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Cheap PC That's OK or Games?

Archive: 28 posts

I'm looking for a cheap PC that can run games. By cheap, I mean under ?300. I have looked into it a bit and have found the Asus X401A. I don't know much about PCs, so I hope someone could give me a bit of guidance!2013-04-14 19:22:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

By games... what do you mean? Many games have different needs. Some games, such as BF3, need super high end graphics and sound to give you the best experience.

So it really depends on what you mean by games. 		2013-04-14 19:35:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

All PC's will run games you may want to specify what you would be wanting to run.2013-04-14 19:35:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728

Sorry about the lack of detail! I don't mean games like BF3, but more like Half Life 2, Spore, and The Sims on a medium to high quality. Hope this helps a bit more than my previous post!
I think I have found something OK; the Dell Vostro 3460, and is ?299.99 on the Dell website, so is not too expensive. Also, I looked at the specs for games, and it can run most on mid to high quality.		2013-04-15 07:35:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

I think I have found something OK; the Dell Vostro 3460, and is ?299.99 on the Dell website, so is not too expensive. Also, I looked at the specs for games, and it can run most on mid to high quality.
The CPU in that thing is pretty decent but that's all that can be said for it. With integrated graphics (HD4000 in this case) you can't expect much from games though, the benchmarks suggest sub-30fps with minimum settings at 1366x768 for modern games like Skyrim.

Another issue is that it's a laptop. That means you get a comparatively bad screen and bad keyboard, limited ability to upgrade and poor cooling. The cooling is particularly a problem if you're going to be running games on it.		2013-04-15 15:05:00

Author:
Ayneh
Posts: 2454

I thought that the Vostro had a built in AMD Radeon graphics chip? I saw on a website that it could run most games on a mid to high quality. I'll check again, but I swear it said it was OK. As for the cooling, I have seen a cooling stand that I could get.
Checked again and found that it could run most games on mid to high, so it should be fine for me. I don't want a brilliant laptop, so the Vostro will be fine		2013-04-15 15:59:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

You might be better off attempting to build one yourself. It really is quite easy!

There are quite a few barebones pc's that would at least match what you are looking at in a laptop. What is cool about a desktop is you can add on or upgrade things down the road where on a laptop, you are pretty much stuck except for maybe adding a bit more memory.

Not sure what is available in the UK, but I always shop Tigerdirect and NewEgg.		2013-04-15 16:06:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

Found out a bit more about the laptop. Turns out I got my facts a bit wrong! It actually has a NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M, which is like what I thought the graphics chip was, but I might consider building my own PC! I have found a website where you can choose what you want in the PC, but if someone could give me some advice on a good graphics card, it would really help.2013-04-15 16:14:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

The GeForce GT 630M isn't too shabby, but it isn't like you can ever upgrade. At least with a desktop, you can save up and get a better gfx card down the road. Just make sure you have a nice case (which are really not that pricey these days) and an ATX form factor so you have room, and enough drive bays.

...the hardest thing about building a pc is figuring out what is compatible with what. ..and we are more than willing to help you out! What is cool about the bare bones kits is they already have figured out the hard stuff. Just a matter of slapping it all together. Really quite easy and fun!		2013-04-15 16:23:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

I thought that the Vostro had a built in AMD Radeon graphics chip? I saw on a website that it could run most games on a mid to high quality. I'll check again, but I swear it said it was OK.
Ahh, I was using this site (https://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/vostro-3460/pd) and couldn't see any mention of a graphics card.


Not sure what is available in the UK, but I always shop Tigerdirect and NewEgg.
I've used Scan and Ebuyer in the past and would recommend both. You can generally get individual components off Amazon cheaper but you may have to deal with a multitude of different distributors and delivery charges for a build then.


I have found a website where you can choose what you want in the PC, but if someone could give me some advice on a good graphics card, it would really help.
Have a look here: http://www.logicalincrements.com/		2013-04-15 16:40:00

Author:
Ayneh
Posts: 2454

Have a look here: http://www.logicalincrements.com/

Nice site! I've used http://www.tomshardware.com among others in the past, but that one is nicely laid out.		2013-04-15 16:49:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

Thanks for all your help! I have found a good UK site for building your own gaming computer for not too much, and your advice is very helpful. And the site about the graphics cards really helps.2013-04-15 17:22:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

Nice site! I've used http://www.tomshardware.com among others in the past, but that one is nicely laid out.
Neat. There's a lot of information there.


Just make sure you have a nice case (which are really not that pricey these days) and an ATX form factor so you have room, and enough drive bays. !
I love my Define R3 but if I had to get a case on a tighter budget that Corsair 200R looks smexy.		2013-04-15 17:35:00

Author:
Ayneh
Posts: 2454

I love my Define R3 but if I had to get a case on a tighter budget that Corsair 200R looks smexy.

They both make some nice cases. ..I could go nuts just shopping around for cases. lol

However, I have had an Ultra Full Tower for quite some time. A bit big, but love how many drive bays I have, since I do photography it is quite easy to slide in yet another 1tb drive. I also love the removable MB tray when upgrading.


