Entry/midrange build for older games

[FOX76255]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right section, but here goes.

Basically, my current desktop is far too old to be upgraded, so I'm looking to buy/build a brand new one.
The main thing I'm after is high single core performance from 4 core/8 thread cpu with low power usage and thermal output. I have no particular builds/setups in mind, nor do I have any leanings towards either AMD or Intel. I'd be mostly playing pre 2015/2016 games, as well as older ones, which aren't know for fantastic multicore support, hence high single core performance is rather important here.
Used/secondhand/refurbished parts are out of the question, which is why I'm coming back here after nearly 12 years.
Initially I was thinking about Ryzen 5 3600, ASUS mobo, 16gigs of RAM and GTX1650 as a starting point, but with all extras like M2/SSD, operating system etc, it all adds up to about £1100, so I was wondering if there are other less expensive options, as I certainly don't intend to be playing the hottest and most demanding new titles out there.
Also, I tried checking out Scott's entry level configs, but they all seem to redirect to main PCS site, so not sure if I'm doing something wrong here.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Aza]

Do you have a budget in mind? Im assuming you have a monitor, and its probably 1080 if the current system is over a decade old? Are you thinking about replacing it?

You said you did a spec and it was £1100, but you were looking for less expensive options? For a custom build, that wouldnt be considered a average spend, it would be more.... have you looked at prebuilt as an option?

You mention about not playing latest games but a custom build would be aimed at that kind of use, a generic pc would sound like its better suited to your needs? The other thing to remember is taking a well built custom pc now (and investing in it) means it should get you another good decade of use, not just games, but general use/office programs etc and keep the machine relevant/capable.

I wouldnt suggest a 3600, its a couple of years old now, i dont think theres much difference in price to a 5600 either?

Perhaps a few things to consider for you, and i'd suggest looking at buying off the shelf with places like pcworld etc. Also worth noting autumn brings brand new AMD cpu's, new GPU's and new motherboards. So now isnt a great time to buy either, particularly with custom builds.

 

[FOX76255]

Ideally, the budget for desktop itself would be around 1k, give or take 200 for operating system and MS office, since I would definitely make use of those.
I do have a 1080p monitor. Bought it quite a while ago but it seems to be doing okay and I don't really plan to go higher in terms of resolution/refresh rate.

If sub-£1000 spend isn't an option, then so be it. I'd much rather get an average desktop but with a few high quality parts, purely because I don't want to cheap out on things like power supply or storage. Not to mention having those would mean I wouldn't have to upgrade as much later, should I choose to do so.
As far as prebuilt desktops go, a lot of retailers are more expensive, you rarely get to choose what's inside, upgrading them is a hassle, not to mention you will void the warranty if you try to do that. In the rare times you can actually customise a PC, the parts you can choose from are either limited or more expensive.

I don't aim to play the latest games but it's not entirely out of the question. Additionally, I would prefer to have a computer that lets me, say, have a browser, game, and some modeling software running at the same time, rather than forcing me to run only one of those at a time.

 

[Aza]

You arent going to get anything meaningful for £1000 through a custom build.
It will be a throwaway build. I think you would be able to get a system that will do what you need from places like currys for less than £1000 by getting a prebuilt.

If you are adamant you want to go with a custom build, the best advice i can give is to look at what you have in your current system and try to move across the gpu and windows licence, possibly any storage that may be useful. You may be able to get the bones of a reasonable build that way, I would guess your monitor is going to be 60Hz given the system you have is over 10 years old, theres really no point upgrading GPU if you have one already you can transfer and you arent replacing the monitor for something more current.
For example:

Case
LIAN LI LANCOOL 215 GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600 Six Core CPU (3.5GHz-4.4GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING WIFI (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A GRAPHICS CARD
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3000MB/sR, 1600MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2200 MB/R, 1500 MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
PCS FrostFlow 150 Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
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
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)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 6 working days
Price: £883.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/qJJ0wSHtHy/

You would at least be able to upgrade this with faster storage options over time, 5600 doesnt need much cooling either and you should be able to upgrade the GPU if you replace the monitor at some stage, the PSU should give headroom for a 1440p GPU later down the line. Its still not a idea I would want to follow, and could possibly be tweeked a little if you can give more specific details about whats in your current system and model of monitor.

