Scrap gaminf build - advice?

OC18

OC18

OC18

Associate
Joined
19 Aug 2016
Posts
15
I recently pulled an Intel w3520 quad core CPU, and 16gb of 1066mhz ram out of my Mac Pro after upgrading it with newer hardware.

I was wondering weather I can repurpose the old CPU and Ram into a new, budget PC?
I also have on old case I don't need.

My girlfriend would like a new desktop computer, and I've offered to build her one.
She doesn't need anything really powerful, and will mainly be doing usual tasks like word processing and browsing the web, however, she recently (and to my delight) expressed an interest in gaming.

She's only normally ever been into retro gaming and handhelds, but since I started building my gaming PC and has played some of the new games (she really likes overwatch) I'm now wondering weather I can re-purpose these parts not only into a budget PC, but something that she can game on also.

The idea wouldn't be to have anything anywhere near optimal, of course.
The CPU would bottle neck any of the new GPU's massively anyway.


I was thinking something inline with the current consoles - a HD 7850 or GTX 660 are really cheap now.
Not sure which motherboard I'd pair with the CPU..

Just an idea. Is this possible? Could it work for lower res gaming for someone that won't really care about graphics, and just wants to play some games?

Thanks.
 
OC18 said:
I recently pulled an Intel w3520 quad core CPU, and 16gb of 1066mhz ram out of my Mac Pro after upgrading it with newer hardware.

I was wondering weather I can repurpose the old CPU and Ram into a new, budget PC?
I also have on old case I don't need.

My girlfriend would like a new desktop computer, and I've offered to build her one.
She doesn't need anything really powerful, and will mainly be doing usual tasks like word processing and browsing the web, however, she recently (and to my delight) expressed an interest in gaming.

She's only normally ever been into retro gaming and handhelds, but since I started building my gaming PC and has played some of the new games (she really likes overwatch) I'm now wondering weather I can re-purpose these parts not only into a budget PC, but something that she can game on also.

The idea wouldn't be to have anything anywhere near optimal, of course.
The CPU would bottle neck any of the new GPU's massively anyway.


I was thinking something inline with the current consoles - a HD 7850 or GTX 660 are really cheap now.
Not sure which motherboard I'd pair with the CPU..

Just an idea. Is this possible? Could it work for lower res gaming for someone that won't really care about graphics, and just wants to play some games?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Well the Intel w3520 is a workstation CPU and im not sure whether or not the RAM is specific for the laptop i.e. form factor.

The CPU isn't terrible but it would be tricky trying to find a LGA1366 motherboard for it to go in and you would probably need to buy everything but the CPU.

Honestly i'd go for something like this, wont break the bank.. and will be plenty fast enough for your ball & chain.. Pick up a copy of windows and an external HDD for any extra movies/music storage and jobs a guddn, itll also play all the games she would want to play, even overwatch maxed out @ 1080p

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £526.85
(includes shipping: £0.00)
​


​
 
terley said:
Well the Intel w3520 is a workstation CPU and im not sure whether or not the RAM is specific for the laptop i.e. form factor.

The CPU isn't terrible but it would be tricky trying to find a LGA1366 motherboard for it to go in and you would probably need to buy everything but the CPU.

Honestly i'd go for something like this, wont break the bank.. and will be plenty fast enough for your ball & chain.. Pick up a copy of windows and an external HDD for any extra movies/music storage and jobs a guddn, itll also play all the games she would want to play, even overwatch maxed out @ 1080p

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £526.85
(includes shipping: £0.00)
​


​
Click to expand...

You've specced the wrong type memory there pal, that's laptop/thin itx ddr3L SO-DIMMS, and that board takes full size ddr4.
 
terley said:
Well the Intel w3520 is a workstation CPU and im not sure whether or not the RAM is specific for the laptop i.e. form factor.

The CPU isn't terrible but it would be tricky trying to find a LGA1366 motherboard for it to go in and you would probably need to buy everything but the CPU.

Honestly i'd go for something like this, wont break the bank.. and will be plenty fast enough for your ball & chain.. Pick up a copy of windows and an external HDD for any extra movies/music storage and jobs a guddn, itll also play all the games she would want to play, even overwatch maxed out @ 1080p

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £526.85
(includes shipping: £0.00)
​


​
[/QUOTE

Yeah, it's a Mac Pro rather than a Mac book pro, so they're standard dims
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom