Your input please: entry level gaming rig

|tera|

|tera|

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Hi guys,

I'm looking for ideas on an entry level gaming system for a friend.

The budget is R3K for the case and components. Screen etc. is sorted.

I would appreciate your input,
Ciao,
tera
 
R3k is a bit limited.

I know we (the IT reseller I work at) is doing a promo for R2 995 that includes a 18.5" LCD.

Basic system specs

ECS H61-M13 Board
Intel G620 CPU
2gb DDR 3 1333
500gb Hard drive
Qori Case 3335 - comes with a 400w PSU
LG DVD-RW

That comes up to about R2 300 or so.

You can probably throw in a Inno 3D GeForce GTS 430 which we retail for R749.

So there we go, R3 000 more or less.

You can probably find cheaper components up in the North there. But this system is very basic and doesn't include software.

Hope this helps!
 
The software side is sorted. I'd prefer to go with an AMD card than Nvidia.

I'd like to source the components separately and build it as well, should work out cheaper possibly.
 
 
Well those prices I gave was with a bundle special, if you had to buy those components individually from us, think it would be R100 more or so. I dunno what the prices are like in Nelspruit. You could possibly go with a AMD 5570. More or less the GeForce GTX 430 equivalent.

If I had to guess, sourcing the components would work out more expensive if you order from different companies. Take a look at your local store, maybe they can try and help you further.

The specs I gave you aren't great, but they fit in under the R 3k mark.

*edit*

Thanks NomNom. That's actually the board I was thinking of.

Also she said under R3k. You're over a wee bit :)
 
Thanks NomNom.

The budget is strictly R3K for the system though (excluding shipping).

Is that CPU on par with a Core2Duo or with what can it be compared?
Thanks,

Edit: thanks Kuga.
 
The G620 is equivalent to the Dual Core E5700. Not sure on the G840. Maybe a E6700 or something.
 
Kuga said:
Thanks NomNom. That's actually the board I was thinking of.

Also she said under R3k. You're over a wee bit :)
Click to expand...

Yeah good board, 3k isn't enough for a entry gaming pc imo, 4k maybe

teraside said:
Is that CPU on par with a Core2Duo or with what can it be compared?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Kuga said:
The G620 is equivalent to the Dual Core E5700. Not sure on the G840. Maybe a E6700 or something.
Click to expand...

According to my benchmark site G620 blows Dual Cores out the water, it's basically a low model i3

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
 
hmm. There is pretty much nothing you can cut from Nom's build without hitting performance hard.

I'd suggest buy as Nom said, but leave the GFX for now. The mobo + CPU combo should give you weak but usable graphics for now & wait till said friend has cash to get a gfx card.
 
Last edited:
If you have to strictly stick to R3000 then you could leave the case... I'm pretty sure you could find a old office case somewhere

you could also get a smaller HDD... it'll be R60 cheaper but half the size will be gone!

and that's all I could find...

HavocXphere said:
but leave the GFX for now. The mobo + CPU combo should give you weak but usable graphics for now & wait till said friend has cash to get a gfx card.
Click to expand...

I'd go with that or buy a 2nd hand graphics card... there's always someone trying to get rid of one (in fact I'm trying to get rid of mine right now:p)
 
Last edited:
NomNom said:
Yes it should, but rather spend R260 and get 4 times the performance.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll give the options to the buyer.

Another, maybe dumb question. Do I have to buy thermal paste as well and a heatsink and fan, or is this included by means of a thermal strip and stock heatsink and fan?
 
teraside said:
Thanks, I'll give the options to the buyer.

Another, maybe dumb question. Do I have to buy thermal paste as well and a heatsink and fan, or is this included by means of a thermal strip and stock heatsink and fan?
Click to expand...

It's included with the Processor, you just install it on the motherboard and pop the heatsink it comes with on, it already has thermal paste on.
 
NomNom said:
It's included with the Processor, you just install it on the motherboard and pop the heatsink it comes with on, it already has thermal paste on.
Click to expand...

Cool beans. I appreciate it. I sent rebeltech an email as well. I'll keep you posted. You helped me a lot NomNom. Thank you very much.
 
If you want to build a gaming rig for R3k, then you should look at 2nd-hand stuff, because NomNom's suggestion is like the bare minimum.

I actually won't regard the PC as a gaming PC for anything under R4k: Sandy Bridge i3 2100, 4GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM, H61 motherboard, 500GB HDD, 400W PSU, AMD HD5770
 
+1 For Nomnom's build.

I'm against going any cheaper on teh GFX though.
Can ditch the optical drive if you know how to do USB boot. Easy to add later when you've got a bit of spare cash too.
 
i Recently bought MSI 880GMA-E45 motherboard, AMD athlon II x3 455 (3 cores), 4 gigs of DDR 3, and Nvidia GT430, + Huntkey case (nt sure wat model)... for 2951R... i jst used my old pc's PSU (600w) so no need to buy a new one, and my old CD writer, and HD... not having any problems here exept the Nvidia Gt430 isnt that great for gaming ive noticed, cant play crysis, or the witcher 2... and when i knock up the shadow quality my gfx card doesnt run to well... but most games run on med-high quality.
 
Thanks guys. Any other retailers that I can try? Rebeltech is a bit too slow IMHO. I sent the email yesterday afternoon for a quote and I've got zilch so far.
 
Wootware is one of the best retailers when it comes to customer support.

Prophecy Shop is also very good at that.

I've had a few times that RebelTech gave me very fast responses, and othertimes that they didn't respond at all.
 
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