Advice needed on whether to buy a 2nd hand machine or build a new one?

Grumpypants

Hi guys looking for a bit of advice. Looking to get myself a gaming rig (capable of playing Battlefield 3, Crysis 2 & 3 when it comes out etc)

I have being toying with the idea of buying up the parts myself and building a new one but i just spotted a local gaming center has closed and are selling their gaming rigs for around the same money i was looking to spend.

Was only hoping to spend 500-600euro max. I don't know much about graphics cards etc so really need your expert input.

I have a 21" 1080p monitor and a 32" TV that can be used so don't really need the monitor but it is included in the package below so if you think this is a good package i might take it since its part of the deal.

Anyway this below is the spec on offer I am guessing these machines are a little old so I want to weigh up the benefits of buying an already running (but 2nd hand and with out warranty) machine. Against building a brand new machine.

Machine:
Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz
4GB Corsair Dominator 1066Mhz DDR2
Gigabyte GA-X38-DS5 Motherboard
750Gb WD HDD
620W Enermax PSU
Nvidia GTX 260 Video Card
Thermaltake Armor Jr. Case
DVD-ROM
Zalman CPU Cooler

Peripherals:
Samsung 24" LCD (1920 x 1200) Syncmaster 245B
Logitech G15 Keyboard
Razer Mouse 1600dpi
Creative T40 Desktop Speakers
Wired Xbox 360 Controller

Tij da feen

The machine itself is quite old tech at this point. I wouldn't recommend investing in it. It wouldn't be capable of much at the resolution you're playing at. Answer these questions and we'll spec a machine for you.

Grumpypants

thanks for the reply, i have filled out the below. Reason the other machine peaked my interest was it included a lot of bits like monitor keyboard and mouse etc for €500. Might even be able to talk them into selling just the PC for less then use the money i save to upgrade it.

1. What is your budget? [€500]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming battlefield 3 etc . I have both consoles so the point of the rig is high quality smooth graphics]

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [No]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? No brand new build, i even need a case. Could get away with using my keyboard.

5. Do you need a monitor? [No]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [19'/20'/22'/24'/etc.]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080] [Not unless i need to]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? Prob just a gaming mouse.

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Not against it just not sure how to do it ]

8. How can you pay? [cash/credit card]

9. When are you purchasing? [In 10-30 days time]

Eboggles

That 2nd hand computer is pretty bad, but the peripherals are worth about €300-€350 new .

€500-€600 euro isn't a great budget when you have to factor in peripherals and the fact that you want to play BF3. I'd recommend waiting a few more months so you can get a great rig.

Something like this would destroy the other rig:

Item|Price
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€215.17
ASRock Z77 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX|€88.73
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€33.65
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€41.15
BitFenix Shinobi Midi-Tower USB 3.0 black, ohne Netzteil|€55.04
Sapphire HD 7850 2GB GDDR5 PCI-Express|€227.54
LiteOn iHAS124-19 schwarz SATA|€17.83
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB, SATA II (HD502HJ)|€71.26
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SB-Version Englisch|€83.45
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€852.81

That could play everything well at 1080p and has a great CPU. It really is worth saving up a bit more instead of buying a bad/mediocre one now that isn't upgradeable at all. So start saving!

Grumpypants

Eboggles wrote: »

That 2nd hand computer is pretty bad, but the peripherals are worth about €300-€350 new .

€500-€600 euro isn't a great budget when you have to factor in peripherals and the fact that you want to play BF3. I'd recommend waiting a few more months so you can get a great rig.

That could play everything well at 1080p and has a great CPU. It really is worth saving up a bit more instead of buying a bad/mediocre one now that isn't upgradeable at all. So start saving!

That's the dilemma, looking at the extra's it does make the deal a bit better (It is worth the 500 euro I just want to see if i could build a new version for the same money). I totally understand I am better off waiting and getting a better machine but to be honest I can't afford to spend 800 on a PC i'm pushing it at around the 500 mark and if i dont get it now I will spend my money on something stupid like a holiday away

ShadowHearth

right, stay the feck away from those Pcs. they ill only break your heart.

i am a bit old schooler and i am still not convinced ivy is that good. Get this now from hardwareversad.

Item|Price
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€35.69
ASRock Z77 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX|€90.77
Intel Core i5-2500K Box, LGA1155|€189.79
Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB SATA 6GB's|€62.56
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 550W|€53.96
BitFenix Shinobi Midi-Tower USB 3.0 black, ohne Netzteil|€55.04
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€506.80

then go to adverts.ie and buy 1 of these for around 50-60eu to do you for now. when you got another 200eu buy 7850.

http://www.adverts.ie/graphics-cards/sapphire-hd4870-1gb-2-cards/1492031

Grumpypants

Thanks for the replies guys, looks to be unanimous that the 2nd hand one isn't a great machine which is a shame as i would have liked to have just bought a built one and then upgraded it as needs be over the summer when ever i had some spare cash.

Think i just got focused on the extra's (which if im really honest i don't need )

Serephucus

Why the hell are people trying to push a 2500K into a €500 budget?!

