£400 Gaming PC

nitr0uk · 24 Apr 2010 at 16:31

Hey guys,

Not a great budget I know, but I would like some suggestions on a decent spec gaming PC within this budget.

Any help is appreciated

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 24 Apr 2010 at 16:33

Do you need to have a copy of Windows,peripherals and a monitor in the budget?

nitr0uk · 24 Apr 2010 at 16:35

I have windows, peripherals and a monitor that I already have which are fine to use again, so just looking for a base unit.

mrfun1981 · 24 Apr 2010 at 17:02

Iv had ago but as you say the budget is not that best, i would use this spec as a rough one & see what other people say. But i have gone a little over budget soz,

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Geil Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel (GV34GB1333C9DC) Geil Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel (GV34GB1333C9DC) £88.99
(£75.74) £88.99
(£75.74)
HIS ATI Radeon HD 4850 iCooler IV 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card HIS ATI Radeon HD 4850 iCooler IV 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card £79.99
(£68.08) £79.99
(£68.08)
Gigabyte GA-MA770T-ES3 MA770 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA770T-ES3 MA770 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £64.99
(£55.31) £64.99
(£55.31)
AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 245 2.90GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 245 2.90GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £51.99
(£44.25) £51.99
(£44.25)
OCZ StealthXStream 500w Silent Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 500w Silent Power Supply £46.99
(£39.99) £46.99
(£39.99)
Antec 200 Two Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black Antec 200 Two Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black £37.99
(£32.33) £37.99
(£32.33)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD251HJ) Samsung SpinPoint F1 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD251HJ) £28.99
(£24.67) £28.99
(£24.67)
LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
(£12.76) £14.99
(£12.76)
Sub Total : £353.13
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £63.85
Total : £428.73

stulid · 24 Apr 2010 at 17:32

mrfun1981 said:
Iv had ago but as you say the budget is not that best, i would use this spec as a rough one & see what other people say. But i have gone a little over budget soz,

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Geil Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel (GV34GB1333C9DC) Geil Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel (GV34GB1333C9DC) £88.99
(£75.74) £88.99
(£75.74)
HIS ATI Radeon HD 4850 iCooler IV 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card HIS ATI Radeon HD 4850 iCooler IV 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card £79.99
(£68.08) £79.99
(£68.08)
Gigabyte GA-MA770T-ES3 MA770 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA770T-ES3 MA770 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £64.99
(£55.31) £64.99
(£55.31)
AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 245 2.90GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 245 2.90GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £51.99
(£44.25) £51.99
(£44.25)
OCZ StealthXStream 500w Silent Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 500w Silent Power Supply £46.99
(£39.99) £46.99
(£39.99)
Antec 200 Two Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black Antec 200 Two Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black £37.99
(£32.33) £37.99
(£32.33)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD251HJ) Samsung SpinPoint F1 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD251HJ) £28.99
(£24.67) £28.99
(£24.67)
LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
(£12.76) £14.99
(£12.76)
Sub Total : £353.13
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £63.85
Total : £428.73

+1

its a very good spec

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 24 Apr 2010 at 17:34

nitr0uk · 24 Apr 2010 at 22:45

Thanks for your replies. Specs look good.

I realise the budget isn't too great so will have to consider this, maybe even increase the budget itself.

Thanks for your help.

stulid · 24 Apr 2010 at 22:48

you get free delivery too.

Goldfingers · 24 Apr 2010 at 22:53

mrfun1981 said:
Iv had ago but as you say the budget is not that best, i would use this spec as a rough one & see what other people say. But i have gone a little over budget soz,

Snip

Total : £428.73

Great spec tbh. Shop around for a cheap as chips dvd rw, someone will no doubt have them clearance seconds for ~£5. Also get a cheaper case, no need for a decent case unless you are overclocking and/or need the space.
Second hand graphics card should knock around £20 off aswell.

