Author Topic: Building a cheap, low cost (<400$) gaming computer?  (Read 1293 times)

>cheap
>gaming

pick one
If they're selling you an Xbone for 500 bucks then I sure as hell could build an equivalent computer for 400.

If they're selling you an Xbone for 500 bucks then I sure as hell could build an equivalent computer for 400.

Prepare for the worst part about buying a computer, the initial cost. A PC is an investment.

Xbone actually has less hardware and software/firmware than a PC does. Therefore the price is less.

A good gaming PC will cost you up to 800 or more. And I said good, meaning a decent 30-40 fps and enough hard drive space to hold all of your applications. Let's not forget the operating system, motherboard, memory modules, and other goodies that you're going to put in. They are all incorporated into the price.

So as I mentioned before

>cheap
>gaming

pick one

Prepare for the worst part about buying a computer, the initial cost. A PC is an investment.

Xbone actually has less hardware and software/firmware than a PC does. Therefore the price is less.

A good gaming PC will cost you up to 800 or more. And I said good, meaning a decent 30-40 fps and enough hard drive space to hold all of your applications. Let's not forget the operating system, motherboard, memory modules, and other goodies that you're going to put in. They are all incorporated into the price.

So as I mentioned before

>cheap
>gaming

pick one
This is partially true, however, he is not looking for 60 fps max settings 16x AA on BF4. He's looking for 60 fps on medium-low settings on newer games.

You can most definitely get that for four to five hundred dollars.

This is partially true, however, he is not looking for 60 fps max settings 16x AA on BF4. He's looking for 60 fps on medium-low settings on newer games.

You can most definitely get that for four to five hundred dollars.

You could try, but trust me, it aint worth it.

Go for the gold and save up some money kiddos.

You could try, but trust me, it aint worth it.

Go for the gold and save up some money kiddos.
But that's the magic about computers. You are capable of upgrading as you go. So why not get a decent build that will do what he needs now, and maybe invest in a better graphics card or processor when he has the cash?

But that's the magic about computers. You are capable of upgrading as you go. So why not get a decent build that will do what he needs now, and maybe invest in a better graphics card or processor when he has the cash?

See... that's a waste though. You settle for something less enjoyable, waiting to upgrade. It's worse than having no computer in all honesty.

I went and spent to get the top line computer with my rig... I enjoyed it for a couple years, then I upgraded. And I keep upgrading so I can keep it exciting.

:( my comp is nearly 4grand
800 kinda scares me

what i did is just got all the parts from my list and didn't get a GPU originally. I just used the integrated graphics. I saved a decent chunk of cash and then got a good GPU and now everything's fine. so if you want to cut down the price i'd suggest just buying a GPU at a later date

See... that's a waste though. You settle for something less enjoyable, waiting to upgrade. It's worse than having no computer in all honesty.

I went and spent to get the top line computer with my rig... I enjoyed it for a couple years, then I upgraded. And I keep upgrading so I can keep it exciting.
But currently, he's on this little stuffty mac pro that can't even manage CS-GO on decent settings. Why not buy something that he will almost certainly enjoy, because it will suddenly be able to play games like CS-GO on max and not have a problem, and even games like BF4 will be runnable on med-low settings. When he has the money in the future, just as you did, he can upgrade further.

But currently, he's on this little stuffty mac pro that can't even manage CS-GO on decent settings. Why not buy something that he will almost certainly enjoy, because it will suddenly be able to play games like CS-GO on max and not have a problem, and even games like BF4 will be runnable on med-low settings. When he has the money in the future, just as you did, he can upgrade further.

I guess we must think on different wave lengths. Oh well, to each his own. My suggestion is out there...

Here we go.

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Blaze17145/saved/V4gzK8

$3.84 over. My dearest apologies.


The CPU isn't great, but it's what we could get for the price. It'll handle MOST games just fine, but CPU intensive games such as Battlefield 4 and Planetside 2 might struggle slightly.

The case and motherboard are micro-atx, which is a small form factor. Good size.

The PSU is plenty and is semi-modular, perfect.

The 4GB of ram is what we can get at this budget. As long as you don't run multiple games at once or use too many internet tabs, you'll be fine.

The GPU is an EVGA Nvidia GTX 750. It's about on par with the Xbox One if not slightly better. It should handle 60fps on low/medium in most games.

The keyboard and mouse are both decent. You didn't say you had old ones you could re-use, so I picked these out.

The OS is a copy of Windows 8 (you can use 7 instead but 8 is faster) from /r/softwareswap, which is usually $10.
This can save you about $80. People at /r/softwareswap are a part of the Microsoft Developers Network and get free windows 8 keys. They sell them for about $10. In order to use it you simply have to install windows 8 on a USB flash drive and input the key you've bought when it asks for it. The people there are very nice and trustworthy and transactions are very fast through paypal.

Oh lol, thanks. I don't need the mouse and keyboard and like I said I can scavenge RAM and hard drives from other computers.

:( my comp is nearly 4grand
800 kinda scares me
dont you also play battlefield 4 on ultra?

dont you also play battlefield 4 on ultra?

yah its my main game

yah its my main game
if 800 scares you how does 350$ sound :u