Entry Level Gaming PC

[G_Morto]

I'm sure this has been asked plenty of times before but I'm looking for advice on what the best options are in terms of PC gaming.

I currently just have a Ps4 which I play less and less due to 1. My awfully slow broadband and 2. Lack of interest in a lot of newer console games.

So I've been considering getting into PC gaming where in theory I would have access to a wider variety of games that I can play.

I knew the options are to either buy a pre built "rig" or to buy the parts myself and build it myself. However I have read that due to recent cryptocurrency shenanigans the price of some individual parts have sky rocketed and therefore the building it yourself route isn't as cost effective as it used to be.

What would be a reasonable price for a alright gaming PC? How often would it need to be upgraded and how much would this cost as well roughly?

[geeks]

Crypto currency mining has artificially inflated the pricing of graphics cards, the rest is pretty much as is, you can still build a better machine for the money in most cases in my experience.

Start with a budget and work backwards, I have spec'd and built 3 machines lately, lowest budget was £500 to which we slung in a Radeon RX570 with an AMD Ryzen 5 16GB RAM, middle was £700 same CPU and RAM but with liquid cooling and some overclocking and GTX1660 super, the other was a £1500, where we did Core i7 RTX2060 and 32GB of RAM.

[grumbledoak]

If you've got slow broadband you might want to reconsider this plan. Lots of PC games are downloaded. The games and the patches can be huge.

If you do want to build one, I would say crack on - you never did save much money despite all the bks from the bedroom experts. In reality you pay retail for every component, plus Windows at full price. The box shippers can easily sell you one for less money and still make a hefty profit.

Modern processors will play games quite well, and Ryzens are cheap. You can get started for under £400 and get the
graphics card later...

ETA - one I made earlier:
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/jzsXjy

[xjay1337]

Around £800 will get you a good unit.

I only have an i5 and a GTX1060 6B and haven't had to upgrade anything in the 2 years to play any games.

[The_Jackal]

Building your own is just willy waving these days.
You get better value buying complete.
Write down the most you can spend, then go look on the sites of 5 well known reliable PC providers, and choose the best spec your money gets.
Ask to compare them on here even.
You will just run round in circles if you listen to all the personal recommendations for individual components.
PC technology is so advanced these days, the difference between choices is almost irrelevant for a casual gamer.
You MUST have SSD drives in it though.

Also, as mentioned above, really consider you internet connection, as it is a big part of modern PC gaming. First, as said most games will be downloaded and up to date game you are talking about 80Gb minimum.
Then, if you get caught up in online gaming (which it will be hard not to, sat there with a powerful pc), the speed and latency of your connection will be a game breaker (if you do, never game over wifi, always a cable).

Its a bit outlay, so just assign the money and go spend it, if thats what you want.

[FourWheelDrift]

For an entry level gaming PC with a current graphic card using clearance items, and for the CPU 2nd hand items.

Motherboard - Asrock A320m £37.56 - https://www.ebuyer.com/972627-exdisplay-asrock-a32...
CPU - R3 1200 - £42 - https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=scpuamd1200...
RAM - 8gb 2666Mhz - £36 - https://www.ebuyer.com/900774-patriot-signature-pr...
Graphics card - GTX 1660 - £155 - https://www.box.co.uk/90YV0CU0-M0NA00(C)-(Grade-B)...
Power Supply - £42 - https://www.ebuyer.com/869760-evga-br-450w-80-bron...
Case - £25.49 - https://www.box.co.uk/GMX-EXPEDITION-BL(C)-(Open-B...


Entry level with good gfx card - £339.

I did this in about 10mins but if you look around you can probably find better for similar.

[G_Morto]

The variation of parts if I was to build it myself does seem like a bit of a minefield but I suppose if there's any time to learn it would be during a lockdown.

The lazy side of me would prefer just to order a pre- built one as well. Are pre-built computers better in terms of warranty/support if something goes wrong?

Didn't consider the download times to be fair, last time I played games on the PC you could still insert a disc!

I recently moved in to a new built house (3 years old) yet somehow fibre broadband hasn't been installed here yet, think they were planning on doing that this year but who knows now!

[geeks]

Mixing and matching can help, sourcing from other places can help. This was the budget one I did recently, we could have got it down to well under £500 by halving the size of the SSD or halving the RAM or lowering the CPU spec but he decided to treat himself and eat beans for a week lol!

[G_Morto]

FourWheelDrift said:

For an entry level gaming PC with a current graphic card using clearance items, and for the CPU 2nd hand items.

