Prebuilt system - advice please!

BA757

BA757

BA757

Associate
Joined
30 Oct 2012
Posts
75
Hi All.

I’ve had a MacBook for about 6 years now so am well out of the loop when it comes to PCs. I’m looking for something that will be good enough to handle some modern games at reasonable settings.

I’m not on about having to run everything at max on the most demanding games out there, but something that’ll cope with moderate gaming.

Was looking at this, any good? It’s not billed as a gaming PC but 6 Core i5 processor, 6GB GPU and 16GB RAM, must be decent enough for a lot of games right?

Certainly a big jump up in spec since my last gaming rig all those years ago but I know games get more demanding too.

*** Link to competitor removed ***

FYI the game I’m mainly having in mind with this system is American Truck Sim from steam but no doubt I’ll end up down a rabbit hole of many more games. So just after some verification that it’s an adequate system for gaming for the money. I’m sure I could save money by putting together my own thing but honestly I just don’t have the inclination of the skill so prebuilt is the way it’ll go.

Cheers!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
@BA757

Please remember that this forum is owned and paid for by Overclockers UK PC retailer, so links to competitors are strictly against the forum rules.

If you need to link, either use the manufacturers website or OCUK's website.

Thanks.
 
Oops apologies!

The spec is as follows:

  • Intel® Core™ i5-9400F
  • ASUS® H310M-A R2.0
  • 16GB Corsair VENGEANCE 2400MHz
  • 6GB GEFORCE GTX 1660
  • 240GB ADATA SU650 SSD
  • 2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA HDD
Would be grateful for any comments about the suitability of this spec for my purposes.

Many thanks.
 
Do you need WiFi?

A Ryzen comparison - (may be similar in price) - would allow you to upgrade to Zen 2 in the future - but would need to get your hands dirty and build (Windows 10 key can be bought for ~£10). Case is a placeholder but looks similar to the one in your link - i think... (overall component quality better than your linked pre-built):

*580 comes with 2 free games which you could keep or sell on for ~£50 to offset price - or put to OcUK assembling the components.

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £778.04 (includes shipping: £13.20)
​
 
Last edited:
Thanks for that that’s useful! Yes I would need WiFi unfortunately due to where it would be located in the current house.

Is there a significant improvement with what you linked vs what I posted? I could be tempted to try and put it together myself if I’m going to get an enormous increase in performance for the same cost, but I’m guessing these days there’s not a huge margin on pre built systems vs DIY?
 
BA757 said:
Thanks for that that’s useful! Yes I would need WiFi unfortunately due to where it would be located in the current house.
Click to expand...
Swapped put the motherboard for a WiFi version - also has better VRMs, bonus for future CPU upgrades:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £798.08 (includes shipping: £13.20)
​

BA757 said:
Is there a significant improvement with what you linked vs what I posted? I could be tempted to try and put it together myself if I’m going to get an enormous increase in performance for the same cost, but I’m guessing these days there’s not a huge margin on pre built systems vs DIY?
Click to expand...
It's not just performance in this case it's the quality of components and more importantly the upgrade path you still have open to you with the above platform (AM4).

Zen 2 comes out in just over 3 weeks and with it brings a plethora of improved AM4 CPUs - most (if not all) will sit in the above motherboard for future upgrades. Your budget makes Zen 2 a difficult option - but the above build would mean that you could drop in a better CPU a few years time if required...
 
Hi @Plec thanks a lot for your help. Against my better judgement I’m now thinking of buying the components myself and attempting the build.

I was planning on following some YouTube guides, is there anything I can get REALLY wrong and do any damage to? I’m not the most practically minded person but I’m quite methodical and actually now quite fancy the challenge and satisfaction of doing it myself!
 
BA757 said:
Hi @Plec thanks a lot for your help. Against my better judgement I’m now thinking of buying the components myself and attempting the build.

I was planning on following some YouTube guides, is there anything I can get REALLY wrong and do any damage to? I’m not the most practically minded person but I’m quite methodical and actually now quite fancy the challenge and satisfaction of doing it myself!
Click to expand...

Methodical is good. Building a PC is quite easy really, though it can be a little daunting at first.
Cables more or less all have different connectors so you don't need to worry about plugging something in to the wrong connector.
The hardest bit is probably the CPU. Be really careful with the CPU pins and CPU socket on the motherboard - they are very delicate. You might need some thermal paste for between the CPU and AMD Wraith Spire CPU cooler (there're loads of YouTube videos for this). It might already come pre-installed with a thermal paste pad. Perhaps someone who knows can comment?
 
Paste is pre-applied.

