Budget gaming system

[robbom8]

Hey, im considering building a budget pc hopefully around the £400 mark for a bit of gaming and schoolwork. I dont have a lot of knowledge on this however and could do with some help.

 

[djangoringo]

Here's a tip for you :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor (£83.98 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-E33 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£42.98 @ Novatech)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£35.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£37.19 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card (£138.98 @ CCL Computers)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case (£31.18 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£36.98 @ Novatech)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer (£12.98 @ Scan.co.uk)
Total: £420.26
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


It's a bit over 400£ but it's worth it.

 

[robbom8]

Thanks that looks great!
Just to ask though why are intel processors preferable when amd provides higher cores and ghz for the same level of money? (like i said im not too knowledgable so i expect ive missed something)

 

[djangoringo]

The i3-3220 is better cpu for gaming than the X4 phenom II amd cpus, and has a lower power consumption.
See here for recommendations : http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-3.html

 

[robbom8]

Would upgrading to an i5 be a good idea? Or will the i3 play most games well?

 

[robbom8]

In addition it says there are compatability issues due to usb 3.0 ports and the case (sorrry for the multiple posts)

 

[djangoringo]

No, unless you want a case with usb 3.0 in the front, in the back there's already usb 3.0 ports from the mobo.
For a low budget the i3 is what suits best.
If you can afford the i5-3470 over the i3, by all means.

 

[mesab66]

What do you mean "compatability issues" ?

Edit: ah...front port USB3.

--> as djangoringo said - simply use the back.

 

[robbom8]

Oh ok so it will still work, there just wont be front ports
Thanks for your help! Im pretty sure ill go for this

 

[robbom8]

New issue, i was considering changing the processor to an i5 3350p, is this worth it?
In addition alot of my friends have had bad expereinces with ati graphics cards, so is nvidia a beyer option?

 

[iceclock]

ati is quite good. nvidia isnt better, all depends on the model. so max budget is what now? in pounds.

 

[robbom8]

Im going to £450 which is what it comes to current with ati
Just wondering if an nvidia of the same quality and or price would compare
Also is the case good? I dont want to cheap out on that

 

[iceclock]

do you require windows?

 

[robbom8]

No ive got that all sorted, just need help on components

 

[iceclock]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhIE
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhIE/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhIE/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor (£82.20 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£61.49 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£32.99 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Constellation ES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£43.82 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card (£167.99 @ Aria PC)
Case: Silverstone SST-RL01B-USB 3.0 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£35.16 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£36.98 @ Novatech)
Total: £460.63
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-29 17:18 GMT+0000)

would do the trick nicely

 

[robbom8]

Wait so would upgrading the mother board be more beneficial than upgrading to an i5?
I realise that an i5 i 3450 ncreases it to over £450 but this is acceptable

 

[iceclock]

so u want a 4core instead of 2 core?.

 

[iceclock]

well here.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhQF
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhQF/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhQF/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (£142.20 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3V Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£47.70 @ Aria PC)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£32.99 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Constellation ES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£43.82 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card (£167.99 @ Aria PC)
Case: Silverstone SST-RL01B-USB 3.0 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£35.16 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£36.98 @ Novatech)
Total: £506.84
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-29 17:32 GMT+0000)

its about 50 quids more, but def worth it for future proofing. ull be fine with 2cores for now but future games will work better with the 4core.

 

[robbom8]

$587.72 is not five hundred pounds, are you sure thats right?

 

[iceclock]

what this is in ur currency. not us.

its about 50 quids more for the 4core.

 

[robbom8]

No but it says its $587.72 on the website which is around £370

 

[iceclock]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhQF
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhQF/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/AhQF/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (£142.20 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3V Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£47.70 @ Aria PC)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£32.99 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Constellation ES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£43.82 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card (£167.99 @ Aria PC)
Case: Silverstone SST-RL01B-USB 3.0 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£35.16 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£36.98 @ Novatech)
Total: £506.84
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-29 17:51 GMT+0000)

there fixed.

 

[robbom8]

Oh so its picking parts from the uk, so if i get them shipped surely it will cost way less??!

 

[iceclock]

yes, thats right and faster.

 

[robbom8]

So i should buy it from the US? From that link