I still need to get on with my builds, the issue is trying to find a one store fits all and Amazon seems to be the only one that fits that bill most of the time, it also doesn't help that you've got to account for the 20% extra VAT. I paid like £60 VAT when I bought my GTX 980 for example which kinda pissed me off because it was £60 that went away for nothing to a gov that doesn't support me (Isle of Man has their own gov and the UK has theirs).

Also finally got my 16gb ram kit today =-D, took some fiddling about but I got it working. Only issue I;m trying to figure out is Firefox keeps crashing whenever I try using Google or Google+.

I get what you're saying. At first I thought about using Alternate, which is present in both Spain and UK (as well as other European countries), and Newegg, to have other options and open new possibilities, but in the end that's a lot of work for very little gain.

Also, here in Spain our VAT is 21% so yeah, I understand what you mean.

Congrats on your new RAM! But those problems are rather weird... although I better not talk because I'm having lots of problems with FireFox and its Flash plugin.

$700 build, I've used PC Partpicker, so different shops:

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($112.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($19.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($67.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 4GB Video Card  ($202.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec P70 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit)  ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Keyboard: HP Wireless Classic Desktop Wireless Standard Keyboard w/Laser Mouse  ($15.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $712.47

It's bit over the $700, I felt $13 is not enough to cut corners (though some have already been cut), but 1TB storage instead of 2TB will put it under $700 if that's the problem.

CPU: I went with i3 since I think it's still better option than AMD 6300/6350, hyperthreading in i3 still manages to keep them performing quite well, plus upgrade path to i5/i7 is always an option later.

CPU cooler: 212 is preferred bang/buck solution - not enough budget for Noctua, not that one is really needed here.

MB: I tend to only go with ASUS and Gigabyte, GA-Z97 was cheaper. Not very fond of ASRock, but for people who don't have problem with them, you can save some money here.

RAM: Would rather pick Kingston, but this one is quite cheap for 1866 and CAS 9 memory

Storage: Seagate is not something I would usually put in rig (WD guy here), but it's fairly good HDD with 2TB capacity - I just think that 1GB gets filled up pretty quick

GPU: It comes down to AMD 380 or nVidia 960 - they perform about the same, but in this gen nVidia usually had less problems with some of the games (though they and their Gameworks are the culprit in the first place). 4GB is maybe not really nessecary, but I felt that it's beter to have it for a small price difference - some $15 can be saved here if 2GB card is picked.

Case: I tend to like Antec's cases, it's not Fractal Design, but it gets the job done in this build.

PSU: This is quite popular budget PSU, I would rather see SeaSonic, but budget contrains and all that.

OS: It is what it is.

KB/M: Wirelles combo, nothing special, gets the job done.

@JEMC I really think you need to put some aftermarket CPU cooler there, 6300 stock fan is loud as hell.

I think I might switch to chrome for the time being, I mean 16gb ram now means I don't care about the multiple processes Chrome is taking up liek I used to when I had 4-8gb.

I'm wondering for this build if I should just focus on the US currency, I'm shit with Euros and the 20% VAT is going to slow things down for me a bit.

I thought about it, but then I'd have to cut corners somewhere else :-/. I still have time to make some minor changes, so I'll take a look into it.

I have to say that you got a nice build. I would also avoid Seagate and, as I said I don't think an i3 will be enough. Besides, the i3-4170 is already "old", replaced by new models on a new socket, so if you don't upgrade soon, you won't find any i5 or i7 compatible chips in a year or two (that's also true for the FX-6300 as AMD is launching the newer AM4 platform next year, but I think that the 6300 will last the whole console generation).

I looked for 4GB variants of the 380 and 960 but they were out of my price range. Still, I think the 280X is a better choice even if it has 1GB less.

@Chazore: What if, instead of focusing on an american build, we make better use of our time? HoloDust has gone with a build in $ so I assume he is american, you are from the UK and I'm from mainland Europe. Instead of making 9 builds (3 for each budget), we could split the work and focus on our own currency.

That way it would be easier to shop in different stores and get the best possible build for each currency. What do you say? And you, HoloDust, would you agree with that?

*Edit* I just want to add that everybody else can still join in this project, if you want to.

