Cheap gaming build check

[Boris Veganofsky]

I already have a laptop but it has integrated graphics. Basically I'd buy this to play Civ 5 and Diablo 3 and such over the summer, so I don't want to spend too much. I might also use it for programming, AutoCAD, GIS and the like.

CPU:Intel Pentium G620 Sandy Bridge 2.6GHz
GPU:ECS Geforce GT 440 1GB GDDR5
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D3V
RAM: G.SKILL NS 2x2GB DDR3-1333
PSU: SeaSonic M12II 520W

Drive: I have a 1TB HD but it's an Ecogreen or somesuch (5400RPM). Not ideal for a system drive. I might throw in a SSD if I find a good deal.

With the used Viewsonic P815-4 (21" 1600x1200 CRT monitor) I found for 15$ I could get a decent rig for ~$500CAD. Do games still have decent support for 4:3? This Asus IPS on sale is also tempting.

Shopping for computers make me feel old. I'm baffled by how much power I can get for that much money.

[PhoenixEnigma]

Thoughts:

CPU - good, plenty fast enough and cheap.

GPU - depends a bit on what monitor you end up with. With the CRT, you can drop the resolution down and probably be okay. With the LCD, that's not as much an of option, and the GT440 is going to struggle. A Radeon 6750 or a GTS 450 would set you back another $25-30 or so, but that would probably be money well spent.

Mobo - It'll work, but if you don't need USB 3 you can probably knock $5-10 off the final price.

RAM - It's cheap, and it's enough. That's about all that matters.

PSU - I was about to say this is kind of overkill (and it is), but at that price for that power supply, it's hard to argue with. If you really want to save a couple bucks, the Antec VP450 could be a decent option, but it's not really in the same league as the M12II there.

Couple things I see missing: do you have an optical drive, even if it's just one you can borrow long enough to install the OS? For that matter, do you have a copy of Windows around? As well, do you have a case to put this PC in?

[Boris Veganofsky]

I read the reviews and the ECS gpu I had picked is very noisy. The next cheapest GT 440 is $90. I might as well go for this XFX 6770 for $115 with a $20 MIR. Hell I could shell out the extra $30 for a 6850, I'm not that short on cash and the GPU will be my limiting factor.

Am I right in thinking that anti-aliasing is not as important on a CRT since the image is not as sharp?

I don't particularly need USB 3.0 but I'd like to have it. Sata 6Gb/s is also a (very slight) advantage if I end up buying one of the newer SSDs, and I like Gigabyte so I'll stick with that mobo.

Agreed on the PSU. And I like that it's modular. Keeps things tidy.

I'll get an old white case and CD drive locally for $10 to match the CRT. I don't feel like paying $15-20 extra in shipping for a case. Now I just need a white keyboard and ball mouse to complete the old school look. I can get a Windows 7 license from uni, I'll install it from a usb key or borrow a DVD drive.

So I can get a pretty decent rig for $400.

Spoiler:

A new hard drive would increase the cost by 20-40%, so for now I'll use the 5400rpm drive I have and see how it goes. I'm eyeing an Intel cherryville or Crucial M4 SSD, if they go on sale I might pick one up.

Let's see: CPU, GPU, mobo, RAM, PSU, Case, HDD. I don't think I'm forgetting anything.

[PhoenixEnigma]

Yeah, with ~2Mpixels, it's worth throwing some GPU muscle at games, and even the 6850 wouldn't be a bad way to go if it's a dedicated gaming rig (though a bit out of proportion to the rest of the system). Also, a lot of cards with DVI outputs come with a DVI -> VGA adapter, so that would be something to keep an eye out for.

I can't speak to AA on CRTs, other than I know I noticed it on them, and I notice it on LCDs. CRTs give you the option to play around with resolution as an image quality variable in a way you can't with LCDs, though - and the pixel density of that CRT at maximum resolution would be higher than most LCDs, which should make aliasing less problematic.

Don't bother with a CD drive - most are going to require an IDE connector on the motherboard, and those are in very short supply these days. At the same time, they're not good for much, as software has largely moved to digital distribution or DVD-ROM. I'd probably forgo the optical drive altogether, but if you need one, a cheap DVD-RW would be the way to go.

I'd also be cautious about old beige boxes, depending on age. Power consumption has gone up a lot over time, and things might get unpleasantly warm in there with a 120W+ video card and a single old 80mm fan. Not that there aren't decent ones out there, just something to keep an eye out for. And if you can get an old Model M keyboard to match things, you'll be laughing.

[Boris Veganofsky]

I need a vga cable anyway so if I go with the 6850 I'll just get a vga->dvi cable. I know the CD drive is useless, the case I found just happens to come with one.

That was my main concern with old cases - fans - but I'm not against modding the case/adding an extra fan.

Thanks for your advice. I think I've got things pretty well figured out now.

[Carnildo]

I'd also be cautious about old beige boxes, depending on age. Power consumption has gone up a lot over time, and things might get unpleasantly warm in there with a 120W+ video card and a single old 80mm fan.

I haven't seen a single-fan case in almost a decade. The advantage that newer cases give isn't in the amount of airflow available, but the ability to use larger fans. A single 140mm fan spinning at 300 RPM is virtually inaudible, but it moves an impressive amount of air.

[PhoenixEnigma]

I'd also be cautious about old beige boxes, depending on age. Power consumption has gone up a lot over time, and things might get unpleasantly warm in there with a 120W+ video card and a single old 80mm fan.

I haven't seen a single-fan case in almost a decade. The advantage that newer cases give isn't in the amount of airflow available, but the ability to use larger fans. A single 140mm fan spinning at 300 RPM is virtually inaudible, but it moves an impressive amount of air.

Nor have I, but they tended to be beige and come with CD-ROMs and CRTs