Advice

[Tom10002]

I am vastly out of my depth here, so I welcome any help I can get.

My current PC (around 6/7 years old now) has become incredidbly slow, both on start up and apps. I am planing on buying a new PC for everyday use and occasional gaming sessions using the cheapest Gaming PC 'Aurora Nova Gaming PC' as a starting point, (and basically just copying it with an improved Graphics Card).

Case
PCS 3601 CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Six Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.2GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-A320M-S2H V2: Micro-ATX, AM4, USB 3.2 Gen 1, 6GB/s
Memory (RAM)
8GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2400MHz (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GT 1030
1st M.2 SSD Drive
256GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
Power Supply
CORSAIR 450W CV SERIES™ CV-450 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS 802.11N 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KK3-00027]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days

Intending to tranfer both my old storage drive and 8GB of RAM into the new PC.

I am hoping could spell out to me what sort of performance I would be looking at with these specs. I am also not looking to run titles like Overwatch or Siege, and instead Steam Games such as (and feel free to laugh) Ori and Will of the Wisps and Crash Bandicoot Triology (picked due to how slowly they currently load).

Thanks!

 

[ThoRob]

What is your budget. The system you have selected will struggle with most current games let alone future ones and there is no real scope for upgrades due to the case and psu you have chosen. What monitor will you be using?

 

[SpyderTracks]

The GT1030 is not a gaming card, it's less powerful than modern on board graphics. You wouldn't be able to tmrun any games on it

Proces are the highest they've ever been, where we use to be able to build an entry level going PC for £850 a year ago, it now costs around £1400

 

[JUNI0R]

Realisitically, this is the least expensive gaming system from PCS I'd want to 'recommend' in the current market

Case
PCS SPECTRUM RGB MID TOWER CASE Budget case, not ideal, but will do the job
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i3 Quad Core Processor i3-12100 (3.30GHz) 12MB Cache Probably the best part of the build, the 12100 is a decent little CPU (similar performance to the 10400F)
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME B660-PLUS D4 (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready! Least expensive motherboard I'd want to fit, not ideal for upgrades
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB) There's no point in skimping on RAM so a 16GB kit of 3200mhz is a must
Graphics Card
4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 - HDMI Most basic gaming GPU PCS offers, will be fine for 1080p 60hz on less demanding titles but will really need an upgrade soon
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2200 MB/R, 1500 MB/W) 500GB of storage is managable, you did mention you have a storage drive to put in too
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET This PSU is a higher quality unit that'll last for longer. A 650W should allow for a decently powerful upgrade in the future (3060TI or 3070 at a push)
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 100 V3 Series High Performance CPU Cooler Least expensive cooler on the 12th gen configurator
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0 If you need WiFi the AX200 is a no brainer
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED You mention a system you're pulling parts from, I'd also recommend swapping the Windows licence over as this will save about £80
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) Well worth the £5
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days
Price: £831.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z690-pc/fddaJQgwu!/

 

[Tom10002]

Again, this PC would be used primarly for everyday use and would be surprised if I was looking at something more than £850.

What is your budget. The system you have selected will struggle with most current games let alone future ones and there is no real scope for upgrades due to the case and psu you have chosen. What monitor will you be using?

I'm still using a BENQ GL2250. Obviously this is such a poor model, but I don't remember any real issues in using it since I got it. On top of that my current PC has been using a nVidia GTX 1060 Super Jetstream, and I have been able to run everything I wanted (although with very large loading times).

This is not a PC for high FPS or (I think) high performance games, I mostly just want something that'll start up quicker than in 15 minutes, or several more minutes to launch a web browser, while still being able to continue playing the same games I currently do.

 

[Tom10002]

Case
PCS SPECTRUM RGB MID TOWER CASE Budget case, not ideal, but will do the job
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i3 Quad Core Processor i3-12100 (3.30GHz) 12MB Cache Probably the best part of the build, the 12100 is a decent little CPU (similar performance to the 10400F)
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME B660-PLUS D4 (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready! Least expensive motherboard I'd want to fit, not ideal for upgrades
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB) There's no point in skimping on RAM so a 16GB kit of 3200mhz is a must
Graphics Card
4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 - HDMI Most basic gaming GPU PCS offers, will be fine for 1080p 60hz on less demanding titles but will really need an upgrade soon
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2200 MB/R, 1500 MB/W) 500GB of storage is managable, you did mention you have a storage drive to put in too
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET This PSU is a higher quality unit that'll last for longer. A 650W should allow for a decently powerful upgrade in the future (3060TI or 3070 at a push)
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 100 V3 Series High Performance CPU Cooler Least expensive cooler on the 12th gen configurator
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0 If you need WiFi the AX200 is a no brainer
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED You mention a system you're pulling parts from, I'd also recommend swapping the Windows licence over as this will save about £80
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) Well worth the £5
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days
Price: £831.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z690-pc/fddaJQgwu!/

Thanks for the help!

Bearing in mind what I said in my above comment I noticed that the Intel® Core™ i3 Quad Core Processor i3-12100F (3.30GHz) 12MB Cache is some £64 cheaper (although it is out of stock), what is the difference between the two models?

 

[JUNI0R]

Thanks for the help!

Bearing in mind what I said in my above comment I noticed that the Intel® Core™ i3 Quad Core Processor i3-12100F (3.30GHz) 12MB Cache is some £64 cheaper (although it is out of stock), what is the difference between the two models?

£64??? JESUS That's a lot. The only difference is the integrated graphics. F SKU's just don't have on-board graphics meaning you need a GPU. Generally this price gap should be about £20-30 if that, not £65 especially on an i3! The only reason I can think it might be so much is because the price of the F SKU is launch pricing where as the non-F is like 2nd round stock so there's been some price increases are like there are when GPU's launch, if that makes sense?

 

[Tom10002]

£64??? JESUS That's a lot. The only difference is the integrated graphics. F SKU's just don't have on-board graphics meaning you need a GPU. Generally this price gap should be about £20-30 if that, not £65 especially on an i3! The only reason I can think it might be so much is because the price of the F SKU is launch pricing where as the non-F is like 2nd round stock so there's been some price increases are like there are when GPU's launch, if that makes sense?

£64!
That does make sense yes.
It does say that the ETA for the F to be back in stock is First of March. Whether that holds true, or if the price increases when it does would you recommend waiting for the part? The new PC isn't urgent so I'm willing to do so.

 

[ThoRob]

I would wait. That is a significant saving.