Cheapest gaming PC

Gray · 30 Jan 2010 at 06:46

Hi,

What's the absolute cheapest gaming PC I could build for myself? It has to be good enough for games like L4D2, the new C&C when it comes out, and it has to be small and light as possible as I'll only be using it for LAN parties.

I don't need a monitor, keyboard or mouse, just a case, psu, mobo, cpu and cooler, RAM, HDD, graphics card and DVD drive.

Thanks!

Gray

jimmy_lazers · 30 Jan 2010 at 08:29

Well assuming C&C means command and conquer 4 then it's a very difficult question to answer seeing as it's not out yet. Also you don't say what resolution you play at which is a big factor. A PC to play L4D2 could be done very cheaply indeed. My single core Athlon 3700+ and a HD4850 handles it easily at 1920x1080.
C&C 4 probably needs a more powerful comp.

Wait and see!

Chris Beard · 30 Jan 2010 at 08:38

Blind guess at minimum specs (and since you wanna go cheap I'm assuming you're also going 2nd hand):

HD 4850 512MB - £45
P35 Mobo (not sure on price on this one - make sure it takes the E3200) - £30
2nd hand case that does 2x120mm fans - circa £15-£20
E3200 (first hand) - £30
4GB DDR2 800Mhz- £40
HDD - get the cheapest over 40GB (circa £10)
DVD - get the cheapest over x12 speed (circa £5)
Cooler - decent 2nd hand 775 say £10 (is what I got the ninja going in my bro's comp for)
2x120mm fans - circa £7
PSU - Seasonic £430W - refuse to suggest budget PSU as they're bloody important bits - circa £50 new.

Gray · 30 Jan 2010 at 09:22

jimmy_lazers said:
Well assuming C&C means command and conquer 4 then it's a very difficult question to answer seeing as it's not out yet. Also you don't say what resolution you play at which is a big factor. A PC to play L4D2 could be done very cheaply indeed. My single core Athlon 3700+ and a HD4850 handles it easily at 1920x1080.
C&C 4 probably needs a more powerful comp.

Wait and see!

Sorry I meant to say that the res will only be low - only be playing on a standard 19". I know C&C4 isn't out yet(!) and I know the spec hasn't been released but I can't see it requiring anything massively different to l4d2.

Gray · 30 Jan 2010 at 09:25

Chris Beard said:
Blind guess at minimum specs (and since you wanna go cheap I'm assuming you're also going 2nd hand):

HD 4850 512MB - £45
P35 Mobo (not sure on price on this one - make sure it takes the E3200) - £30
2nd hand case that does 2x120mm fans - circa £15-£20
E3200 (first hand) - £30
4GB DDR2 800Mhz- £40
HDD - get the cheapest over 40GB (circa £10)
DVD - get the cheapest over x12 speed (circa £5)
Cooler - decent 2nd hand 775 say £10 (is what I got the ninja going in my bro's comp for)
2x120mm fans - circa £7
PSU - Seasonic £430W - refuse to suggest budget PSU as they're bloody important bits - circa £50 new.

I'm not a fan of second-hand pc bits. I don't trust anyone I don't know to be as careful as I am with stuff. I guess my budget is £300 tops, but the lower the better. All we ever play at LAN parties is l4d, l4d2, far cry, ut and c&c3. I know c&c4 will be on our list too.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 30 Jan 2010 at 11:57