New PC (£400ish) Build help please

IMissMyDCast

IMissMyDCast

IMissMyDCast

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Joined
17 Oct 2012
Posts
40
I built my first PC back when I was 40. 7 years on it needs replacing (mainly because Windows 7 not supported soon, but I feel it is showing its age now!). I'm not much of a gamer - but have played Minecraft and WOT over the past couple of years - albeit WOT in low graphics settings :)

I wonder if people can help - my current PC is based on an AMD A10 5800. I also fairly recently bought an 250GB SSD + 1TB harddisk and also I had to replace the powersupply last year or 2 so my thoughts are.

I'll keep the SSD and Harddrive, and the case and powersupply .. and monitor and keyboard - both are nice and newish? Powersupply is the Corsair VS650.

So I'm thinking I'll need new:
1. CPU (AMD Ryzen 5?)
2. Motherboard (obviously..)
3. RAM
4. Windows 10
And at my £400 price point can I also get new
5. Graphics card?
6. Compact desktop speakers? My ones must be at least 15 years old - but they work ok so probably not a priority as I have no idea how much they cost for something reasonable!!

I know the budget is low, but really interested in what people can recommend. I have seen budget PCs in the £450-£500 - but hoping I can get a better machine and save some money if I just buy the bits I really need .... or am I being dumb! Not interested in secondhand ....
 
tamzzy said:
if you still have your windows 7 key, you can use the same key on a windows 10 install.
failing that, get a grey key. not worth spending £100 on a retail key.
Click to expand...

Is a "grey key" the OEM type? If so, I agree - I've seen OEM version for £50 and that would work for me!

tamzzy said:
you've not said what sized case you have, so i've specced a micro atx board (which should fit in most cases)
also as you currently have an a10 5800...chances are that the case is micro atx. so taking my chances here :p
Click to expand...

Good point, sorry - it is a "BitFenix Merc Alpha Gaming Case" - which is an "ATX Mid Tower" - which should work I hope!
 
Cheers for all your thoughts guys, I'm not much of a high-end gamer - but I am very tempted by the 590.. but the original spec that tamzy gave me managed to hit the exact price I was looking for so I will probably go with that. I am going to put my order in tomorrow so I will try and make my mind up by then!!
 
ExoMale said:
Need to read replace the psu as vs models are not good enough
Click to expand...
In what way? Its worked fine on my current PC for a couple of years? How much is a decent new one?

Joxeon said:
You could probably make up the 35 quid extra for the better Gpu by selling your old MB + Ram + Cpu.
Click to expand...
Had not thought of that - but they are both 7 years old with no packaging ... where would I sell them - I don't do Ebay anymore? Although I suppose I could find my old account.
 
 
tamzzy said:
My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £391.01 (includes shipping: £11.10)​
Click to expand...
​

Guys, not sure where I should ask this question but I am having trouble getting the new build to run. It powers up and the fans come on. But no display is output - not even the BIOS. I bought the above items except the memory wasn't in stock so I swapped it for https://www.overclockers.co.uk/team...-channel-kit-black-grey-tdged4-my-089-tg.html.

I've searched forums and tried the following:-

1. swapped the memory modules around, using just one module. neither module on its own worked.
2. swapped the graphics card for my old graphics card (which I knew worked)
3. reset the CMOS

But It won't work. Having read a few posts about the motherboard, it seems that maybe my memory is not compatible? lots of similar situations were solved by replacing the memory. Any recommendations on what memory I could try? I will post a similar message on the customer service and see if they can help.
 
tamzzy said:
@IMissMyDCast your monitor is plugged to the GPU outputs?
Click to expand...
an0nym0us said:
Which RAM slots were you using? According to the manual it should be slots A2/B2 for 2 sticks of RAM.

For the cable connecting monitor to PC, is it connected to the GPU or motherboard?
Click to expand...

Yes, the ram is in slots A2 and B2. Lucky really, as the cpu heatsink/fan stops A1 being accessible.
Yes, I'm using the GPU outputs (now) . I did try the motherboard until I realised this processor doesn't have GPU capability!
 
ExoMale said:
is everything seated correctly? is the cable(s) to power the graphics card installed?

also i wouldnt always go by what the manufacturers list as compatible ram, i have the b450 aorus m motherboard with ballistix sport lt ram which were never listed on the support page and i never once had issues
Click to expand...

I have reseated everything apart from the CPU (which dropped in beautifully).
I've not looked on any compatibility list, but a number of posts with similar symptoms to mine were solved by trying different memory.. But I've no idea which ones to try.
 
TrBFqJt


wrA3XVA


sCDuDjs


Let's try this!

ok, above image links appears to fail abysmally! Trying links now (below)

https://imgur.com/TrBFqJt

https://imgur.com/wrA3XVA

https://imgur.com/sCDuDjs
 
Last edited:
ExoMale said:
maybe buy a single 4gb stick of some corsair vengeance and try that, just to see whether it is memory related or not. i suppose the other thing is, if you press the power button does it instantly switch off or continue to run? if it runs then it might be graphics related or monitor/hdmi cable, maybe try a different screen if possible.
Click to expand...

I should have already mentioned this :o - but the power on works fine - but the power off does not work - it stays powered up...
 
@tamzzy - you have saved my life twice now!! you double genius .. but we must never speak of this again!!!! I will delete this post and pretend none of this happened!! Unfortunately, I will have to "silence" a work colleague who I talked to about this problem... he must never know!
 
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