Motherboard - Asrock A320m £37.56 - https://www.ebuyer.com/972627-exdisplay-asrock-a32...
CPU - R3 1200 - £42 - https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=scpuamd1200...
RAM - 8gb 2666Mhz - £36 - https://www.ebuyer.com/900774-patriot-signature-pr...
Graphics card - GTX 1660 - £155 - https://www.box.co.uk/90YV0CU0-M0NA00(C)-(Grade-B)...
Power Supply - £42 - https://www.ebuyer.com/869760-evga-br-450w-80-bron...
Case - £25.49 - https://www.box.co.uk/GMX-EXPEDITION-BL(C)-(Open-B...


Entry level with good gfx card - £339.

I did this in about 10mins but if you look around you can probably find better for similar.

Thanks that's useful. I'm aware of graphics cards needing replaced every few years, is that the same for CPU 2nd hand items?

[FourWheelDrift]

G_Morto said:

FourWheelDrift said:

For an entry level gaming PC with a current graphic card using clearance items, and for the CPU 2nd hand items.

Motherboard - Asrock A320m £37.56 - https://www.ebuyer.com/972627-exdisplay-asrock-a32...
CPU - R3 1200 - £42 - https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=scpuamd1200...
RAM - 8gb 2666Mhz - £36 - https://www.ebuyer.com/900774-patriot-signature-pr...
Graphics card - GTX 1660 - £155 - https://www.box.co.uk/90YV0CU0-M0NA00(C)-(Grade-B)...
Power Supply - £42 - https://www.ebuyer.com/869760-evga-br-450w-80-bron...
Case - £25.49 - https://www.box.co.uk/GMX-EXPEDITION-BL(C)-(Open-B...


Entry level with good gfx card - £339.

I did this in about 10mins but if you look around you can probably find better for similar.

Thanks that's useful. I'm aware of graphics cards needing replaced every few years, is that the same for CPU 2nd hand items?

That's just a starting base and lowest I could find, you could end up going down a rabbit hole of paying £20-30 here and there for something more it really depends on your budget.

Personally....I would change the motherboard for a B450 as that will give you good upgrades down the line so add another approx £40'ish onto that.

CPU I would prefer a Ryzen 5 minimum, but remember what you get now you will still be able to sell on Ebay and cover part of your next upgrade, people always want computer parts.

Come up with a budget and many on here could recommend the best balance and bang for your bucks.


Ps. forgot a drive throw a 120GB SSD in there for Windows for £20 and a £25 1TB HDD.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Friday 3rd April 16:35

[geeks]

FourWheelDrift said:

G_Morto said:

FourWheelDrift said:

For an entry level gaming PC with a current graphic card using clearance items, and for the CPU 2nd hand items.

Motherboard - Asrock A320m £37.56 - https://www.ebuyer.com/972627-exdisplay-asrock-a32...
CPU - R3 1200 - £42 - https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=scpuamd1200...
RAM - 8gb 2666Mhz - £36 - https://www.ebuyer.com/900774-patriot-signature-pr...
Graphics card - GTX 1660 - £155 - https://www.box.co.uk/90YV0CU0-M0NA00(C)-(Grade-B)...
Power Supply - £42 - https://www.ebuyer.com/869760-evga-br-450w-80-bron...
Case - £25.49 - https://www.box.co.uk/GMX-EXPEDITION-BL(C)-(Open-B...


Entry level with good gfx card - £339.

I did this in about 10mins but if you look around you can probably find better for similar.

Thanks that's useful. I'm aware of graphics cards needing replaced every few years, is that the same for CPU 2nd hand items?

That's just a starting base and lowest I could find, you could end up going down a rabbit hole of paying £20-30 here and there for something more it really depends on your budget.

Personally....I would change the motherboard for a B450 as that will give you good upgrades down the line so add another approx £40'ish onto that.

CPU I would prefer a Ryzen 5 minimum, but remember what you get now you will still be able to sell on Ebay and cover part of your next upgrade, people always want computer parts.

Come up with a budget and many on here could recommend the best balance and bang for your bucks.

I agree with FWD for what its worth!

I would also ask, who still pays to use Windows? You can just install it and if you aren't bothered about personalisation then it carries on working!

[toastyhamster]

Good luck getting the components. I asked for advice on another thread and placed the orders on Monday, currently I have a CPU and some memory. Graphics card despatched this afternoon. No word on the rest of it. I'm not even bothering with customer support as I doubt they know much more than I do.

[geeks]

Where did you order from? ebuyer stuff had an extra day delivery to wait owing to the courier. Don't forget couriers and businesses aren't at full strength right now or are under unusual work loads.

