Gaming PC- help!

tea and coffee

I am buying a gaming PC for my son but I am a bit lost. I am not techy

Spec required at minimum:
Ryzen 5 3400g
16gb
240ssd
1tb hard drive
Windows 10
Wifi/ bluetooth
Possibly water cooled thingy? (He usually leaves his window open TBF as even his xbox runs quite warm)
He is adamant that it run at 60fps for the games but I have noticed with the (bewildering) choice on Amazon , ebay etc that even with that spec that most games don't run at that speed. Is he being unrealistic?
Edit: some seem to but not all. He plays mainly things like Rainbow 6 siege, skyrim, fortnite and some other FPS games


My absolute top budget is €850 for a bundle, or €700 just for the tower. Is that a reasonable price for what I am looking for? it seems the sky is the limit :eek:

Samuel T. Cogley

https://www.awd-it.co.uk/awd-it-amd-ryzen-3100-quad-core-mb320-rgb-gtx-1650-4gb-pc-monitor-package-for-gaming.html

Following Upgrades:

PC Memory Upgrade Dual DDR4: Team Group 16GB (2x8GB) 3200Mhz DDR4 +£28.99
CHOOSE YOUR PRIMARY HARD DRIVE: Team Group GX2 512GB SSD
UPGRADE YOUR GRAPHICS CARD: Best budget allows.

Keep it with No Operating System windows 10 will still be on it.
Knock off the internet security package
Wifi Card will be needed - but they only offer a very slow one with Bluetooth - is bluetooth needed for something specific?

JoyPad

Couple of special offers that can be had there:
- 1Tb Intel SSD
- 24in FullHD monitor
If you add an internal WiFi card (e.g. ASUS), you get to approx 860 euro (770 GBP). --<<< if you added the best GPU available in the list, 1660 SUPER.

A bluetooth dongle costs 15 euro in Currys, works for any purposes.

tea and coffee

thank you :-)
The bluetooth was just so that he had it- I don't know, for his headphones or something, seeing as they are bluetooth

https://www.cclonline.com/pc/gaming-pcs/delta/ccl-delta-gx-gaming-pc/0001000200020000000003000000000001/
What about this one? Why so much cheaper? no graphics card, is that it? (and no monitor although that hardly accounts for the price differential)

Samuel T. Cogley

That's a combined Processor (CPU) and Graphics Card (GPU) on one chip called an APU. I wouldn't think it would be great for games but others might have some more useful input. Your OP spec has an APU spec'd in fairness.

What games does he want to play?

Water cooling or a better air cooler might make the CPU run a little cooler but would still dump the heat into the room. A PC of this spec will run quite cool.

tea and coffee

Ah ok so it's "worse" as such. He plays titan fall
Skyrim
Fortnite , rainbow 6 siege and so on.
My original soec- this is just what I've gleaned from scouring the net. My son doesn't really know either tbh - he wants a PC coz his mates have one but he's not very au fait with the tech.
I don't mind the heat in the room overly- will keep the heating bill down- little mercies.

Homelander

The one posted above from AWD is perfect with the recommended changes.

Configured with 16GB 3000mhz RAM, 512GB SSD, GTX1660 Super graphics, it comes to £675 including the monitor, keyboard, mouse.

It would run all those games at high/ultra no problem at 60fps.

The one from CCL you posted is designed for kids who want to run games like Minecraft, they are completely unsuitable as a general gaming PC.

tea and coffee

ok I think I am down to two (and exhausted TBH)


https://www.awd-it.co.uk/awd-it-amd-ryzen-5-3350g-quad-core-mb320-rgb-gtx-1650-super-4gb-pc-monitor-package-for-gaming.html?wgu=13527_54264_1606470539998_caf0f7a2da&wgexpiry=1614246539&source=webgains&siteid=54264

https://www.awd-it.co.uk/awd-it-amd-ryzen-3100-quad-core-mb320-rgb-gtx-1650-4gb-pc-monitor-package-for-gaming.html?wgu=13527_54264_16065039755475_256e284e94&wgexpiry=1614279975&source=webgains&siteid=54264

are they both AMD 5? I cant work it out on the 3100G one

Homelander

The Ryzen 3100 is better. The 3350G is an APU, it has integrated graphics which the 3100 doesn't.

