Is there an inexpensive pc that is reasonably upgradable for gaming?

U2spy

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May 8, 2014
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Does anyone know of an inexpensive pc that is reasonably up-gradable for gaming? I don't mind upgrading components, but I draw the line at soldering. My son wants to be able to play Battle Stations Pacific at a convincing speed and resolution. I don't have thousands, let alone several hundreds of dollars to spend on a gaming pc.
Thank you!
 
Solution
if you can spend $500, then this is much faster and more reliable PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Pro3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($71.10 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 260X 2GB Core Edition Video Card ($125.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX...


I don't seem to be able to get myself to spend more than about $300 for a computer. I have gotten by quite well by purchasing used desktops and laptops that are a few years old and just upgrading their HD's etc. and using them until they wont run on the current OS. I do alot of Photoshop etc. I'm quite comfortable with assembling myself. I understand that a 500w psu is about minimum for gaming, and that a decent gpu is a must.
 
for $300 you wont get much photoshopping or gaming done.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A55M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($44.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($40.48 @ Amazon)
Case: HEC Enterprise MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 350W ATX Power Supply ($28.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $307.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 15:53 EDT-0400)
 
if you can spend $500, then this is much faster and more reliable PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Pro3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($71.10 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 260X 2GB Core Edition Video Card ($125.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $517.01
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-09 15:58 EDT-0400)
 
Solution