[toastyhamster]

geeks said:

Where did you order from? ebuyer stuff had an extra day delivery to wait owing to the courier. Don't forget couriers and businesses aren't at full strength right now or are under unusual work loads.

Aria - 1 of 2 arrived
Amazon - 1 of 1 arrived
Ebuyer - ordered Monday, despatched today
Scan - Multiple items across 2 orders, one placed Sunday, one Monday - nothing

I'm appreciative of the situation, which is why I'm not getting in touch asking where stuff is, would be a complete waste of time. Annoying and frustrating, if they had made this clear I would have ordered it all from Amazon at a slightly higher price. Amazon were very clear on despatch delays and delivered a day early too.

[geeks]

toastyhamster said:

geeks said:

Where did you order from? ebuyer stuff had an extra day delivery to wait owing to the courier. Don't forget couriers and businesses aren't at full strength right now or are under unusual work loads.

Aria - 1 of 2 arrived
Amazon - 1 of 1 arrived
Ebuyer - ordered Monday, despatched today
Scan - Multiple items across 2 orders, one placed Sunday, one Monday - nothing

I'm appreciative of the situation, which is why I'm not getting in touch asking where stuff is, would be a complete waste of time. Annoying and frustrating, if they had made this clear I would have ordered it all from Amazon at a slightly higher price. Amazon were very clear on despatch delays and delivered a day early too.

Ah, fair enough then. I would drop them an email and request any delivery fees back that were for "Next working day" etc surprised on ebuyer, last week they were still dispatching next day, I guess things are changing quickly at the moment!

[G_Morto]

Just phoned Plusnet and it turns out within the last couple of months things have changed so I will have access to fibre!

Going from a measly 1 - 2.5 download speed to between 50-71

Ordered a desk and chair the other day which wont come until the end of the month and so will use that time to try and come up with a budget

[xjay1337]

FourWheelDrift said:

For an entry level gaming PC with a current graphic card using clearance items, and for the CPU 2nd hand items.

Motherboard - Asrock A320m £37.56 - https://www.ebuyer.com/972627-exdisplay-asrock-a32...
CPU - R3 1200 - £42 - https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=scpuamd1200...
RAM - 8gb 2666Mhz - £36 - https://www.ebuyer.com/900774-patriot-signature-pr...
Graphics card - GTX 1660 - £155 - https://www.box.co.uk/90YV0CU0-M0NA00(C)-(Grade-B)...
Power Supply - £42 - https://www.ebuyer.com/869760-evga-br-450w-80-bron...
Case - £25.49 - https://www.box.co.uk/GMX-EXPEDITION-BL(C)-(Open-B...


Entry level with good gfx card - £339.

I did this in about 10mins but if you look around you can probably find better for similar.

8GB ram is not enough, need 16GB and no reason not to given the cost.
and that CPU is a bit weak!

[FourWheelDrift]

xjay1337 said:

8GB ram is not enough, need 16GB and no reason not to given the cost.
and that CPU is a bit weak!

I was trying to go a low as possible but still have a decent gfx card (and because that one was cheaper than a 1650s) in there as something you can game on. Entry level as he asked. Gives him a figure in his head as a starting number.

16GB of ram is not necessary in an entry level gaming PC.

[The_Jackal]

1. You do not have to upgrade your gfx card every two years, this is ridiculous.
2. If you are not technically minded and like to research stuff, dont build your own.
3. Just buy an i5 PC from a supplier around your budget, whatever that is.

[xjay1337]

FourWheelDrift said:

xjay1337 said:

8GB ram is not enough, need 16GB and no reason not to given the cost.
and that CPU is a bit weak!

I was trying to go a low as possible but still have a decent gfx card (and because that one was cheaper than a 1650s) in there as something you can game on. Entry level as he asked. Gives him a figure in his head that he would expect to to be paying above.

16GB of ram is not necessary in an entry level gaming PC.

I completely disagree, as I found many games (PUBG and Rust and COD) were stuttering occasionally which all went away when I fitted the same ram (brand/speed etc) but 2x8GB instead of 2x4GB.

With PUBG open on the main menu right now I'm using 7.7 GB of RAM that's not mid - game, for the price there is absolutely no reason why not to go for 16GB.

I'm only making this point because of OP was to buy something the cost of getting 2X8GB is not really that much greater and certainly is worth the extra expense IMO over 2X4, you could save the money by purchasing a used GFX card something like what I currently have a GTX1060 6GB which is more than up to the scratch of playing at 1080P rather than stretching to a GTX1660 which would be bottlenecked by the lack of RAM and CPU on the package you put together