Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Guide - the Budget Gaming PC

191012141530

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,457 ✭✭✭giggsy664


    Solitaire wrote: »
    Bear in mind that shipping costs €30 and you can't buy their keyboards as the Germans use a different key layout :o

    Aside from that, regarding your earlier post 120mm fans start from €2.50 unlit and €4.50 lit (cheapest is blue LEDs ;))

    CPU is very out of stock (i.e. no set delivery date); you might have to downgrade to the X4-925 unless you're willing to wait :o And your silver card reader is the wrong colour - your case is black :o:p

    Thanks for the head up as regard the Card Reader :P
    Gonna go for this instead :D

    Also, I intend to start purchasing around December so I can exhaust any other routes of getting cheaper stuff 2nd hand from people I know.

    Also, will the 120mm fans fit in automatically? AAANDDDD while looking through an ancient computer I have I found a 60mm fan on the CPU heatsink. I don't intend on reusing that PC ever again, and this is the only thing I think worth salvaging. Would it be worth using? IF I can find the power type though :P


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    giggsy664 wrote: »
    Thanks for the head up as regard the Card Reader :P
    Gonna go for this instead :D

    Also, I intend to start purchasing around December so I can exhaust any other routes of getting cheaper stuff 2nd hand from people I know.

    You do know this renders your current build less than irrelevant? :o:P Come back in December! :p Much will have changed by then...
    Also, will the 120mm fans fit in automatically?

    Good point! Virtually any sub-€20 fan on the planet will come with a pack of self-tapping screws but they are utter ****es to play with so if you could find a bumper pack of these you won't go wrong. I can't find the big cheap 12- and 20-packs of these that HWVS and a few others used to sell though :o
    AAANDDDD while looking through an ancient computer I have I found a 60mm fan on the CPU heatsink. I don't intend on reusing that PC ever again, and this is the only thing I think worth salvaging. Would it be worth using?

    Absolutely ...not! :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    dolihalix wrote: »
    I'm about to start working on my built.. for starters, is student discount any help in any of the sites you're using?

    For software - software4students.ie
    Cheap windows 7.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,457 ✭✭✭giggsy664


    Solitaire wrote: »
    You do know this renders your current build less than irrelevant? :o:P Come back in December! :p Much will have changed by then...



    Good point! Virtually any sub-€20 fan on the planet will come with a pack of self-tapping screws but they are utter ****es to play with so if you could find a bumper pack of these you won't go wrong. I can't find the big cheap 12- and 20-packs of these that HWVS and a few others used to sell though :o


    Absolutely ...not! :p

    Thanks a million. I'll keep an eye out for prices and such until December. Then I'll be back, asking again, then buying.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 35 BrockSamson


    looking to Build a PC have everything else budget is around 620


    newbuildm.th.png

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    Do you intend to upgrade that ram in the future? 2GB isn't that much by today's standards. You could get 4Gb from about €20 more.
    I would also stretch to get a 460 as it's so close unless you don't like nvidia.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    Too much CPU, not enough RAM and dreadful PSU :o


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    Inspired by the last few posts I have done something very silly.

    Note that while the mobo is a bit naff and I haven't specced a cooler... €620?!?!?!? :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

    HWVS240910.png


  • Registered Users Posts: 116 ✭✭thc4me


    Amazing info in this thread thanks very much,
    Its been a long time since I was up to date on whats what in the hardware scene

    I'm gonna order from the site Solitaire gets his specs from today/tomorrow,
    and of the above builds for 550-650 which one would you go for if your main priority was for photoshop and working with large raw image files,
    I want a good cpu and i'll make do with 4gb of ram until i can afford to add more, plus i'd love to get GTX 460 as i fancy getting back into some PC gaming, maybe some civilisation V
    Basically what im asking is Intel or AMD considering photoshop is my priority?
    I would love to get it at 600-650 including delivery, what would you order?
    I'm afraid to put a spec together myself without truly understanding what i require in regards to cooling/fans/case etc..
    Don't need OS/Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse/DVD
    Can't wait to order.....
    Thanks if anyone has the time


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭Anti


    Are those super flower psu's any good? I've always read very bad things about them. Mostly due with them catch fire under heavy load. Much like the Tagan and jeantech ones a few years ago.