Item|Price
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€41.15
ASRock H61M-S (B3), Sockel 1155, mATX|€40.79
Powercolor HD7850 2GB GDDR5|€218.78
Intel Core i5-2400 Box, LGA1155|€168.18
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€35.69
Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB SATA 6GB's|€62.56
BitFenix Merc Alpha|€32.00
BenQ G2225HD|€99.00
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€717.14

The build above will play BF3 just as well, and includes a 1080p monitor, though it's not quite as future-proof as the other builds.

imitation

The OP doesn't need a monitor, so that money can be spent on a bit more welly.

I wouldn't touch the peripherals with a bargepole tbh, they probably have seen plenty of use and have a fine coat of redbull, sweat and god only knows what else you find in the average webcafe.

Serephucus

My bad, didn't see that, well then, scrape another €120 from somewhere and the build above should do you.

ShadowHearth

Serephucus wrote: »

My bad, didn't see that, well then, scrape another €120 from somewhere and the build above should do you.

He is willing to wait and buy the rest of upgrades later. He might aswell get 2500k setup now and get cheapie second hand card and then get 7850. It's better then having h61 and 2400, which will put him in situation, where he will need to change all mobo and CPU.

That's just my thoughs on this problem.

Serephucus

Yeah, except that on a budget system, even a 2400 will last ages. It's a 2.8GHz quad core. Even without overclocking, that's nothing to sniff at.

If he's willing to wait though that is a better option.

Grumpypants

Thanks for all the help guys I do want one that is somewhat future proof so i can upgrade, so I think a good base unit that has flexible up-gradable options is the best way to go.

If i buy it on payday then live on beans for a month i could prob do it

Im thinking this build is the one to go for I have windows 7 and a decent monitor, also have a USB DVD drive and keyboard that could keep me going until i could add better options further down the line.


Item Price
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9 €35.69
ASRock Z77 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX €90.77
Intel Core i5-2500K Box, LGA1155 €189.79
Seagate Barracuda 7200 500GB SATA 6GB's €62.56
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 550W €53.96
BitFenix Shinobi Midi-Tower USB 3.0 black, ohne Netzteil €55.04
Shipping €18.99
Total €506.80

Grumpypants

Right so now pay day is here it is time to bite the bullet and order. So far i have in my basket


ASRock Z77 Pro3, socket 1155, ATX (€92)
Intel Core i5 2500 (€191)
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667u CL9 (€36)
Corsair Force 3 120GB SSD 2.5”SATA (€110)
BitFenic Merc Alpha (€32)

That cost 460euro.

All im missing is my power unit, I was warned to spend a bit more on that as if it blows up it takes everything with it.

So is this one up to the job? or am i better off spending a few extra quid.
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 550W (€52)

Then last part is the graphics card. I have been looking at the HD7850 there have been 2 mentioned here one powercooler the other the Sapphire, is there any difference between those two or is it pretty much just the casing that is different? Also I have been told that Nvidea have a new range out now so the previous models have just dropped down and i could get a really good one of those for a bit less that will do the same job?

One last thing on here http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articlesearch.jsp they have two versions of the Sapphire HD7850 but one is a OC version im assuming thats over clocked? Is that the better one or is there some reason why they are different? only 2 euro in the difference but want to make sure it will work.


Again thanks for any input and sorry for the lack of technical knowledge

Skylinehead

I'd get a 7850. Sapphire/MSI are probably the best ones. PSU you chose there should be perfect.

uncle_sam_ie

You meant to list the i5 2500K right?

Grumpypants

uncle_sam_ie wrote: »

You meant to list the i5 2500K right?

Yea that's the one that was recommended to me.

Serephucus

Well just bear in mind that the 2500 and the 2500K are different processors, so don't get the wrong one.

Grumpypants

Serephucus wrote: »

Well just bear in mind that the 2500 and the 2500K are different processors, so don't get the wrong one.

Oh man this gets more confusing, im terrified of that happening when i go to build it i have all the wrong parts

this is the one in my basket

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=41224&agid=1617

Tea_Bag

If you're tight on money, the 2400 is a damn good CPU anyway. it can be 'overclocked' to 3.8Ghz which is nothing to be sniffed at.

you're likely going to be GPU bottlenecked far sooner than CPU in gaming.

on my rig in BF3 I hover around 50-70% CPU usage and 100% GPU.

Grumpypants

It's done crikey I haven't spent that kind of money on anything in years. No turning back now its all paid for and everything.Thanks for all your help guys its really appreciated.

Final build :

8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9

ASRock Z77 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX

BitFenix Merc Alpha

Corsair Force3 120GB SSD 6,4cm (2,5") SATA

Intel Core i5-2500K Box, LGA1155

Sapphire HD 7850 OC 2GB GDDR5 PCI-Express

Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 550W

BostonB

What does that work out as delivered?

Grumpypants

BostonB wrote: »

What does that work out as delivered?

It was 802 but i am going to get them to build it (€20) and i Paid by Paypal (€22) so that added 42 euro to the total cost. So if you self built and paid via bank transfer it would be closer to €760.

Grumpypants

Machine turned up yesterday, spent the day installing windows and drivers etc. Had to open it up and plug back in the HHD but all works super fast and smooth.

Installed Steam, Origin, Onlive straight away so have around 250 games between all them. Onlve works like a charm on it played Metro 2033 perfectly.

Got SWTOR downloaded over night and just downloading Arma 2 for the day Z mod.

Have BF3, Crysis 1 ultimate edition and the secret world on the way.

Think that should be enough to get me going.

ShadowHearth

I am happy for you bud! Good gaming!