Windows 7: Building a gaming PC for $250

jloc · 12 Jan 2012

I read an article yesterday and it was saying about how you can build a PC, capable of playing Modern Warfare 3 for just $250 - Build a Modern Warfare 3 PC for under $250 | ExtremeTech

It's my birthday next week and $250 (£165) is quite a bit cheaper than getting a console, here's the specs;

AMD A4-3300 Llano 2.5GHz Socket FM1 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6410D AD3300OJGXBOX - $65

Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT51264BA1339 - $45

ASRock A55M-HVS FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $59

Broadway Com Corp 1243MA-BLACK Glossy black Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - $30

PHILIPS Black 3.5mm O'Neill THE STRETCH Headband Headset SHO9567BK/28 - $30

That means that the total is only $225 (£145), I know that I couldn't run games at their highest quality but it would be better than on a PS3/360. What do you think of the specs, are they good in general? Also, would I be able to run GTA IV and Battlefield 3 in better quality than on a console but still have no lag?

Thanks for reading!

whs · 12 Jan 2012

Here is the list of games you may be able to play (or mostely not play) with that graphics.

jloc · 12 Jan 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by whs

Here is the list of games you may be able to play (or mostely not play) with that graphics.

That's a long list of things I couldn't play! Would you recommend any tweaks to the hardware list that would change anything?

metalmania31 · 12 Jan 2012

I'm sorry but if you want to play current modern games $250 is not going to get you far. One gaming video card will cost you $250+. Even that card wouldn't be able to play many of those games on higher settings.

whs · 12 Jan 2012

A decent graphics like this one will probably do. And here is the list of games it can do:
http://community.futuremark.com/hard...+HD+5770/games

jloc · 12 Jan 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by metalmania31

I'm sorry but if you want to play current modern games $250 is not going to get you far. One gaming video card will cost you $250+. Even that card wouldn't be able to play many of those games on higher settings.

At max, I suppose I could go up to $400, what would be my situation then?

whs · 12 Jan 2012

Well, you are still missing a disk, an optical reader and an operating system. That will add $200 to $250 right here. I think it is not possible to build a halfway decent gaming rig for less than $500 to $600 - all components considered - unless you can salvage a few from a scrapped rig. And in the UK prices are probably higher.

jloc · 12 Jan 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by whs

Well, you are still missing a disk, an optical reader and an operating system. That will add $200 to $250 right here. I think it is not possible to build a halfway decent gaming rig for less than $500 to $600 - all components considered - unless you can salvage a few from a scrapped rig. And in the UK prices are probably higher.

I have a 1TB HDD from my old rig and I still have the disk drive, it came with a copy of Windows 7 aswell so i'm sorted for an OS.

Am I thinking unrealistically? I just thought it would be cooler than getting a console since i've wanted a gaming PC forever, too expensive :/

Oh well, thanks for your help

metalmania31 · 12 Jan 2012

You can get a ps3 for $250 and XBOX 360 for $200. And they look pretty good for the most part. If you want a gaming video card that looks better then dedicated consoles you're gonna have to get $350+ video card with DX11 that's capable of rendering those extra bits of eye candy.

whs · 12 Jan 2012

It is a big question whether your Windows 7 on the HDD will work. If it is an OEM, it will not work. If you have a retail installation disc, you can reinstall it. Else you will have a driver problem.
I think that graphics card I linked is pretty decent. No need to spend more unless you want to go to the extremes.

Windows 7: Building a gaming PC for $250

Building a gaming PC for $250 problems?