Small Gaming PC

ViperGTI

ViperGTI

New member
So I've decided to build a gaming PC for my wife. Actually, I've had the idea for a while and even saved some of my old components. Have two MSI Geforce 560 TIs that I can SLI as well as a hard drive and monitor... Now for the rest.
Catch is that I'm going to try and buy most of it using eBucks so I can only buy at Kalahari (or Incredible Connection I suppose). I got the idea when I answered another thread earlier and eBucks was mentioned.
I'm pretty much clueless as to what are what these days, but I've created a shortlist of components I still need to buy.

Here is what I'm looking at so far. Feel free to comment or make recommendations... especially at the mainboard and PSU.

CPU: Intel Core i5 4460 3.2GHz (Cheapest i5 I could find)
RAM: ADATA 2Gb DDR3 1600MHz
Case: Corsair Carbide SPEC-02 (Cheapest case I could find at Kalahari)

Mainboard (3 options):
- Asrock Fatal1ty FM2A88X+ Killer
- MSI H97M-G43 Intel Motherboard
- MSI Z97 PC MATE Intel Motherboard
(I do like MSI due having used them in the past... and currently in my PC)

Power Supply (Not sure which size / type to get for this sized PC... Here are some options):
- Thermaltake® LitePower™ 550W - ATX 12V 2.2
- Spire Silent Eagle 450W Power Supply

The idea is to keep it a cheap as possible and still have a decent gaming pc. As I upgrade my pc, my components will obviously transfer over to hers. I'm just waiting for a proper replacement CPU to become available that will be worth the cost to replace my i7 2600k.
 
When I saw your thread title, I thought you meant you want a small gaming PC, as in Mini-ITX platform. As I have some great suggestions if you do change your mind later
 
blaaislaai said:
When I saw your thread title, I thought you meant you want a small gaming PC, as in Mini-ITX platform. As I have some great suggestions if you do change your mind later
Click to expand...

Haha I thought the same thing.

ViperGTI, you must do as I do. I don't upgrade my computer, I buy a new one and then the wife gets the old one. :) My wife currently has a computer that's just not cutting it with some of the games that she likes to play. So I'm going to buy a new computer for me and then she gets my old one which is about 5 years old now. Unfortunately this isn't going to happen now since I still have to save up the money.

But Joker, I always see people contacting you when they build computers and hopefully in a couple of months that will be me.

ViperGTI, you can also look at Carbonite for some good secondhand deals.
 
Just a couple of questions...

- Your wife is allowed to use a computer?
- Why would she need a computer in the kitchen?

And now for the serious stuff, I'd also get a MSI MB, 4GB RAM at the bare minimum and get the Thermaltake PSU. Should be good for most things to run well on based on the CPU/GPU combination mentioned in your post.
 
I see I'm not the only one who thought SFF gaming PC. If that were the case, definitely get hold of Joker - my Bitfenix Colossus M is a purdy little machine. Mind you, just get hold of him anyway.
 
I'll definitely do 4Gb RAM... Was just looking at the 2Gb RAM DIMM cause I think a lot of mainboards require 2 slots to be filled at a time, so was looking at 2x2Gb.

Solitude said:
Haha I thought the same thing.

ViperGTI, you must do as I do. I don't upgrade my computer, I buy a new one and then the wife gets the old one. :) My wife currently has a computer that's just not cutting it with some of the games that she likes to play. So I'm going to buy a new computer for me and then she gets my old one which is about 5 years old now. Unfortunately this isn't going to happen now since I still have to save up the money.

But Joker, I always see people contacting you when they build computers and hopefully in a couple of months that will be me.

ViperGTI, you can also look at Carbonite for some good secondhand deals.
Click to expand...

I also had the same idea (with transferring components anyway, not buying a whole new PC). Which is why I saved my GPUs when I got a new one. However, for me to upgrade my CPU and Mainboard... Not sure it is worth the cost with the amount of performance I'll gain. If I had to replace CPU, mainboard and RAM (at least 20Gb), it would probably cost around R10k. This "small" gaming PC should work out around R6k, and that includes the case, PSU, DVD writer. The idea is though to get a cheap-ish gaming PC up and running so that I can just transfer my main components from my PC over a year or two or three when I eventually upgrade again.
 