Anyway, The News!

FALLOUT 4 – UPDATE 1.2 NOW AVAILABLE, PACKS GENERAL MEMORY & STABILITY IMPROVEMENTS

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/fallout-4-update-1-2-now-available-packs-general-memory-stability-improvements/

Bethesda has released a new update for Fallout 4. This public update features all of the improvements and fixes that were made available during these past few weeks (via its beta patches). This patch will be auto-downloaded from Steam, and you can read its complete changelog below.

>>Careful with this update because...

FALLOUT 4 – LATEST UPDATE DISABLES MOD SUPPORT, TEMPORARY WORKAROUND FOUND

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/fallout-4-latest-update-disables-mod-support-temporary-workaround-found/

Good news. Bethesda has released the first public patch for Fallout 4 (as we’ve already reported). Bad news. The new launcher that comes with this update basically disables mods. Our guess is that this is not an intentional thing from Bethesda, so here is hoping that a hotfix will be released sooner than later.

3D REALMS ‘ BOMBSHELL GETS NEW GAMEPLAY TRAILER

http://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/3d-realms-bombshell-gets-new-gameplay-trailer-2/

3D Realms has released a new gameplay trailer for its top-down action RPG shooter, Bombshell. Bombshell is powered by the Unreal Engine, and will feature role-playing elements, an arsenal of destructive alien weaponry, powerful combat skills and a robust tech-tree for out-of-this-world upgrades are at your disposal. The game is planned for a January 2016 release.

>>Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2QWbLEJSsk

GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX – FIRST ASSAULT ONLINE RELEASES ON DECEMBER 14TH VIA STEAM EARLY ACCESS

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/ghost-in-the-shell-stand-alone-complex-first-assault-online-releases-on-december-14th-via-steam-early-access/

Nexon America and Neople today announced an Early Access program for their first-person shooter Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – First Assault Online will begin December 14th on Steam and the Nexon Launcher. Players will get to dive beyond humanity as they upgrade and augment themselves into walking weapons in this gripping tactical shooter, where coordinating calculated attacks, hacking enemy weaponry and utilising SkillSync to share cyberskills holds the key to success.

TEMPEST – ACTION RPG PIRATE GAME FOCUSED ON SEA BATTLES – NOW AVAILABLE VIA STEAM EARLY ACCESS

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/tempest-action-rpg-pirate-game-focused-on-sea-battles-now-available-via-steam-early-access/

HeroCraft has informed us about the release of Tempest on Steam via its Early Access program. Developed by Lion’s Shade, Tempest is an action RPG pirate game that focuses on sea battles. Players will be able to fully customize their ships, fight huge monsters, and discover the first region of the game’s world (in its Early Access version).

>>And here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLa9gv5IuJc. It has potential. I'll keep an eye on it.

THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT – BLOOD AND WINE – FIRST SCREENSHOTS RELEASED

http://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-blood-and-wine-first-screenshots-released/

CD PROJEKT RED has just released the first two screenshots from the upcoming expansion to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine. As the press release reads, the expansion is slated for release in the first half of 2016.

>>They are only two and the don't look rom a The Witcher game. They are bright!

THE MEAN GREENS: PLASTIC WARFARE – THIRD-PERSON SHOOTER – IS NOW AVAILABLE

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-mean-greens-plastic-warfare-third-person-shooter-is-now-available/

Virtual Basement and Code Headquarters announced today that The Mean Greens: Plastic Warfare is now available on Steam. The game is priced at $9.99 USD and in order to celebrate this announcement, Virtual Basement released a launch trailer that can be viewed below.

>>Remember the green, tiny, plastic soldier you played with when you were a kid? Now you can play with them again. Oh, and here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_M3R6uAX9g

MAGICKA DEV'S HELLDIVERS OUT NOW

http://www.pcgamer.com/magicka-devs-helldivers-out-now/

Magicka developer Arrowhead is back with four-player co-op twin-stick shooter Helldivers, a game about bringing liberty and democracy to a galaxy that doesn't seem to want it. Helldivers was first released as a PlayStation exclusive in March, but what developer can resist the allure of the personal computer?