I'll get some YouTube links and even threads links where I and others have helped walk members through similar builds a bit later.

*doing the dance of getting kids ready/work at mo...
 
I forgot to agree that building your own is definitely the way to go!
I don't think there's anything you can get really wrong. Maybe just be mindful of static.
It's satisfying and in the future you'll have the confidence to upgrade or replace components as needed.
 
Last edited:
Thank you guys I really appreciate the help! I could push the budget to about £900 for all the parts so if there’s any particular area that is definitely worthwhile upgrading based on the above then feel free to point it out!!

I guess the processor and gpu are where the money is best spent for gaming?
 
Also what’s the deal with running an ssd and normal hdd in the same machine? Presumably the OS goes on the SSD? Do you then put everything else on the normal hdd?
 
BA757 said:
Thank you guys I really appreciate the help! I could push the budget to about £900 for all the parts so if there’s any particular area that is definitely worthwhile upgrading based on the above then feel free to point it out!!

I guess the processor and gpu are where the money is best spent for gaming?
Click to expand...
GPU would change - processor I would advise for you to delay whole build and wait for Zen 2 release in just over 3 weeks.

BA757 said:
Also what’s the deal with running an ssd and normal hdd in the same machine? Presumably the OS goes on the SSD? Do you then put everything else on the normal hdd?
Click to expand...
Ideally, you would have all SSD - 1TB would do the trick. You may suffice with 500Gb, for now, depending on need?
 
If this system allows me to upgrade to zen 2 in future I could put the extra money into the 1tb SSD and the gpu now and then upgrade the cpu in the future should the need arise?
 
BA757 said:
If this system allows me to upgrade to zen 2 in future I could put the extra money into the 1tb SSD and the gpu now and then upgrade the cpu in the future should the need arise?
Click to expand...
You could - you would then benefit from Zen 2 price drops (ideally second hand in a couple of years or so) and Zen+ prices are great value at present and the X variant is a great gaming chip for the money. You would certainly get more fun/kick out of a better GPU...

What monitor do you have?

EDIT: I should add unless you pick up a 2600X for good money the 3600X will be within your £900 budget plus GPU for £900.
 
Last edited:
BA757 said:
Also what’s the deal with running an ssd and normal hdd in the same machine? Presumably the OS goes on the SSD? Do you then put everything else on the normal hdd?
Click to expand...

SSD is still expensive compared to normal HDD. That's why it's still popular to have a smaller SSD and larger HDD and install your OS and any applications/games you frequently use/want to run fast/has a lot of disk I/O on the SSD, and anything else such as music, films, etc. on the HDD.
SSD is slowly down in price though.
 
Example 3600X build with better GPU (need clarification on monitor):

You would need to add ~£240 to the below components total to allow for the 3600X. You would also need to ask for OcUK to flash the motherboard BIOS, before shipping, to accept the Zen 2.

Again, case is placeholder (your choice) - and money could be saved by dropping to 500Gb SSD and 1 TB conventional - or single 500Gb SSD if enough:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £742.14 (includes shipping: £13.20)
​


OR, save ~£50+ and get Zen+ - again can save money on SSD and case:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £942.13 (includes shipping: £13.20)
​
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys that’s all really helpful! Monitor wise, I excluded that from the budget but will probably have £100-£150 budget for something, again any particular brand recommendations welcome! Probably 22-24” is about right ? Would be happy to buy a used monitor tbh if it was much better for the money than new.
 
BA757 said:
Thanks guys that’s all really helpful! Monitor wise, I excluded that from the budget but will probably have £100-£150 budget for something, again any particular brand recommendations welcome! Probably 22-24” is about right ? Would be happy to buy a used monitor tbh if it was much better for the money than new.
Click to expand...

A 27" 1440p monitor is over your budget, but the extra resolution allows you to have two browser windows open next to each other, or a browser window and Word, etc. Very handy.
The RX 580 will do 1440p gaming.
 
BA757 said:
Thanks guys that’s all really helpful! Monitor wise, I excluded that from the budget but will probably have £100-£150 budget for something, again any particular brand recommendations welcome! Probably 22-24” is about right ? Would be happy to buy a used monitor tbh if it was much better for the money than new.
Click to expand...
For your revised build and knowing it's geared towards gaming - ideally £150+ - 24" 1440p minimum and 75Hz -144Hz.

For example, you can pick up this AOC for ~£200. It's an IPS 1440p panel and 32" (nuts value) and forum member @tamzzy - whose very savvy with component investment (i.e. won't spend if can be avoided :D) - recommends them so much he bought two of them. AOC have a decent warranty and great pixel policy too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom