boon

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ajdroc -4 points 22 days ago

Well if you really want to get specific i recomend going with one of the AMD Ryzen processors because they are better than both intel and base amd processors

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Nathiest 1 point 19 days ago

It definitely varies too much to use a blanket statement like that. Historically, Intels are the way to go if you value performance over cost, and AMDs are the way to go if you value money over performance. If you're building on a budget, go with a Ryzen; if you're going for value, an i5 is probably a better bet than a Ryzen; if you're going for best performance, Ryzen's don't come close to the i7's. It depends what you're shopping for.

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littletoke76 11 Builds 1 point 18 days ago

Well said. The i7's are better for gaming than the Ryzen 7's, Most people can't justify spending almost double for 10-15% gains. Personally I would rather spend the saving's on more/better ram,GPU and faster storage.

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ajdroc -2 points 15 days ago

No just no the Ryzen 7's have more threads and computing power than an i7. And an RX 570 would not be recommended i would suggest a msi 1050 ti or an asus 1060

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h0pT0_Gaming 1 point 24 days ago

Please can someone give me feedback on the following parts list and if the parts I picked are reliable and won't fail within a few months? My Parts List

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nascarjjrp 2 points 23 days ago

The only thing that I don't know about is the XFX Power Supply, all the other parts seem fine, I have some of your parts in my PC, particularly the Ryzen 3 1200, the WD Hard Drive, and the Corsair RAM, although my RAM is 1x8 GB and it's DDR4 2400, but it's the same name, Corsair Vengeance LPX. I'm fairly confident that besides the PSU your system should last, as mine has lasted 2 years now. Happy Building!

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h0pT0_Gaming 1 point 23 days ago

Thank you, that is very helpful :)

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ajdroc 0 points 22 days ago

Well you have added a ryzen 3 1200 which is an APU so it might not perform so well with your RX570

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h0pT0_Gaming 1 point 18 days ago

ik what an APU is, but why would it not perform so well with an rx570?

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ajdroc 0 points 18 days ago

Well an APU is a CPU with a GPU chipset. so there might be problems between the APU and the RX570 that is a GPU and performs like a 1050

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Continue this thread
GrizzlyWarChief 1 point 4 days ago

A Ryzen 3 1200 is not an apu.

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ajdroc 1 point 4 days ago

yes it is

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STRIKER51223 1 point 17 days ago

do u think theres a way to cut the price down to 500?

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georges489 1 point 20 days ago

you might as well go with a ryzen 3 2XXX instead of 1st gen the b450 motherboard is built for it otherwise you can get a cheaper board (b350). In my country the 2nd gen cpu is cheaper for some reason.

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lmhicks101 1 Build 1 point 17 days ago

The only issue is the Power Supply, Go name brand for that. It's worth the extra couple dollars to make sure you have enough Watts. Always make sure you PSU is twice what you need. So if your system uses 250watts then get a 500 watt PSU. It comes down to Efficency and heat. The more electricity the PSU uses the more heat it makes making your case hotter and all PSUs don't provide exactly what they say they do. The better the PSU and the less strain it has the better the poswer supply. Most PSUs will say on the box. Never go under 85% efficency and always double the Watts you need for future use as well.

Second AMD is good for the price except one thing. They run hot because of how the circuty it created. No clue why is hasn't been fixed but it runs hot and the money you save buying AMD usually goes to a better cooling unit anyway so in the end you don't save anything.

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Chromatikk 1 point 14 days ago

Nice build! I noticed the PSU you picked is extremely unreliable.

You can use the following list as a dummies guide for quality of PSU Manufacturing: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/986897-psu-tier-list-30/

I would recommend spending the extra money and getting a high quality PSU such as: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/dDH48d/corsair-txm-gold-550w-80-gold-certified-semi-modular-atx-power-supply-cp-9020133-na

Good luck!

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Drchocolate10 1 point 24 days ago

Hi there, I am a complete noob. I basically play World of Warcraft, League and the odd game of APEX. This will be my first ever build, I am sure this will run the games I wish to play just fine. Just wondering, if you could choose 1-2 things to upgrade with my max budget probably being around the $1,200 mark, what would you recommend? Thank you for helping newbies like me.

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Classicalfredo 1 Build 2 points 21 days ago

At that Price point on the GPU I would go for the Nitro 590 over the 4GB 580. I just built on the card and it has been phenomenal for the games hes going to be playing. Im assuming at 1080.

