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Affordable gaming pc

  • 08-01-2013 05:07AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15


    Hi guys, looking for advice. Was interested in picking up a gaming pc but the impression I got was to build my own to get most bang for my buck. Looking for any tips, pitfalls etc. I'm going to limit my budget to €500 (approx). Few questions.

    Where do I order parts?

    Is it simple to assemble?

    What parts are worth splashing out on etc.?

    any help is appreciated.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 SuperGlen27


    Hi guys, looking for advice. Was interested in picking up a gaming pc but the impression I got was to build my own to get most bang for my buck. Looking for any tips, pitfalls etc. I'm going to limit my budget to €500 (approx). Few questions.

    Where do I order parts?

    Is it simple to assemble?

    What parts are worth splashing out on etc.?

    any help is appreciated.
    And should I use my hdtv or get a monitor instead?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭areyawell


    Could you answer these questions. Just gives a better idea of what ur looking for. Thread will probably be moved to pc building and upgrading forum shortly. Everyone uses hardwareversand on this site to pick parts and they put it together for 20 euro. People all boards also happy to give you a hand building if you live near them. Better off building own PC, 99% of sites rip people off.

    1. What is your budget? [€xxx]

    2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming/Video editing/3D Modelling/HTPC/Internet] (If gaming include which games)

    3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes/No]

    4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [Hard drive/DVD Drive/Case/PSU/etc.] (If possible state brand and model of the parts to ensure compatibility)

    5. Do you need a monitor? [Yes/No]

    5a. If yes, what size do you need. [19'/20'/22'/24'/etc.]

    5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080/1440x900/etc.] [Yes/No]

    6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Mouse/Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers/etc.]

    7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Yes/No]

    8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser]

    9. When are you purchasing? [In x days]

    10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [South Dublin City/Cork City/Kerry/etc.]


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 SuperGlen27


    1. What is your budget? [€500ish]

    2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming] (Skyrim)

    3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes]

    4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? No

    5. Do you need a monitor? (Can I use my hdtv or do I need monitor?)

    6. Do you need any of these peripherals? (all)

    7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Yes, prefer not to, but if necessary]

    8. How can you pay? [Credit Card/Laser]

    9. When are you purchasing? [In next 14 days]

    10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [Bray, should be ok tho]


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭areyawell


    Yea your tv will be fine. This PC will play skyrim on ultra settings at 1080P

    BitFenix Merc Alpha €34.00
    Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W €42.28
    ASUS M5A78L LE, Sockel AM3+, ATX €50.15
    AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Box, Sockel AM3 €85.87
    8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9 €28.33
    WD Caviar Blue 500GB SATA 3 6Gb/s €53.54
    HIS HD 7770 GDDR5 1024MB DVI HDMI 2xMiniDP €107.74
    Samsung SH-118AB DVD-RW €13.33
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit (SB-Version) €82.05
    Shipping €18.99
    Total €515
    (from HardwareVersand)
    If you can manage an extra 200 for the computer it will be well worth it. This is the bare minimum for 1080P gaming at the moment. If you want the best bang for buck spend another 150-200 for a very good gaming PC. This PC could get outdated very quickly in a year or two and would need updating to stay playing games at very high settings.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,435 ✭✭✭areyawell


    Intel Core i5-2500K Box, LGA1155 €191.00
    ASRock B75 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX €61.81
    8GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance Low Profile schwarz PC3-12800U CL9 €39.88
    BitFenix Merc Alpha €32.04
    HIS HD 7850 GDDR5 1024MB DVI/HDMI/2xMini DP €157.49
    Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W €42.35
    Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB SATA 6GB's €52.49
    LiteOn iHAS124-04 schwarz SATA €17.09
    MS Windows 8 64bit (SB-Version) Englisch €86.56
    Total €680.71

    Be much better off with this if you have the cash!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 SuperGlen27


    areyawell wrote: »
    Intel Core i5-2500K Box, LGA1155 €191.00
    ASRock B75 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX €61.81
    8GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance Low Profile schwarz PC3-12800U CL9 €39.88
    BitFenix Merc Alpha €32.04
    HIS HD 7850 GDDR5 1024MB DVI/HDMI/2xMini DP €157.49
    Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W €42.35
    Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB SATA 6GB's €52.49
    LiteOn iHAS124-04 schwarz SATA €17.09
    MS Windows 8 64bit (SB-Version) Englisch €86.56
    Total €680.71

    Be much better off with this if you have the cash!
    I hate to be a pain but i'm a real noob. Can you just repost that last post, with what the items actually are? I mean, some are obvious but others totally bewildered me


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,824 ✭✭✭RoyalMarine


    I hate to be a pain but i'm a real noob. Can you just repost that last post, with what the items actually are? I mean, some are obvious but others totally bewildered me

    Intel Core i5-2500K Box, LGA1155 €191.00 (processor)
    ASRock B75 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX €61.81 (motherboard)
    8GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance Low Profile schwarz PC3-12800U CL9 €39.88 (RAM)
    BitFenix Merc Alpha €32.04 (The Case)
    HIS HD 7850 GDDR5 1024MB DVI/HDMI/2xMini DP €157.49 (Graphics card)
    Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W €42.35 (Power Supply)
    Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB SATA 6GB's €52.49 (Hard drive)
    LiteOn iHAS124-04 schwarz SATA €17.09 (DVD Drive)
    MS Windows 8 64bit (SB-Version) Englisch €86.56 (Operating System :p)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭U_Fig


