View Full Version : Gaming computer for under £400
Hello all, looking for some advice from people who know what there talking about. Basically im looking to build a computer for under £400 that can run cod4. Needs to have 250GB hard drive and a decent looking gaming case. Dont know anything about motherboards either but it need to hold 4GB of ram.
Could you please list or give me links to the exact componets that would work together because I heard if you got it wrong it can fry your processor ect. Everything like psu and everything but not keyboard or mice or anything like that. Would be great if someone could help me because I really dont want to get it wrong. Thanks.
Do you need a monitor? If so then you have a tight budget. As for processor choices, i would say a Phenom II if you can stretch, far more futureproof, and can be upgraded in baby steps down the line to keep your performance for less money than a brand new system 2 years down the line.
Thanks for quick reply. I dont need a monitor or anything like that, I know it's a cheap budget but amd are not very good are they? Anyone else can help?
AMD aren't as bad as people tend to think these days AM3 aren't quite as good as I7 true but they aren't far off and gaming performance in some cases better where it counts, minimum frame rates. The problem is Intel have had their own way for too long now and people automatically think they are the only way to go.
As Lynx said unless you want a complete new build again in a year or 2 when you choose to upgrade again then AMD is your only realistic choice, that or double your buget.
Thanks for the info mac124. I will stick with intel. Something like a intel Pentium Dual Core E5200, 2.50GHz will run cod4. Basically i'm only using it for 5 months then im going away for a while so ill give it to my mum to use for business ect. I just want it to run cod4 -.-
Anyone please just list some components that are compatible together. Thanks for the advice so far.
Intel you say...how about this?
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6182/sdad.png
Thanks for that. Is that price including vat?
Each to their own but the 7750 might be a better choice, similar price, similar performance, better in a lot of cases, and upgradeable to am3 if you choose the right mobo.
Thanks for that. Is that price including vat?
Dont trust sheddog, he has an 8400 nVidia, after being told it was a waste of money, he still went for it
Clueless...
Dont trust sheddog, he has an 8400 nVidia, after being told it was a waste of money, he still went for it
Clueless...
You know thats a good cheap build I've got there...and YOU know it!:redface:8)
Thanks for that. Is that price including vat?
Yes it is :D
You know thats a good cheap build I've got there...and YOU know it!:redface:8)
Except he specified 4GB Ram.. But yeah, its a good budget build. But at the price range, I'd also go AMD too..
Except he specified 4GB Ram.. But yeah, its a good budget build. But at the price range, I'd also go AMD too..
Oh sorry didn't see 4GB ram :( and he's already said NO AMD :mrgreen:
I would of also gone AMD at £400 aswell
and he's already said NO AMD :mrgreen:
Yeah, I know.. I was just mentioning that I'd agree with Mac..
Ok well it seems many of you think AMD is better so ill go with AMD. All the things you have listed mac are compatable together? Like the AMD cpu will fit in the mothboard ok? and its the correct ram ect?
Ok well it seems many of you think AMD is better so ill go with AMD. All the things you have listed mac are compatable together? Like the AMD cpu will fit in the mothboard ok? and its the correct ram ect?
OMG...lol you could of told be sooner! I think actually at £400 and AMD wouldn't be that much cheaper so you'd just get a worser OCed PC and not very much better parts :\
Also you'd have to buy a AM3 board to make it better in the futureproof(ish) which means...DDR3...EXPENCIVE :(
WHOOAAAA just looked at AM3 board...cheapest for £117 :p
no shed, am2 board and ddr2 is perfect, am3 can be adds at a later date, for now 5% performance doesn't warrant massive Inc in price.
I'd go for something like these,
AMD 7750
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CPUs+%2F+Processors/AMD/AMD+Athlon+64+X2+Socket+AM2%2B/AMD+Athlon+64+X2+7750+2.70GHz+(Retail+AM2%2B)+?pro ductId=34832
AM2+ mobo (can also take AM3 according to the gigabyte website)
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+AM2%2B+(AMD)/Gigabyte+GA-MA770-UD3+AMD+770+Socket+AM2%2B+Motherboard+?productId=3 5007
Ummm I don't know...ok your saving money on the CPU...where would the money be spent on...he only wants to play games like COD4 and a 9800GTX+ would eat that for dinner
Ummm I don't know...ok your saving money on the CPU...where would the money be spent on...he only wants to play games like COD4 and a 9800GTX+ would eat that for dinner
let me guess your suggesting an 8400? http://forums.guru3d.com/images/smilies/naughty.gif
OH NO!
I'd do something along these lines (using the CPU/Mobo that mac suggested):
Just a bit over your budget, but includes Vista 64:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w19/adunne_2007/computer.jpg
Under you budget, no OS, but slightly better graphics card:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w19/adunne_2007/computer2.jpg
:)
let me guess your suggesting an 8400? http://forums.guru3d.com/images/smilies/naughty.gif
OH NO!
Can you put 8400 in the world filter :D
Just realised, I forgot a DVD drive.. :lol:
If you include this in the 2nd build:
LG GH22NP20 22x DVDRW Black OEM (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CD%2FDVD+Drives/Internal/IDE/LG+GH22NP20+22x+DVDRW+Black+OEM?productId=33832)
It'll take the price up to £392.98.. :)
I'd do something along these lines (using the CPU/Mobo that mac suggested):
Just a bit over your budget, but includes Vista 64:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w19/adunne_2007/computer.jpg
Under you budget, no OS, but slightly better graphics card:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w19/adunne_2007/computer2.jpg
:)
Rep added I LOIKE IT! :thumbsup:
Can you put 8400 in the world filter :D
No because my E8400 would then be ****'d out :O
My build was so much better rofl you have a PC for the same price (or more expencive), but that performs worse LOL
Aaron's has got better CPU, memory, PSU etc.
