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| GM 206 GPU |
We were inspired to create this list from the plethora of options and deals currently available for gaming PCs. PC hardware is at an unbelievable price/performance ratio, especially for those targeting the mid-range spectrum of available GPUs. Both Nvidia and AMD have GPUs that provide about enough performance to handle any game for less than $200. This article, however, is going to focus on AMD and its hardware to build a custom gaming PC.
A custom gaming PC doesn't have to be expensive to enjoy, contrary to what some believe. So we set out to build the cheapest mid-range build that we could find without sacrificing playable frame rates at 1080p. And so, here is our findings, all new parts. {We will keep this up to date also}.
I. Mid-range PC For Gaming In 1080p
This custom build could also serve as a media center PC, considering the plethora of options available through your browser. The list of free movie services alone such as Crackle and Popcorn Flix provide plenty of content to users without the need to spend a dime. For a complete list of the many entertainment ideas available through your browser, check out our Remedies For PC Boredom.
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CPU
-AMD FX-8320 3.5 Ghz {4 Ghz Boost} 8-Core Processor
-Price -$141.88 {Amazon.com}
-If you're building your gaming PC on a budget, then an AMD CPU is the way to go. Sure, Intel's processors are faster, but they are also more expensive, plus, this processor will be more than enough muscle for atleast the next few years. Since all 8 cores are clocked relatively high, you won't ever have to worry about bottlenecking your GPU, and when the time comes for more needed speed, just overclock it. Pair this with a mid-range or high-end GPU and you've got yourself a performance winner.
MOTHERBOARD
- ASROCK N68-GS4 FX Socket AM3+ MicroATX Motherboard
-Price -$42.99 {Amazon.com}
-When buying a CPU, it is important to make sure the accompanied motherboard is compatible. This motherboard works with AMD FX series processors, giving you a path to upgrade when a new CPU arrives. It also features a PCI express 3.0 X 16 slot for when you are ready to upgrade to a dedicated GPU, and 4 SATA2 ports for extra connectivity. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better motherboard to put inside of your budget gaming PC than this one.
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RAM {MEMORY}
-Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1) DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz
-Price -$44.25 {Amazon.com}
-8GB of memory is the lowest amount you should buy if you plan to play games on your PC, especially if it has an APU inside. This is also true concerning the clock speed of the memory, since the APU's rely on the system's memory. This stick of RAM has you covered, as its clocked at 1600 Mhz. Though its not the latest or fastest form of memory one could buy, if your on a budget, it fits the bill. It also only takes up one memory slot on your motherboard, so you can always buy another 8GB {or 16GB} stick of memory in the future for a quick upgrade.
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HARDRIVE
-Seagate ST3750640NS 750 GB SATA II 7200 RPM Hardrive
-Price -$36.00 {Amazon.com}
-For those on a budget and want enough space on their hardrives for their stored data, this one would be hard to pass up on. This is the cheapest HDD around with 750GB of space while spinning at 7200 RPM. Its true that an SSD or even a terabyte or 2 of space are better choices, they are also more expensive choices. This is a good fit for those looking for a cheaper gaming PC than those with more expensive equipment. Plus, if you ever want to upgrade to more space,then adding an extra SSD or HDD would be simple and easy, given you have an extra SATA port available.
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GPU {Graphics Card}
-MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB GDDR5
-Price - $184.99 {Amazon.com}
-If your looking to play your games at 1080p, then this card has got you covered. It can run all the latest AAA games on ultra settings at a pretty good frame-rate. Plus, if you play any older games with this card, you could play them in a higher resolution by using DSR
{Dynamic Scale Resolution}. You can check out benchmarks for this card below to see that, for the price, this would be a hard bargain to beat.
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CASE {TOWER}
-Rosewill Dual Fans MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case
-Price -$29.99 {Amazon.com}
-While there are much better cases out there than this one, they cannot touch this one concerning price for those on a budget. Also, for what it is, this Rosewill case is pretty good on airflow and space. As long as you're not planning on cross-firing 2 full length GPUs, this case should serve you well. Its dual fan design will keep your components from overheating, and should fit any full sized graphics card. Its also pretty sturdy, in case you need{or want} to move it often.
