NotebookForums.com › Forums › Off Topic › Desktop and Hardware Discussion › low end "gaming" machine - suggestions wanted
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

low end "gaming" machine - suggestions wanted

post #1 of 38
6/5/08 at 1:43am
Thread Starter 
I'm looking to build a budget 'game capable' machine for my son. It doesn't need to be impressive, but the one he's got is beyond old.

As long as it will play games like Half-Life2, Oblivion etc he'll be thrilled. And if I don't have to spend much money to build it I'll be thrilled. I've been looking around, and realize I haven't paid attention to desktops for a long time. So far I've come across this that looks promising. Does that look like a good deal? will it have the horsepower to handle those games?
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 38
6/5/08 at 2:53am
What's your budget?

I don't know much about shuttle systems, but they tend to be very limited in power. That one has a 250W psu I think, that's not much for a gaming system. And I'm dubious about the onboard graphics... You'd also need lots more hardware to finish it out...

There are some very good deals right now on slightly older parts, but it would be best if you had a budget to shoot for first.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 38
6/5/08 at 3:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by drlouis View Post
I'm looking to build a budget 'game capable' machine for my son. It doesn't need to be impressive, but the one he's got is beyond old.

As long as it will play games like Half-Life2, Oblivion etc he'll be thrilled. And if I don't have to spend much money to build it I'll be thrilled. I've been looking around, and realize I haven't paid attention to desktops for a long time. So far I've come across this that looks promising. Does that look like a good deal? will it have the horsepower to handle those games?
nope, that's got integrated graphics, so it won't run well at all. The least expensive system on Newegg that I found that will run most games is this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16883229003R
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 38
6/5/08 at 7:50am
*eww cyber power*

Are you willing to build or strictly buy?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 38
6/5/08 at 9:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdonket
*eww cyber power*
yeah I know. but the least expensive one from a "decent brand" (HP) was $200 more.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 38
6/5/08 at 5:12pm
Sounds like a build would be a good idea.

I got an Antec case a couple years ago, with a 450W psu for $40. You can get a good mobo for about $100, good processor for $100-$200, good vid card for $150, memory for under $100 easy, and a hard drive for under $100 also.

Plenty of people here will help you if you run into trouble...
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 38
6/5/08 at 6:33pm
Thread Starter 
alright thanks for the replies.

Pdonket: I planned on building, just saw the barebones and thought it might be a reasonable starting point, but like I said, I haven't paid attention to desktops for several years.

I'd like to stay as close to $300 as possible (I know that's not enough to build a system - that's why I phrased it the way I did). now I should point out that I have the DVD on hand, and really don't need high performance anything. "last generation" technology is just fine.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 38
6/5/08 at 8:51pm
I've got something for a build pretty close to $300...at least as close as I could get it while staying pretty decent.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119047

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145162

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130062

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341010

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146565

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130130

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115032

That should work out pretty well, and if you get all of the MIR's for those products, the total comes close to $400
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 38
6/5/08 at 10:13pm
I found a good combination for $400 as well
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 38
6/5/08 at 10:42pm
Thread Starter 
wow, nice builds guys, thanks.

so I'm a bit more a fan of current intel chips... so any problems I might not be aware of with mixing those 2?

If I take the case, power supply, mb, cpu, hdd from pdonket and the video card and memory from Djembe's it comes to $411, and I think I get the best of both. any problems I've overlooked?

edit: oops. that ram wont work on that board... wonder if there's an intel board with the same specs as that AMD one...
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 38
6/5/08 at 10:47pm
The big question is whether you want the biggest "bang for the buck" now, or want upgradability potential in the future?

Your "best bang" is gonna be an Intel P35-based mobo and a Core 2 Duo E8xxx series (you could do AMD, but right now, it's not really worth it, and this is coming from an AMD fanboi).

For your "upgradability" end, I'd choose an Intel X38/X48 DDR2-based board (higher FSB capacity, you can get away with X38, unless you find a cheaper X48) and a Core 2 Duo E6xxx series processor. They'd pretty much balance out in terms of price, at least, pretty close.

