Building a budget gaming PC? Don't let a pricey GPU trick you into cutting corners elsewhere. Here are 7 components you shouldn't cheap out on if you want smooth, reliable performance.
7 Red Flags When Choosing Cheap PC Components
- Thread starter Amir Shoam
- Start date
Personally, I prefer to buy new. Some will say it's a waste of money, but the benefit of "peace of mind" is priceless.
Dual core CPU? Seriously?
Why didn’t you tell that floppy drives are a waste too?
Why didn’t you tell that floppy drives are a waste too?
Because a dual-core CPU is something you could still buy new, and if you knew nothing about the current market you actually might.
Rudyduu
Posts: 1,037 +882
"It turns out it doesn't have any, and for a good reason: on "average," the PSU can only output 330W, of which only 130W through the +12V rail, which connects to the system's most powerful components. With no 80+ efficiency rating, who knows how many watts it needs to draw from the wall just to output these poor numbers. The cables aren't braided or modular, and the fan is undersized."
The correct term when referring to the rating of a power supply is "power" measured in watts. The way you used "watts" is just wrong. It's like referring to temperature as fahrenheits as in "what fahrenheits do I set the oven" and "what fahrenheits is it outside". Just having an 80+ rating doesn't guarantee quality especially if it's just 80+. Many power supplies are most efficient around 50% of their maximum power rating, people should spend more on their power supply than they think they should, just $50 more would usually get a much better power supply. I wouldn't get a power supply under 700 watts even for a modest system.
The correct term when referring to the rating of a power supply is "power" measured in watts. The way you used "watts" is just wrong. It's like referring to temperature as fahrenheits as in "what fahrenheits do I set the oven" and "what fahrenheits is it outside". Just having an 80+ rating doesn't guarantee quality especially if it's just 80+. Many power supplies are most efficient around 50% of their maximum power rating, people should spend more on their power supply than they think they should, just $50 more would usually get a much better power supply. I wouldn't get a power supply under 700 watts even for a modest system.
Lew Zealand
Posts: 2,936 +4,012
Spot on with the disposable cases, I have that exact case and it's a crapshow with the power button support breaking and now being held on with TAPE. Yeah effing sticky tape so I can turn it on. Luckily it's on its last use and the components will go into a real case soon.
There's a lot of people out there with no understanding of computers at all.
AND how many people that are building their own PC from parts know that little about the parts?
I mean you could also buy a Raspberry Pi CPU new for your (non-retro) gaming PC build if you knew nothing about it.
If you are forced to make concessions, like getting anything below a 9070 or a 5070, then I would advise you to simply get a PS5 Pro instead.
And yet, we didn't factor in all the rest of the components that are going to drag you out another 1000$.
And yet, we didn't factor in all the rest of the components that are going to drag you out another 1000$.
That's why they should stick to consoles. Even today, unless you are an enthusiast, I would not recommend building a computer for gaming.
It is going to cost you the double to have the same performances with decent hardware.
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Touching the pins on MB to start the PC works too, if the button fails.
RudyBob
Posts: 2,628 +2,945
To be fair, while more expensive, the PC can do more things than the console. Assuming you want to do any of those things on your gaming desktop it could easily justify the extra expense. Further, you can get PC games a lot cheaper if you don't buy them at launch which then evens out the console's initial cheaper price.
But setting that aside, I've always suggested people spend console money on their GPU if they want to be noticeably superior to the console. So at $700 for the PS5 Pro that lines up with your suggestion as well.
If you can't afford a $700 GPU, you may still want a PC over console to take advantages of modding. A current entry level GPU will noticeably beat a PS5 given the years since launch, but I don't think it will be much different than a Pro, so if one's budget is lower one should consider the pros and cons of PC vs console.
FYI I can still buy brand new floppy drive.
p51d007
Posts: 5,095 +5,233
I spend EXTRA on power supplies. Switching regulators can be cheap!
Always spend more on the power supply. As they say "garbage in, garbage out."
Always spend more on the power supply. As they say "garbage in, garbage out."
Dave92F1b
Posts: 9 +1
Also important to tell buyers not to waste money on card punches.
Dave92F1b
Posts: 9 +1
Those people need to stick with name brand PC makers...HP, Dell, etc. If you know nothing, play it safe.
Yppah
Posts: 149 +70
Knowledge, experience and know how are "priceless" when it comes to PC tech. Can save folks a mint so they can get parts they couldn't afford New. Better for less = Winning. Personally I prefer to buy for less and get more for my money. Peace of mind comes from the aforementioned. Unfortunately those things cannot be bought. Hence the "priceless" moniker. And New doesn't = peace of mind. Just the illusion of.
Well that's not really fair. We all started out knowing nothing. If someone wants to try and build a PC, or even upgrade an office machine, all this data is still very useful.