This makes absolutely no difference to a gaming PC that has a proper dedicated card.

Keep in mind you want 16GB ram and also a minimum of 512GB SSD. Or else the standard 240GB SSD + a 1TB storage drive.

Also, the GTX1650 is a grand graphics card but it is low-end. Will run Rainbow Six and Titanfall at high settings, but it won't run the latest games at high settings at 60fps.

The £85 upgrade to a GTX1660 Super is well worth it, it's significantly faster and your son won't come running in six months time claiming he needs a new card

JoyPad

tea and coffee wrote: »

Why is the second one cheaper is it the move from 3350 to 3100 (surely that is lower, or what am I missing)? are they both AMD 5? I cant work it out on the 3100G one

Have a look at this page.

Despite the numbers, the 3400G is an APU (CPU combined with a GPU), from the second generation of Ryzen processors (also known as Zen+).

The 3100 is a Zen2 processor from the 3rd generation.

You are much better off with the Zen2 platform, which is reflected in the prices. And the advice you were given.

tea and coffee

thank you.

Ok so the 3100 and the 1660 Super graphics card.
I was going to buy a 2 TB hard drive... am I better to buy more SSD?

I am listening to the advice, but I have about 20 tabs open, and it's a terrifying prospect to buy something this price which may not even do what he needs it to do. I miss buying Thomas the Tank Engine for Christmas, much easier.

JoyPad

The CPU and GPU choices are the most important, you will be stuck with them for a while.

Do not worry too much about storage.
You can go with a smaller SSD for now, and add more storage later. No need to replace.

Start with the 3100 and 1660 Super. See if you can afford now the 1TB SSD or the 500Gb. Another potential option is to take a 500Gb SSD for Windows, and a SATA HDD for games. Whichever choice you make will work.

tea and coffee

Homelander wrote: »

Also, the GTX1650 is a grand graphics card but it is low-end. Will run Rainbow Six and Titanfall at high settings, but it won't run the latest games at high settings at 60fps.

The £85 upgrade to a GTX1660 Super is well worth it, it's significantly faster and your son won't come running in six months time claiming he needs a new card

I tried ordering that PC but they are out of that 6gb card until after Christmas (and that is across all their stock)
Should I just wait? He is old enough to understand that it might be better to wait than getting it under the tree. Or is there another option (can one "add" graphics cards post facto?)

BloodBath

It's just a really bad time to be ordering last gen parts. There's massive stock issues, price inflation, even getting them second hand is hard now.

It probably won't settle down until around February. If their system is priced good you could go with it. Upgrading the card down the line is always an option but 1 that you will have to use sooner with a weaker starting gpu.

tea and coffee

So I see. Eff sake. The whole damn thing is out of stock now.


https://www.awd-it.co.uk/intel-i5-9400f-six-core-horizon-rgb-gtx-1660-6gb-windows-10-pc-monitor-package-for-gaming-if10.html

Is the processor in this one as good as the 3100? Is an asus graphics card ok or poor relation of the nvdivia one?

Sorry about this. This is a total mare for me tbh

Samuel T. Cogley

Intel is basically slower than AMD. I'm not sure how the 3100 stacks up against the i5 9400.

Asus makes cards using nvidia chips but that's a 1660 which is slower than a 1660 Super.

Edit: I'd be waiting tbh.

K.O.Kiki

It's fine, they're about the same.

Also the motherboard is H310 chipset so it can't run faster than 2666 RAM.