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 10,087 Mod ✭✭✭✭marco_polo


    Anti wrote: »
    Are those super flower psu's any good? I've always read very bad things about them. Mostly due with them catch fire under heavy load. Much like the Tagan and jeantech ones a few years ago.

    Apparently so, I looked up and found a very positive review for the Amazon 650W a few days ago after I first saw them popup in here.

    Considering a 550W is going for around 50 euros on HWVS it seem like a decent budget option.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    The SuperFlowers are an insanely mixed bag; some almost Corsair-like units mixed in with some timebombs that Solytech would be proud of :o The Amazon range is one of the better ones; they're basically garish Corsair clones with few but decent reviews and decent efficiency and stability. They used to be laughably overpriced but I noticed that recently the prices have halved making them extremely competitve units; they blow those nasty Coolermaster GX units out of the water :p


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 10,087 Mod ✭✭✭✭marco_polo


    So there are still a few exploding varities around then :D


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    thc4me wrote: »
    of the above builds for 550-650 which one would you go for if your main priority was for photoshop and working with large raw image files

    I'd be tempted to go with the i5-760 build above, using the spare ~€30 of your €650 budget to upgrade the mobo to something a bit more classy and/or add an aftermarket cooler. IMHO the above build is fine as-is so long as you don't intend to overclock it and fine for light OC if you throw on a Hyper 212+ (once it reappears :o) or even an Arctic Freezer 7 Pro Rev2.0. A better mobo will cost you an extra €15 for the MSI H55M-E33 (or the cheap Asus, but it has eff-all onboard sound :() so getting the cooler as well would put you overbudget (€655 shipped) :o
    marco_polo wrote: »
    So there are still a few exploding varities around then :D

    Yep, older ones mostly. I don't trust the nicely understated-looking 550W unit either as €35 doesn't usually buy you that much PSU... :p


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 35 BrockSamson


    hardwareversand these guys dont make it easy is it possible to register on that site with an Irish Address


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,457 ✭✭✭giggsy664


    Hi again guys.
    Just wondering, which of these should I go for? (And the prices are good ok for me :))
    This
    This
    This
    Thanks again guys :D
    Edit 2: The GPU NEEDS to be able to run games smoothly at decent res/settings on a 26inch TV (HDMI)

    Edit 1:
    Likewise:
    This
    This


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    The HWVS Gainward is pretty much the best graphics deal on the planet right now :D And the X4-945 should NOT be confused with the X4-940 on Pix; while both are nice juicy cache-heavy 3GHz quads the former is a 95W AM3 part that usually runs on DDR3 while the latter is a thirsty 125W AM2 part that can only run on an AM2 mobo with DDR2 :o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,457 ✭✭✭giggsy664


    Solitaire wrote: »
    The HWVS Gainward is pretty much the best graphics deal on the planet right now :D And the X4-945 should NOT be confused with the X4-940 on Pix; while both are nice juicy cache-heavy 3GHz quads the former is a 95W AM3 part that usually runs on DDR3 while the latter is a thirsty 125W AM2 part that can only run on an AM2 mobo with DDR2 :o

    Thanks a million.
    Wasn't 100% sure about the AM2/AM3 thing :)
    So I should go for:
    GPU
    CPU
    ? :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,418 ✭✭✭dnme


    I don't know if you've had this discussion already, sorry if so. I was wondering what you folks think about the increasing emphasis on parallelism?

    I was reading the FAQ about the up coming release of DCS A-10c flight sim here. In it, the authors reckon they are not using multi-core / multi-threading that much. They say that they have a new audio engine that spawns off on a separate thread but that seems to be it.