    A 2500k with a b75 is pointless in my opinion save cash drop to an non overclocable CPU or go the other route and go z68 or z77 board.. Something like the 3470 or even 3570 would save a few quid be slightly higher performance at stock than the 2500k or if you go the other route and get z77 you could easily and safely close the gap between it and new CPUs with a small overclock. To be honest saving cash would be a better option in my opinion

    I'd post examples but using my phone is a pain to do so..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 SuperGlen27


    Trying to see where I can get this extra cash from to go for the second build. Does the assembly involve soldering etc. or is it plug to socket etc. And how long would the se builds stay relevant (roughly) before needing upgrade/replacement


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,017 Mod ✭✭✭✭yoyo




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  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 10,093 Mod ✭✭✭✭marco_polo


    Trying to see where I can get this extra cash from to go for the second build. Does the assembly involve soldering etc. or is it plug to socket etc. And how long would the se builds stay relevant (roughly) before needing upgrade/replacement

    First build probably two years at most from the CPU, and maybe 2 years out of the GPU depending on exactly how low settings you are prepared to play at.

    Second build I'd give the CPU a good 4 years with a decent overclock and again 2-3 years on the GPU depending on exactly when you decide you have to lower in game settings too much.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 SuperGlen27


    marco_polo wrote: »

    First build probably two years at most from the CPU, and maybe 2 years out of the GPU depending on exactly how low settings you are prepared to play at.

    Second build I'd give the CPU a good 4 years with a decent overclock and again 2-3 years on the GPU depending on exactly when you decide you have to lower in game settings too much.

    Is it then just a case of replacing the cpu and gpu to whatever is out there at the time, or does everything need to be replaced?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,925 ✭✭✭✭challengemaster


    Is it then just a case of replacing the cpu and gpu to whatever is out there at the time, or does everything need to be replaced?

    Power supplies generally don't need to be replaced unless they fail, same with hard drives.

    CPU's are tied to certain motherboards, due to the socket being specific. The current lineup of CPUs are due to be replaced soon, so there'll likely be new motherboards to accompany them.

    So at the very least, motherboard, CPU and graphics card. Currently nobody can say if the RAM will still be current tech in 2 years time.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 10,093 Mod ✭✭✭✭marco_polo



    Is it then just a case of replacing the cpu and gpu to whatever is out there at the time, or does everything need to be replaced?

    In terms of the rough timelines estimates I have you. If you go the AMD 965 BE route you would just have to upgrade the CPU in around two years as there will be more AM3+ socket cpus out next year that you could upgrade to (The top range of next years AMD CPUs will at best be about as good as the current i5).

    For the i5 it is the best gaming CPU that will be released for the 1155 socket, so when you go to upgrade that in say 4 years or so all going well you would have to replace the CPU motherboard and most likely RAM (DDR4 is likely to be widely used by 2016/17).

    Just the GPU would have to change for a graphics upgrade within 2-3 years as the PCIe Standard will be going nowhere within that timeframe.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 SuperGlen27


    Thanks a million everyone who posted. I'd feel a lot more comfortable getting this sorted now. Just have to see how much funds I can free up. Cheers


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 SuperGlen27


    Sorry guys, the assembly of the parts (i'm aware that HWV will build it for 20) is it just a matter of slotting the different parts into their place and hooking up cables? Or is their a more technical side? Soldering etc.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 10,093 Mod ✭✭✭✭marco_polo


    Sorry guys, the assembly of the parts (i'm aware that HWV will build it for 20) is it just a matter of slotting the different parts into their place and hooking up cables? Or is their a more technical side? Soldering etc.

    Nope nothing but slotting in components, plugging in cables cables and a few screws.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭U_Fig


    Couple if things when handling the CPU don't touch the pins at the bottom they're very sensitive damage easily.. Also make sure you double check everything is connected properly and to the correct connections it just saves time having to go back if you made a mistake to try figure out what's wrong..

    Apart from that a philips and flat head screw driver and you're sorted..

    I'd advise as its your first time to look at some YouTube videos it'll give you an idea of what goes were and the ways to insert conponents it's not hard but there is no harm being as familiar as possible with the components..

    If you have any issues post and we'll help.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,696 ✭✭✭Jonny7


    Sorry guys, the assembly of the parts (i'm aware that HWV will build it for 20) is it just a matter of slotting the different parts into their place and hooking up cables? Or is their a more technical side? Soldering etc.

    It's like lego, it's very straightforward and logical, however, as with anything it can be tricky the first time

    Best advice? do it slowly and methodically, don't rush and have a laptop, tablet or netbook open nearly with youtube tutorials for anything you are unsure of


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47 YanisSprunks




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 62 ✭✭Jayball09


    Little tip. I did my first build recently and what really helped me was a headlamp.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 SuperGlen27


    Should be ok at following the cables...being a sparks and all :) Think im gonna go for the cheaper build and use it as a learning experience and maybe build a kick ass rig down the line


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,300 ✭✭✭Indubitable


    Just out of curiosity, if you needed a wireless card for builds like the above, what would you suggest?


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 10,093 Mod ✭✭✭✭marco_polo


    Just out of curiosity, if you needed a wireless card for builds like the above, what would you suggest?

    Probably something like this. There is a cheaper one for about 15 on the site, which I don't know anything about, but DLink usually make fairly decent cards in my experience.

    http://lb.hardwareversand.de/PCI/52920/D-Link+Wireless+N+150+PCI+Desktop+Adapter.article


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