Budget spec with upgrade route.

Whitebear

Whitebear

Whitebear

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Joined
8 Jan 2018
Posts
72
Hi all. Would like to ask for your help in putting a spec together for me. Nothing too fancy but would like the option to upgrade gfx card if/when prices come down a bit.

Would be used for light gaming to start - Sims, Minecraft, Fallout, Football mgr. Would like option to play more intensive games if the bug kicks back in.

Requirement...
From a previous build (now dead pc) I have a old Coolermaster Cavalier 3 that I could use, but would prefer a case that is less than 40cm high.
I have a optical drive and a HDD I could use, but would also like a SSD.
Don't need keyboard or mouse.
Budget is as close to £500 as possible for pc, ideally less but realise this is unlikely (have a go!). Would need a monitor that is also low cost.
Think that covers it, anything Ive missed?
Cheers folks.
 
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reuse your hdd, optical drive and windows key :)

Whitebear said:
would prefer a case that is less than 40cm high
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Whitebear said:
I have a optical drive and a HDD I could use, but would also like a SSD.
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Whitebear said:
Budget is as close to £500 as possible for pc
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Whitebear said:
Would like option to play more intensive games if the bug kicks back in.
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at low settings, check
Whitebear said:
would like the option to upgrade gfx card if/when prices come down a bit.
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check

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £500.54 (includes shipping: £11.70)
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Cheers Tamzzy. Assume I could chuck a 1060 or 1050i in there at some point in the future - on the assumption it would make a significant difference?
Budget of 500 was excluding monitor as may have an option on one from a friend. On that basis anything you'd change?
 
Whitebear said:
Cheers Tamzzy. Assume I could chuck a 1060 or 1050i in there at some point in the future - on the assumption it would make a significant difference?
Budget of 500 was excluding monitor as may have an option on one from a friend. On that basis anything you'd change?
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yes, as @orbitalwalsh said, i would bump up the processor to a 2400g.
this has more threads than the 2200g, and a slightly better integrated gpu.
due to it being a more powerful processor, when you drop in a 1050ti/1060, it'll be able to stretch its legs more, in comparison to the 2200g (not that the 2200g isn't a good processor ofc - it is excellent for a budget build)

future upgrades to this proposed build would be a gpu (as you've mentioned) and another 2x4gb ram (to get up to 16gb). this can be done in due course and will make this spec a very decent midrange pc :)
My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £484.95 (includes shipping: £11.10)​
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One other question on this - will this Motherboard need Bios updating to work with the Ryzen. If so, is this something that I can do myself (easily) or would it need to be sent off?
Thx.
 
Whitebear said:
One other question on this - will this Motherboard need Bios updating to work with the Ryzen. If so, is this something that I can do myself (easily) or would it need to be sent off?
Thx.
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@AMDMatt has state that a kit can be applied for to update bios, might be worth himself and admin @Admiral Huddy making it a sticky thread?
also Gigabyte Rep @GIGA-Man had also stated that a board can be sent to them for Bios flash (they are UK based not EU) - again might be worth putting in above recommended mobo thread?
 
If the board does not work with a CPU as the BIOS on board is too old, we will sort this out where we can by updating to the latest for customers. We cannot help old BIOS being on boards, stock sometimes has older BIOS if it has been in transit, on the shelf or in a warehouse for a while.
 
GIGA-Man said:
If the board does not work with a CPU as the BIOS on board is too old, we will sort this out where we can by updating to the latest for customers. We cannot help old BIOS being on boards, stock sometimes has older BIOS if it has been in transit, on the shelf or in a warehouse for a while.
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This is why i am leaning upon the direction of gigabyte looking after their customers etc uk rma service etc, to buy their products next time.

I hope my post fits in and is relevant.

Since i am numpty, how would one take advantage of this service of updating bios etc?

Anyways thumbs up to GIGA-Man, my next upgrade will be with gigabyte branded gpu and everything else they sell because they look after their customer.

To me GIGA-Man is the representative of gigabyte and their reputation on this forum.

