Can you make a decent gaming computer and setup with just $500?

Daniel

Hello everyone, I'm in a bit of a predicament..
My friend would like me to build him a gaming computer using only $500.
He lacks all of the basic required parts, such as: monitor, case, keyboard+mouse, and headset; all of these parts would come out of the $500 as well as shipping.
I would prefer if all of the parts came from Newegg if possible.

Thank you for your time
(I will select a best answer)
Update1 - I've been told that the budget could go to about 600-650. The monitor and headset will no longer be a problem.
Update2 - Apparently back down to the $500 mark, the monitor and headset still will no longer be a problem. ~ Sorry for confusion

Answer
Tell him it's impossible.

A decent monitor would be at least 100-150, gaming keyboard/mouse at least 80 and headset at least 30. That means at least 200-250 bucks just for peripherals

Then, for a case at least 50.
Decent motherboard, 70-200.
Processor, 100.
Graphics card for gaming, at least 120-200.
8 gigs of decent RAM, I'd say 50.
500-600w power supply, 50-70.
500gb hard drive, 60-80.

Honestly, it's impossible to build a full-fledged gaming PC with all required parts (keyboard/mouse, headset, monitor) and decent performance (med-high most to all games) for under $500.

That's the truth, and I wouldn't bother trying and just making a lopsided machine.

If he can pay 800, that's a different story.

Good luck! If your friend can't accept the fact he needs to pay more, make him understand. It's not your problem, and you should know that.

**I will update this within the hour with the best PC you can build for what your friend can pay including peripherals, it might not be pretty but I'll see**

EDIT:
Best build for under $500.

Rosewill case with 450w Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147082
FM2 Motherboard (for use with APU): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130662
AMD Trinity APU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113280
4gb Crucial 1600MHz Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148660
Seagate 7200rpm 500gb Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767
Wired Gaming Keyboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823205027
Cooler Master Wired Gaming Mouse: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=26-570-014&ParentOnly=1&IsVirtualParent=1
DVD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
Windows 7: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
OR
Windows 8 (much faster performance in general, I'd recommend it for this build): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416550

Total comes out to around 500 bucks. Obviously, it's not ideal since there's an integrated graphics card, although it's a top-notch integrated one. If he has a 1080p screen he should tone it down to 720p for the best performance on games.

If you can spend a WEE bit more, get this motherboard instead: BIOSTAR A880GZ AM3+ AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
(you'll have to look it up on Newegg, I can't include over 10 links here)

This processor:
AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX (you'll have to look it up on Newegg, I can't include over 10 links here)

This graphics card:
HIS iCooler H775FS2G Radeon HD 7750 2GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
(you'll have to look it up on Newegg, I can't include over 10 links here)

The added parts which will go a bit above 500 will make a huge difference.

EDIT 2: Just saw your update. Sadly, this won't make a change much. Really sorry - the original build I had was without the screen for under $500, and I just was about to add it.

I really wish you good luck with this build. It's too bad there's no more money to be spent - for even another 100 dollars the build could be made so much better.

Good luck with this, Daniel!

P.S. I can't recommend the other guy's build, sadly, because the processor will severely bottleneck the rest of the system in many games, since so many games are processor-intensive these days.

Best sound setup on pc for under 500 dollars?

Right now i think im going to get the Razer Makos for 250 and the HT | OMEGA CLARO Plus+ 7.1 for 175. Also will i regret spending this much on a sound system?
Mostly for gaming / listening to music

Answer
This system will rock a room and shake the windows!!! My son has it and it's great.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120


Good luck

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