    So this game mainly relies on a single powerful CPU and GPU.

    Therefore, my questions are . .

    Is it worth money forking out on multicore CPU's for gaming?

    Is it the case that the more core a CPU has, the more diluted the power of each core?

    Are other gaming developers starting to take advantage of spare core's in CPU's (multi threading their software)

    What's the ideal CPU for today's gaming? (big question I know, feel free to waffle)


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    Yes

    Only in the way of slightly lower stock clocks, and this has far more to do with managing the CPU's power envelope than actual performance constraints

    The vast majority of them, yes. Most PC games favour either dual or quad threads, XBox ports need three fast cores or they go down the pan, and PS3 ports need at least a tricore too or they bail, and prefer lots of slower cores to few fast ones. Many PC titles are fairly adaptable but trying to run a modern console port on a dualcore CPU results in a massive drop in FPS :o

    Length of string to moon? :pac: All depends on the game, what resolution you're playing at and what quality you enjoy. On average most mid-range builds get by fine on a cheap AM3 tricore running at 2.5GHz+ even up to 1080p; upper-mid-range builds running GTX460s and the like prefer 2.5GHz+ quads and ones with decent L3 cache to boot. High-end multi-monitor builds sporting HD5850s and/or multiple GPUs really need the grunt of an i5 quad (preferably OC'd!) or better!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    Ordered this beast of a mAtx lan pc for My Brother the other eve, €500 delivered.

    Its main use will be a media centre pc, it doesn't include a gpu for now, but the onboard gpu has HDMI out so it will connect to his TV and the case will take any full sized one in future (waiting on price drops when 6 series Ati's get released) for gaming. Its also got onboard 7.1 surround. Should overclock nicely too as the case has great airflow. Serious value for money.

    Capture2-1.png

    Cpu, (Phenom II x4):
    http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=29020&agid=1242

    Mobo (has HDMI, Dvi and surround sound):
    http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=31450&agid=1292

    4Gb Ddr3 ram:
    http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=36429&agid=1192

    Nzxt Vulcan case:
    http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=35865&agid=635

    Dvd RW:
    http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=29466&agid=699

    2Tb hard drive:
    http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30012&agid=1284

    550W Power supply (550w is overkill but 450w not in stock):
    http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30069&agid=240

    Cooler:
    http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28345&agid=669


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭el dude


    Hope you got there in time to have that Mobo shipped with everything else.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    el dude wrote: »
    Hope you got there in time to have that Mobo shipped with everything else.

    I'm afraid not, it took 2 days for the cash to transfer, the mobo now says not ready for dispatch until 6th oct so I've emailed them today asking to change to this one which is €12 more expensive
    http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28374&agid=1292


  • Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭ViDuchie


    Hey,

    Maybe someone can help. It's been 6 years since I was into custom building and things have moved on,,, just a bit.

    Looking to get something mainly just as some kind of media centre but also to play EVE-online and that's it really.

    Other than knowing I want something with 4GB RAM, 4/6 USB ports and is quiet enough I'm lost with so many different options on hardwareversand and now no real idea of what processor can do what.

    I'm also on a strict budget looking at approx 450-500 Euro MAX, preferably lower, but considering I really just want something for media and EVE ( which I've never played ) the cheaper the better..

    I already picked up a 23" LG HDMI Monitor.

    HELLLP! I dont know what anything is anymore!! :)


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    Do you need an OS??


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭ViDuchie


    Nope, I have a copy of XP I can use for now. Maybe upgrade later when budget ain't too tight.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    Sounds good enough :)

    Before I put up example builds do you have any special media-centre-related requests? Do you want/need a desktop instead of a tower? Do you need tuner cards?? Do you need a motherboard with USB3 or optical audio-out (TOSLink)? Anything like that? :o


  • Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭ViDuchie


    :) Cool

    No tuner cards needed. I have no TV just going to plug this into the 23" Monitor HDMI/DVI connector.

