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Post by Chopsen on Sept 8, 2024 15:47:08 GMT
Unfortunately, PC gaming is going through another expensive phase atm. You're looking at £silly to be able to play current 3D game in any state at all, let alone with bells and whistles.
Accepting that, I'd probably go for an AM4 slot compatible AMD CPU with integrated graphics, 16GB DDDR4 RAM and the cheapest motherboard you can find to connect the two. You might be able to make that on budget, and accept you're limited to older and less demanding games.
You could look to save further with a lower wattage PSU.
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Post by Dougs on Sept 8, 2024 15:52:13 GMT
Cheers. I did suspect as much. Saw someone locally trying to flog an i7 with a 1660, 16GB RAM and a 256 SSD for £750! Ridiculous.
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Post by Chopsen on Sept 8, 2024 16:07:14 GMT
Madness.
I blame nvidia. They're realised they can push prices up and idiots still buy them, and that seems to have filtered price expectations across the board.
I'd avoid Intel these days. They've got awful energy efficiency and reliability concerns.
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Post by Vandelay on Sept 8, 2024 16:13:50 GMT
Hmm... New pieces of tech are expensive for sure, but you can still do well with old hardware. A friend of mine is still using an old 1070 that I gave him and it is working well for him, even playing Helldivers 2 without any issues (don't know what settings, but glancing online I assume he would be using a mix of low to medium). If you are at 1080p, then a 10 series card should be fine or any card from a later series.
Just throwing something together quickly on PC Part Picker £400 is very tight though (although probably do able if you are willing to brave the second hand market). Very briefly looking, I managed a AMD 5600x with a B550 MSI motherboard (plus £20 cooler), 16 GB RAM and a Nvidia 3060 with 12gb for £510. That's without the case and power supply, as not sure if you already have either of those to hand.
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Post by Fake_Blood on Sept 8, 2024 16:51:28 GMT
In this case I’d go for a gaming laptop, something like a ASUS TUF Gaming A15, about €6-700, but obviously that includes the screen, which seems to be a 144hz one. Mobile 3050 though, no idea how far that will get you.
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Post by Dougs on Sept 8, 2024 17:53:28 GMT
Prices is why I was thinking 2nd hand. Which has it's own issues obviously. I will do some digging on self-build (have a mate that can do that for me).
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Post by Red_Bool on Sept 8, 2024 18:22:41 GMT
Self build is pretty straight-forward (and fun to do together!). Here's a Dutch site (Tweakers.net) that does best-buy guides using input from their community: tweakers.net/best-buy-guide/desktops/beste-1080p-game-pcPrices are in Euro, but it should give you an idea (there's bound to be a UK equivalent of this). I think an AMD AM4-based system will give you the most bang for your buck. Graphics card will be the most expensive part. Last summer I built one together with my youngest (17) based on their 1440p machine (but then with a 4060 and different RAM). I think we ended up just under 800 euro (excl. monitor, keyboard and mouse). |
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Post by Dougs on Sept 8, 2024 19:22:34 GMT
I am cack-handed at the best of time! But yeah, sure it's not rocket science. Thanks chaps.
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Post by Vandelay on Sept 9, 2024 16:14:46 GMT
The alternative is you could get him a Steam Deck. The cheapest is £349. It can be plugged into a dock and be used just like a PC (could even install Windows on it, if you want). Plus, it has the portable benefit.
Would be worth checking what games he plays and making sure they would run. It does a really good job, but more modern games are a struggle. Plus, multiplayer can be a bit hit and miss with the operating system (again, though, can always install Windows). It is the best way to get into PC gaming on a budget though.
Steam Deck or not, knowing what games he is likely to play would help you pick. If he is mostly playing Roblox and Minecraft then any hardware is going to be fine. If he is going to be playing Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk and Last of Us, then it is going to be a lot harder.
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Post by Dougs on Sept 9, 2024 16:51:46 GMT
Thanks, yeah, I did suggest a Steam Deck. Not sure what he wants it for tbh - he's got (well, I have) a PS5 and PSVR2 and isn't into twitch gaming as far as I know.
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Post by technoish on Sept 9, 2024 18:11:30 GMT
Why buy a pc for gaming for console prices that won't beat a console would be my thought!!
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crashV👀d👀
Junior Member
not just a game anymore...
Posts: 3,892
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Post by crashV👀d👀 on Sept 9, 2024 19:23:57 GMT
In this case I’d go for a gaming laptop, something like a ASUS TUF Gaming A15, about €6-700, but obviously that includes the screen, which seems to be a 144hz one. Mobile 3050 though, no idea how far that will get you. this is a good shout actually. S omething 2nd hand is probably your best bet and I reckon a nice self contained laptop with a discrete GPU not just integrated. Since they comes with a screen it covers that cost but can be expanded to a TV for some larger 1080p gaming. It's been said above but what games is he intending to play as this will help guide. You could try and source an ex office pc, pref one that can get a GPU in it and has the PSU to handle. This is the route I went to get back into pc gaming before ditching a building my one. I got a dual Xeon thing and shoved a 980 in it. Lasted me a good 2 years. |
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Post by Dougs on Sept 9, 2024 19:33:24 GMT
All games apparently at 60fps, and especially online shooters, that he's never played before. Steam deck may not cut it!
