Help me build a midrange gaming PC

[The_Ogre]

So my PC is at least 6 or 7 years old and the motherboard is starting to give in. Random BSOD's even though I've swapped all components out from another PC to test. So I've narrowed it down to the motherboard. The other issue, is age, ridiculous prices of DDR2 RAM, different socket CPU, etc all require me to buy a new motherboard anyway.

Right, things I won't need is hard-drives mouse, keyboard, monitor, case and PSU.

As a point of reference the graphics card I have in the box currently is an XFX ATI 4770 (which OMB here on this board paid forward to me ), so I need something with a little more oomph than that.

An example of games that I play is Bioshock Infinite (on medium settings). So for all intents and purposes you can call me a casual gamer.

The only real requirement I have is that I've always had Asus motherboards. I also need to state that I have zero knowledge about these new APU things, but I'm open to suggestions if you, experts, think I should go for it.

Budget? Well...cheap

 

[AthenianOwl]

So my PC is at least 6 or 7 years old and the motherboard is starting to give in. Random BSOD's even though I've swapped all components out from another PC to test. So I've narrowed it down to the motherboard. The other issue, is age, ridiculous prices of DDR2 RAM, different socket CPU, etc all require me to buy a new motherboard anyway.

Right, things I won't need is hard-drives mouse, keyboard, monitor, case and PSU.

As a point of reference the graphics card I have in the box currently is an XFX ATI 4770 (which OMB here on this board paid forward to me ), so I need something with a little more oomph than that.

An example of games that I play is Bioshock Infinite (on medium settings). So for all intents and purposes you can call me a casual gamer.

The only real requirement I have is that I've always had Asus motherboards. I also need to state that I have zero knowledge about these new APU things, but I'm open to suggestions if you, experts, think I should go for it.

Budget? Well...cheap

Get a decent Ivy Bridge Quad Core I5 CPU, a Ivy Bridge Asus motherboard and a pair of DDR3 2Gb sticks Around R4K in total which is not too bad. Check out www.prophecy.co.za/

 

[Fox1]

Get a decent Ivy Bridge Quad Core I5 CPU, a Ivy Bridge Asus motherboard and a pair of DDR3 2Gb sticks Around R4K in total which is not too bad. Check out www.prophecy.co.za/

H81 mobo + Intel Core i5 4440 + 4gb DDR3 1600mhz and you are good to go. Should cost about R4000.

You may need a new PSU if you plan on upgrading to a mid range graphics card.

 

[The_Ogre]

Get a decent Ivy Bridge Quad Core I5 CPU, a Ivy Bridge Asus motherboard and a pair of DDR3 2Gb sticks Around R4K in total which is not too bad. Check out www.prophecy.co.za/

Thanks!
OK, now you've given me a budget to work with. So say R4000 - R4500.

How's prophecy lately, its been ages since I've bought from them.

 

[EmileS]

Thanks!
OK, now you've given me a budget to work with. So say R4000 - R45000.

How's prophecy lately, its been ages since I've bought from them.

R45k?! :wtf: She's gonna be a mighty beast!

 

[Kwaai]

R45k?! :wtf: She's gonna be a mighty beast!

Not sure if you're serious.. That's an obvious typo.

 

[The_Ogre]

R45k?! :wtf: She's gonna be a mighty beast!

Max R4500

 

[EmileS]

Not sure if you're serious.. That's an obvious typo.

You are way to serious to think that I was serious

 

[EmileS]

Max R4500

I think Fox1 hit it on the nail with a system spec. H81, i5, 4GB RAM and done. You should definitely look at a new GPU at around R2k - R2.5k to give you a better gaming experience.

 

[intense]

Can allways get a new gpu later. Maximise on the CPU, mobo and ram for now.

 

[Slayeruser]

There are a couple of online shops you can check out. Shop around and check where will you find the best deal.
Wootware
Rebeltech
Esquire (have to get an account)
Takelot (if they have specials)

 

[MrR]

Maybe R5000 max, but if you go bargain hunting, you could push it down to R4500.

I think Fox1 hit it on the nail with a system spec. H81, i5, 4GB RAM and done. You should definitely look at a new GPU at around R2k - R2.5k to give you a better gaming experience.

OP hasn't listed the PSU, but won't that also need replacing with a new GPU?

 

[The_Ogre]

Maybe R5000 max, but if you go bargain hunting, you could push it down to R4500.

OP hasn't listed the PSU, but won't that also need replacing with a new GPU?

Yeah, sorry, forgot about one thing.

The PSU I bought about a year or so ago. This is it: http://www.kalahari.com/Electronics/Gigabyte-Greenmax-Plus-550W-80-Bronze-Power-Supply_p_47919913

Upgrade? Yay, nay?

 

[ponder]

So you only need a CPU, MB, RAM & maybe a GPU? I'm assuming you will use your existing HDD, PSU, case, monitor, keyboard, mouse, optical drive & maybe GPU?

 

[The_Ogre]

So you only need a CPU, MB, RAM & maybe a GPU? I'm assuming you will use your existing HDD, PSU, case, monitor, keyboard, mouse, optical drive & maybe GPU?

That's what I tried saying in the second paragraph of post one. Apologies if it wasn't clear

 

[ponder]

Motherboard (R1495): http://www.wootware.co.za/asrock-z97-pro4-intel-z97-chipset-socket-1150-atx-desktop-motherboard.html
CPU (R849): http://www.wootware.co.za/intel-g32...evil-s-canyon-socket-lga1150-desktop-cpu.html
RAM (R671): http://www.takealot.com/crucial-bal...r-ddr3-1866-gaming-memory-4gb-re/PLID30709177
GPU (R2399): http://www.wootware.co.za/powercolo...rd-includes-2-free-games-amd-silver-tier.html
Total: R5414

For OC further than stock cooler provides:
CPU Cooler (R327): http://raru.co.za/electronics/9040-zalman-cnps10x-optima-shark-s-fin-blade-cpu-cooler
Total: R5741

With this build you could always upgrade to future i5 CPUs later on when you have some more funds but it will give you good gaming performance as is.

See,
http://www.legitreviews.com/intel-pentium-g3258-dual-core-processor-gaming-performance_145873
&
[video=youtube;WIVi6EDmuIQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIVi6EDmuIQ[/video]

 

[EmileS]

Yeah, sorry, forgot about one thing.

The PSU I bought about a year or so ago. This is it: http://www.kalahari.com/Electronics/Gigabyte-Greenmax-Plus-550W-80-Bronze-Power-Supply_p_47919913

Upgrade? Yay, nay?

Not the best PSU in the world, but it'll be fine

 

[ponder]

Not the best PSU in the world, but it'll be fine

+1

 

[ponder]

That's what I tried saying in the second paragraph of post one. Apologies if it wasn't clear

No it was clear, I just missed it

 

[Vegeta]

Look into the APU's they could save you a bunch if you're only a casual gamer at medium settings and you can crossfire the on chip GPU with a normal GPU if you need more umph later, granted you're limited to entry level cards.

It's an idea... not sure if it's the best or even a good idea but just look into it for what it's worth.

Personally I went against that option and went for a AMD piledriver with GPU. But I play lots of games some very demanding.

Good article about the APU's:
http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/177677-dual-graphics-dud-intel-clobbers-amds-apus-in-budget-gaming
http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/1...d-intel-clobbers-amds-apus-in-budget-gaming/2
But looking at that it seems grim