Frozennova · 25 Apr 2010 at 09:56

mrfun1981 said:
Iv had ago but as you say the budget is not that best, i would use this spec as a rough one & see what other people say. But i have gone a little over budget soz,

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Geil Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel (GV34GB1333C9DC) Geil Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel (GV34GB1333C9DC) £88.99
(£75.74) £88.99
(£75.74)
HIS ATI Radeon HD 4850 iCooler IV 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card HIS ATI Radeon HD 4850 iCooler IV 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card £79.99
(£68.08) £79.99
(£68.08)
Gigabyte GA-MA770T-ES3 MA770 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA770T-ES3 MA770 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £64.99
(£55.31) £64.99
(£55.31)
AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 245 2.90GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 245 2.90GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £51.99
(£44.25) £51.99
(£44.25)
OCZ StealthXStream 500w Silent Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 500w Silent Power Supply £46.99
(£39.99) £46.99
(£39.99)
Antec 200 Two Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black Antec 200 Two Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black £37.99
(£32.33) £37.99
(£32.33)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD251HJ) Samsung SpinPoint F1 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD251HJ) £28.99
(£24.67) £28.99
(£24.67)
LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
(£12.76) £14.99
(£12.76)
Sub Total : £353.13
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £63.85
Total : £428.73

I'd recommend this but drop the Athlon 245 to a 245 and the mobo to the cheaper Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-S2

Will save ~£20 that isnt need, I have the same board,cpu and ram happily a 3.6ghz.

You could also get away with dropping the case to something cheaper, the Xigmatek Asgard is well rated for a budget case and will save another ~£10

Those savings would allow you to up the GPU to an ATI 5750, or with a little extra a 5770.

linktoinsanity · 25 Apr 2010 at 11:32

Can I just ask what is wrong with the PC in you sig? Is this gaming PC for someone else or is it just to replace your current one? If it's to replace your current on then I'd stick with what you have and maybe just upgrade the graphics card...

nitr0uk · 25 Apr 2010 at 13:04

LinktoInsanity said:
Can I just ask what is wrong with the PC in you sig? Is this gaming PC for someone else or is it just to replace your current one? If it's to replace your current on then I'd stick with what you have and maybe just upgrade the graphics card...

This £400 budget is for my brother.

He currently has the following:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500
Nvidia GeForce 8600GTS 256Mb
Asus P5B Motherboard
Corsair XMS2 2Gb DDR2 PC-6400
Hiper 530W Type M Power Supply

I'm assuming the best idea would be to upgrade to a completely new system?

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 25 Apr 2010 at 13:11

nitr0uk said:
This £400 budget is for my brother.

He currently has the following:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500
Nvidia GeForce 8600GTS 256Mb
Asus P5B Motherboard
Corsair XMS2 2Gb DDR2 PC-6400
Hiper 530W Type M Power Supply

I'm assuming the best idea would be to upgrade to a completely new system?

No! Upgrade your current system!!

I would look at getting a secondhand Q6600 or Q6700. I went from an E4500 at around 2.9GHZ to a Q6600 at around the same speed and I can even play games like Supreme Commander fine. I have a 975X based motherboard.

Another 2GB of RAM would be useful unless you have a 32 bit OS installed and perhaps a faster system drive like a Samsung F3 500GB if the exisiting hard drive is very old.

I would then get an HD5770 1GB or an HD5830 1GB providing the PSU is one of the better Hiper ones.

Summary of parts:

1.) Secondhand Q6600 or Q6700 ~ £70 to £100

2.) Suitable CPU cooler ~ £20

3.) 2GB 800MHZ DDR2 ~ £40 to £50

You could probably look for some secondhand DDR2 on the famous auction site.

4.) Samsung F3 500GB ~ £40 to £50

5.) HD5770 1GB ~ £120 to £130

OR

HD5830 1GB ~ £190

Cookeh · 25 Apr 2010 at 14:42

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
No! Upgrade your current system!!
SNIP

+1

AaronS · 25 Apr 2010 at 19:27

nitr0uk said:
This £400 budget is for my brother.

He currently has the following:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500
Nvidia GeForce 8600GTS 256Mb
Asus P5B Motherboard
Corsair XMS2 2Gb DDR2 PC-6400
Hiper 530W Type M Power Supply

I'm assuming the best idea would be to upgrade to a completely new system?

OC CPU or get a quad core in the same socket.

Upgrade GPU, you can get a pretty decent one for the budget.

Get an extra 2gb ram

ASUS ATi Radeon 5850 - 224.99
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.5GHz - 119.99
Total = 344.98
Leaves £50 for 2gb ram, overclockers only seems to do 4GB kits

Alternative would be to change MB aswell and go i5 or PII, but you'd get near same CPU speeds and wouldn't be able to afford a GPU as good by quite far