Emulation Build On the Cheap?

[CobbleWalker]

Here's the Part-picker Link! Thanks for your feedback!
(PS: Will be running Ubuntu. Dolphin Emulator for Mostly GameCube, possibly some Wii.)

[Vegetable]

The lack of a GPU will set you back a TON. If you're trying to emulate a ps2 or anything like that, you will be having a bad time.

[Dietrichw]

Here's the Part-picker Link! Thanks for your feedback!

(PS: Will be running Ubuntu.)

what are you emulating? You will need a dedicated video card if you want to emulate Wii with Dolphin

[Bit8xPr0]

Looks good, although I do believe thermal paste is supposed to come with the T2? I know my Hyper 212 EVO did *and those are like $20 now after rebate* and there are much better *I think* Power supplies around that price, look at some of the EVGA power supplies 500w 500b 600b

[EposVox]

This build is beyond good enough for retro games - non-3D, but once you get towards GameCube, PS2, even some PSX games, as said above, the lack of a GPU will make the whole build pointless and Ubuntu's wonky support for DirectX will be problemmatic, as well.

[CobbleWalker]

Here's the Part-picker Link! Thanks for your feedback!

(PS: Will be running Ubuntu.)

 

 

 

Im using Dolphin to run GameCube/Wii games. Will it bottleneck the graphics in that case?

Nm, looking for GPU

[CobbleWalker]

what are you emulating? You will need a dedicated video card if you want to emulate Wii with Dolphin

 

This build is beyond good enough for retro games - non-3D, but once you get towards GameCube, PS2, even some PSX games, as said above, the lack of a GPU will make the whole build pointless and Ubuntu's wonky support for DirectX will be problemmatic, as well.

Gpu Recommendation?

[Dietrichw]

Im using Dolphin to run GameCube/Wii games. Will it bottleneck the graphics in that case?

Yes I've tried using integrated graphics for Gamecube and it isn't pretty. You can get by if you run it at original GC resolution but emulating is so much better when you are running old games at higher resolutions. I ran Twilight Princess in 1440p and it looked great

 

I use a 290 and it barely breaks a sweat. a cheap 280, 280x, and 285 will be enough. Running Skyward Sword at high res my 290 would only clock up to 600MHz

[CobbleWalker]

Yes I've tried using integrated graphics for Gamecube and it isn't pretty. You can get by if you run it at original GC resolution but emulating is so much better when you are running old games at higher resolutions. I ran Twilight Princess in 1440p and it looked great

 

I use a 290 and it barely breaks a sweat. a cheap 280, 280x, and 285 will be enough. Running Skyward Sword at high res my 290 would only clock up to 600MHz

 

I'm not looking for much. How much will 1080p 60 be costing GPU wise?

[Guest]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($43.49 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 370 2GB Video Card  ($148.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($45.79 @ Amazon)
Total: $536.22
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-12 20:23 EST-0500

 

openSUSE 42.1 can be downloaded (for free) from https://software.opensuse.org/421/en

 

(Read my Sig)

 

I went AMD because Dual Core emulation is just AWFUL.

[Dietrichw]

I'm not looking for much. How much will 1080p 60 be costing GPU wise?

almost anything that isn't super old for AMD cards I would say almost anything that is GCN architecture. Nvidia 660ti or better

[Dietrichw]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($114.99 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($79.99 @ NCIX US)

Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($43.49 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.99 @ Newegg)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 370 2GB Video Card  ($148.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.99 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($45.79 @ Amazon)

Total: $536.22

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-12 20:23 EST-0500

 

openSUSE 42.1 can be downloaded (for free) from https://software.opensuse.org/421/en

 

(Read my Sig)

 

I went AMD because Dual Core emulation is just AWFUL.

 

Dolphin doesn't use many cores. A 4 core 7850K runs better than the FX chips due to better IPC in steamroller

[EposVox]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($114.99 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($79.99 @ NCIX US)

Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($43.49 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.99 @ Newegg)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 370 2GB Video Card  ($148.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.99 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($45.79 @ Amazon)

Total: $536.22

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-12 20:23 EST-0500

 

openSUSE 42.1 can be downloaded (for free) from https://software.opensuse.org/421/en

 

(Read my Sig)

 

I went AMD because Dual Core emulation is just AWFUL.

 

But you've just doubled their price.

[CobbleWalker]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($114.99 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($79.99 @ NCIX US)

Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($43.49 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.99 @ Newegg)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 370 2GB Video Card  ($148.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.99 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($45.79 @ Amazon)

Total: $536.22

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-12 20:23 EST-0500

 

openSUSE 42.1 can be downloaded (for free) from https://software.opensuse.org/421/en

 

(Read my Sig)

 

I went AMD because Dual Core emulation is just AWFUL.

If I had a G3258 @ 4.3 would that be ok Cpu wise?

[EposVox]

If I had a G3258 @ 4.3 would that be ok Cpu wise?

The point is that raw power doesn't help, you need multiple cores.

[CobbleWalker]

But you've just doubled their price.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor  ($114.99 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($79.99 @ NCIX US)

Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($43.49 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.99 @ Newegg)

Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 370 2GB Video Card  ($148.98 @ Newegg)

Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case  ($49.99 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($45.79 @ Amazon)

Total: $536.22

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-12 20:23 EST-0500

 

openSUSE 42.1 can be downloaded (for free) from https://software.opensuse.org/421/en

 

(Read my Sig)

 

I went AMD because Dual Core emulation is just AWFUL.

For Dolphin 1080p budget build? Appears to be little overkill.

[Guest]

But you've just doubled their price.

And Quadrupled the performance.

 

Trust me, emulation at below $400 is just to slow and unbearable.

[CobbleWalker]

The point is that raw power doesn't help, you need multiple cores.

So dolphin can leverage more cores? Interesting, that changes things.

[EposVox]

I second that a quad-core CPU is needed, as well as a dedicated graphics card.

[CobbleWalker]

And Quadrupled the performance.

 

Trust me, emulation at below $400 is just to slow and unbearable.

@EposVox

 

 

 

 

Alright, give me a little time to rethink this build, please. Will post updated one soon.

[Guest]

For Dolphin 1080p budget build? Appears to be little overkill.

Yes, it is.

 

When the OP asked their question, they had not said they were using Dolphin.

[Guest]

@EposVox

 

 

 

 

Alright, give me a little time to rethink this build, please. Will post updated one soon.

Well, you may not need 8 cores. When I specced out the build, I did not know that you were using Dolphin.

 

I can re-spec the system if you would like.

[CobbleWalker]

Well, you may not need 8 cores. When I specced out the build, I did not know that you were using Dolphin.

 

I can re-spec the system if you would like.

 

Yes, it is.

 

When the OP asked their question, they had not said they were using Dolphin.

Sorry, I changed it later when I realized my lack of specificity, I'll tell you when it's done.

[CobbleWalker]

Dietrichw EposVox MagnesiumPC New Build is up!

[EposVox]

Dietrichw EposVox MagnesiumPC New Build is up!

Errr where? OP link is same build.