Aaron's has got better CPU
Somebody shoot me PLEASEEE :p a 7750 is 65nm *yawn* and a E5xxx is 45nm...which is gonna OC better...which will therefore perform better...THERE YOU GO ;)
No because my E8400 would then be ****'d out :O
I thought the system can differencate between E8400 and 8400. (Well something like thats in place on forum that im a Mod on :S)
Somebody shoot me PLEASEEE :p
BANG ?? :D
does he want to OC though?
Basically i'm only using it for 5 months then im going away for a while so ill give it to my mum to use for business ect. I just want it to run cod4 -.-
Why do you need 4GB RAM and a decent GPU on a machine that will be playing what is now a last generation game for a few months? I think you should be trying to make the system as cheap as possible to run COD4 to your standard, instead of getting the most out of £400.
Unless you intend to play at 1680x1050 with Ultra settings then you can get a £50 graphics card, 2GB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive on that AMD system. Should save you money. Unless your coming back to the machine in the future.
My thinking was that he is only going to be using it for a few months, but it will be in use for alot longer after that by whoever he ends up giving it to. So I thought get the best components for the money so it lasts as long as it can for whoever it ends up with! :)
does he want to OC though?
...who doesn't :p
My thinking was that he is only going to be using it for a few months, but it will be in use for alot longer after that by whoever he ends up giving it to. So I thought get the best components for the money so it lasts as long as it can for whoever it ends up with! :)
Lets face it...the guys ****ed off now :p so lets end here ;)
Somebody shoot me PLEASEEE :p a 7750 is 65nm *yawn* and a E5xxx is 45nm...which is gonna OC better...which will therefore perform better...THERE YOU GO ;)
When are you going to learn :S , 45nm doesn't automaticallly make the cpu better, we had all this kind of shizzle before. For a cpu of £50 you wont get better than the 7750 at stock, yes the 5400 might overclock better but you wont be able to do rock all when you come to upgrade in a year or 2, the cpu and mobo i suggested will give decent performance now and allow upgrades in the future. No one said anything about overclockability, its going to end up being used by his mother so i am guessing she isn't too bothered about that kind of thing.
The 2 systems suggested by Aaron are plenty good enough, 4gb for £30 rude not to, i'd probably have gone for a smaller hdd but yeah all good.
Why do you need 4GB RAM and a decent GPU on a machine that will be playing what is now a last generation game for a few months? I think you should be trying to make the system as cheap as possible to run COD4 to your standard, instead of getting the most out of £400.
EXACTLY what I want. lol
Once I go away the only thing the comp will be used for it general internet browsing and paying bills.
*Gone to consult with Mac124 via PM* :p
EXACTLY what I want. lol
Once I go away the only thing the comp will be used for it general internet browsing and paying bills.
Ok, so what resolution will you be playing at? This will help us decide which card to go for.
You should get a smaller hard drive, I'm not sure which is the best performer but you should be looking at the £30 mark give or take. 160GB Samsung Spinpoint SATA2 16MB looks good.
In terms of graphics card, you could go for an GeForce 8600GT if its for 1280x1024 and you don't mind running without AA. If you want high detail at 1280x1024 then get something like a GeForce 9600GT.
I'm basing those GPU choices from Toms Hardware benchmarks on those cards. With AA+AF (http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/Call-of-Duty-4-v1.6,744.html) and Without AA+AF (http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/Call-of-Duty-4-v1.6,741.html). I looked at cards averaging around 60FPS.
Okay guys, the builds in here are pathetic.
Here's a few from me: I'd strongly suggest getting an aftermarket CPU cooler if you want to overclock for better performance - but for stock there's no need.
1) Performance, the best possible performance I think you can get for your cash. At the expense of hard drive space and the case quality
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6812/performance.png
2) The minimum build I'd want. Combines decent performance with good quality components. Over budget, however. (Replace the hard drive with the identically priced samsung F1 320GB, currently out of stock)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/984/aajustover.png
3) The #2 build with some compromises on the hard drive size and losing the modular PSU to get back down to budget - alternatively keep the better HDD or PSU by compromising on the case slightly.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3734/aaonbudget.png
4) And finally a build for your requirements, rather than your budget. This should be fine for running COD4 for a few months depending on frame rate to some extent.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1149/cheep.png
I'm actually surprised with this build, it's not a half-bad system. A last-gen but still fairly quick dual-core cpu and a not-all-that-old graphics card. I'd be quite happy with this for £250 - the price of a netbook. In fact, another stick of RAM and £50 more on the hard drive and you'd be able to play most games at a playable framerate on low settings :-) certainly good enough for COD4 and office/business use. If you want to spend a little more than this, put it into another 2gb of ram
Here's a review of the graphics card, I'm not sure what CPU it was coupled with here, but it attained 39fps on "extra high" settings on 1440x900 (14" resolution) and 31fps at 1680x1050 (20-22" resolution) http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-6278-view-Radeon-HD-4670-and-HD-4650-performance-review.html
I'd call that more than playable, with a possible drop in settings to high/normal if you're a frame-rate lover.
Edit: and this with an E6850 - fairly comparable to the AMD above and 4gb ram
http://www.driverheaven.net/reviewimages/sapphire45504650/flashers/finished/cod1440.jpg
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