http://pcpartpicker.com/list/x8Kmqk / http://pcpartpicker.com/list/x8Kmqk/by_merchant/

CPU: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/gk648d/intel-cpu-bx80662i36300 ($129.99)
CPU Cooler: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/FNXfrH/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rrht228pkr1 ($9.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/my4NnQ/gigabyte-motherboard-gab150mds3h ($39.99)
Memory: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/kkL7YJ/kingston-memory-hx421c14fbk28 ($39.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/MwW9TW/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/bTH48d/evga-video-card-04gp43962kr ($229.99)
Case: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/C9zv6h/cooler-master-case-rc912kkn1 ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: http://pcpartpicker.com/product/XCjG3C/evga-power-supply-100w10500kr ($36.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $583.30
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-17 23:29 EDT-0400

Ok, so, my friend needs a computer built on a budget (I know, probably the least favorite thing read on this subreddit). I was going to just go with an i5-6400/6500/6600k and a 970, but his budget doesn't allow for that.
I am curious if I should just save him some more money, get him an EVGA GTX 960 SSC 4GB ACX2.0 and possibly upgrade another component in the computer or just save him the money over all.
The other option is what you see above.
I guess the main question, is what do you all think about the bottleneck that will present? He understands that he won't be playing every new game on Ultra or even High for that matter. The most demanding game would probably be the remastered Skyrim on a mixture of medium-high settings.
I also thought about going last gen i5 and a 970. I also know this mobo isn't the greatest thing ever. lol Feel free to leave any feedback.

his budget is ~600?
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/HmdQZ8
380 > 960
seasonic oem psu
i5
etc.etc.

if he can't go over 600, then downgrade the psu to evga 600b for $39. Though I don't recommend it, but it still more reliable than the 500 psu u picked.

fully

If you want a interesting budget build, Get an Intel XEON E5-2670

8 core 16 thread processor on The Bay of E for $65. runs 2.6 GHZ 20MB of cache and can be overclocked via the BLCK. Just grab a $30 hyper 212 evo to cool it. It would blow that i3 out of the water.

It runs on sandy bridge which came out in 2011, and consumer "gamer" motherboards were made with that socket type.

Plenty of youtube personalities making budget rigs with that processor.

This post was edited by kclla on Jul 18 2016 10:22am

Sorry, the pcpartpicker list is actually meant to have a SSC ACX 2.0 970. lol

@kclla the Xeon is that good?

Just looked into it, the I3 will have the better single core performance (which most games really only use 1-2 cores)

but the Xeon will smash multi core performance by like 250% ( Source http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Xeon-E5-2670-v2-vs-Intel-Core-i3-6300/m18414vs3536)

So if your buddy video edits, or uses any type of engineering software and needs a more well rounded system I would choose the Xeon, if he is going for strictly gaming I would go with the I3. Or even better, a slightly older I5 on the used market if you can find one that fits the budget.

This post was edited by kclla on Jul 18 2016 03:16pm

Too bad you didn't post this earlier. I was selling my 970 SSC for $170.

Hmm, looks like I'll go with this (970) then. Gonna up the PSU to 600B since it's 2 dollars more lol.

Wish I could convince him to wait for the 1060.

Don't buy a new 970. Get a used one. You can get them dirt cheap right now.

He should go for a used 390, as it has 8gb vram.
I dont play skyrim, but i heard modded skyrim uses up alot of vram. So it's better to have more than less.

As for the build i linked above, the mobo went up $30 so don't get that nemore.
Also instead of opting for crappy psu's u should tell ur friend to spend a lil more and at least go with rosewill hive or this seasonic oem
https://www.amazon.com/XFX-Wired-Bronze-Power-Supply/dp/B004RJ8EKI?ie=UTF8&tag=pcpapi-20