Need some advice on a new gaming build

Curlymike · July 2020

So, I killed my last older PC due to overspec by trying to stick an RX580 in a computer with 3-7 year old components (oops!). So, I'm in the market for a new motherboard, CPU, and GPU. I'd like to spend less than $300 for the CPU, $250 for the GPU, and $200 for the motherboard, but I'd also like to find the best I can get for that money. I also want to make it with an eye towards future upgrading should that time come (but if I can make something really good for that money, it won't be too necessary). If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be really appreciative for the support.

Here'd the remaining specs from my previous build (that are still functional):
Toshiba 1TB HDD (x2)
Corsair Carbide Series Spec-02 Mid-Tower Case
Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (x2)
Corsair RMx 750W 80+Gold PSU (Brand New)

Ian · July 2020

Greetings. Depends if you wanted to go the AMD or Intel route.

At $300 for the CPU the best values for gaming are:
Intel) https://www.microcenter.com/product/622907/intel-core-i5-10600k-comet-lake-41ghz-six-core-lga-1200-boxed-processor
AMD) https://www.microcenter.com/product/608318/amd-ryzen-7-3700x-matisse-36ghz-8-core-am4-boxed-processor-with-wraith-prism-cooler

For Intel motherboards, it would depend if you wanted Wi-Fi built in or not - they start at about $149 to support the new LGA 1200 Intel processors: https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntt=lga+1200&Ntk=all&sortby=match&N=39&myStore=false
For AMD motherboards, AM4 motherboard stock is quite low right now, but there are plenty of choices that would be fine under $200 - https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntt=am4+motherboard&Ntk=all&sortby=match&N=38+39+37&myStore=false

For a $250 video card you are looking at a 1660 Super in that price range, unless a 1660Ti drops to that price on sale. Any card like https://www.microcenter.com/product/615269/evga-geforce-gtx-1660-super-sc-ultra-overclocked-dual-fan-6gb-gddr6-pcie-30-graphics-card would be just fine.

Curlymike · July 2020

TSIanL said:

Greetings. Depends if you wanted to go the AMD or Intel route.

At $300 for the CPU the best values for gaming are:
Intel) https://www.microcenter.com/product/622907/intel-core-i5-10600k-comet-lake-41ghz-six-core-lga-1200-boxed-processor
AMD) https://www.microcenter.com/product/608318/amd-ryzen-7-3700x-matisse-36ghz-8-core-am4-boxed-processor-with-wraith-prism-cooler

For Intel motherboards, it would depend if you wanted Wi-Fi built in or not - they start at about $149 to support the new LGA 1200 Intel processors: https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntt=lga+1200&Ntk=all&sortby=match&N=39&myStore=false
For AMD motherboards, AM4 motherboard stock is quite low right now, but there are plenty of choices that would be fine under $200 - https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntt=am4+motherboard&Ntk=all&sortby=match&N=38+39+37&myStore=false

For a $250 video card you are looking at a 1660 Super in that price range, unless a 1660Ti drops to that price on sale. Any card like https://www.microcenter.com/product/615269/evga-geforce-gtx-1660-super-sc-ultra-overclocked-dual-fan-6gb-gddr6-pcie-30-graphics-card would be just fine.

That all sounds pretty good. I was torn on AMD vs Intel. Which would be a better choice? I see that AMD is usually cheaper and better at multithread applications, but I've always used Intel.
And a 1660 was about what I was looking at. It looks like a really decent card for the money.

Ian · July 2020

Curlymike said:

TSIanL said:

Greetings. Depends if you wanted to go the AMD or Intel route.

At $300 for the CPU the best values for gaming are:
Intel) https://www.microcenter.com/product/622907/intel-core-i5-10600k-comet-lake-41ghz-six-core-lga-1200-boxed-processor
AMD) https://www.microcenter.com/product/608318/amd-ryzen-7-3700x-matisse-36ghz-8-core-am4-boxed-processor-with-wraith-prism-cooler

For Intel motherboards, it would depend if you wanted Wi-Fi built in or not - they start at about $149 to support the new LGA 1200 Intel processors: https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntt=lga+1200&Ntk=all&sortby=match&N=39&myStore=false
For AMD motherboards, AM4 motherboard stock is quite low right now, but there are plenty of choices that would be fine under $200 - https://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntt=am4+motherboard&Ntk=all&sortby=match&N=38+39+37&myStore=false

For a $250 video card you are looking at a 1660 Super in that price range, unless a 1660Ti drops to that price on sale. Any card like https://www.microcenter.com/product/615269/evga-geforce-gtx-1660-super-sc-ultra-overclocked-dual-fan-6gb-gddr6-pcie-30-graphics-card would be just fine.

That all sounds pretty good. I was torn on AMD vs Intel. Which would be a better choice? I see that AMD is usually cheaper and better at multithread applications, but I've always used Intel.
And a 1660 was about what I was looking at. It looks like a really decent card for the money.

The processors are extremely similar. If you look at benchmarks for games, the 10600k typically outperforms the Ryzen 3700x but the margin is slim. A downside to Intel is that you would need to purchase cooling for it, which the Ryzen would come with a capable cooler for that.

Need some advice on a new gaming build

Comments

Categories

We love seeing what our customers build

Looking for a little inspiration?

View builds by:

SAME DAY CUSTOM BUILD SERVICE

If You Can Dream it, We Can Build it.

Micro Center Homepage

Service, Upgrades & Repairs