Gaming rig - tiny budget

OspreyO · 22 Dec 2013 at 20:30

I can pull the following parts from a desktop. The desktop has a 200w psu and a slim case, can't take full height cards. So I think I'll recase it. I have these parts.

250GB 7200 drive, i3-2100, 4GB ram, DVDRW, 128 SSD.

I'd like a case that can take a couple of drives for media serving, (when I can afford them). I'd like to have USB 3 on the front of the case that hooks up to the MB. I do a lot of transferring of big files. If the power button wasn't that obvious, so small hands can't turn it off would be good. Loved the handle on the CM scout I had. But thats too big a case. As this is something I'll be putting away when I'm not using it. No idea what the cheapest gfx worth getting is, I have a preference for Nvidia usually.

I'd prefer to spend as little as possible. So suggestions welcome.

DaleTheWhale · 22 Dec 2013 at 20:32

How much is 'as little as possible'? - What games do you want to be able to play?

OspreyO · 22 Dec 2013 at 20:39

Minecraft, FSX, COD4, ARMA II Wings over Dover. Things like that.

I was using a E8500/GT430 (which I've just sold) until recently, I'm back to laptop with GS7900 so I've not been able to play a lot of stuff.

Budget I'd say nothing. But I want to know how much is the minimum to spend before it becomes a viable gaming machine. I need a case, PSU, motherboard, HSF, and GFX.

Ethermaster · 22 Dec 2013 at 20:57

Its important that we have a budget to work to or we will not be able to spec to the level that your looking for. A simple APU machine will cost you around the £350-£400 mark which will perform kinda like a console in the gaming area (A little worst but not by much) but you can spend upward to a few grand for balls to the wall super computer designed just to game on.

DaleTheWhale · 22 Dec 2013 at 22:11

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD A10-6800K Black Edition 4.10GHz (Socket FM2) APU Richland Quad Core Processor (AD680KWOHLBOX) £109.99
1 x BitFenix Shinobi USB3.0 Gaming Case - Black £49.99
1 x BeQuiet Pure Power L8 400W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply - With 120mm Silent Wing Fan Built in £39.95
1 x Raijintek Aidos Direct Contact CPU Cooler £14.99
Total : £229.02 (includes shipping : £11.75).

Cheap and cheerful APU build.

OspreyO · 22 Dec 2013 at 23:42

So ye think I should just sell on the i3 then?

bru · 23 Dec 2013 at 01:26

ThaReaperGuy said:
YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD A10-6800K Black Edition 4.10GHz (Socket FM2) APU Richland Quad Core Processor (AD680KWOHLBOX) £109.99
1 x BitFenix Shinobi USB3.0 Gaming Case - Black £49.99
1 x BeQuiet Pure Power L8 400W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply - With 120mm Silent Wing Fan Built in £39.95
1 x Raijintek Aidos Direct Contact CPU Cooler £14.99
Total : £229.02 (includes shipping : £11.75).

Cheap and cheerful APU build.

No motherboard to put that CPU in.

Myself in your position I would upgrade to 8GB of ram, try to match the ram you have.
Keep the CPU you have as even though there are better available you would need to be spending up wards of £80 and a new motherboard to better it and grab either of these

YOUR BASKET
1 x Inno3D GeForce GTX 650TI iChill Herculez 2000S 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (C650-2SDN-D5CWX) £119.99
1 x Sapphire Radeon R7 260X OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (11222-06-20G) £99.95
Total : £219.94 (includes shipping : FREE).

One of these PSU and which ever cheap case you like the look of.

YOUR BASKET
1 x EVGA 500W 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply (100-B1-0500-KR) £39.95
Total : £39.95 (includes shipping : FREE).

Out of those two GPU's the 650Ti boost is faster but only has 1GB of ram, the R7 260x has 2GB ram but is a bit slower, but of course it is on offer this week so it is £20 cheaper.