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complete_n00b 1 point 24 days ago

Hello. First, thanks for putting this together! I'm looking to build a gaming computer for my son; he's about to turn 11, mostly plays roblox, but wants to play subnautica, and will probably eventually get into games with more requirements.Also, would eventually probably like to run VR (Oculus or something similar). I've already got an HDD and power supply, so want to spend the leftover money where it would be most beneficial. Will prob go with a more name brand SSD & RAM. Is an i5 worth the performance gain if I can afford it? What i5 would you recommend for this budget build? I made some guesses/tweaks at a build here: https://pcpartpicker.com/user/complete_n00b/saved/NTrKBm, thoughts? Thanks!

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ajdroc 1 point 22 days ago

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/wBPThy

this would be a good build i made some tweaks to your list so i hope you like it if you get it but this pc will perform really well between the ryzen 5 and the 1050 ti. also on your original list you were missing a power supply.

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complete_n00b 1 point 22 days ago

Thanks!

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Ezman556 1 point 21 days ago

I would recommend going with an Rx card since at the same price point it mostly outperforms the 1050ti. If you go with 570 8gb or 4gb it come with 2 free games from the promotional offers.

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complete_n00b 1 point 21 days ago

Thanks, this was my thought too. Looked at some comparos/reviews and the RX 580 seems to blow the GTX 1050 out of the water.

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complete_n00b 1 point 22 days ago

Thanks! Is the speed difference between the m.2 and the traditional 2.5" SATA that noticeable? There appears to be a significant cost difference for the same amount of storage.

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Nadiapopov 1 point 18 days ago

Nope you can't see the difference. Only by measuring. For ordinary use take the sata ssd.

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Nadiapopov 1 point 18 days ago

Boot time? I switch on my PC once a day.. The difference are seconds. But it's your decide how do you spend on your money.

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Chromatikk 1 point 14 days ago
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Chromatikk 1 point 14 days ago

This is misinformation: M.2 is a form factor.

SATA or PCIe are types of computer bus interfaces. Basically the method of communication between the drive and the rest of the computer. PCIe is significantly faster than SATA.

In summary a m.2 drive will use either SATA or PCIe (aka NVMe) interface. The m.2 SSD (SATA) and a 2.5" SSD (SATA) are the exact same speed and price.

For most users I would recommend the following SSD's: Samsung 860 EVO, Crucial MX500 or the WD 3D Blue.

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ajdroc 0 points 22 days ago

Actually you could get a Ryzen 7 2700X which performs better than an i5 and is cheaper

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jamisonlifsey 1 point 24 days ago

What's a good monitor that you would recommend? I'm interested in this build but wouldn't know how to pick out a monitor for it?

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nascarjjrp 3 points 23 days ago

It will come down to two things, 1: Your Budget, and, 2: What is more important, Color Accuracy or Fast Response. My preference is color accuracy, so my monitor is an Acer SB220Q, the Amazon link is: https://www.amazon.com/Acer-SB220Q-Ultra-Thin-Frame-Monitor/dp/B07CVL2D2S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1550959364&sr=8-2&keywords=acer+sb220q It has IPS technology, so I get good color from all viewing angles, and it's at $90, so it's at a good price for a monitor, and decent response time at 4ms. It's all you really need for a build like this, because you won't be gaming at anymore than 1080p 60fps for most titles. It also has freesync so if you have a compatible AMD Radeon GPU, you can use that. If you need anymore help, let me know and I'll be glad to give it to you

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jamisonlifsey 1 point 23 days ago

Wow, this was actually the perfect response. I'm just getting into PC gaming and I don't know that much about hardware yet. I was hoping that I wouldn't get recommended a high end monitor that would be overkill. This is good on budget and seems to still be high quality so thank you. Only question I have. Is this a good entry level build? I've been looking into them but of course I can't tell much apart among them. Is this a quality entry build, or do you recommend another one? Thanks so much!

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nascarjjrp 1 point 21 days ago

To be honest, yes and no, for yes, it's got all the core components to make a good 1080p 60fps Medium/High settings for most AAA titles. There's only one knock, and it's not really a big one, but, the case is a little small, it might be a little more difficult to manage cables in it, but that's just a general assumption. One helpful tip is to look at the case and see it's reviews and see if it mentions cable management and if it's good/bad. Also you could look at the case and see if it has a good amount of holes for cable management. And of course, it comes to personal preference and if cable management is a deal breaker.

