Need Help Selecting Parts for PC Build - Budget $500

LCyan9 on 10/12/2022 - 21:20
Last edited 10/12/2022 - 21:31 by 1 other user

Hi all

I’ve been out of the PC game for a while and am thinking I’d like to build one.

I already have a Corsair SFX 750W PSU, a Samsung EVO 860 1TB SSD (SATA), and a graphics card, 6800XT.

I’d like to use the parts I already have in the build. I’d prefer a white case, I was looking at ITX, but they seem to be $$ so mATX would be fine. I was thinking maybe an AM4, eg Ryzen 5 3600? but open to suggestions.

Budget wise, I’m not sure I’d want to spend more than $500ish on the balance (MB, CPU, RAM, case) - but again open to ideas, maybe that budget isn’t realistic.

Thanks for the help!

• 

  Hybroid on 10/12/2022 - 21:21

  +4

  This is your friend for options, budgets and compatibility checks: https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/

• 

  aileron on 10/12/2022 - 21:58

  +1

  Yeah plug in your existing stuff into pcpartpicker and start off finding a mATX board using their motherboard selector.

  Might be worth waiting until boxing day to see whether a good value Intel or AMD CPU goes on sale and you can take things from there. e.g. i5-12400F.

  I reckon the cheapest case, cheapest mATX board, a budget or mid-level CPU on sale, and 16gb 3200mhz RAM can fit into $500 with a deal.

• 

  dandoon on 10/12/2022 - 22:23

  +1

  for sure, the budget is totally workable - you should be able to get a case for $50 (+/- 30), 16GB DDR4 ram for reasonable amounts, and the CPU/MB combo should be achievable in the $300 depending on what you're aiming for.
  Don't be afraid to look for secondhand CPUs - motherboards too, but only if you're confident looking at the board for signs of damage and/or can have the thing shown working before you purchase.

  intel cpus are easier to inspect because they haven't had pins attached for a while, but the intel mobo cpu socket is where attention is needed as it might have bent pins. necessarily, the opposite is true for AMD as they have the spindly pins on the CPU, but the sockets are pretty safe.

  Also, you can spraypaint a case white and if you do it right it'd be veeeery nice. I've done it before myself - very satisfying project! feel free to throw some parts on here and i'm sure one of us will help you.

• 

  QF99 on 10/12/2022 - 22:26

  +1

  Was not sure if you needed wifi/bt so added that in.
  This is for new parts, but with am4 platform: https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/wk3zxs
  You could probably buy a cheaper case if the shipping kills the deal.
  Stock cooler will suffice if on a budget.
  A bit overbudget, but you get the idea.

  • 

    QF99 on 10/12/2022 - 22:27

    +1

    The motherboard has bios flashback so don't worry about the warning

    • 

      OMGJL on 11/12/2022 - 02:45

      +1

      an additional CPU cooler would be nice even if it's over $500 budget.

      the only other comment I have is this ATX case won't mount SFX PSU and needing an additional mounting bracket.

      • 

        Cyan9 on 11/12/2022 - 09:28

        Will all cases designed for an ATX PS accommodate an SFX PS as long as I get an appropriate bracket?

        • 

          OMGJL on 11/12/2022 - 12:25

          +1

          @Cyan9: Apart from cable length, yes, SFX PSU is way smaller than ATX on all 3 dimension, with a mounting bracket it will fit fine.

• 

  Cyan9 on 11/12/2022 - 00:41

  I’ll play around with pcpartpicker, thanks! I didn’t realise it had that functionality.

• 

  Yve on 11/12/2022 - 16:11

  +1

  AM4 is good, I’d recommend looking for a mobo combo if buying second hand. You might even be able to grab a cooler with it too.

  Also your Corsair sfx psu should come with a square mounting bracket inside. (In response to an earlier question)

  • 

    Cyan9 on 12/12/2022 - 10:49

    Good tip! I still have all the parts the PS came with in the box. I’ll check, thank you!

• 

  CodeExplode on 12/12/2022 - 21:56

  +1

  You can always go 2nd hand while on a budget. I sold my old 4th gen i5 cpu + motherboard + 16gb DDR3 ram for $150 on facebook marketplace. It was getting on in age but still reasonably fine for a budget build, fine for a lot of gaming still. I think the buyer might have haggled me down to $125 or something too.

• 

  Cyan9 on 21/12/2022 - 10:15

  Thanks for the help so far all, here's where I'm at.

  Stuff I have:
  Powercolor Red Dragon 6800XT
  Samsung 860 EVO SATA SSD
  Corsair SF750 PSU

  Stuff I'll buy:
  Ryzen 5 5600
  16/32GB some brand of RAM, I'll watch for a deal
  Be Quiet 500DX White

  The one item I haven't entirely decided yet is a MB. I'm looking maybe at an MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI (suggested by @QF99), as I need Wifi, it has a header for front USB-C which the 500DX case has, and PCIe4 is nice for a little future proofing - I get that the 6800XT won't benefit a lot. Reviews on this board seem a bit patchy though.

  Can anyone recommend a good AM4 board for this combo around $200, or am I good with the B550M PRO-VDH? (Jeez prices on these have climbed lately..)

  Thanks everyone