Its also going on the assumption you have a copy of win 10 to transfer across (you can upgrade win 7 etc still for free I believe, so worth looking into doing that on your current system if you havent already, then logging into microsoft online and associating it with your microsoft account to allow a digital licence transfer)

As soon as you start including GPU's you wont get anything worth having for £1000 or less, even a cheap build is going to be around £1300 for something balanced.

 

[FOX76255]

Again, if £1000 mark is unattainable, then so be it.

As for the current specs, they're as follows:
Phenom 2 x4 3.4ghz
Radeon HD5770 1GB
8 gigs of memory
Asus M4A89 mobo

As for your build:
- case looks ok but I hope those LEDs can be turned off
- mobo is fine, I guess, I don't know much about those
- 3600mhz memory seems a bit overkill, 16 gigs is what I'm after, though
- gpu is a must because I'm not buying a new computer just to stuff one of the first ever DX11 cards inside
- M2 SSDs are good, I'm actually surprised they're cheaper than 2.5" SSDs, though I'd swap the 1TB for another Intel one, no hard feelings PCS
- modular Corsair PSU is good, but 850W might be a bit much, unless you genuinely recommend going with such wattage
- my copy of win7 isn't strictly speaking legitimate so I'd be needing one
- might skip MS Office for now, it's not a priority
Anything else not mentioned is either fine or not required.

And lastly, the current monitor I've got is LG 24EN43 LED backlit one, 1920x1080@60hz.

 

[FOX76255]

Fair enough, and this does look good, however, I've checked out the case and there were quite a few complaints regarding the design, particularly how much space is inside and then some. Here's a batch of critical/negative reviews from Amazon in case you wanted to know more. Frankly, I don't mind coughing up another £20 or so for another case if this one might end up being problematic for whatever reason.

 

[Steveyg]

The 4000D is one of the best cases on the market mate, if you look at negative reviews you'll find them for every product that exists.

Yes it's smaller by design but it's also one of the best cases for airflow at it's price range. The more premium version of this case is the 5000D but it's significantly more expensive although better in every way

Like anything we are constricted by budget but one things I can strongly recommend is the 4000D

 

[FOX76255]

70 vs 110 quid does make a difference, and being paranoid about hardware temps, I will absolutely take good airflow over supposedly less room inside.
Right, thank you all for the advice and hopefully I'll acquire this piece of tech soon.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Don't look to Amazon for any sort of reviews, there are huge worldwide corporations purely paid to leave fake reviews on places like amazon and eBay.

For a review always choose a reputable 3rd party reviewer on YouTube or website.

 

[Scott]

What games are we considering here? The reason I ask is that there is potential to use the iGPU from AMD, which would save a fair bit on the GPU front and allow you to stay within budget. With any iGPU it is limited, but it will be hugely dependent on the games in play. The 1650 is a proper GPU so it will, of course, be better...... but there's no point in spending on it if you don't need it.

I would opt for the Intel 670 drive as the secondary regardless. I think the £10 is worth it, especially for the warranty and longevity.

Otherwise, fairly similar thoughts to everyone above with regards to the build. I've added a little extra for a known good cooler, just to keep on top of things. Transferring your license would make a large difference though.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Six Core CPU with Radeon™ Graphics (3.9GHz-4.4GHz/19MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
INTEGRATED GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR (GPU)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3000MB/sR, 1600MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3500MB/sR | 2500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 (120mm) Fan CPU Cooler Black Edition
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
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 [KUK-00003]
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)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 6 working days
Price: £944.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/GEbCB4eHxM/

 

[Scott]

To add a GPU I would only consider the RTX2060 or the RX6600, I genuinely wouldn't middle here. It's just not worth it.

Case
CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Six Core CPU with Radeon™ Graphics (3.9GHz-4.4GHz/19MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB AMD RADEON™ RX 6600 - HDMI, DP - DX® 12
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3000MB/sR, 1600MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3500MB/sR | 2500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 (120mm) Fan CPU Cooler Black Edition
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
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 [KUK-00003]
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)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 6 working days
Price: £1,324.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/ZCy66Ae6td/

 

[Scott]

FYI, in all honesty.... in your shoes I would purchase the first build I proposed and source a 2060 myself. I just had a look to see what the market was like.

The great thing is that PCS allow you to open the case and upgrade as you like. As long as you don't damage anything you are still fully covered under warranty. The GPU is one of the easier things to fit yourself and if you send a note to PCS at the time of building, they will even have the cables laid out for you.

