dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
Search similar:


uniqs
730

Krisnatharok
PC Builder, Gamer
Premium Member
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit

Krisnatharok

Premium Member

[Parts Check] Budget light gaming build under $600?

A family member wants a computer for his 14yo son. He specifically requested a desktop so he could keep an eye on his son in the common area of their house, or I would have suggested a laptop. It will be primarily used for school and light gaming (he doesn't see eye-to-eye with me and letting kids game, so it will primarily be older, bloodless, non-violent games, but that's another discussion).

He is comparing it against a Dell Inspiron One 20, an all-in-one 20" iMac clone with a Sandy Bridge Pentium G620T, 4GB DDR 1333, 1TB HDD, integrated Intel HD graphics, and a slot-loading DVD-RW drive; all for $669.

Let me know what you think of this build--I view it as an extreme budget/light gamer machine.

Total: $589
CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core G860 Processor LGA1155 3.0GHZ 3MB Retail Box - $80
Mobo: ASRock B75M-GL LGA 1155 Intel B75 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $60
Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - $42
GPU: EVGA 01G-P3-2621-KR GeForce GT 620 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 - $55
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s - $75
PSU: Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-450 450W Continuous @ 50°C, 80 PLUS GOLD Certified - $70
ODD: SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW - $17
Case: Rosewill REDBONE Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $40
Monitor: Acer S201HLbd Black 20" 5ms LED-Backlight LCD 1600x900 - $95
KB/Mouse: Logitech Wireless Combo MK260 920-002950 Black 8 Hot Keys USB RF Wireless - $30
Wireless: TP-LINK TL-WN722N Wireless Adapter High Gain IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 - $25

He already has a spare copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64 OEM, so that saves him a large chunk of change. I am aware I opted for a 500GB vs. 1 TB drive, but it will be more than spacious for the planned uses of the computer.

Msradell
Premium Member
join:2008-12-25
Louisville, KY

Msradell

Premium Member

I think the processor in the proposed build is weak (as well as the PRI built) and will be a severe bottleneck. He would be better off with a more powerful CPU (at least a i3). You could sacrifice some of the memory since it could be added later and use the GPU that's built into the chip for additional savings.

Krisnatharok
PC Builder, Gamer
Premium Member
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit

Krisnatharok

Premium Member

I don't believe it will be that bad of a bottleneck, at least based on a review over at Tom's--it certainly speaks to Sandy Bridge's inherently strong design: »www.tomshardware.com/rev ··· 273.html

Exodus
Your Daddy
Premium Member
join:2001-11-26
Earth

Exodus to Krisnatharok

Premium Member

to Krisnatharok
Buy your cpu/mobo/ram combo from DarkRealm See Profile and save some cash and get a better setup.

Also, you can get a cheaper PSU.

I got:
PSU CORSAIR|430W CMPSU-430CXV2 R
From newegg for $44.99

Octavean
MVM
join:2001-03-31
New York, NY

Octavean to Krisnatharok

MVM

to Krisnatharok
This RAM is cheaper if you use the coupon code EMCNBHJ74:

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL $37.99
asdfdfdfdfdf
Premium Member
join:2012-05-09

asdfdfdfdfdf to Krisnatharok

Premium Member

to Krisnatharok
I think you need a different graphics card. I would spend more money to get a 6670 and take it out of the ram buget(reduce it to 4 if necessary) or the psu budget and go with the cheaper corsairs as suggested. I have just checked and there are some that are $50 after rebate.

Just point out to him that an all in one has no upgrade path. The machine you are building allows for graphics upgrades. As his son is 14 and his gaming tastes will change quickly this will likely be a big issue.

Raible
join:2008-01-23
Plainfield, IN

Raible to Krisnatharok

Member

to Krisnatharok
Another way to do this Kris is to give him a couple nice key building block pieces and go cheap on other stuff that he can work towards upgrading on his own in the future. Is he the type of kid who might enjoy learning how to do this kind of stuff? Might give him some motivation to get out and shovel some snow this winter or mow yards next summer.

Krisnatharok
PC Builder, Gamer
Premium Member
join:2009-02-11
Earth Orbit

Krisnatharok

Premium Member

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Given that he owns Windows 7, I've incorporated everyone's changes and swapped the CPU, ram, GPU, and PSU for the following. Overall, I'm pretty damn proud of the price-point I got on this thing, given that it includes a monitor and peripherals.

Total: $595
CPU: Core i3 2120 LGA1155 3.30 GHz Boxed Processor - $100 (in-store pick-up only)
Mobo: ASRock B75M-GL LGA 1155 Intel B75 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $60
Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - $38
GPU: ASUS EAH6770 DC SL/2DI/1GD5 Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 - $80
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s - $75
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC - $35
ODD: SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW - $17
Case: Rosewill REDBONE Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $40
Monitor: Acer S201HLbd Black 20" 5ms LED-Backlight LCD 1600x900 - $95
KB/Mouse: Logitech Wireless Combo MK260 920-002950 Black 8 Hot Keys USB RF Wireless - $30
Wireless: TP-LINK TL-WN722N Wireless Adapter High Gain IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 - $25

Octavean
MVM
join:2001-03-31
New York, NY

Octavean to Krisnatharok

MVM

to Krisnatharok
Unfortunately the price on the RAM went up I think or the coupon code is no longer valid. With RAM on Newegg I’ve found that you kind of have to act fast.

BTW, I just ordered the following from Newegg for $38.99:

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B

That was a day or so ago when I made the order so its back up to ~$49.99 now. Generally I don’t like RAM heat spreaders that extend so high but it was a really good price for what seems like good RAM so I went for it.

I think I might add this RAM to my Core i7 3930K / Asus P9X79 Deluxe system for a total of 32GB of system RAM (8x4GB).