Cant Decide which gaming pc to go with

keeboardnmouse

Hello, This is my first post.
I have 3 gaming pc build options, all under $500, and I wanted to see which one to go with, as I want to save money and have room for improvements on all of them, but want to be under $500. I plan to play Fortnite, Minecraft, and a couple turn-based games. I have a keyboard, mouse, and a 60Hz monitor, so I want my games to run smoothly on 60fps
Here they are:
Cheapest Build: https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=549e9f3a-c334-4ad6-afed-a39b1f46e327
Cheap-ish Build https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=1adebb6e-2508-4155-b498-720c7c2f9083
Not-so-cheap Build https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=3ed0afff-cd8f-4e99-a248-98099689cc51
I can switch out the SSD with a HHD if the budget allows for it.
Any suggestions on what build to go with/any change to a specific build would be nice.

keeboardnmouse

I could use some suggestions

keeboardnmouse

TSJohnB said:

Hello and welcome to the forums!

My advise depends on your future plans.

If the plan is to upgrade in the future, I'd recommend the first (cheapest) option. The processors you chose all run integrated graphics, but if you add a GPU later, that feature won't continue to benefit you, so I don't necessarily recommend spending the extra $100 on a CPU now when you could save that money for a better upgrade later.

If you're not planning to add a GPU at any point, I would go with the "Not-so-cheap Build" since the better CPU will help eliminate some early bottlenecks.

But what about the core counts? Is there a recommendation there?

TSTonyV

I did notice your other thread in PC builds, if you're planning to use this system without a video card for a while, the 3400G is by far the best CPU option of those three because it has the best integrated graphics. . Keep in mind even for a game like Fortnite which isn't very graphically intense you'll have to keep your settings low to get smooth framerates if you're not using a video card.

Minecraft should be a breeze though. 

Four cores is pretty standard these days and will be better long term so I'd recommend going with at least the 3200g if you plan to keep this configuration for a while. 

keeboardnmouse

@TSTonyV  I found out that an x570 doesn't support the Athlon 3000G, so I will switch the Cheapest Build to this:
https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=fd92b5a5-e98c-4298-a064-874d0a0f0a14
Also, what if I added a graphics card soon?

keeboardnmouse

Also, I have the UserBenchmark Average FPS Ratings
                                                       DX 9               DX 10

• Vega 3 (Athlon 300g)           20.9 fps         19 fps
• Vega 8 (Ryzen 3 3200g)       41.5 fps         32.8 fps
• Vega 11 (Ryzen 5 3400g)    61.9 fps          47.1 fps

keeboardnmouse

Also, I can buy the Cheapest and Cheaper Builds now, but I am not able to get the Not-So-Cheap Build now. I know that doesn't matter that much, and the actual specs are more important than the time of purchasing.

PowerSpec_MichaelB

keeboardnmouse said:

Also, I can buy the Cheapest and Cheaper Builds now, but I am not able to get the Not-So-Cheap Build now. I know that doesn't matter that much, and the actual specs are more important than the time of purchasing.

If you do not need WiFi, here is what I would recommend: https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=e7cefda6-0361-4202-a0a2-56c547bc50a2. This build is $445 after the $20 CPU/Motherboard discount combo and comes equipped with a discrete GPU which will far outperform any integrated graphics on the market. It's actually faster than the more expensive GTX 1650: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-1650-vs-AMD-RX-570/4039vs3924. It also utilizes a much faster 6 core, 12 thread 2600X processor which is great if you plan on streaming your games while playing. Remember, the cost of this build does not reflect the price after taxes and does not include an OS or peripherals such as keyboard, mouse or monitor. 

That build linked above only has a single 8GB stick of DDR4 3000mhz, however you can always add another stick later once your budget grows. A single 8GB DIMM is not going to bottleneck your performance in Fortnite or Minecraft, so you'll be fine.

If you did need WiFi, you can swap the build out for the B450M DS3H-WiFi for another $22, or buy a WiFi adapter to add on to the board via USB or PCIe: https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?N=4294966871&page=1&sortby=pricelow&SortNow=Go. If you plan to play Fortnite in any competitive manner, I would strongly recommend using a wired connection for a more consistent, stable experience.

Lastly, if your budget improves in the future, look into getting a high refresh rate Freesync monitor. We sell them for around $150 and they will dramatically improve your gaming experience. They remove any screen tearing, reduce input lag since you do not need V-Sync with them and they force the monitor to adjust it's refresh rate to match your framerate, making everything feel buttery smooth. FreeSync is compatible with the RX 570 in the build above, and even if you decide to go with an Nvidia graphics card later on, Freesync is now supported by modern Nvidia GPU's.

If you have any additional questions, please let us know!

keeboardnmouse

I have already started my build, before this post, but this is good for when I decide to upgrade my system.
Sorry that I wasn't able to use this info earlier!