Ok, so feedback needed please.
- Will either of the PSUs mentioned above be ok?
- Will a single 4Gb RAM work in the MSI mainboards or do they need to be 2x2Gb dimms?
 
1. Yes, the PSUs look good.
2. It should, will just not run dual channel (the performance gains are so tiny though. You can get another 4GB later and then have dual channel).
 
You don't need 2 modules to run, however to get the benefits of dual banks it is better (speed etc).

Personally I would advise going for 2x 4gb modules. You don't need the best memory either, just something mid range since you aren't overclocking it to hell and back. But with most software today it helps so much more having the extra memory available.

PSU - go with the 550 as a minimum. You could make it work on the smaller size but pricing just says do it right from the beginning.
 
GTX 560 ti is pretty power hungry, not sure a 550w would be able to handle both oh them.

It might be better selling off those two GTX 560 ti, getting a cheaper motherboard.
http://www.kalahari.com/Technology/MSI-H81-P33_p_49320986 (think this one is ATX)

And just buying a Galaxa GTX 960 which would be much more power efficient and that would actually work on a 550w and even 450w.

Would probably work out the same cashwise, considering you would have to get a bigger power supply.
The rest of the saving you'll send up making via your power bill so at the end of the day it'll work out cheaper and you'll have a new card that's under warranty.
 
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Solitude said:
ViperGTI, you must do as I do. I don't upgrade my computer, I buy a new one and then the wife gets the old one. :)
Click to expand...

Ok... you talked me into it... partly :)

I got the MSI z97s SLI Plus mainboard at a nice price from Kalahari (basically the same price that I was going to pay for the MSI PC-Mate) so I figured that for R2500, I can just as well buy the Intel I7 4790K 4.00 Ghz and have a pretty nice upgrade from my I7 2600k. Besides, my PC needs a good cleaning anyway and there's no better time than when all components are out of the case.

Now I just have one question with regards to Windows 7 (Gaming OS) and 8.1 (Work OS). Will they be "friendly" towards the new mainboard and CPU? Or should I ready myself for some blue screens and fresh installations of both operating systems?


[MENTION=328]hideinlight[/MENTION]... Thanks for your suggestion. Strongly considered it until Solitude talked my into that other idea above. :)
 
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I'm glad that you decided to spoil yourself. :) I'm thinking that Windows 7 and 8.1 will be friendly with the new mainboard. You may need to install new drivers though. However I'm not an expert in these kind of things.
 
ViperGTI said:
Now I just have one question with regards to Windows 7 (Gaming OS) and 8.1 (Work OS). Will they be "friendly" towards the new mainboard and CPU? Or should I ready myself for some blue screens and fresh installations of both operating systems?
Click to expand...

Why do you want to dual boot? With the advances of DirectX Windows 8.1 is the better option for gaming. In games like BF4 I get up to 20fps more than on Win 7. I prefer the look of Win 7 but I love the gaming performance of 8.1
 
ClockworkNinja said:
Why do you want to dual boot? With the advances of DirectX Windows 8.1 is the better option for gaming. In games like BF4 I get up to 20fps more than on Win 7. I prefer the look of Win 7 but I love the gaming performance of 8.1
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Well, firstly duel boot to keep my work and gaming separate. I don't install anything funny on my work OS.
The Windows 7 for gaming though is to ensure that all the games work. I've heard that a lot of games have some compatibility issues with Windows 8, especially some of the older ones.

I'll maybe consider installing Windows 8.1 for gaming on a 3rd partition but I don't really have time to waste at the moment. I'm either busy working or gaming or not doing anything with a PC at all. No wasting of time in-between, but maybe someday.
 
Ok, I got the Intel Core i7-4790K (4GHz) CPU. Will the standard cooler that comes with the CPU be enough? My plan is to basically install the CPU onto the new mainboard and simply press the MSI's Overclock Genie button to handle the overclocking.
 
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