Low powered GPU for old rig

[e36Adz]

I've recently moved over to a mini PC and so dismantled my old gaming rig - which I hadn't gamed on in years!

I sold my case (weighed a ton), the GTX 970 and the 1000W PSU but I'm left with the following:

Intel Core i5 4670K, Asrock Z87 Ex3, 16GB GSkill DDR3, Corsair H80i.

I'm finding it hard to shift these, I don't think I'll get much for them tbh so instead I'm thinking, why not just keep them and build a low end gaming rig hooked up to a 1080p screen for the kids. Low noise and low power are a must, so my question(s)...

(1) Which graphics card would complement the above parts?

I've always gone nvidia but happy to consider all options.

May as well ask these in here as well.

(2) What rating PSU could I get to run all the above?
(3) What the smallest/lightest case that could house the above?
(4) Or would you just get rid of all the parts for next to nothing?

Thanks

 

[e36Adz]

Yes the idea is, pick up a low powered gpu and rebuild a low end gaming rig for the kids which they can also use for Internet and basic school work.

The gtx 970 was using far too much power and the 1000w psu was just overkill. I've just been offered the following:

GTX 1660
500gb SSD (not sure what brand)
500w coolermaster psu
24GB DDR3 (not sure what brand)

He won't split so he's giving it with the case and with the cpu/mobo/cooler but I'll get rid of them and use my parts. The GTX 1660 seems to be much more efficient than the 970 that I sold.

He only wants £100 for the lot.

 

[e36Adz]

This guys busy. Whilst I'm speaking to him someone else knocks on the door, they've come to collect the exact same tower. I traded some speakers with him and got the full tower for £80. Will test it out later.

 

[e36Adz]

Which cpu would you guys keep?

i5 3570 which was in the tower I've just picked up or my own i5 4670?

His 24gb ram is 2x4gb and 2x8gb.
I suppose i could keep one set with my own 16gb but not sure over 16gb makes any difference at all for what I'll be using it for? Or does it?

 

[e36Adz]

I'll probably just keep my 4670 in that case.

I'll check the specs of the ram and decide whether or not to keep more than my original 16gb.

PSU is a Coolermaster 500w, didn't recognise the brand of the ssd but it's 500gb and will do as a boot drive for win 10. I don't quite fancy the case so I'll sell it with as much in here as possible.

 

[e36Adz]

Just started the system up and it was powering on and off, on and off etc. Removed the 8gb pair of ram and left the 16gb in and seems to be working fine now. Been running the Heaven benchmark on a loop for 30 mins and all seems good.

I've advertised the remaining bits up for sale for £40 and been inundated with messages asking for more pics, model of mobo, one guy just said can I collect tmro morning etc. It means I got the GTX 1660, the 500GB SSD and the 500W Coolermaster psu for circa around £40-50 which is a bargain.

Next question is, which would you keep from these two...

Asrock Z87 Ex3
MSI B75A G41

We've already established the cpu's are virtually the same, not much difference in them.

 

[e36Adz]

Think I've got all the parts now, will put it together v soon hopefully. Don't think I've put a PC together for around 10 years.

Kept:
Z87 EX3
i5 4670k
16gb GSkill DDR3

Sold:
Corsair Case
1000W Seasonic psu
970 gtx
Got £130 for them.

Picked up used:
Coolermaster 500w
500gb ssd
1660 GTX
Got these for ~ £50.

Today I just received the corsair 4000d airflow case which I ordered online for £79 brand new and I also picked up an Asus 27" 1080p monitor for £40.

 

[e36Adz]

All sorted now, up and running with a new 'old' build. By low end gaming I meant my steam library which has around 100 games from 7-8+ years ago, there's nothing new on there.

The only thing I splashed out on was a new case in the end, the corsair 4000d airflow in white, was on offer for £79. Everything else was dirt cheap.

Kept:
Asrock Z87 Ex3, i5 4670k, 16GB DDR3, H80i, 2TB HDD

Added: 8GB DDR3, 1660 GTX, 500GB SSD, 500W Coolermaster PSU, 27" Asus 1080p, Steelseries Gaming Kb + Mouse.

In total it cost me around £50 on top of the money I got back from selling my 970 GTX and 1000W PSU.

 

[e36Adz]

This thread has reminded me of one of my "donk" machines, 280 Watt PSU, i7 4790, 16 GB DDR3, 2 Hard drives, 2x GTX580 SLI, yes, the PSU shouldn't be powering one of these cards, never mind two!

That makes me feel a bit better about the 500W I've got in mine, what brand was the 280W???