One thing you NEVER want to skimp on, in terms of quality, is motherboard. Even if it's from a reputable vendor, like ASUS or DFI, etc... It's a lesson I learned the hard way, several times. Yes, it costs more, but there's less likely of a chance for stability issues and general "crap-outs" with better quality boards. Skimp on the CPU, skimp on the HDD and/or videocard, but things NEVER to skimp on in terms of quality is the motherboard, RAM, and PSU. Ever.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 38
6/5/08 at 10:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenuxx View Post
The big question is whether you want the biggest "bang for the buck" now, or want upgradability potential in the future?

Your "best bang" is gonna be an Intel P35-based mobo and a Core 2 Duo E8xxx series (you could do AMD, but right now, it's not really worth it, and this is coming from an AMD fanboi).

For your "upgradability" end, I'd choose an Intel X38/X48 DDR2-based board (higher FSB capacity, you can get away with X38, unless you find a cheaper X48) and a Core 2 Duo E6xxx series processor. They'd pretty much balance out in terms of price, at least, pretty close.

One thing you NEVER want to skimp on, in terms of quality, is motherboard. Even if it's from a reputable vendor, like ASUS or DFI, etc... It's a lesson I learned the hard way, several times. Yes, it costs more, but there's less likely of a chance for stability issues and general "crap-outs" with better quality boards. Skimp on the CPU, skimp on the HDD and/or videocard, but things NEVER to skimp on in terms of quality is the motherboard, RAM, and PSU. Ever.
best bang, no question. I've learned never to count on upgradability, cuz sometimes that rug gets yanked out from under you.

I've also learned not to skimp on those 3 things... also the hard way.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 38
6/5/08 at 10:56pm
Here's a P35 board that I can personally attest to it's awesomeness (in terms of both performance and stability). I built a buddy's PC a few months ago with this board:

DFI Bloodiron P35-T2RL

I had totally forgotten about this board, and in reality, I think this would be your best bet in both cases for price or upgradability, unless you can stomach the extra $100 or so for an X38/X48 board that'll give the system a bit longer life (again, for upgrades).
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 38
6/5/08 at 11:09pm
Thread Starter 
ok, so I think this looks pretty good (if anyone has any suggestions to improve/cut costs please speak up)

MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131278
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145162
VC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82e16814121231
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...hwatts%2bea430
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115032
CPU cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835150083
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119047

$448 with s/h -mir

thanks to everyone for all the help so far!
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 38
6/5/08 at 11:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenuxx View Post
Here's a P35 board that I can personally attest to it's awesomeness (in terms of both performance and stability). I built a buddy's PC a few months ago with this board:

DFI Bloodiron P35-T2RL

I had totally forgotten about this board, and in reality, I think this would be your best bet in both cases for price or upgradability, unless you can stomach the extra $100 or so for an X38/X48 board that'll give the system a bit longer life (again, for upgrades).
looks nice! any thing to recomend that over the one I posted right below your post? (cost is a BIG factor in this build)
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 38
6/5/08 at 11:27pm
Just remember that you're gonna need to add some ram to that
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 38
6/5/08 at 11:30pm
Thread Starter 
...hmm, I might skip the case and use one of the old one's I have lying around here...
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 38
6/5/08 at 11:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdonket View Post
Just remember that you're gonna need to add some ram to that
lol, forgot the memory....
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 38
6/5/08 at 11:38pm
if you add in the RAM, you get right around $500 or so checkout
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 38
6/6/08 at 12:07am
Thread Starter 
alright then, how bout:

MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131278
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145162
VC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82e16814121231
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...hwatts%2bea430
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115032
CPU cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835150083
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Shopping/Shopp...82E16820148069

mostly looking for you desktop gurus to point out any compatibility problems.

A big thank you once again to everyone for the input/help!
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Desktop and Hardware Discussion
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Off Topic › Desktop and Hardware Discussion › low end "gaming" machine - suggestions wanted