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Post by Dougs on Sept 9, 2024 19:34:02 GMT
Why buy a pc for gaming for console prices that won't beat a console would be my thought!! I have made this point before. |
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Post by Chopsen on Sept 9, 2024 19:47:52 GMT
All games apparently at 60fps, and especially online shooters, that he's never played before. Steam deck may not cut it! I don't see you getting that for £300-400 |
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Post by Dougs on Sept 9, 2024 19:52:19 GMT
Aye. That was my suspicion, just didn't know if the 2nd hand market was any good. He's happy to continue to save (he had about £8-900 in mind and he's a quarter of the way there) but we wanted to try and help get him over the line more quickly. Ah well.
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 9, 2024 19:55:21 GMT
I'm guessing it's stuff like Valorant which I think can run on potato hardware but 400 quid will get you jack shit. So like a Ryzen 5 5600, cheap mobo, 16gb ram, cheap ssd and integrated graphics. It can be done but I don't see 60fps happening in the popular ftp space at anything but potato settings.
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 9, 2024 19:57:29 GMT
Cheers. I did suspect as much. Saw someone locally trying to flog an i7 with a 1660, 16GB RAM and a 256 SSD for £750! Ridiculous. I'd love to know what i7 that even is, especially as it's most likely older than a 9th gen. |
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Post by Chopsen on Sept 9, 2024 20:00:37 GMT
Even pre-owned GPUs are fucking nuts. Just had a quick look and you've got pre-owned previous gen nvidias going for >£500.
Also, I really don't trust the second hand market for this sort of stuff. How do you know it's not been overclocked and mining crypto 24/7? Seen so many accounts online of people being scammed to. Maybe it's just me and my prejudices but it feels like a really scummy market.
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 9, 2024 20:07:48 GMT
Yeah I remember seeing 1080ti's going for stupid amounts of money quite recently. The market really did break itself more so when the 30 series came out.
I do like seeing GAMING PC adverts for 2nd hand sales and it being an absolute piss of shit.
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Post by Dougs on Sept 9, 2024 20:11:23 GMT
Thanks chaps.
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 9, 2024 20:18:46 GMT
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crashV👀d👀
Junior Member
not just a game anymore...
Posts: 3,892
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Post by crashV👀d👀 on Sept 9, 2024 20:37:59 GMT
Yeah I remember seeing 1080ti's going for stupid amounts of money quite recently. The market really did break itself more so when the 30 series came out. I do like seeing GAMING PC adverts for 2nd hand sales and it being an absolute piss of shit. piss of shit ... Lol |
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 9, 2024 20:41:21 GMT
It really is!
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richardiox
Junior Member
Semi proficient
Posts: 1,661
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Post by richardiox on Sept 9, 2024 21:17:15 GMT
On the theme of budget friendly PCs, my eldest turns 9 this year and in classic fashion has talked about getting a PC. One of the reasons is for gaming. He is blissfully unaware of the minefield that I have to go through having only previously really gamed on an Xbox/Switch. Anyway, doing my research I notice these "Mini PCs" for around £300 and assume they'd be shit for gaming. Then I watch some benchmarks and am pleasantly surprised by what the AMD SoCs deliver in terms of gaming performance. Perfectly adequate for his needs. Like the one below, Ryzen 7 5800H. So, cheap shit Chinese brands not withstanding, I'm struggling to see why something like this wouldn't cut the mustard/pass muster for a 1080p setup where 30fps would be perfectly fine. He's not gonna be using it for the latest AAA software. amzn.eu/d/cwTVtQ6 |
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 9, 2024 21:23:31 GMT
Yeah it does pretty well. The only issue is obviously the form factor is a technical dead end.
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Post by Vandelay on Sept 9, 2024 21:31:24 GMT
All games apparently at 60fps, and especially online shooters, that he's never played before. Steam deck may not cut it! Ah, yeah, definitely not a Steam Deck then. Unfortunately, the days of getting a console killer for £500 are kind of over now and have been for some time. You can go a long way if you are happy with 1080p, but even then you are looking at about £600 (or £500 if you are using any existing parts, such as case, PSU and peripherals). If you can get hold of a 20 series card then that is certainly a way to save on costs, but not sure if you will be able to find a new one now. |
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richardiox
Junior Member
Semi proficient
Posts: 1,661
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Post by richardiox on Sept 9, 2024 21:43:24 GMT
Yeah it does pretty well. The only issue is obviously the form factor is a technical dead end. Technical dead end is perfect! Game over for me otherwise if/when he cottons on to the fact you can upgrade PCs. Edit Dougs check my link out above. May not cut it for your 14year olds needs but worth checking out some YouTube benchmarks. I was pleasantly surprised at what that chipset can pump out with low voltage/small form factor. Just not at all future proof. |
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 9, 2024 21:44:10 GMT
Ha. It's perfect then. I guess it's over when they start talking about RGB and glass cases.
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Tomo
Junior Member
Posts: 3,542
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Post by Tomo on Sept 10, 2024 7:30:59 GMT
Dunno if it's a factor with your son Dougs, but I would say getting a PC might inspire him in ways beyond gaming, i.e. programming and tinkering etc. My career can easily be traced back to my pa getting us a PC all those years ago. Pretty amazing thinking about how much of my knowledge nowadays, especially compared to peers, I just absorbed through years of using my home PC.
Mind you, PC and OSes are way more stable these days so perhaps digging into Device Manager and throwing in terminal commands isn't really required just to keep your gaming habit strong.
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