Budget Build

[Domestic_Ginger]

Junior no. 1(13 yesterday) has decided he would like a PC. Not sure this is a great idea. He can get money towards presents from family but buying budget stuff suits my thrifty nature.

I'm dusting off the old contacts and looking around. As is usual for me its cut and shut. Here's how I'm doing.

CPU: TBC
Cooler: will start with stock if poss.
Mobo: TBC
Ram: 16gb crucial ballistix off amazon £57
GPU: the hell???
Storage: 480gb ssd off amazon for £34
PSU: relic 750w cwt unit. Old but used for a fee days. Will replace as the efficiency at low draw will be awful.
Case: in touch with a gentleman on Gumtree
Monitor: TBC GPU will limit me to 1920*1080 so will look around
Keyboard: we have one somewhere can upgrade later
Mouse: again one around somewhere
Network: will try power line adapter.

I have looking at used CPU/mobo. If I get a 10400 what Chipset will let increase ram speeds to >2666 official. I'm aiming for 12 threads and onboard may be a bonus.
Could try 3200g I suppose.

What does one do in these dark times with regards to a GPU?

Ideas welcome.

I suppose the long term aim is a project we can do together and end up with a PC that can play TW:WH2 at more than a crawl.

[cptwhite_uk]

I'm PM'ing you DG.

[DanceswithUnix]

Is this a Minecraft build? Some realistic expected usage would be handy.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Due to the GPU shortage,its cheaper to get a prebuilt system or a gaming laptop. The alternative is to buy an overpriced secondhand GPU with no warranty,or an overpriced new GPU which is rubbish for the price(unless you can an FE drop at RRP).

[Domestic_Ginger]

Thanks chaps.

It will have some Minecraft use, the gaming aim is Total war : Warhammer. At this rate; HD with low settings.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks chaps.

It will have some Minecraft use, the gaming aim is Total war : Warhammer. At this rate; HD with low settings.

What is the budget?

[Domestic_Ginger]

I haven't thought this through. I have the storage and ram.

I was looking at £150 maybe for CPU and mobo. Something current, ideally with lifespan. Am4 or lga1200 if poss + plenty of threads. I've been checking classifieds for used cpus.

GPU prices second hand are absurd. I'm coming to the idea that this is a bad idea.

[DanceswithUnix]

Looks like £130 gets you a 3200G on a really cheap AM4 motherboard:

https://www.awd-it.co.uk/amd-ryzen-3...pu-bundle.html

Note they charge you an extra tenner for the cooler you expect to be bundled, but if 4 threads is enough that's a reasonable starting point. The 3400G is another £50 on the same motherboard, which seems a bit steep. Having said that, my 2200G always seemed just a bit slower than I wanted and I suspect the threading on a 2400G would have made quite a difference to usability.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I haven't thought this through. I have the storage and ram.

I was looking at £150 maybe for CPU and mobo. Something current, ideally with lifespan. Am4 or lga1200 if poss + plenty of threads. I've been checking classifieds for used cpus.

GPU prices second hand are absurd. I'm coming to the idea that this is a bad idea.

Its why I said a prebuilt desktop or a gaming laptop is better value. I have seen box damaged gaming laptops with a 6/8 core Intel/AMD CPU and a GTX1660TI or RTX2060 GPU for around £600~£700.

I wish you had made this thread earlier - you missed Prime Day and Amazon Warehouse had a ton of 30% off deals on parts. I saw a Core i5 10500 for £115(has an IGP).

At your price range I would be looking at a Core i5 10400(has an IGP) and a decent budget B560 motherboard. One of them is the MSI B560M PRO-VDH Wifi for around £90:
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-...gen2-micro-atx
https://www.box.co.uk/B560M-PRO-VDH-...rd_3611552.htm
https://www.cclonline.com/product/34...board/MBD3086/

Another the ASRock B560M PRO4:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asroc...mb-180-ak.html
https://www.cclonline.com/product/34...board/MBD3008/
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/asro...gen1-micro-atx

These coolers look solid:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Mast.../dp/B01KBXKP8W
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vetroo-V5-C...4455238&sr=8-3

[Rob_B]

For a low budget? A 6C/12T 1600AF + an A320 will be ~£120/£130 (or pay a little more for a better board or a 2600X)
For minecraft, almost anything will play it, picking up a cheap older card is better than any IGP, I've got a HD6970 I paid £30 for which runs it "fine", when GPU prices drop you can then pick up something better.

[DanceswithUnix]

At your price range I would be looking at a Core i5 10400(has an IGP) and a decent budget B560 motherboard.

I was assuming £150 for cpu and motherboard was for the pair, not each

[Iota]

What does one do in these dark times with regards to a GPU?

Either luck out getting a FE drop from Scan for MRRP or as Cat says below.

Due to the GPU shortage,its cheaper to get a prebuilt system or a gaming laptop. The alternative is to buy an overpriced secondhand GPU with no warranty,or an overpriced new GPU which is rubbish for the price(unless you can an FE drop at RRP).

Cyberpower sell cheap systems on Amazon, which could save you on most of the base components (including GPU). Considering it'll also save on the cost of the OS as well, it's not a terrible idea considering the cost of second hand GPUs (or even new ones).

[cptwhite_uk]

2nd hand GPU prices are coming back down, I've had an offer for £120 for a MSI GTX 970 4Gb Gaming X, which in the current market is a good offer, providing 'good enough' 1080p performance for most games with medium settings.

Cards I'd look for 2nd hand include:

HD 7870 / 7950 / 7970 - £50 to £80
R9 270X / 280 / 280X (same as above, rebranded) - £50 to £80
R9 380 / 380X (same as 280 / 280X re-rebranded!) - £65 to £80
RX 470 / 480 / 570 / 580 - £120 to £200
GTX 970 / 980 / 1060 3Gb - £120 to £160


I've seen a few 980 Ti / 1070 slip close to the £200 price bracket, which is offering performance similar to a 1660 Super / 1660 Ti typically.

These are all on the 2nd hand market. Most people are overcharging still, but prices are on the wane.

[Domestic_Ginger]

Four months on I am almost there.

We have inherited a r9 290 and upgraded my case with a corsair 4500D so my rickety P180 can be recycled.

I found a 10400f for £95 from OCUK clearance which is on its way. vs £75 (new) odd for a 10100 its looks a stellar deal. Ebay is looking pretty scarce atm. A 3600 for £120 looks the best alternative and $/perf looks worse. I'm thinking I should have waited for the 12 series; perhaps my buyers remorse is settling in. Humour me if you will.

The last piece of the jigsaw is now a MOBO. Its an H410 from amazon for £50, a B560 for £70 (no open box available) or an open box z490 for £80.