Buying a budget gaming pc

Forums › Desktop computing › Buying a budget gaming pc - where to go?

CokemonZ

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#270200 28-Apr-2020 10:02

I'm looking at getting this from PB tech: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/WKSPB14215/PB-AMD-Upgrade-Box-14215-AMD-Ryzen-3-3200G-Quad-Co

Needs to handle light gaming - which based on youtube it will do fine.

It's out of stock though - any recommendations on where else to go?

I have a couple of exlease desktops - i5-3xxx range, and thought about getting graphics cards for them, but they'd need to be low profile, and performance won't be much better than this anyway I don't think.

Edit: Auckland, North shore based.

mentalinc

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#2472601 28-Apr-2020 10:10

Give them a call, they should be able to do something for you...

CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX

CokemonZ

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#2472604 28-Apr-2020 10:13

man - never occurred to me to actually ring them :)

I did email them a week or so ago, but no response, but yes a call might be the better option

CokemonZ

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#2472851 28-Apr-2020 16:16

Called pbtech - sat on the phone for 30 minites. Going to try 1stwavecomputing

xpd

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#2472936 28-Apr-2020 18:28

CokemonZ:

Called pbtech - sat on the phone for 30 minites. Going to try 1stwavecomputing

Who ? Never heard of them :)

If youre willing to build it yourself, can usually save a few $$ by ordering parts from a couple of stores and assemble it.

XPD / Gavin

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CokemonZ

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#2472955 28-Apr-2020 18:39

Found them on trademe, good prices, and have stock.

I am ok with building, but the effort to figure what to buy is too much of a pain. Pre built is just easier.

caffynz

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#2473621 29-Apr-2020 18:49

CokemonZ:

I'm looking at getting this from PB tech: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/WKSPB14215/PB-AMD-Upgrade-Box-14215-AMD-Ryzen-3-3200G-Quad-Co

Needs to handle light gaming - which based on youtube it will do fine.

It's out of stock though - any recommendations on where else to go?

It's in stock online? I just clicked on the link.

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CokemonZ

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#2473622 29-Apr-2020 18:51

so it is now - but after chatting with the guy from 1stwave I'm going to get a slightly modified pre-build from him.

Moving up mother boards from a 320 to a 450, allows for some pretty basic overclocking, and getting a ram upgrade to support that.

Froglotion

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#2473730 29-Apr-2020 23:52

Yeah you'd probably want dual channel memory if you're planning on using the onboard GPU, so 4GBx2 (if sticking with 8GB) @ 3200mhz if possible.

Froglotion

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#2473731 29-Apr-2020 23:55

Benchmark comparison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo7tTz3gTC0

CokemonZ

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#2473749 30-Apr-2020 07:20

Froglotion:
Benchmark comparison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo7tTz3gTC0

Actually what that video shows is that performance of the apu is pretty poor.

I might have a look at a Intel 9100f and a second hand graphics card then.

Save a few bucks on the motherboard and CPU, but spen an extra 150 or so there.

Froglotion

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#2473755 30-Apr-2020 07:50

Could go second hand for the whole build to save some coin?

I'd look at picking up a Ryzen 2600 if you can stretch budget a bit. Long term it will be so much better. Doesn't matter which brand you go for, a CPU with only 4 cores and 4 threads is already going to be bottlenecked in games. Whereas spending a bit more now, can net you a 6 core 12 thread CPU. Add in a cheap second hand video card to hold you over till you can save more for a better one.

Just a thought anyway

Or stick with the 3200g and add a video card later, and you'll have the option to swap in a better CPU later when someone upgrades. AMD upgrade paths are so much better than Intel. B450 will allow more future proofing.

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CokemonZ

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#2474180 30-Apr-2020 16:43

Froglotion: Could go second hand for the whole build to save some coin?

I'd look at picking up a Ryzen 2600 if you can stretch budget a bit. Long term it will be so much better. Doesn't matter which brand you go for, a CPU with only 4 cores and 4 threads is already going to be bottlenecked in games. Whereas spending a bit more now, can net you a 6 core 12 thread CPU. Add in a cheap second hand video card to hold you over till you can save more for a better one.

Just a thought anyway

Or stick with the 3200g and add a video card later, and you'll have the option to swap in a better CPU later when someone upgrades. AMD upgrade paths are so much better than Intel. B450 will allow more future proofing.

Went for the 3200g, no Gfx card, and found a 2x4gb 2666 it that seems to be used for overclocking - corsair vengence.

All came to just under $600, as I have an SSD and hdd I can repurpose for this.