Llano gaming PC? cheaper than i3 build?

Forum Systems : New Build Llano gaming PC? cheaper than i3 build?

Hello, i was thinking of the possibilities of a new gaming computer using a llano cpu and a nice mobo i found real cheap with the socket, i had thought up an i3 2120 build a while ago but for a gaming capable computer it ended up being like 650$ and that was using an oem windows XP copy..

I was thinking of seeing how nice of a gaming rig i could make with a Llano APU instead, i would be getting a A4-3400 @2.7ghz, it is dual core, but the purpose is to save initial costs. upgrades will come down the road. The mobo was about 75$, for a full ATX with crossfire/SLI support (only 16x4 though instead of 8x8 or 16x16 sadly, but hey, its 80 bucks, that is almost the same price for the crap h61 i would have used in the i3 build) so i liked the motherboard, all the features i want at a good price and a upgradable future. I would later be upgrading to a higher end quad core APU probably, but people still game with core 2 duos and athlon x3s etc etc so the 3400 should be able to game for stuff liek minecraft fine shouldnt it? Anyway, is llano a good path for a very budget gaming build, preferably around 450-550$, and still have a good upgradable future? also i would be using the integrated gpu until i got money for a GTX 480 or 540 or something.

So, down the the point, is Llano any good for gaming like a couple reviews on newegg said, is it good for upgrading in the future? and are there any suggestions for it? also if i want to eventually get new graphics cards and memory (ill start off with 4gb because its cheap) what power supply should i get and how high of a wattage? usually i take what ever is suggested and add another 50W to it to be safe but... thanks!

Reply to mildgamer001

also remember that at first the only games i would be playing are ones like minecraft, that i can play on very low settings with a petium p6100 (only used like 40% of the cpu power when i do play) and integrated intel hd graphics, so if ti isnt powerful enough for that then that is rediculous and i am prob going to give up on giving AMD a chance lol. but anyway, i know it is a dual core and i would upgrade eventually, mainly because my desktop is a pile of lard and my laptop is not for gaming.

Reply to mildgamer001

I made this Jan 5. You might want to check prices.
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K $219.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115072

ASRock Z68M/USB3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $84.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157270

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ $29.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231193

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 $29.04 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065

SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222AB - OEM $17.99 $4.99 Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151233

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $84.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148767

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply 64.99 Save: $15.00 $44.99 after mail-in rebate card Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139028

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $69.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129066

Total prox $571
No video card.
You can get an I3 2120 for $129 if you don't want to overclock. Save $120 over the 2500K and HSF. Leaves $150+ for video.
HIS H687FN1GD Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161389

Reply to DelroyMonjo

that... doesnt really answer my questions at all but its a solid looking setup. would you happen to know the answer to my actual questions?

Reply to mildgamer001

A llano build is good for tight budgets but lacks upgradeability. I would look at Delroy's answer for a good, future-proof build,

------------------------------ My PC: Phenom II X4 965 BE @ 3.996Ghz || Zotac GTX 560 || 8GB Corsair Vengeance @1600 || HAF 922
Reply to gooseta

Yes, Llano is a good budget solution. However for $550 you can do better. Llano is the $300-$400 range winner.

Reply to FinneousPJ

he is looking at 400$ tops, and i would say if it starts with the dual core then when he needs more punch the A* would do i nice job, ive seen people still gaming on pentium 4s so. but my main questions are whether it can handle G-mod tyoe games and older games, or even when he upgrades it if he wanted to play games like crysis 2 or something, he mostly just wants smooth gameplay not max settings on the best games with all settings up, his main gaming takes place on the XBOX360.

Reply to mildgamer001

The top of the line A8-3870K, motherboard and 8 GB RAM is about $240. Don't go for the dual core.

Reply to FinneousPJ

he wanted a dual core, it shoul d be plenty, he playes his games with an athlon 64. and the dual core is 65$, the quad is about 140, thats a big difference that i can spend on things that arent so easy to uograde, like hard rdives, which because of the flooding, are very expencive, its 80$ for a 250GB hard drive. thats a good portion of his 400$ right there. the only things he has for the computer already are the case, which is kinda crappy and as far as i know has hardly any airflow and the prehiperals like monitors etc. so with just adding up the costs of all the other stuff i think his best bet is lower end cpu for now, when he needs more power ill get him a new video card and A8 probably. its sonetmes you need performance now and more performance later, why make a new computer with more cost so you have to wait longer for it, then when you have to upgrade you have to spend more money?

Reply to mildgamer001

That's the first I've heard upgrading a HDD is harder than upgrading a CPU.

Reply to FinneousPJ

not harder but more time consuming, and sometimes more expencive if you buy a good hard drive and a new OS.. and any software you bought. CPU all you need to do is wait for your OS to recognize new hardware.

Reply to mildgamer001

get the a4 now and later he can upgrade into thee pile driver"Trinity" cpus

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to mitunchidamparam

mitunchidamparam wrote :

get the a4 now and later he can upgrade into thee pile driver"Trinity" cpus

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the pile driver "Trinity" CPUs will only be compatible with the FM2 socket? Are they backwards compatible?

Reply to kshong

For $350-400 you could put together a nice Llano quad core build- but there's just not much upgradeability there. Trinity's will be using the FM2, backwards compatability is rumored but neither confirmed or denied. I'd go I3 if possible, then you have at least I5s or I7s, and Ivy Bridge potential. Also, I know a place where you can get a new 250 gig 7200 RPM HDD for $45. But its top secret... PM me if interested

Reply to supremeoverlord