What is the oldest generation CPU/GPU that you would consider for a "new" build?

[borouck]

My friends and I are looking to build/buy "new" computers, maybe some low quality AAA but mostly more "indie" focused gaming. It seems most of the options on the market right now are 6th gen Intel CPU's and Nvidia 1650 GPU's (and AMD equivalents). Are these "too old", in that they won't provide a good performance 2-3 years from now? What's the oldest generation that you would consider for a "new" build? 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Really depends on the exact budget and what your options are. For me, I'd make sure the CPU is supported by windows 11(typicaly 8th gen or newer on intel), and the GPU has software support. Probably wouldn't go older than pascall(10xx) or amd polairs(4xx)

[8tg]

It doesn’t matter too much, just temper expectations with performance. The biggest thing would be driver support for the video card because that will have the most impact on current games.

Like I recently tested an r9 nano, with no active driver support, versus a 750ti, with legacy current driver support, in cs2. And purely off of driver support, the 750ti performed better against a card several calibers above it.

 

If I had to just put together a system considering it as old as I’d go for current use and current games? Coffee lake and Maxwell. An i5 8400 with a GTX 980ti or something would be dirt cheap and reasonable for modern use without any compromises.

[porina]

I was just looking up Win11 CPU compatibility. Does look like Coffee Lake (8th gen) or newer on Intel consumer side. AMD side is more complex as there's some Zen+ models there but personally I wouldn't go older than Zen 2 (3000 series). Win10 support is expected to end towards the end of next year. Even within those generations I'd aim for 6 good cores minimum for a forward looking gaming system, ideally 8. Yes, it does get complicated in that a newer 6 core can beat an older 8 core.

 

GPU wise does it have to be obtainable new? That in itself limits the options available. 1650 is low power, both in consumption and performance. It is very entry level today so it would struggle more as time goes on. If older or more basic games are ok, I'd go as far as Pascal on NV side (10 series). I still have a 1080 Ti which is ok as long as you don't need newer features, but you're not getting that new now.

[Tetras]

I'd consider a 12th gen i3 or Ryzen 5600 and a RX 6600 as the minimum for 1080p gaming.

 

The older CPUs are mostly fine for the quad core era stuff, but for any newer games, anything slower than 12th gen / Ryzen 5000 & a 6600 will start to struggle.

 

The 1650 wasn't great when it was new and it is even worse now.

 

Ordinarily I'd just say that what you're considering is fine, but your question about how it will perform in 2-3 years time is why I've said the above ^^

[BentleyOwen123]

For a new build, im assuming you would want win 11, i would recomend a ryzen 5 4500 as it supports windows 11 and is very budget friendly, but sometimes the 5500 goes on sale for a similar price in whicch case i would recommend getting that, and for gpu, the 1650 would most likely meet your requirments, but the price to performance is one of the worst on the market, it is almost identical in price to an asrock rx 6600 which is a substantialy more powerful gpu but if thats out of your price rank i would consider the rx 6500xt which is a lower price and all around a better card https://www.newegg.com/asrock-radeon-rx-6500-xt-rx6500xt-pgd-4go/p/N82E16814930067

 

 

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/c2nDyg ~$600 amd

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Rb6HjH ~$600 intel

[jaslion]

Honestly depends on the budget and goals.

 

But for me cpu wise the cutoff point is any platform that does not have a reasonably priced 6c/12t cpu or better

[PDifolco]

1 hour ago, borouck said:

My friends and I are looking to build/buy "new" computers, maybe some low quality AAA but mostly more "indie" focused gaming. It seems most of the options on the market right now are 6th gen Intel CPU's and Nvidia 1650 GPU's (and AMD equivalents). Are these "too old", in that they won't provide a good performance 2-3 years from now? What's the oldest generation that you would consider for a "new" build? 

Under $600 you won't be able to get new parts, then get an used Ryzen 2600/i5-8400 or better, with a 1660Super/RX5600 (or better)

I won't get anything older, it's slow and you'll have drivers issues

At $600+ get new, 5600+RX6600 

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 3.5 GHz 6-Core Processor  ($145.70 @ MemoryC) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550M DS3H AC Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($33.97 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Kingston NV2 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($60.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: ASRock Challenger D Radeon RX 6600 8 GB Video Card  ($189.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($43.98 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: MSI MAG A650BN 650 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 
Total: $624.61
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-03-24 16:00 EDT-0400

 

 

[thrasher_565]

gpus for indy games like rx 470, 1060, 1080.

as for cpu i no there older cpus that cant play games so i dont no how new you have to go to be able to play them like hogworts. dont think there are gpu in compatablitys? but could be wrong. i still use a 1080 and 6600k prity low power build like 270w a 6600 xt would be even lower. guess depends on games

[BahnStormer]

Really easier to make recommendations when you have a target set of games/tasks or a budget like "what's the most I could get for $500"....

 

On the extreme budget end, but with some hope of still being capable, I would be okay with somebody picking up an ex-office PC with a i7 6700 at least and a capable PSU and putting a GTX1650 or RX5xx into it.... see if you can stretch to something like a GTX1660S as that has 6Gb of very fast VRAM and will have optimised drivers for YEARS to come... so you can move it onto your next build.

 

For actually building a PC, I'd recommend what I did nearly 5 years ago: B450 (~€70) and an ENRTY level Ryzen like a 1600/1600X... I upgraded that to a 2700X, then 5800X3D. It's still running to this day very happily with a GTX1660super

 

Really depends on your budget, but any of the AM4s are good: once you get to the 3600X you've got a VERY capable CPU you'll still have at least one BIG step up with the 5800X3D later.

 

If you want an extreme budget, random, eccentric build just for the sake of it.... then a Xeon E5 2670 (<€10) or 2687W (<€30) ex-workstation is a crazy build. 8 cores, 20Mb L3 cache  Plus it has LGA2011, quad channel DDR3 and X79 board support. Also more common as an old office workstation (e.g. HP Z620 for <€200) and more likely to have a good PSU (800W in the case of the HP Z620), so might be better than an i7 6700 office PC.

B450 + Ryzen 5 1600 (or  R5 3600 if budget allows) are the sensible picks though!

PDifolco's pick above (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/knVpn6) is just a slightly higher budget alternative to my B450+R5-1600X version, but with a better starting point and all the same positives, if you can afford that?