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PSU {POWER SUPPLY}
-EVGA 500 W1 80+, 500W 3 Year Warranty Power Supply
-Price -$44.99 {Amazon.com}
Although we're building a relatively cheap gaming PC, we cannot skimp on the power supply. You want to make sure you're getting a reliable PSU, preferably one with a 80+ certificate. 500 Watts should be the minimum and it should have its own PCI-e connectors. This power supply has both and isn't rough on your wallet. Plus its made by a graphics card vendor, so you could say that this is a gaming power supply. EVGA cards are known for being both good quality and low costing so its no wonder that their PSU is the same.
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DVD DRIVE
-Samsung SATA 1.5 Gb-s Optical Drive
-Price -$18.62 {Amazon.com}
-Truth be told, a DVD drive isn't necessary when building a custom PC. You could always load windows from a thumb drive{even though that method requires the availability of another computer to setup}. Also, you could get most if not all of your favorite content online or through streaming services, so this option has lost most of its popularity over the years thanks to digital distribution networks. But for those of you who bought a normal Windows DVD and/or like to buy the hard copies of their video games and movies{like we still do occasionally}, this is pretty much needed.
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OS {OPERATING SYSTEM}
-Windows 8.1 System Builder OEM DVD 64-Bit
-Price -$89.99 {Amazon.com}
-Again, like the DVD drive, a new windows isn't needed in all situations. But for those of you who have never build a gaming PC before, and do not possess a windows product key, this is going to be an option you are going to need. Considering the fact that most video games, programs, and streaming services only work under a windows environment, there is no other option than to run it on you PC. On the bright side Windows 10 just released and its free for those who purchase any windows OS 7 or better. So get Windows 8.1, upgrade, and enjoy Windows 10.
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KEYBOARD AND MOUSE {PERIPHERALS}
-Kensington Keyboard and Mouse for Life Wired Desktop Set
-Price -$12.95 {Amazon.com}
-And finally, to finish off our cheap gaming PC is a cheap keyboard and mouse combo. Really, there isn't anything special about this set, only the fact it isn't expensive. You could do a lot better for more money of course, but we wanted the bare minimum for what it was worth. You probably know someone with a set just lying around, and if you do, you could shave this off of the price.
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>Total: $646.65
-Price without OS & Dvd Drive: $538.04
That is a lot of gaming performance for the asking price. With the GTX 960, gaming in 1080p at or near ULTRA settings shouldn't be a problem atleast for a couple of more years. Everything you need to get started is listed in the build also. I included a price without OS and DVD drive because many people can get or use their own copy of Windows and PC gaming has shifted towards digital downloads to the point where DVD drives are more optional than necessary. So lets see how well this custom build performs in current-gen AAA titles, shall we?
II. Performance Benchmarks
Remember that anything at or above 30 frames per second {fps} is considered playable. Frame rates of 45 and higher is considered smooth, and frame rates of 60 or better are considered optimal.
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Resolution:
1280X720 = 720p
1366X768 = 768p
1600X900 = 900p
1920X1080 = 1080p
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Exclusive games:
Multi-platform Games:
This rig shows excellent performance across 10 of the most recently released multi-platform games available. If your willing to dial some settings back, 60 fps isn't out of reach in most if not all of these games, even Metro Last Light Redux. A combination of high and medium {more high than medium} settings provides a smooth 60 fps actually. Call of Duty: AW doesn't need any more than what this card dishes, performing at over 120 fps.
Its safe to say that, for as low as $533, you could get a gaming PC that performs exceptionally well at 1080p. Most games can be reached if you fiddle around with the graphical setting a little bit. Things like shadows, SSAO, and DoF set to high or medium will free up enough resources needed to push the frame-rate into the 60's. PC gaming gives its users such choices as these, like choosing between performance and image quality. Even if you choose to leave the settings on ultra, you'd still be getting very playable frame-rates from all the games on the market. If you've always wanted to take the jump into PC gaming and want a rig that will give you ultra settings at 1080p and smooth frame-rates, you really can't do too much better than this one. Build this rig, and you'd be set for years before upgrading even comes into the picture.