JoyPad

You could order a similar spec on a different site, e.g. pcspecialist.ie, or this one on CCL.
Not sure if it fits within budget, but worth a shot.

Sheep2020

If your really stuck littlewoods have a MSI Gtx 1660 Super, i5 1040f for €864 and you get €100 cashback till 6th Dec

Brings it to €764

For that price and pre built its a grand pc for kids

captain_boycott

JoyPad wrote: »

You could order a similar spec on a different site, e.g. pcspecialist.ie, or this one on CCL.
Not sure if it fits within budget, but worth a shot.

Do CCL sell to Ireland ?

Andrew76

captain_boycott wrote: »

Do CCL sell to Ireland ?

They sure do. Have a monitor winging it's way to me from them.

tea and coffee

Hopefully last question from me (for everyone s sake Inc my own)
I5 9400f v ryzen 5 2600
Which performs better / is the better option?

K.O.Kiki

2600 is more "future-proofed" because it has multi-threading & more options for in-socket upgrades.
Also its boxed cooler is quieter than the Intel's.

However, they're generally similar for gaming.
https://www.techspot.com/review/1829-intel-core-i5-9400f-vs-amd-ryzen-5-2600x/

tea and coffee

Not the last question it transpires. *wails*

Ryzen 5 2600X vs Ryzen 3 3100.

The former is older but has more dual cores or something, and it'sthe X version, and the 3100 has more cores but they're single cores.
Means sweet FA to me.
If you had to choose one?

Samuel T. Cogley

2600X if near the same price.

2600X is a 6 Core 12 thread processor, the 3100 is a 4 core 8 thread processor.

tea and coffee

Yeah same price. Cheers

KOR101

JoyPad wrote: »

You could order a similar spec on a different site, e.g. pcspecialist.ie, or this one on CCL.
Not sure if it fits within budget, but worth a shot.

Is pcspecialist an okay outfit?

GuinnessSupper

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Following Upgrades:

PC Memory Upgrade Dual DDR4: Team Group 16GB (2x8GB) 3200Mhz DDR4 +£28.99
CHOOSE YOUR PRIMARY HARD DRIVE: Team Group GX2 512GB SSD
UPGRADE YOUR GRAPHICS CARD: Best budget allows.

Keep it with No Operating System windows 10 will still be on it.
Knock off the internet security package
Wifi Card will be needed - but they only offer a very slow one with Bluetooth - is bluetooth needed for something specific?

I've been looking at similar specs, this was really useful to know what's reasonable and what to focus on, so thanks. Shame its out of stock. Is the general consensus that now is a bad time to buy and prices will come down around late Jan/Feb?

In relation to your comment on Windows 10, do you mean a pc build would typically still have an unactivated version of windows 10 installed? Or is it that you would always recommend to install yourself via USB?

JoyPad

LineConsole wrote: »

They over charge by quite a lot compared to UK prices.

This is a bit harsh.
PCSpecialist do not sell parts, just pre-built PCs. Included in their price is a fee for building and testing the PC, as well as 3 years warranty.

LineConsole

JoyPad wrote: »

This is a bit harsh.
PCSpecialist do not sell parts, just pre-built PCs. Included in their price is a fee for building and testing the PC, as well as 3 years warranty.

Actually you’re right, I was mixing them up with custompc.ie (absolute gougers) My bad.

If PCSpecialist Ireland are part of the same company as the UK one they are pretty decent.

Samuel T. Cogley

GuinnessSupper wrote: »

I've been looking at similar specs, this was really useful to know what's reasonable and what to focus on, so thanks. Shame its out of stock. Is the general consensus that now is a bad time to buy and prices will come down around late Jan/Feb?

In relation to your comment on Windows 10, do you mean a pc build would typically still have an unactivated version of windows 10 installed? Or is it that you would always recommend to install yourself via USB?

Hopefully things will settle down in January. Windows 10 is installed by AWD-IT just left unactivated. YMMV with other companies.