>>And there's a release trailer too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78gz-X9TSzo

SYSTEM SHOCK 3 TEASED BY OTHERSIDE ENTERTAINMENT

http://www.pcgamer.com/system-shock-3-teased-by-otherside-entertainment/

A mere month ago Night Dive Studios, the group behind System Shock Enhanced Edition, announced it was developing a remake of the classic sci-fi RPG and in conversations about a possible System Shock 3. Well, Night Dive seems to have had some very productive conversations, because it looks like System Shock 3 is coming from Otherside Entertainment, the small studio currently developing Ultima Underworld successor Underworld Ascendant.

>>Spurgeonryan has already made a thread about this: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=211072

CYBERPUNK 2077 POTENTIALLY, POSSIBLY, MAYBE OUT 2016

http://www.pcgamer.com/cyberpunk-2077-potentially-possibly-maybe-out-2016/

Today in vague, unsubstantiated rumour: Cyberpunk 2077 might be arriving before the end of 2016. This rather large 'might' comes courtesy of Gamereactor Germany, which cites a source close to CD Projekt RED.

>>Protendo made a thread about this, but if you want to go to mock about the release date, you're already late: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=211066

NUCLEAR THRONE QUIETLY SLIPS OUT OF EARLY ACCESS

http://www.pcgamer.com/nuclear-throne-quietly-slips-out-of-early-access/

We quite liked Nuclear Throne, the post-apocalyptic top-down shooter from the guys who gave us Luftrausers and Super Crate Box, when we reviewed the Early Access version back in January. Over the weekend, and with approximately zero fanfare, it left Early Access and is now in full and official release.

>>And of course it has a launch trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LSs1bj41P4

HATOFUL BOYFRIEND: HOLIDAY STAR OUT DECEMBER 15

http://www.pcgamer.com/hatoful-boyfriend-holiday-star-out-december-15/

I will confess to not having the foggiest as to what 'pigeon dating sim' actually means. I know what each word denotes on its own, but put them together and it's all so much Swahili. That hasn't stopped Mediatonic from remastering pigeon dating sim Hatoful Boyfriend's Christmassy sequel, though, no sir. Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star is coming to Steam on December 15.

>>You can watch the trailer here and then facepalm yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR8w1pGec_c

BRUTAL LEGEND 2 "MORE POSSIBLE" IF PSYCHONAUTS SEQUEL IS A SUCCESS

http://www.pcgamer.com/brutal-legend-2-more-possible-if-psychonauts-sequel-is-a-success/

Brutal Legend was pretty good, but not the sort of "good" that ensures an instantly greenlit sequel. If it takes as long as it did for Psychonauts, which was also "good" but far from a runaway hit, it'll be another four years before it's even announced, and maybe three more after that until it actually arrives. If, however, the recently-announced Psychonauts 2 does well, then maybe—just maybe—it'll happen a little quicker.

NEXUS MODS GETS THE ALL-CLEAR—BUT CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD ANYWAY

http://www.pcgamer.com/nexus-mods-gets-the-all-clearbut-change-your-password-anyway/

Well this is a relief: fears that the Nexus user database had been compromised have proven false, at least partially. Nexus founder Robin 'Dark0ne' Scott has acquired the full database dump form the reporting security firm and discovered that the most recent account in the list was created in July 2013, at which point Nexus switched over to a more secure system. In other words, this is an old breach—if you've updated your password since then, your account is safe. If you haven't, do it now.

Sounds like a plan =D.

Also I think one of my mem modules may be fucked because FireFox keeps randomly crashing on me a bit mroe now and I got a blue screen nearly half an hr ago so I'm trying to look for some software to scan my sticks for errors, I really hope one of them isn't fucked because I paid £60 and waited just over a week to them to arrive =/.

I hope your RAM is fine. Having faulty components has always been one of my worst fears. Have you checked the BIOS sorry, UEFI to see if it detects them fine?

I'm glad you like the new idea.

Both memory modules are detected within the UEFI, though I downloaded and mounted Memtest86 to a USB drive which I may run tomorrow since extensive tests with that software can take hours to complete. FF crashed again recently, though I'll use Chrome for a while and see if that gives me issues and I haven't had another blue screen yet, haven't even tried playing any up to date games with it yet either.