Hardware Anyway to make this Gaming PC even BETTER while staying under $650?

[Xanthe]

I want to make my budget PC as great as possible while staying under $650! Perhaps a better CPU? More RAM? I wish to get your opinions so please let me know

PC Part Picker - http://pcpartpicker.com/list/Fs4Xbj
For those who don't want to open the link:

Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor
Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
Zotac GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB Mini Video Card

 

[brigcaster]

It does look like a pretty balanced build to me honestly.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Consider downgrading the processor to an i3 6100. It has a much better price/performance ratio, and you can upgrade to an i5 6500 later on down the line. Get a gold rated Corsair, Silverstone or EVGA PSU with the money you save there

 

[Supster131]

That's probably the best you can do, if you want to be balanced.
I'd recommend changing to the RAM to 2x4 because you'll get the benefits of using dual-channel.

You can (if you want) either get a cheaper CPU and get a better GPU, or vice versa.

 

[RevPokemon]

What kind of gaming do you want to do? Is emulation something you want?

 

[Xanthe]

Consider downgrading the processor to an i3 6100. It has a much better price/performance ratio, and you can upgrade to an i5 6500 later on down the line. Get a gold rated Corsair, Silverstone or EVGA PSU with the money you save there

I would love to do that, but I'm pretty sure that most games (Such as GTA V and Fallout 4) require that you have a Quad Core processor. the 3.7 Ghz looks mighty fantastic, however.

That's probably the best you can do, if you want to be balanced.
I'd recommend changing to the RAM to 2x4 because you'll get the benefits of using dual-channel.

You can (if you want) either get a cheaper CPU and get a better GPU, or vice versa.

How big of a difference in gaming will it make? I'm looking to play games such as GTA V, Fallout 4, etc. Perhaps some Gamecube emulation too.

What kind of gaming do you want to do? Is emulation something you want?

Definitely. Gamecube emulation at the most. I'm not looking for Wii-U or 3DS gaming

 

[migles]

That's probably the best you can do, if you want to be balanced.
I'd recommend changing to the RAM to 2x4 because you'll get the benefits of using dual-channel.

You can (if you want) either get a cheaper CPU and get a better GPU, or vice versa.

is there a difference with using 1 stick vs 2 sticks?
i thought the only thing that mattered was the clock speed

 

[brigcaster]

Newer open world games will definately make use of your 6GB of VRAM. Something more powerful than a i5 will be useful only for games like City Skylines, Starcraft 2 and MMOs in general.

 

[Supster131]

is there a difference with using 1 stick vs 2 sticks?
i thought the only thing that mattered was the clock speed

Dual Channel can be faster in certain tasks: http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/1349-ram-how-dual-channel-works-vs-single-channel/Page-3
A lot of people just recommend/prefer using two (or four) stick, rather than one (or three) sticks.

How big of a difference in gaming will it make? I'm looking to play games such as GTA V, Fallout 4, etc. Perhaps some Gamecube emulation too.

Emulation taxes a bit more on the CPU than the GPU (since your CPU has to emulate the hardware of that system). Your GPU gets utilized once you start bumping up those graphic settings.
As for GTA V, I know that game uses your CPU quite a bit (due to it being open world and all those NPCs in the world). If you're going to be playing games such as those, you're current setup is fine.

 

[migles]

A lot of people just recommend/prefer using two (or four) stick, rather than one (or three) sticks.

so, if you use 3 sticks, they don't work in dual channel? 2 of them don't work in dual mode and the other in single channel?

 

[Supster131]

so, if you use 3 sticks, they don't work in dual channel? 2 of them don't work in dual mode and the other in single channel?

Unfortunately, no.
Once you insert a 3rd stick, every RAM stick run in single channel mode, so you'll lose the benefits of dual channel.

 

[Tizm]

maybe try going amd, it may save a few bucks, thats what i did for a $400 cad build

 

[Armadillo]

Unfortunately, no.
Once you insert a 3rd stick, every RAM stick run in single channel mode, so you'll lose the benefits of dual channel.

You can get dual chanel with 3. As long as both channels have the same amount of memory, you'll get dual channel. Doesn't matter how many sticks, as long as both memory channels have the same amount of memory, it can operate in dual channel.

If you've got 2x4GB in channel A, and an 8GB in B, that's 8GB in each channel, so it can run dual channel fine.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/000005657.html#dual

Even Intel show it as a valid config. Dual-channel with three DIMMs. Blue slots (one memory channel), have 2x2GB, the other memory channel (black slot) has 4GB, it's a valid config for dual channel as each memory channel has 4GB of memory.

Intel also support flex mode so with a mistmatch, you can run single and dual at the same time.

 

[nero99]

may i recommend getting the thermaltake core P3 case? it makes everything look amazing! i got on on ebay from newegg for $119 new.

 

[Futurdreamz]

maybe try going amd, it may save a few bucks, thats what i did for a $400 cad build

Does AMD have anything that can beat an i5?

 

[brigcaster]

Does AMD have anything that can beat an i5?

Zen Soon™

 

[TotalInsanity4]

I would love to do that, but I'm pretty sure that most games (Such as GTA V and Fallout 4) require that you have a Quad Core processor. the 3.7 Ghz looks mighty fantastic, however.

Should be fine for gaming, it is dual core but with hyperthreading it has 4 threads

How big of a difference in gaming will it make? I'm looking to play games such as GTA V, Fallout 4, etc. Perhaps some Gamecube emulation too.

As long as you keep that graphics card or better, you should be fine playing them on high settings

Definitely. Gamecube emulation at the most. I'm not looking for Wii-U or 3DS gaming

Dolphin will never use more than two cores, so you want to focus on clock speeds for emulation

 

[FaTaL_ErRoR]

Does AMD have anything that can beat an i5?

The fx-9590 is pretty good.

 

[Tizm]

The fx-9590 is pretty good.

honestly zen looks pretty fine, i might start saving to change my a8-5600k

 

[sup3rgh0st]

I have that exact same Graphics card, runs like a dream