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nascarjjrp 1 point 21 days ago

And I just took a look at the case, it should be good enough for an entry level build. Bigger cases generally have better airflow and cable management, but smaller cases that are well designed can have good marks in both. Bigger cases tend to be better but slightly more expensive, so it comes down to how big the mobo is, and what your space/budget is.

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nascarjjrp 2 points 21 days ago

Two extra parts to consider before you purchase, a WiFi Card, either internal or external, and a cd drive. TP-Link is a good brand to consider for WiFi, and LG is a good brand for cd drives. You need to buy the WiFi card if you intend to use wireless internet with this, if you use ethernet, it's not a problem. CD drives you need to buy if you use cd/dvd's at all. I will put links down here for the parts that I use.

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Continue this thread
ExactHoboSoup 1 point 23 days ago

Could this run Fallout 4 decently? And could it handle its Creation Kit?

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eesti 1 point 20 days ago

Yes

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Jessebooth3 1 point 23 days ago

Hey! Just looking to know if this computer would work for me. I’m streaming my Xbox through the computer to twitch or mixer! Would this work for me? Thanks!

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Tigga62 1 point 22 days ago

Why would you do that when you can already stream to twitch and mixer to Xbox with just the Xbox itself? Seems like a waste of money to me tbh.

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Jessebooth3 1 point 22 days ago

Streaming straight from my Xbox to mixer does not allow for customizing my stream. Such as layovers, donation messages and new followers notifications that pop up as others are watching. Having a good PC that can handle the CPU usage that the Xbox live app uses and any OBS on windows will do this form me. I appreciate the feed back but no need to comment if you’re unsure of what I’m attempting to do. Thanks in advanced

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eesti 1 point 20 days ago

The iGPU can encode the stream pretty well, but you want a capture card

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paldor 1 point 23 days ago

Great Idea

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TheeRazorWizard 1 point 23 days ago

I was wondering if this pc would be a step up compared to an xbox one frame rate wise. Also with this build will I be able to connect to wifi or would I need an adapter? I am new to pc building and would like to try it while on a budget around this price range. Thanks

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Almondsurf 1 point 22 days ago

Thank you for this build. I just purchased most of what you have here. I'm using ram from my other computer (Ballistix Sport LT 8GB Single DDR4 2666), and different 1T (SSD) & 4T HD's. I don't know too much about this stuff, only how to put it together, which is why I'm just buying what your recommending here. I have a couple questions for you, even though it's probably too late since I already ordered everything like 5 min ago... :)

  • 1) I was wondering how you felt about the on-board graphics on the mother board? I use this for home / family use, so not planning on using it for much games, per say. Should the on-board be sufficient?
  • 1.1) Silly question about the onboard graphics. I have an old graphics card (ASUS EN210 SILENT/DI/1GD3/V2(LP) GeForce 210 Video Card). Would the on-bard graphics be better than this old card, or should I use this card?
  • 2) Why do you recommend the (Patriot - 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-2400 Memory) RAM here, when you are recommending faster RAM on your home / office build (Patriot - Viper 4 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory)? Not critiquing. I'm sure there is a reason, just wondering why.

Again, thank you fur putting this build together and making my life much easier.

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eesti 1 point 20 days ago

yes, no, and it's just whatever is cheapest

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Tigga62 1 point 22 days ago

Could this possibly run Rainbow Six Siege? I am pretty sure it can but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

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eesti 1 point 20 days ago

yes

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Gman5543 1 point 21 days ago

Hello guys, I'm new to pc building and I just want to know, will I be able to mod games like GTA:5, edit and upload videos with this build?

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eesti 1 point 20 days ago

yes

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mercwifdamouf 1 point 21 days ago

Total noob here, but I am looking to build my first PC, going to do primarily gaming, but would also need it for work/school. Can I get some direction possibly?

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Drewsrigs 1 point 18 days ago

A few things I have to say for you.

1)Go for a higher end GPU off the bat so you don't have to waste more money later. I would recommend a 1050ti. 2)Go for the i3 8350k instead. 3)Get corsair Vengance. 4)I would get Inland Professional SSDs instead. 5)Not that it matters, but i would want a Hyper T2 6)Also, this really doesn't matter ,but get a bigger PSU for future expansion.