Thanks for all your help! I have found a good UK site for building your own gaming computer for not too much, and your advice is very helpful. And the site about the graphics cards really helps.

Most welcome and good luck! ..and if you have any questions about parts to buy or building, just ask! 		2013-04-15 17:55:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

This is probably going to be a very easy question to answer, but will I have to get an operating system for my PC? I don't know much about computers, so an answer would be a lot of help.2013-04-15 18:09:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

Unfortunately yup.. I would pick Win 7 pro 64bit.2013-04-15 18:23:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

This is probably going to be a very easy question to answer, but will I have to get an operating system for my PC? I don't know much about computers, so an answer would be a lot of help.
If you accidentally pirate Windows check the MD5 hash of the file you downloaded against what's listed on the Microsoft site so you know it's a clean copy. The only extra thing you need is a custom boot loader which you install after the OS.		2013-04-15 18:44:00

Author:
Ayneh
Posts: 2454

I suggest buying a legal copy even though it will cost a bit. Plus this site frowns on discussion of pirated media.

From the rules (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=21530-Rules-amp-Consequences)

10. Piracy is not allowed in any form on the forums. This includes gamesharing and any discussions relating to methods of pirating games and other media, or encouraging / organizing such activities.		2013-04-15 23:15:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

From the rules (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=21530-Rules-amp-Consequences)

I feel like they should be called "Da Rules".

But yeah, it'd be best for you to buy a legal copy even if it's a little pricey. Especially since pirates gamble.		2013-04-16 00:56:00

Author:
ConverseFox
Posts: 2333

I feel like they should be called "Da Rules".

But yeah, it'd be best for you to buy a legal copy even if it's a little pricey. Especially since pirates gamble.

Reminds me of DA BEARS on SNL way back when. lol

Yeah.. at least the price has dropped quite a bit. I think $139 (us) these days. I wish they gave true upgrade prices. Seems to cost the same no matter what, but there is the upgrade version which never asks you for the other one. lol ..then again, there is always Linux, but that could be a pain getting games to work, if at all in some cases.		2013-04-16 02:20:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

This is becoming more expensive than I thought! Doesn't matter, it just means I have to get a bit more money. Also, the only monitor I have is quiet old, so will I have to buy a new one?2013-04-16 07:09:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

Well.. it is more money. With an already built pc, they toss in the cost of the OS. You are still paying for it though!! However there are some bare bones kits that will include the OS in the package.

It depends on if your monitor is DVI or not and something to think about when even picking a gfx card. Most gfx cards output either DVI or HDMI these days where some older monitors have only VGA input. However... you can convert DVI to VGA with an adapter. So it depends on your monitor. Is it a huge tube or a flat screen? Maybe if you tell us what make and model?

A nice monitor with a fast refresh is imperative for fast moving games, even older ones like HL2 (which is still quite awesome btw). The good news is you can find some pretty sweet deals in monitors. I tend to like the widescreen ones these days, but size and decent refresh rate as well as great contrast values will cost more money. The bad news is manufactures tend to lie about these numbers. The better news is reliable sites that review them are smart and give you better advice than the manufactures ratings.		2013-04-16 09:15:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

The monitor I have is DVI, but is quiet square, and has a poor refresh rate. I have found some cheap monitors that could work quite well.2013-04-16 15:38:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

This is becoming more expensive than I thought! Doesn't matter, it just means I have to get a bit more money. Also, the only monitor I have is quiet old, so will I have to buy a new one?
You don't need to buy a new monitor, no.

A new cheap TN panel may not be significantly better than what you already have. It's something you'll have to research but there's nothing wrong with using an old monitor while you decide.

The monitor on that laptop you were looking at was just a tiny 1366x768 display, remember. Is what you already have worse than that?		2013-04-16 16:27:00

Author:
Ayneh
Posts: 2454

You don't need to buy a new monitor, no.

A new cheap TN panel may not be significantly better than what you already have. It's something you'll have to research but there's nothing wrong with using an old monitor while you decide.

The monitor on that laptop you were looking at was just a tiny 1366x768 display, remember. Is what you already have worse than that?

Good point. Since his at least is DVI, it can't be that old.. so I agree to try and make it work for now.		2013-04-16 18:39:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

A good graphics card is the Geforce GT 430. its around $50 but it can run the games you mentioned (Half life 2, Spore, etc) pretty well on medium and sometimes High settings. I should know because I have those games 2013-04-20 21:11:00

Author:
Seant1228
Posts: 348

I've seen an OK PC for not too much, and it comes with a graphics card that can run the games I want, and it comes with Windows XP.I could probably pick up Windows Vista for not too much. Also, I'm happy that I got Portal 2 for PS3, because it comes with a free code for a Steam PC version.
Looked at the GeForce GT 430, and is ?37, so isn't much money.		2013-04-22 19:01:00

Author:
themaxus
Posts: 90

Stay away from Windows Vista!! Just slower than heck and wastes system resources. Win 7 pro 64bit much much better.2013-04-22 19:23:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383


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