    More music media, but nothing spectacular, normal jack conection will do. 2.1 system.

    Tower is best, smaller is better :)

    Simple Simple Simple.

    Just the selection boggles. Afraid I'd pick up some junk.


  • Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭ViDuchie


    USB3! :) feck I had no idea. Doubt I need it


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    Had huge trouble with the mobo, as most new mobos on the market under €70 use dodgy VIA audio! :mad: We're now heading backwards to the days of needing expensive discrete soundcards! :mad::mad: PSU was also a pain as HWVS have dropped the CX400 and the SF Amazon 450W is out of stock until next month! :eek: So a naff PSU as opposed to an abysmal one :o

    Anyway... €465 shipped:

    HWVS041010.png

    You have a spare €35 to play with... you could get a quadcore CPU, or upgrade graphics to a HD5770 1GB. Or neither :p


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭ViDuchie


    excellent, thanks for that.

    One quick q. is this well capable of HD video playback with say a codec for mkv files.

    I might go with upgrading the CPU as you say.

    Thanks again


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    Certainly :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,169 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Or if its for media a nice wifi KB/Mouse or media remote?


  • Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭ViDuchie


    Or if its for media a nice wifi KB/Mouse or media remote?


    That'll be outside the budget, but yes I'll be getting those too at some stage.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2 Lateralus358


    Hey guys! This is my first post but i need a bit of help. I have around 700e and i don't need a screen,keyboard,mouse or OS. But i do need a dvd drive. Also i was wondering if you could help me about getting firewire in it too. Do i need to buy a mobo with firewire on it or can i buy a seperate firewire card for the pci bus? Thanks!


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    :confused:

    Everyone needs a DVD drive :pac:

    Unless you really mean you need a BluRay drive... or a second DVD drive for some reason...

    And FireWire isn't too hard... some mobos have it, some cases have it (and almost all mobos have an internal FireWire header for it) and if both avenues fail there's always PCI adapter cards... :)

    Anyway, €700 is the very highest "budget" amount for a budget PC and can probably get you either an i5+GTX460 or an X4+GTX460 1GB build ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 35 DuzAwe


    Need serious help building a new machine for 450-550.

    Need the best bang for my buck and needs to be as future proff as posible.
    Must have nvidia card, 3ghz cpu,I do need a screen but dont include it in the budget, 4 gb ram and of course 64 bit. No os required or optical drive.

    please help haven't built a machine in like 6 years am so lost.

    Also yes my spelling and gramer suck. Sorry


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    Just over €480 shipped:

    HWVS071010.png

    There's nearly €70 spare in that budget, whether it be for fancy new peripherals or beer :p Or you could go with a slightly better system... an i5 quad build is probably a bit out of reach on €550 but you could easily go for a 95W Phenom2 X4 ;) Just note that a Phenom over 95W TDP or any attempt to OC will require a better PSU for more wiggle room and probably an aftermarket CPU cooler too. HWVS are crap at PSUs right now! :mad:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭Gambra


    Looking for a bit of help putting together a set up from hardwareversand. Have the basics picked out and I know I'll be going an Intel i5 760 set up with the usual 4gb ram and one of the GeForce 460 variations. I found this motherboard on overclockers and it's perfect for what I need but what's the product code for it on hardwareversand? There's a few matches for the same mobo code. Also, advice on the best PSU and case for all this to go in is appreciated as I'm worried I'll pick something over the top or not enough..

    Edit: I won't be doing any crazy overclocking or anything like that, it'll mostly be for HD video editing as well as playing games.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭Gambra


    Actually, I think I found everything I need. I know €635 pushes the limit of a "budget" computer but this will be my first major PC purchase in well over 5 years and I hope to be using it for that length in the future.. Also, should I be worried about the mobo availability? I can order it from overclockers if it's not likely to come into stock anytime soon.