Lolwat. No, double the cost is going to get you way better performance. Consoles are running checkerboarded 1080p dithered at sub 30 FPS, that is bottom of the barrel for PC gaming. For double a PS5, that is $1200+, you can build a decent PC easily.
Besides, PCs have access to literally decades of backlogs and mods, plus are useful as productivity tools.
Id say skip the Thermaltake Smart as well. Also When looking at cheap motherboards keep VRM cooling in mind. If your CPU draws a lot of power through it the VRMs could go bad prematurly.
captaincranky
Posts: 20,416 +9,386
@Amir Shoam For just $40, you can get a 500W Thermaltake Smart with an 80+ rating, two GPU connectors, and a five-year warranty.
FWIW: This PSU doesn't even meet "bronze" specs. It's efficiency is listed as "White". I actually bought the 650 (?) watt version. In hindsight, I didn't think it was too good of an idea. So, it's still in its box for potential use as a "spare".
TT's supplies are more attractively priced than most. In two new builds, I opted for these:
Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 80+ Gold 600W SLI/Crossfire Ready Continuous Power ATX 12V https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-...-PS-TPD-0600NNFAGU-2/dp/B087CDR14Z?gQT=1&th=1
These are definite a step up, but have non modular wiring, which holds the price at only about $60.00. Still, at least for me, they provide a bit more piece of mind.
It's easy for beginners to get entranced with the idea of modular wiring. However, that's going to cost you at least $20.00 more, for pretty much the same internals.
The newest CPUs are somewhat intolerant of voltage ripple and fluctuation, both of which may be present if you go bargain basement on a PSU.
FWIW: This PSU doesn't even meet "bronze" specs. It's efficiency is listed as "White". I actually bought the 650 (?) watt version. In hindsight, I didn't think it was too good of an idea. So, it's still in its box for potential use as a "spare".
TT's supplies are more attractively priced than most. In two new builds, I opted for these:
Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 80+ Gold 600W SLI/Crossfire Ready Continuous Power ATX 12V https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-...-PS-TPD-0600NNFAGU-2/dp/B087CDR14Z?gQT=1&th=1
These are definite a step up, but have non modular wiring, which holds the price at only about $60.00. Still, at least for me, they provide a bit more piece of mind.
It's easy for beginners to get entranced with the idea of modular wiring. However, that's going to cost you at least $20.00 more, for pretty much the same internals.
The newest CPUs are somewhat intolerant of voltage ripple and fluctuation, both of which may be present if you go bargain basement on a PSU.
I agree that $60/$70 PSUs are better than $40 units and justify the price difference for all but the most budget-conscious builders, but that difference is still nothing compared to the difference between a $40 PSU and the ones described in this article.
captaincranky
Posts: 20,416 +9,386
I've read a post concerning he same concept, with respect to Gigabyte's DS3H 660M. Well granted, it doesn't have heat sinks with dragons, skulls, or lightning strikes on its VRMs.
To wit, "somebody's going to stuff an overclocked 12700K in it and it'll blow up".
I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out how someone's going to overclock that CPU on a x60 series Intel board anyway. My uneducated guess is that the board would/will easily handle the base power of that CPU (125 watts). But, I guess there's a lot I don't know...
MiqWalsh
Posts: 59 +57
So the advice is to buy the very most expensive of everything.....'cos, like, NATURALLY that's best.
Jeezus. Not all of us are on 100k+ / yr salaries.....nor are we prepared to bankrupt ourselves to keep up with the Jones's. Come down out of the clouds, my son. Some of us have no choice but to live in the real world....
Doesn't mean we can't dream, mind you. So; how about an article on the best tech which those of us of more modest means CAN actually afford? Be more to the point, y'know?
I'm NOT a 'gamer'.....but on the odd occasions when I'm at a loose end, I'm more than happy 'indie' gaming with a Pentium G5400, 32GB DDR4 and a GeForce GT710. Yep, go on; have a good laugh! Get it out of your systems....
Haven't got the patience with all that hyper-expensive AAA+ crap.
Miq.
Jeezus. Not all of us are on 100k+ / yr salaries.....nor are we prepared to bankrupt ourselves to keep up with the Jones's. Come down out of the clouds, my son. Some of us have no choice but to live in the real world....
Doesn't mean we can't dream, mind you. So; how about an article on the best tech which those of us of more modest means CAN actually afford? Be more to the point, y'know?
I'm NOT a 'gamer'.....but on the odd occasions when I'm at a loose end, I'm more than happy 'indie' gaming with a Pentium G5400, 32GB DDR4 and a GeForce GT710. Yep, go on; have a good laugh! Get it out of your systems....
Haven't got the patience with all that hyper-expensive AAA+ crap.
Miq.
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