Low end casual gaming

[Alexdiaz]

I have this build here. It's only $260 right now. I want the PC to play casual games, so nothing like BF4 or games like that. I want to be able to play games like source games, Skyrim, Minecraft, War Thunder. I would like to be able to play COD Black ops 2. I can upgrade as time goes by. I just want to know if this cheap PC is enough to play these games.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/4n8tK8

 

[TechyInAZ]

Excellent, however change the cpu and mobo to a Pentium G3220 and a H81 motherboard.

 

[swifty_morgan]

why not just drop the graphics card and purchase a quad core apu?

 

[Rationale]

why not just drop the graphics card and purchase a quad core apu?

The system would be comparable for most games that way if he added faster RAM, but sluggish in day to day use compared to a G3220. Also, Minecraft runs like crap on APUs. It only touches a single CPU core, and the APU quad-cores are highly inefficient under that kind of load.

 

[swifty_morgan]

stop with that dual core stuff................ i hate these threads. i really do./

 

[Rationale]

stop with that dual core stuff................ i hate these threads. i really do./

Nobody is making you stay.

 

[Alpha3031]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($36.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 240 2GB Video Card ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($25.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $319.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Better PSU and CPU, should be OC'able, should you wish to, via a BIOS update

 

[Samsamproducts]

this will get much better performance. it will cost $9 more than your budget, but it will play most games on medium-high settings. it can even run bf4 at a decent framerate.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($59.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($36.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R7 260X 1GB Video Card ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($25.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $299.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[Rationale]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($36.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 240 2GB Video Card ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($25.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $319.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Better PSU and CPU, should be OC'able, should you wish to, via a BIOS update

I really don't think he/she'll ever want to bother with overclocking. We're talking about casual games here. Besides, any 4th gen Pentium would never bottleneck an R7 240 anyway.

 

[Rationale]

Further revised for lower cost and higher performance.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3240 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($48.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($36.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 240 2GB Video Card ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($25.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $280.31
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[Alpha3031]

True , guess I'm too obsessed with enthusiast parts.

 

[Alexdiaz]

Anyone think that they can think of a $250? I just want a new PC because I'm gaming on my laptop right now and get 25fps on lowest settings on most source games. I'm fine playing games at mediam settings as long as I'm getting 30fps

 

[Rationale]

Anyone think that they can think of a $250? I just want a new PC because I'm gaming on my laptop right now and get 25fps on lowest settings on most source games. I'm fine playing games at mediam settings as long as I'm getting 30fps

$250 is difficult.
The CPU in this is still a bit faster than the one in your original build. Evidence: http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/2/AMD_Athlon_X2_370K_vs_Intel_Celeron_Dual-Core_G1820.html


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Celeron G1820 2.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($48.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($36.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 240 2GB Video Card ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $241.33
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available