Virtual Build #1: $400 Console Killer

Intro

This new series is going to cover MANY types of builds. From the lowest budget build to the highest, most extreme builds. I'm not actually going to be building the PCs, just choosing the parts to match a specific budget and also researching to find out which parts work the best. This series is going to be updated weekly, so stay tuned for that. Now onto the actual build...

$400 Console Killer
This nifty little computer will easily handle most modern games with ease. Now, with most of the consoles coming in at around $300, one could easily ask, how could this build POSSIBLY replace a console when it's MORE EXPENSIVE??? Well, the fact of the matter is that even though consoles have been around for awhile, they could never truly replace PC gaming. Consoles are definitely getting better and better, but they will never reach the sheer horsepower in gaming PCs. Also, custom built computers are FULLY customizable and can be tailored to your requirements and your budget. This is why many people find custom built computers extremely appealing, even compared to consoles. Even though this PC is $100 more expensive than most consoles, it will give you many options to upgrade in the future without spending another $300 on a new console. Also, it will be able to easily play games that are on the console platform right out of the box. Another thing to keep in mind, is that this build isn't just for gaming. It can swiftly perform daily tasks, such as playing music, writing documents, making powerpoints, making spreadsheet, and so much more. Armed with these facts, we can rest assured that this build is truly a console killer.

Parts List

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor	$59.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	Asus H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard	$59.99 @ Newegg
Memory	Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory	$39.89 @ OutletPC
Storage	A-Data Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$61.99 @ Amazon
Video Card	EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card	$109.99 @ Newegg
Case	Corsair 100R ATX Mid Tower Case	$49.99 @ Amazon
Power Supply	EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply	$32.88 @ OutletPC
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$414.72

CPU
As you can probably tell from the parts list, most of these parts were used in my Skylake build. In fact, the only thing that has changed is the graphics card. This is why I can easily attest to the fact that the CPU is very capable and fitting in this build. With the price tag of only $59.99, it has a very good price to performance ratio. The only thing that was holding me back on games was the integrated graphics. This issue is remedied by the addition of a graphics card, the GTX 750Ti.

Motherboard
This motherboard is the budget builder's dream. Not only does it feature EZ BIOS, fan controls, graphics card slot, 2x PCIe slots, but it also has many extra features such as a LED illuminated audio shield. Feel free to check out my review on this amazing motherboard.

Memory
This RAM was an easy choice mainly because it's cheap, and it's reliable. 8GB of RAM nowadays will easily play games and perform daily tasks. But it also gives you the option of upgrading to 16GB of RAM for even more performance. I used this RAM in my Skylake build, and it's still going strong.

Storage
I highly recommend this SSD. It's fast, reliable, and relatively cheap compared to the other SSDs. I also used this in my Skylake build and it speeds the whole computer up and reduces loading times, which equals higher productivity levels. You can also find my review on this SSD on my blog.

Video Card
"Gtx 750 ti is still one of the best graphics cards of all time when it comes to gaming on a budget. It can play all the latest games on high settings at 1080p easily and can play games like battlefield 4 on ultra with 40+ fps." - http://www.xtremegaminerd.com/best-budget-entry-level-graphics-cards/

Case
Even though I could've went with a cheaper case, I wanted to leave the option of upgrading in the future very open. This case will definitely support upgrades as the case has an ample amount of storage, USB 3.0 front, minimalistic design, and tool less hard drive cages. It will serve you well into the future. I also have the review on this case on my blog if you want to check that out.

Power Supply
Two main reasons: Simple, Reliable. EVGA has proved to make very reliable power supplies. I used this one in my Skylake build and it hasn't failed me so far and will keep going. There are many reviews online that state this power supply has the best budget power supply. The 430 watts also provide room for upgrades in the future. Whether it be a better graphics card, CPU, or both, this power supply probably can handle it with ease.

UPDATE:
Since the prices have skyrocketed for no reason, I put together a similar build with different seller and brought the price back down to $400. Check out the parts list here: Parts List