So yeah in the future if i have a problem i would either contact gigabyte directly or it's you Giga-man and being totally unbiased would let people know about the service i would get from gigabyte, varying on it to attract potential customers like my self or to stay away, whichever.

Anyways people who do a build spec list for people have gigabyte motherboards due solely due to the rma service of gigabyte uk and the way gigabyte looks after customers.
 
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@lltfdaniel I think there's an email they use on here, think there's 3 of then for different jobs. I'm sure it's one of those with your details and mentioning this forum helps if enquiries need to be chased up/looked at . Then post up- believe it's out of your pocket sending up (could be wrong ) but least it's UK , bubble wrap it and accepted under royal mail weight :)

Reputation can make or break ! Evga was strong here, then issue of Card catching fire and then Gibbo being promised gtx 1080ti price match on their very own store fell fowl and left a lot of people unhappy, haven't actually seen him around, use to give updates on stock, specially when they were out of stock , bit like at the moment with mining .haven't seen the rep since :/

MSI had a bit of bashing lately through cash back - though to be true to the point they used a 3rd party that did the damage .

Easy to build the rep up, harder to keep it, seems Gigabyte has pulled a few crackers on here to help owners, and change their opinion from rage to bliss .
 
orbitalwalsh said:
And don't cave in if you see cheaper 3000hz, with APU 3200 does make a difference then 3200 Vs 3000 on standard Ryzen chips - 1200/1600 etc
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Is this still the case if I got a separate Graphics card, say a 1050Ti? Would I be able to get away with 3000 or even 2400 memory?

Appreciate the help so far. Am leaning towards a Ryzen3 2200g, but also getting a 1050Ti while at £149 - hence wondering if reducing cost of mem would be daft! Feel free to stop me if this is not the best way to go :)
 
Whitebear said:
Is this still the case if I got a separate Graphics card, say a 1050Ti? Would I be able to get away with 3000 or even 2400 memory?

Appreciate the help so far. Am leaning towards a Ryzen3 2200g, but also getting a 1050Ti while at £149 - hence wondering if reducing cost of mem would be daft! Feel free to stop me if this is not the best way to go :)
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any non APU ryzen chip, 3000 ram is fine, but dont get 2400hz ! we mostly quote 3000/3200 hz on here anyways but APU chip has iGPU linked in and the faster the ram, the better performance you can get out of it

current ram is on sale at the mo!
 
between the 2200g and 2400g I think the 2200g is a better choice for a super budget system, but if you're looking to upgrade later I think the 2400g has better legs. The 4 core 8 thread aspect will serve you better down the line, feel like the 2200g will start to limit higher end GPUs a lot sooner. :)
 
orbitalwalsh said:
I would say raijintek , is one of the smallest mATX cases their is, due to PSU being by ram area. But got to be careful with PSU type and got length


My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £91.09 (includes shipping: £11.10)
​

Above build is solid, though push 2409g or better cooler the stock to overclock both CPU and GPU
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Would the specs given fit into the Corsair Carbide 240? Black boxes don't really go well in our house. SWMBO would prefer white!

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cors...ow-pc-case-white-cc-9011069-ww-ca-180-cs.html
 
I may have to look at ITX options. Its either going to sit in full view in the livingroom (and use the TV if that would work?). Or on a white shelving unit that is 33.5cm square (am thinking issues with ventilation?). Our office has removable desk and doubles as a spare room so would need to be discreet.

Realise money should be spent on improving performance, but don't really want a big black box, neither would my wife. Shame laptops cost so much more!
 
Whitebear said:
I may have to look at ITX options. Its either going to sit in full view in the livingroom (and use the TV if that would work?). Or on a white shelving unit that is 33.5cm square (am thinking issues with ventilation?). Our office has removable desk and doubles as a spare room so would need to be discreet.

Realise money should be spent on improving performance, but don't really want a big black box, neither would my wife. Shame laptops cost so much more!
Click to expand...

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £518.64 (includes shipping: £11.70)​
​
 
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