Is this a viable budget gaming PC:

HomeGamer · Aug 18, 2011

Hi All,

I'm looking at upgrading my second PC in the house so my girlfriend can play MMO's with me.

Looking at relatively budget options we have found:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/compaq-sg3-320uk-desktop-pc-09885835-pdt.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/204-pin-SODIMM-PC3-10600-memory-module/dp/B002ZME33Q/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1313064106&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001Q7MW2A/ref=oss_product

Would this lot equate to relatively decent gaming? We are currently using an old single core 'Tiny' computer, so pretty much anything should be a decent upgrade

Appreciate the help everyone.

Kind Regards,

Robert

Proximon · Aug 18, 2011

jmsellars1 · Aug 18, 2011

I think you could play MMO's such as WoW on medium settings and <1440x900. If youre comfortable with building it yourself though you get get a massive improvement on that for only £30 more including optical drive + OS etc.

Prices from www.aria.co.uk

AMD A6-3650 - £77.99
4GB Mushkin Silverline - £20.39
Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2V - £54.60
(Integrated HD 6530D Graphics) - £0
500GB Seagate Barracuda - £28.37
Cooler Master Elite 335 - £28.61
Samsung DVD Burner - £12.17
Corsair CX-430 430W - £35.26
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - £71.99

Total - £329.36

Bit over your budget but massively improves on your build.

If you want to cut the costs down even more, possibly look at some second hand parts. An alternative build would be an i3-2100 and GTS 450/HD 5770/HD 6770. This would be better but even more expensive, possibly affordable second hand though.

HomeGamer · Aug 18, 2011

Appreciate the feedback guys - really do.

Seriously considering 'taking the plunge' and building my own - we actually have the GPU i mentioned (it's currently making a huge difference in the old machine and has enabled us to play WoW/LOTRO on medium settings happily enough even though the system itself is rather old) - so we were originally considering a easy solution (i.e. buy basic unit and then install the GPU in the new machine = win) kind of thing.

Having seen the details above though... I am really tempted to get the bits together and build myself one...

Great referrals to Scan/Arai sites - you guys have given me the 'building' bug - from combining bits from the two above (and saving money to start with by using the existing card etc.) it looks like i could get something pretty sexy together for around £200

Out of interest, could i pull out the old HDD and install in a new system, complete with the OS installed (Windows XP) - ideally i will move to a new HDD with Windows 7 etc - but if it is possible it could be a way to save another £100 or so right now; and then upgrade as we go.

Sounds like i need to get myself a new screwdriver set

Thanks again!!

Regards,

Robert

jmsellars1 · Aug 18, 2011

Think you can just pull the HDD with a loaded OS out of a PC into another but it won't like it and it's not recommended. Some motherboards won't do it at all i think. Basically try it but don't rely on it.

If you already have an adequate GPU, i would go for an i3-2100 and buy a better GPU some other time when you can afford it. The i3-2100 is an awesome gaming CPU, dont be fooled by the 2 cores because it will outperform 6 core AMD CPU's and most of the first generation quad core i5's and i7's in games.

EDIT: Alternatively that AMD Llano setup is still pretty decent, those integrated graphics are pretty good. According to this, you could play Metro 2033 at medium settings and Farcry 2 at high settings at a playable (20-30) FPS. (1600x900) Lower the res a bit and the FPS will shoot up i think.

http://hothardware.com/Reviews/AMD-A63650-Llano-APU-Performance-Review/?page=9

HomeGamer · Aug 18, 2011

Hi again,

Ok, so, been having a look through the different links and i have a really good idea what components etc. i need - Now, here comes the really n00by question - what next?

I have installed components in machines before (removed drives/PSU's/RAM/GPU's etc.) but i have never built one from scratch - and, whilst all the above looks great and is really exciting - have to admit to being a little nervous (having had no electronics training/qualifications etc.)

So, i order everything i need - I get a great big box full of shiny gadgetty goodness - What else do i need? (cables? thermal paste? fans? hammers? lol)

Currently on the verge of making the plunge... If you fine chaps wouldn't mind hand-holding me a little to start with, it will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again.

Robert

jmsellars1 · Aug 18, 2011

Should get all the cables you need with the motherboard or attached to the power supply. You will get a couple fans pre installed on the case, they will be enough. You might need:

- Thermal Paste
- Anti Static Band (Not absolutely essential but get one if youre nervous)
- Screwdriver

As for the building itself, here is a good guide for doing it.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/build-your-own-pc,2601-10.html

May i ask which components you are choosing?

Proximon · Aug 18, 2011

Here's the real how-to:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274745-31-step-step-guide-building

You will have all sorts of issues trying to plug in an old XP installation into a modern board and processor. You may not even be able to get XP drivers for everything. No, you'll almost certainly have to get a new OS.

At the start of my Big List of parts, you will find links to various online retailers so that you can compare prices. The parts list itself is very old now and not kept up, but the retailer list is kept up. Link in my signature.