This would allow you to purchase the first build, see how it performs.... then if it needs an extra boost you can purchase a 2060 (or equivalent) at your leisure.

 

[FOX76255]

Thanks, Scott. I've been musing regarding GPUs and it seems that 1660S/3050/2060 are all similarly priced on PCS site, so is 2060 something you'd go for?
As for my needs, they aren't the most demanding in the world, but at the same time I don't want to constrain myself in terms of hardware specs. Yes, I know that sounds very vague, but I honestly have no idea what I might play once I figure out what a new desktop can do.
Same thing back in 2010 when I ordered the now-ancient rig from PCS, I thought "nah, I surely won't play anything new, no way, Starcraft 1 and UT2004 are more than enough". Fast forward some months, I was playing Bad Company 2, Starcraft 2, Crysis, Metro 2033 etc.
And lastly, if the budget does exceed £1100-1200, I can just borrow a few hundred quid from one of my friends and pay it back over time.

 

[Scott]

Thanks, Scott. I've been musing regarding GPUs and it seems that 1660S/3050/2060 are all similarly priced on PCS site, so is 2060 something you'd go for?
As for my needs, they aren't the most demanding in the world, but at the same time I don't want to constrain myself in terms of hardware specs. Yes, I know that sounds very vague, but I honestly have no idea what I might play once I figure out what a new desktop can do.
Same thing back in 2010 when I ordered the now-ancient rig from PCS, I thought "nah, I surely won't play anything new, no way, Starcraft 1 and UT2004 are more than enough". Fast forward some months, I was playing Bad Company 2, Starcraft 2, Crysis, Metro 2033 etc.
And lastly, if the budget does exceed £1100-1200, I can just borrow a few hundred quid from one of my friends and pay it back over time.

In that case I would opt for the RX6600. It's the most powerful out of them all and the best value by quite a margin. It'll give you the longest legs anywhere near this sort of budget level and I think it's worth pushing the boat a little to get there.

With that in mind, the second build I offered is where I would go personally, if putting my own money down. I would still consider fitting the GPU yourself, as it will save a fair bit of money, but otherwise for "one and done" the second offering has you best covered.

 

[FOX76255]

Right, before I get a headache from all these options, how big is a 6600 in terms of dimensions? And how loud, how easy to clean/spray with compressed air etc?

 

[FOX76255]

That's fair, I know I can't dictate what PCS put into their desktops, but I do have a slight preference for open designs instead of fully enclosed cards, if only because it's much easier to clean them out without having to dismantle them completely.
I know it's not really performant by any standards, especially not today's, but this little thing is quiet, small, draws low amounts of power and it's really easy to clean. I know I'm obsessing over details, but I do like it when hardware is quick and easy to maintain.

 

[Steveyg]

That's fair, I know I can't dictate what PCS put into their desktops, but I do have a slight preference for open designs instead of fully enclosed cards, if only because it's much easier to clean them out without having to dismantle them completely.
I know it's not really performant by any standards, especially not today's, but this little thing is quiet, small, draws low amounts of power and it's really easy to clean. I know I'm obsessing over details, but I do like it when hardware is quick and easy to maintain.

GPU's don't look like that anymore mate it's been long time since they have

Get a proper compressed air blower like the below and it'll make cleaning out your computer not only take 10mins but it's better than any compressed air can you can buy. I have this exact one and highly recommend it

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dusters-EG-1000-UK-Electric-Air-Duster/dp/B073F9NY1X/ref=sr_1_29_sspa?keywords=compressed+air+cleaner+for+pc&qid=1654001502&sprefix=compressed+air+%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-29-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyNzU3VUhHVE1PSTgmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1Mjk5MDk5NVhBWjFKSVVCN1QmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDEzMzkxNTFSTUFYRlhWUTFaVEMmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

 

[FOX76255]

Added to wishlist, ta!

 

[Scott]

Good cases like the one suggested also have really good filtration in place. As much as they are airflow, they still have dust filters. Regularly cleaning those will keep your components from getting overly dusty.

I rarely touch the inside of my case.

 

[FOX76255]

Do you mean the Corsair 4000D? If so, I'll just ignore the amazon review nitpicks and go with this case, since everyone here seems to be quite positive towards it.