    5oukug.jpg


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭Gambra


    Oh wait, I appear to have 2 cases in the basket. Whoops! Brings the total to just under €600 including shipping.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    1. It would bring the price down to €590 excluding shipping, actually :p Which means €620 all in. And we're not fininshed yet...

    2. You can get the mobo elsewhere or get the GA-P55-USB3 or the GA-P55A-UD3 instead.

    3. That PSU is drivel, and I wouldn't dream of running an i5+GTX460 system on it. Sadly HWVS is a bit naff for 500-600W PSUs right now, with everything overpriced, out of stock (no Amazon 550W units until the end of the month!! :(:() or vanished from the lists :eek: You'll be dropping €70-75 for a decent 500W+ unit there right now :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,457 ✭✭✭giggsy664


    Me again :D
    I'm not building for a while, but would it be worth shelling out much extra for a 1GB GTX460 instead of a 768MB?

    Cheers


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    At that price? Yes! Nearer €200? Not so much :o

    It really depends on what you're willing to pay. Under €170 is excellent as the GPU of the 1GB version is almost always OCd and regardless of speed always has 33% more memory, at least 33% higher memory throughput and - easy to forget - at least 33% more rendering capacity. The former helps with higher resolutions (beyond 1080p, including multi-monitor), the second helps with demanding AA/AF settings and the last helps avoid bottlenecks with geometrically-intricate hi-poly scenarios.

    As the price climbs the benefit wanes. Sure, a heavily OCd GTX460 1GB performs as good as a HD5850, but a heavily OCd HD5850 will blow it away and for not that much more money either!


  • Registered Users Posts: 188 ✭✭Jack Bracken


    Solitaire wrote: »
    (no Amazon 550W units until the end of the month!
    Really? I must have caught one of the last ones when I ordered on Thursday.

    *feels smug about timing*

    Anyway, just wanted to pop in and thank you Solitaire, this thread helped me save a bit of time on deciding which parts to get, and to find a few bargains too.

    EDIT: 123 posts. o:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    I saw this on hardwareversand today:

    Corsair Builder Series CX430, 430 Watt.

    It could explain why the CX400 disappeared if they're trying to push this. Unlike the seasonic CX400, this is a CWT. We've seen some good CWT units from them, but I'm wondering how many corners were cut to get the price that low - Lower amps on the 12V and only a 2 year warranty for starters. It doesn't sound terrible and let's hope corsair will not be throwing away their good name (or benefiting from those who don't know any better). I look forward to seeing the reviews.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    That sounds more than a bit sh!t :(:(:(

    Roll on 25/10/10! More Amazon units! :D:P


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    From what I can see the CX430 has been in the wild for six weeks already - the thing with HWVS suggests a justified and nasty dose of DO NOT WANT!! They could have had it in back at the very end of August, but made sure every CX400 was long gone and the Amazon 450W was out of stock before they'd even touch it with a bargepole :eek:

    Still no sign of Corsair sending review samples to anyone, not even cherry-picked ones; word on the street is that it's a cheap, overrated (should be sold as a 380W max!), badcaps unit based on CWT's DSA platform. A few years back you'd only see that design in emerging markets; nowadays half the mediocre-but-okay-ish budget units are DSA, and the fact that the CX430 is considered sub-par even then, and not making it into budget shootout reviews, isn't allaying anyone's suspicions. Not good, not good, not good :(:(:(


  • Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭ViDuchie


    Will this processor:

    AMD Athlon II X4 640 Box AM3

    Happily fit with this motherboard, and is it worth the upgrade from the X3 do you think?

    MSI 770-C45, AM3

    :)

    Cheers,
    V


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,496 ✭✭✭quarryman


    Similar to the above. What is the best bang for buck in a gaming rig these days, an AMD or Intel build?

    I was thinking of an Intel i5. Do AMD offer better value for similar performance?


Advertisement