HomeGamer · Aug 19, 2011

jmsellars1 :

Absolutely! )

I have looked at Proximon's post, and to be honest i'm going to go with most of that build, with a couple of exceptions (Huge thanks to Proximon btw!):

RAM: Going to go for 4GB for now, then add an additional 4GB next month (i figure the little extra cash the extra performance could be quite nice, and will future proof it for a while)

GPU: Going to use the one i have now (Radeon HD 4650) - It is far from top end i know, but it certainly seems 'OK' for now - will get a much better/more powerful one next month (ah, waiting for commissions - the joys of impatience!) - So expect to see me back then too asking which one to get

Case: I was looking around at the different cases and accidentally fell in love with this one: Asus Vento TA-M21 Black Mid Tower Computer Case (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-vento-ta-m21-black-gaming-mid-tower-with-side-mesh-w-o-psu?utm_source=google+shopping&utm_medium=google+shopping) - So the money i am saving on GPU etc i can get (what i perceive to be) a bit of a case upgrade.

Quick question regarding sound - do i need to buy a specific separate Sound Card? Or will the on board sound be OK for most things? (chat/music via headset etc.)

Total will be around £300 - which i can spread between this month and next (and then a GPU next month too) - Even with my limited technical knowledge, this still looks like a pretty damn good system; certainly a hell of a lot better than the PC World one - and i get the fun of building it from scratch too!

btw - HUGE thank you for the link to the 'DIY' section - after reading that; even with my relatively limited experience i feel comfortable and confident in building it - to the point i'm tempted to photo-document the whole process to show other potential n00by builders how easy/fun it is (unless of course, i screw up dramatically and the last picture is a cloud of black smoke lol)

Looking forward to getting stuck in

- Robert

Proximon · Aug 19, 2011

Board sound is fine, unless you have high end speakers or headphones that need more impedance.

It's a nice looking case. I found more shots of it:
http://www.it.com.cn/diy/others/review/casing/2009/08/28/16/609534_5.html

HomeGamer · Aug 19, 2011

Proximon :

Yeah - it does look really sexy (nice extra shots too - thanks!); and i figure, worst case scenario i absolutely ah heck it up, it will still look pretty sitting under the desk lol

On-board sounds fine then - pretty sure I've used on-board for my other PC's too, but wanted to double check i wasn't about to make a silly mistake

Thanks again for your help

- Robert

HomeGamer · Aug 19, 2011

Quick additional... Regarding PSU's... (following on from reading your PSU guide actually...) is it worth spending a little extra now, to get a 500/600W PSU, to save having to upgrade and buy a new one in the future?

If the difference is only going to be £10/£20 then i think it might be worth getting 'more than i need' now, to save having to upgrade the PSU/not have enough power when i come to upgrade the rest of the components (GPU for example)

- Robert

jmsellars1 · Aug 19, 2011

If you have an upgrade planned for the next 1-2 years which will definitely need a better PSU then yeah i would get it now. If it's just in case though, i wouldn't bother. Just get what you need imo. 430W will run that system with pretty much any modern <£150 graphics card. ie. GTS 450, HD 5770, GTX 460, HD 6850 or anything less.

EDIT: When i say modern i mean low-mid range cards from the Nvidia 400/500 series or AMD 5000/6000 series.

Proximon · Aug 19, 2011

I'll tell you my personal preference, which would be different than my semi-professional opinion

I prefer a fully modular PSU with a good warranty and all tests showing 50% of ATX spec or less. I'm using a Seasonic X650 for that reason.

My favorite PSU to build systems with, for people who are not quite as enthusiastic as myself, is the Seasonic S12II 520W. This PSU will handle any single video card and system you can throw at it for the next 5 years, at a good price. Very similar but not so pretty is the Antec Neo Eco 520W

Or the Antec HGC 520
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/520w-psu-antec-high-current-gamer-hcg-520-88-eff-80-plus-bronze-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-v23

Seasonic
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/520w-psu-seasonic-bronze-s12ii-520-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-v23

HomeGamer · Aug 22, 2011

Hey guys - Once again, superb advice!

I started out considering a quick and easy solution - and already feel i have come leaps and bounds to the point where i am looking at building my first system from scratch.

One thing i have been genuinely surprised by, is the fact that, once you have reached a certain level (say, around £300 system) - small upgrades in price can (or seem to) merit considerable differences in performance. I'm starting to think about putting up with what i have for a month or so, and then next month spending £400 and getting what could well turn out to be a decent rig that will last me a good 3 - 5 years.

Can't thank you all enough - for your patience with my n00by questions, through to the practical advice on components - through your feedback i've gotten the building bug, and can't wait to get stuck in - and hopefully, a few months/years down the line, being able to help others out too

Thanks again!

- Robert

jmsellars1 · Aug 22, 2011

Nice! Just worked out you can get an i3-2100, MSI H61M-P23 and HD 6770 build for £400. (With the rest of the stuff the same as my first suggestion.) The gaming performance of that should be shamefully close to my PC i spent £800 on 6 months ago >.<

HomeGamer · Aug 22, 2011

jmsellars1 :

Heh - That does sounds pretty superb - And crazy to think that for not much more than i was originally spending i could get such high performance!

Although i am also aware, that at £400 is is pretty much double what i was originally planning on spending (i fear i may get carried away a little too easily lol) - but I think it may well be worth spending the extra £180 now and get a machine that will be able to cope with most things for 3-5years... Rather than spend £220 on a machine that will need replacing entirely in 2...

Now all i have to do is convince BT to roll out fibre optic cables into my area and i'm all set

- Robert

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Is this a viable budget gaming PC:

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