Hope this helps, DREWSRIGS.

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Drewsrigs 1 point 18 days ago

Oh, and go for Nvidia

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mercwifdamouf 1 point 19 hours ago

Thank you! This really helps, sorry for the late reply. Any other tips? Looking at the CPU, says with the one you recommended I'd need a cooler. Really appreciate it, and any other further help you can give if possible.

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jonathanseo 1 point 21 days ago

Is this computer completed?

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eesti 3 points 20 days ago

Like IKEA furniture, some assembly is required

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RustyFire 1 point 21 days ago

I honestly think that the 240 Gb SSD should be replaced with maybe a 120, as the SSD would be used mostly a boot drive as the HDD is used for major storage. I would also personally go for a Pentium G4560 or 4400, as the difference between you would be paying close to $130 for an i3, but the Pentium has relatively the same performance, even though it has a lesser core count, but it is much less money to spend. And honestly, the RX 570 is a great choice, but I feel like you should base it off of other games like Overwatch, or CS:GO, not just the games that are part of a fad. Otherwise, this is a pretty solid build.

Edit: you could get a cooler that's not stock for relatively cheap, as the Intel stock cooler is not super pleasing to the eye, and you wouldn't be overclocking anyways.

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eesti 1 point 20 days ago

1: Some people like having games load in a reasonable time 2: Some workloads like quad core processors more than dual core ones, including games 3: The stock cooler is more than enough, and looks are up to the individual

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RustyFire 1 point 20 days ago

It would still be an SSD, but it would be less space, as to use for a boot and smaller storage. Granted, you have a point on the cooler, though you can pick up a better one for less than $10.

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eesti 1 point 20 days ago

but why would you spend an extra $10 when the cooler in the box is good enough

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RustyFire 1 point 20 days ago

It's not that you HAVE to change it, but it is more aesthetically pleasing, and I personally would not mind paying 10 extra bucks.

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Drewsrigs 1 point 18 days ago

Good enough is not good enough though. I went for a Hyper t2 totally worth it. But you don't have to.

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DaBoiz 1 point 20 days ago

Hi there I’m a complete noob and have played on a console all my life and want to know a good list of parts with a budget of around $800

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Thatsmell 1 point 19 days ago

Is this build going to last 2 or 3 years with minor upgrades? I was going to do an intel i5 8600k as my gpu as i want to use this as a workstation too.

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Thatsmell 1 point 19 days ago

Cpu sorry

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Sgtqman19 2 Builds 1 point 11 days ago

What’s your budget? I’ll put you a full build together.

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ChickyMcChickface 1 point 19 days ago

Hi! Thanks for taking the time to make this. This will be my first build and I have a couple of clarifying, noob questions. First, our modem is upstairs hooked up to my brother's xbox, so will this build be able to get on wifi, or will I need to add that? I would like to rip my CDs to the computer, so do I need an external optical drive? I plan on mostly using the PC for Minecraft modpacks, namely Sky Factory 3, and some older games like FFX. Thanks for the help!

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Nadiapopov 1 point 18 days ago

Corsair CXM for entry level? I would rather take the FSP Hexa+.

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Augie123098 1 point 14 days ago

I’m a noob at pc and I’m going to get one but I don’t know if a intel core i3 or a amd Ryzen 3

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eesti 1 point 13 days ago

The i3 is faster, but the AM4 platform the Ryzen 3 is on will be supported until 2020

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Dragon2230 1 point 12 days ago

I'm new to building computers and I was wondering if this build comes with an OS or if I need to get one? I really want this build and it looks like the best fit for me because I grew up playing on laptops and wanted a better computer for a lower price.

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eesti 2 points 11 days ago

You will have to buy a copy of Windows, or install a Linux distribution

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trevorv99 1 point 12 days ago

Would this build be able to run RPG's like The Witcher, Mass Effect, and others on medium or high settings?

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ThoughtA staff submitter 1 point 11 days ago

Yes, it very much can!

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ThoughtA staff submitter 1 point 11 days ago

You're more than welcome to disagree with choices and provide alternatives, but please don't spread misinformation in the process. None of what you've said in this comment is true at all. I urge you to look into benchmarks before saying such things.

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Sgtqman19 2 Builds 1 point 11 days ago

Oh I know facts lol 8 gigs of ram is not enough and you will get stutters. This is not disinformation. This is knowledge from experience.

