Budget gaming pc

8uhbbhu8 · October 17, 2014

I have finally decided that I have had enough of my pentium 4 pc and will build a new one. I am quite short on cash so I am looking to get as much performance for as little as possible.

This will be mostly a dedicated gaming pc. Games to play are mechwarrior online, Starcraft 2, world of tanks, warthunder, battlefield (up to battlefield 3 although unlikely since the older ones are so much better, medal of honour series, and lots of classics back until 2003). My dimension will then become a windows 95/98 legacy game machine.

Any and all input and feedback will be greatly appreciated.

PS. I do plan on over-clocking the cpu especially if I keep the pentium. Ive always wanted to over-clock a pentium....

Anyway here are the current specs i am looking at.

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/user/8uhbbhu8/saved/F3tkcf

Demons Wrath · October 17, 2014

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Canada Computers)

CPU Cooler: Deepcool GAMMAXX 300 55.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Canada Computers)

Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.00 @ Vuugo)

Memory: Crucial 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($34.99 @ DirectCanada)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.98 @ DirectCanada)

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($189.99 @ NCIX)

Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($47.98 @ DirectCanada)

Power Supply: Thermaltake TR2 500W ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ NCIX)

Case Fan: LEPA Vortex 12 PWM 63.9 CFM 120mm Fan ($0.99 @ NCIX)

Total: $545.88

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-17 03:31 EDT-0400

Changed up some stuff, motherboard being most prominent. Moderately good aftermarket cooler for the cpu, only $20.

That PSU you found, although it seems like it might be made by the lowest bidder, being the cheapest psu in all Canada at the moment....it's actually an FSP oem, which is great news!

8uhbbhu8 · October 17, 2014

What is the logic for choosing 1333mhz ram instead of 1600mhz. Is the speed difference small enough that it doesnt make much difference? Also i went the pentium route first and foremost so I could upgrade in the future to an i7. Does the case have sufficent cooling space?

What are the chances of anything bottlenecking here?

Demons Wrath · October 17, 2014

What is the logic for choosing 1333mhz ram instead of 1600mhz. Is the speed difference small enough that it doesnt make much difference? Also i went the pentium route first and foremost so I could upgrade in the future to an i7. Does the case have sufficent cooling space?

What are the chances of anything bottlenecking here?

Some, though not due to the RAM. Bottlenecking typically is what is referred to when a GPU is so powerful relative to a CPU, it's held back, or bottlenecked if you please.

On the case, cooling and possible upgrade to i5/i7; there would be no problems at all. I added two fans to the spec, so you get 2 front intakes, 1 rear exhaust and 1 top exhaust. That's great airflow, plenty of opportunity for your CPU cooler to do it's job well without exerting itself.

All in all, that spec I did for you is extremely economical. It's a legitimate gaming PC with a budget price. Obviously not the be all and end all, but for that price you ain't gonna get better, not unless trawl through the 2nd hand market......or you steal it. :lol: