CPU value point for a basic ITX gaming rig?

[Participant]

Hi all - kids play Lego games and Human Fall Flat etc. on an ITX sitting room PC. They mainly play at 1080p because they've only got a 1050.

I bought them a 1650 Super as it was stuttering sometimes, but it doesn't like the S775 motherboard it was installed in (ancient Zotac job with a Q6600).

I've decided to upgrade to a [probably Zen something], but clearly they only need a very basic system, so I'm just wondering what I should go for along these lines that will definitely work with the latest GPUs?

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Intel seems to actually have cheaper mini-ITX motherboards,but AM4 is pricier IMHO.

However,looking at the CPU choice,a Ryzen 3 3100 for £100 and the cheaper ASRock B550 mini-ITX motherboard would do the trick:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/amd-...hz-socket-am4-processor-retail-cp-3c1-am.html
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asrock-b550m-itx-ac-amd-am4-b550-mini-itx-motherboard-mb-17m-ak.html

If you want to go cheaper - maybe a Ryzen 3 2200G/3200G and a B450 mini-ITX motherboard?? The Ryzen 3 3100 does have HT,which should give it some longer legs.

 

[Participant]

Intel seems to actually have cheaper mini-ITX motherboards,but AM4 is pricier IMHO.

However,looking at the CPU choice,a Ryzen 3 3100 for £100 and the cheaper ASRock B550 mini-ITX motherboard would do the trick:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/amd-...hz-socket-am4-processor-retail-cp-3c1-am.html
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asrock-b550m-itx-ac-amd-am4-b550-mini-itx-motherboard-mb-17m-ak.html

If you want to go cheaper - maybe a Ryzen 3 2200G/3200G and a B450 mini-ITX motherboard?? The Ryzen 3 3100 does have HT,which should give it some longer legs.

A 3200G sounds like a plan - hadn't considered an APU with an iGPU.

I reckon I can do this for £226 then:

AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, PC processor, 3.6 GHz (maximum frequency: 4.0 GHz), 4 MB L3 Cache, AM4 socket, Radeon Vega 8 integrated GPU
£79.99

Corsair CMK8GX4M1D3000C16 Vengeance LPX 8 GB (1 x 8 GB) DDR4 3000 MHz C16 XMP 2.0 High Performance Desktop Memory Module, Black
£35.98

MB ASRock B450 Gaming ITX/ac AM4 M-ITX HDMI/DP DDR4 Retail - AMD Socket AM4 (Ryzen) - ITX, B450

Combined with a 1650 Super, does that make sense? I tend to trickle down the tech to the other PCs in the house, so this also gives the option of using the 3200G in a tiny box upstairs in future.

 

[Participant]

Ordered so I hope it works!

Now for another Windows 10 key I guess :/

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Ordered so I hope it works!

Now for another Windows 10 key I guess :/

Probably better to run the ram in dual channel but compared to a Q6600,it will still be significantly faster.

 

[Sparx]

If you’ve got a dedicated GPU, no point going for the 3200G. The 3100 is faster than the 3200G for the same price.

3200G is on the older 12nm Zen+ architecture, 3100 is on 7nm Zen 2 and has hyper threading (3200G does not), 4x the cache, PCIe 4 support yada yada.

W10 key you can get off the famous auction website for £5.

 

[SonicSW20]

3300X is the better buy IMO, as long as you're getting it under £120. Any more than that and its too close to the 3600 in price.

 

[Sparx]

Of course, but was a little aware OP trying to spend as little as possible it seems.

Personally yeah I’d spend the extra £20 for 3300X. But then I’d be like oh £40 and 3600... it goes on

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Just checked the Ryzen 3 3200G price on OcUK,why is close to £100?? It is around £80 at literally every other retailer!

 

[Participant]

If you’ve got a dedicated GPU, no point going for the 3200G. The 3100 is faster than the 3200G for the same price.

3200G is on the older 12nm Zen+ architecture, 3100 is on 7nm Zen 2 and has hyper threading (3200G does not), 4x the cache, PCIe 4 support yada yada.

W10 key you can get off the famous auction website for £5.

Thanks, I hear you but the 3200G is £20 (20%) cheaper than the 3100, which for a CPU I can feed to a media box upstairs I think makes sense.

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks, I hear you but the 3200G is £20 (20%) cheaper than the 3100, which for a CPU I can feed to a media box upstairs I think makes sense.

The ASRock also has optical out,which is not common on AM4 mini-ITX motherboard,so useful if you want to re-purpose it. I would go too mad on overclocking a CPU on that motherboard,unless you have some good airflow over it. If you want a cheap CPU cooler,to improve cooling of the CPU,I would get one of the copper core Wraith Spire or Wraith Prism coolers off Ebay(just check clearance). Since they are horizontal air coolers,the VRMs get air blown over them.

 

[Sparx]

Fair enough, totally not even looked elsewhere other than OCUK price tbh. Who charge the same for 3100 lol. Makes sense for £80 mate!