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ThoughtA staff submitter 1 point 11 days ago

While I disagree with you on that as well, that wasn't your only statement, and those others were patently false.

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atofu 1 point 10 days ago

Are you sure that this all runs well with 450 W of power?

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g0rnex 1 point 9 days ago

I put a bit more ram in there. I'm kinda noob in all off this but I think this is som good ram for value: G.Skill - NT Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2133 Memory

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g0rnex 1 point 9 days ago
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g0rnex 1 point 9 days ago

This looks good. read here that the motherboard is a bit small if you need extra cooling in the future. What motherboard would be good if you want some upgrade possibilities in the future.

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l20_m20 1 point 7 days ago

Do you need a sound card with this build?

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eesti 1 point 6 days ago

The sound card is integrated

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mobkil3r 1 point 7 days ago

hey im new to pc build and i have no clue how to build one does anybody know and if yes could they help thx

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Kebbb 1 point 6 days ago

I'm willing to spend more money on a bigger case and a better video card and CPU. What would you recommend?

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eesti 1 point 6 days ago

The modest build

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Kebbb 1 point 5 days ago

The modest build is a little out of my budget. Im mostly worried about the case’s size limiting future upgrades. Will this be a problem? What other cases would you recommend if it is? Thanks.

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balbasor 1 point 6 days ago

Is this pc good for music production, light gaming, photoshop multitask? If not which one is good for around 500

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Fairly 1 point 5 days ago

I play games that are hardly taxing, even on my current laptop (Minecraft, Transistor, Shovel Knight, Stardew Valley), but I also do occasional art, design, and layout work in programs like Photoshop, GIMP, Scribus, and Inkscape (and maybe Krita after I have a new computer). I'd also like to explore Android app development, and my current laptop, with an AMD processor, has issues running Android device virtual machines.

Would this build be suitable for a jack-of-all-trades approach to gaming, art and design, and development/VMs? I'm not going deep into any of these hobbies, so I don't need anything particularly specialized.

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DerBengel 1 point 5 days ago

Is there a reason why you are using enterprise hard drive?? Are you planning on RAID?

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PerfectCrab 1 point 5 days ago

Would this work with a medium tower such as a NZXT S340 Elite?

I'm a first timer when it comes to PC building, and i'm worried if these items wouldn't fit inside a larger tower

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MightyWallop 1 point 4 days ago

Hi . I'm looking to build a PC that has more power & better graphics than the original PS4. So how does this build compare to PS4 ? Better or same ? I will be playing mostly Fighting games like Street Fighter V & Fighting EX Layer & also Conan Exiles .

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Rogue_Xodus 1 point 3 days ago

Hello, new to the pc build scene here. Would this build be able to run Insurgency: Sandstorm and Rising Storm 2: Vietnam at medium?

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Salad.exe 1 point 1 day ago

Hi all! Just wondering, if I wanted to lower this computer to a budget of lets say, 850? How would I go bout doing it with whay part?

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redsoul90 -1 points 19 days ago

Why would you ever buy micro ATX? Mid-Towers aren't that much larger and you don't have to worry about parts not fitting in the case.

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eesti 1 point 18 days ago

Because it's cheaper

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Sgtqman19 2 Builds 1 point 11 days ago

Actually not. You can buy a mid case for $25. They work great.

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eesti 1 point 11 days ago

what case?

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Drewsrigs -1 points 18 days ago

You know, the i3 8350k is better and not that much more expensive

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ThoughtA staff submitter 1 point 18 days ago

The 8350K doesn't come with a cooler, and one of its strengths - overclocking - requires a Z chipset motherboard. This means you need to swap out the CPU and motherboard and add a cooler. At that point you'll very easily have to spend at least $100 more. That may be worth it to some, but my opinion is that that extra money could be better spent elsewhere, not to mention it grows the budget out of scope for this guide.

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readdyeddy -6 points 25 days ago

Bad build list, or it's probably out of date.

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ThoughtA staff submitter 1 point 25 days ago

Feedback is very much welcome, but please keep it constructive. For example, what would you like to see different?

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readdyeddy -3 points 25 days ago

Okay, for example. Since this is a budget building list. A B-series motherboard is useless. We're assuming that the builder is gonna have a tight budget.

