Total noob to desktops

Jonno02

Jonno02

Jonno02

Associate
Joined
13 Mar 2011
Posts
162
Hey guys,

Basically, I've not really owned a desktop since about '06 and with getting a bit bored of my laptop only being able to handle counterstrike and bored of xbox games I'm looking to get a bit of a budget gaming desktop.

My budget would be £300 and I'd need everything except mouse, keyboard, monitor and OS. I'd like, if possible, the pc to be able to handle WoW without a problem.

I'm guessing sourcing parts and constructing it yourself is a lot cheaper for what you'd get pre-built?

Anyway, since I'm pretty clueless about desktops I thought I'd come and ask you guys if you could possibly suggest some parts as I haven't got a foggy.

Cheers.
 
Last edited:
To be honest you would need a little more than 300

Not going to get much for 300

Have you got a card and monitor hard drive dvd writer

if you had them would be a better start.
 
A case and a psu are going to cost around 60 together so that's going to leave you 240

so unless you go down the second game route its not going to be the best computer.

I dont mind buying used parts tho some people do
 
iDroid84 said:
For 300 you won't get a gaming machine. Not even if you buy parts second hand. Your going to need double that, even for second hand parts.
Click to expand...

Not double

Ive just sold a e8400 asus p5q pro 4 gb ram and a gtw480 for 240

But them would need a i little more for hard drive

400 for a low to mid end gaming rig second hand
 
I don't mind used parts and I'm not looking for anything that good, just enough to run wow. My budget ass system in 2006 could run it, even while a lot of stuff was happening I was still pulling about 30fps.
 
Going to have to look about on the auction sites.

Look for the parts i mentioned. And that was ment to say gtx 468 not the 480

If you them come back and tell us what you got and what you got left will be able to help you more.

Can't link us to the sites tho. Forum rules
 
300pc.jpg


I forgot the HDD but it gives a view into what might be possible. The CPU should be able to be unlocked to dual core and then overclocked, but I dont know what the stock cooler will allow. I put no effort into thinking about the parts, but it might be a starting place.
 
It can be done

This is a respectable machine and will play most games you throw at it, albeit at medium to low settings. Most people here will probably balk at the 5670 but its a respectable card for the price and will happily play games; just not at full pelt (16x AA is a no no :p)

b5gq6v.png
 
In fairness, if you took the cheapest items from both the machines we just spec'd for you, you have a machine. :D I personally would use my stated PSU though as I only hear good things from it.
 
Everyones idea of a gaming machine is relative to how much money they have to spend!

£300 is easy to be honest:

XFX ATI Radeon HD 5750 XXX 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card XFX ATI Radeon HD 5750 XXX 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £89.99
(£74.99) £89.99
(£74.99)
AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 555 3.20GHz Black Edition (Socket AM3) - Retail AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 555 3.20GHz Black Edition (Socket AM3) - Retail £69.98
(£58.32) £69.98
(£58.32)
Asus M4A78LT-M 760G (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard Asus M4A78LT-M 760G (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £49.99
(£41.66) £49.99
(£41.66)
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Ultra Low Voltage Dual Channel Kit (OCZ3P1600C9ELV4GK) OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Ultra Low Voltage Dual Channel Kit (OCZ3P1600C9ELV4GK) £29.99
(£24.99) £29.99
(£24.99)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (ST3500418AS) Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (ST3500418AS) £28.99
(£24.16) £28.99
(£24.16)
OCUK EZCool NA-705 Case - Black (500w PSU) OCUK EZCool NA-705 Case - Black (500w PSU) £24.98
(£20.82) £24.98
(£20.82)
Sub Total : £244.94
Shipping cost based on delivery to Home, HD3 XXX with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.25
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £51.24


Total : £307.43

Decent dual core with a 5750. That would handle any modern games at 1680x1050 (probably on mediumish settings).
 
Last edited:
^ Ooh good spec! I should have looked at all of the hard drives but went straight to the 250s not realizing there were 500s for around the same price :

Only thing I am not sure about myself is the memory. All of this low voltage stuff is specced for 1.35 to 1.5 volts but these chips/mobos use standard which is around 1.6 IIRC? Can this RAM be overvolted to that or is the RAM actually specced for that but can run at the lower voltage without errors?
 
kristmace said:
OCUK EZCool NA-705 Case - Black (500w PSU) OCUK EZCool NA-705 Case - Black (500w PSU)
Click to expand...

I know you are on a budget here, but if there is an area you dont buy "budget" items in its the PSU. You dont have to spend a lot of money, hence the 430W one I found, its a great PSU for the money and its reliable. To get a PSU and case for £25 is a mistake. Others may disagree, but from what I see its "buy cheap, buy twice" and thats if it doesnt kill your whole system in the process.
 
smeaney said:
I know you are on a budget here, but if there is an area you dont buy "budget" items in its the PSU. You dont have to spend a lot of money, hence the 430W one I found, its a great PSU for the money and its reliable. To get a PSU and case for £25 is a mistake. Others may disagree, but from what I see its "buy cheap, buy twice" and thats if it doesnt kill your whole system in the process.
Click to expand...

This, Personally i would save up a bit more and get around £500 because surely you will want to play more than WoW?
 
Thanks for the input guys really appreciate it. My friend has just asked to buy my unused wii so that'd be another £100 towards the fund. Would £400 get me a 'decent' low end PC?
 
since you now have £400 to spend, heres my suggestion. it comes in ever so slightly over budget

Your basket
Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 OC 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.99
(£104.16) £124.99
(£104.16)
AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 840 "95W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £79.99
(£66.66) £79.99
(£66.66)
Coolermaster Elite 430 Windowed Case - Black (with 500w Elite Power PSU) £64.99
(£54.16) £64.99
(£54.16)
Asus M4A88T-M AMD 880G (Socket AM3) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard £53.98
(£44.98) £53.98
(£44.98)
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Ultra Low Voltage Dual Channel Kit (OCZ3P1600C9ELV4GK) £29.99
(£24.99) £29.99
(£24.99)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (ST3500418AS) £28.99
(£24.16) £28.99
(£24.16)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.66) £13.99
(£11.66)
Sub Total : £330.77
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.50
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £68.25
Total : £409.52
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom