Build me a computer

[SalsaInABowl]

So on another topic I told you guys my dad's beast of a computer (at least at the time it was built a decade ago) was given to me.

Problem is, a lot changed in a decade and now this computer struggles to do much of anything. I looked up a few recommended builds and when we include my special requirements (soon to come) it costs 550$. That right there is my budget. It can exceed but not by much.

Special requirements:
Let's start off by saying I don't need a new case, monitor or mouse.
If it is possible to use old power supplies, then count that out too.
I would prefer the CPU be at least 3.2 GHz.
Video Card at least 1 GB
At least 4 GB of RAM
It must obviously be compatible.
My tower can actually fit a shitload of hard drives so only 512 GB is required.
Keyboard doesn't need to be fancy, just normal shaped and not the generic crappy ones.
Don't need an optical (hehe optical) drive

Budget: 550$
Link to the current recommended build I have: If this build is good enough let me know.

And if I really like your build, there might be some steam cards involved for you.

[tundraboy44]

hey!


   How far over can we go?

[SalsaInABowl]

hey!


   How far over can we go?

Try not more than 20$

[tundraboy44]

NEWEGG
CPU:  Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($194.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard:  MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($103.98 @ Newegg)
Memory:  Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card  ($105.38 @ Newegg)
Total: $560.32
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

AMAZON

CPU:  Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($21.63 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:  MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:  Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.24 @ Amazon)
Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card
Total: $433.84
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

BEST PRICE/Different places


CPU:  Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler:  Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard:  MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($84.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory:  Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Storage:  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($59.23 @ OutletPC)
Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card  ($105.38 @ Newegg)
Total: $515.57
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

If you have any questions or don't like the parts. Please ask. If you need benchmark tests on the CPU as-well as Benchmarks on the GPU, Feel free to ask. I recommend you get a 650 watt PCU. What do you currently have?

Pcpartpicker Direct link: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3fT10 Use that if you want to edit it yourself. If i missed anything, Please ask xD.

[Nick3306]

While on a small budget the best way to go is AMD, not only will the cpu be cheaper but the mobo's are usually cheaper too. If you want to keep using the same PSU that you currently have we need to now what PSU it is.



CPU - AMD FX-8320 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113285   $159

MOBO - GIGABYTE GA-970A http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128651 $89

RAM -  HyperX 8GB (4x2) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104231 $64
 
HDD - Western Digital 1TB  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339 $59

GPU - EVGA GTX660 2GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130826 $ 209

Total price - $584.95

A few notes:
1. You dont really need a cpu cooler if you wont be doing any overclocking.
2. You will need atleast a 500W PSU for this GPU
3. IF you want to go with a GTX 750ti instead because of price it would still be better than the 7770 in tundras list and the 660 is vastly better than the 7770
4. I didnt put a keyboard into this but I would personally recommend the microsoft sidewinder x4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109191

[Chipaton]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU:  AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor  ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:  G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card:  EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($149.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard:  Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($36.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $520.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-24 22:25 EDT-0400)

I left some room to wiggle around with some things. I would consider using a new PSU if its a decade old, so I included one in the budget. If you upgrade the graphics card at all you will need a better one. With the extra room I left you could go with 8GB of RAM or anything else you see fit, thats why I left it.

[SalsaInABowl]

upon further inspection I have found a 350 PSU. I als have two fans and two heatsinks, so I might be good on cpu cooling if needed.

i amnoticing that some keyboards are advertised to only work with certain operating sysems, is this true? Because that keyboard nick put up is aweome but I wanna try Windows 8.1. Well acually i mihht go with chips because red hurts my eyes, especally with lights. not sure why. bur then again I kinda wamna try thse macros. seemz like fun. so my next question is, are macros even useful/worth it?
(excuse horrible typing, under covers at nihht with ps vita pain in the ass keyboard)

[Nick3306]

upon further inspection I have found a 350 PSU. I als have two fans and two heatsinks, so I might be good on cpu cooling if needed.

i amnoticing that some keyboards are advertised to only work with certain operating sysems, is this true? Because that keyboard nick put up is aweome but I wanna try Windows 8.1. Well acually i mihht go with chips because red hurts my eyes, especally with lights. not sure why. bur then again I kinda wamna try thse macros. seemz like fun. so my next question is, are macros even useful/worth it?
(excuse horrible typing, under covers at nihht with ps vita pain in the ass keyboard)

If your PSU is 350W you will definitely need a new one. And I have never heard of certain keyboards not being compatible with windows 8. Oh and if red hurts your eyes the keys have 4 levels of brightness and on the second lowest ones its really dim.

[RuthlessTomato]

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/RuthlessTomato/saved/4a93

[Nick3306]

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/RuthlessTomato/saved/4a93

There is no point going with the i5 4670k if you are only going to have a gt 630, the gpu will bottleneck the cpu by a huge margin. I would also never recommend getting a micro atx mobo. You also threw in a case which he said he didnt need.

[Chipaton]

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/RuthlessTomato/saved/4a93

Ya Nick is right... that's one of the worst builds I've seen.

[tundraboy44]

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/RuthlessTomato/saved/4a93

Ya Nick is right... that's one of the worst builds I've seen.

^

Also, Personally, I think my build has the main things he needs, And he can though in a power supply because 350 wont do the job very cleanly. Nick has  a good point, I left out the operating system, so if you don't already have it i will add it in, as-well as a key-bored of choice.

[RuthlessTomato]

Just saying, Minecraft is run almost 90% off of the CPU, not GPU. I do know salsa plays Minecraft a lot, so I got him a CPU based-build.

[Nick3306]

Just saying, Minecraft is run almost 90% off of the CPU, not GPU. I do know salsa plays Minecraft a lot, so I got him a CPU based-build.

Minecraft will run just as well on a lower cpu so it would be more wise to get a better gpu for other games.

[SalsaInABowl]

Just saying, Minecraft is run almost 90% off of the CPU, not GPU. I do know salsa plays Minecraft a lot, so I got him a CPU based-build.

I'm sorry I didn't clarify, I mean to play much more than Minecraft.

Important question is, are macros any use outside of mmorpg games?

So far I'm leaning toward a kind of hybrid build, like 75% Chip and 25% Nick