B series motherboard would be useful IF, you had a K-processor. But if you get K processor you would want a 3000MHz or higher Ram freq. However H/B series motherboard only supports upto 2666Mhz. So if you get cpu that doesn't have overclocking, then you only need H series motherboard.

B series motherboard is useless for Intel builds. I have both AMD and Intel CPUs. B series is good for AMD because it allows overclock and 3000MHz ram in B/X series.

For a i3-8100, you can't overclock and you have 2400MHz ram freq in your list. So H series motherboard fits better. Try using the Gigabyte H310M A micro atx motherboard, it has support for NVMe SSD x2

Storage: the SSD 240GB is a bit useless. Not sure when this build was made.. Try HP ex900, it's an NVMe SSD that supports PCIe 3.0 x4 (4 bus lanes), 250GB for 47 dollars or 500GB for 80 dollars. That would be enough for a typical user for any games and work loads.

Case: A budget builder wouldn't want to spend more than needed for a Case that costs 50 dollars. Rather try looking at Rosewill FBM-X1. it's 20 dollars, has side panel to look in. There is a metal plate which forces you to use smaller GPU lengths, but it's fine. You can always remove it if you want.

PSU: Rosewill - 450 W 80+ Bronze, is what you want, as it's 35 dollars on amazon prime, than your 50 dollar PSU. yours is semi modular, but for a budget gamer it's not a need. Saving money is more important than spending extra dollars for better one.

However, this build list is going to expire by May of 2019. AMD is releasing their Ryzen 3000 series by then. The reason why it's important is that the Ryzen 5 3600G is a ridiculous APU that defeats low end gpu. It has an integrated GPU similar to the rx-570 3GB (yes the integrated gpu is 3GB). The cpu portion is similar to the ryzen 5 2600. This apu starts at 200 dollars. When this is released, it'll save you a bunch of money than to spend on gpu.

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ThoughtA staff submitter 4 points 25 days ago

Keep in mind that the goal with this guide isn't to cut cost at the expense of all else. Cheaper PCs can always be had. This guide seeks to provide good performance and build experience for roughly $500.

Intel K CPUs cannot be overclocked on B360 motherboards, so I'm not sure what you're getting at there. Chipset selection is not solely about CPU overclockability. I think that misconception may be coloring your view here. The H310 chipset is not even capable of dual channel memory support. It's also far more limited on PCI-E lanes, both in number and generation (PCI-E 3.0 vs PCI-E 2.0). There are several other reasons to choose B360 motherboards over H310 ones for gaming, but suffice to say, the differences I mentioned are more than worth the $15 price difference between the B360 board in the list and the H310 A you're recommending.

I'm not quite sure I'm following you here. You're saying a 240GB SSD is useless but then recommending a 250GB SSD at over 50% increased price and saying that would be enough for a typical user.

Cases are very much a personal choice. Cheaper cases can entirely be justified, but I prefer to recommend cases that will be a little easier and more pleasant to build in, especially for newer builders. The Q300L also, in my opinion much nicer to look at - both inside and out.

I assume you're speaking of the Rosewill ARC 450. I only add PSUs to the list that have reviewed well, as I and the community take PSU quality very seriously. I don't operate off assumptions with this. Unfortunately, I've not yet found any reviews of the ARC 450.

Additionally, the CXM (2015) 450 is $5 cheaper at $30 at MIR, though of course MIRs aren't for everyone.

I would be careful citing speculation and rumor as fact when it comes to future releases.

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rexx2l 1 point 24 days ago

Thanks for the work you do here, i've used this site for 4 years now and started my very first build off of one of your build guides from back then. Without it I would have probably put a bomb in for my power supply lol

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ThoughtA staff submitter 1 point 13 days ago

Thanks! That's always nice to hear :)

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DaBoiz 1 point 20 days ago

That is too confusing for me

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eesti 1 point 15 days ago

Is this supposed to be a joke? If so I don't get it

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Reason:
Note: Wattages are estimates only. Actual power draw may differ from listed values.
Component Estimated Wattage
Intel - Core i3-8100 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor 8W - 65W
Corsair - Vengeance LPX 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-2400 Memory 5W - 5W
ADATA - Ultimate SU650 240 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive 2W - 10W
Toshiba - P300 1 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive 4W - 20W
Sapphire - Radeon RX 570 8 GB PULSE Video Card 45W - 180W
Total: 64W - 280W