Gaming PC For Christmas, is this a good one?

[ScarfaceOne 263]

OK, so this Gaming PC is one I want for christmas, will it play Battlefield 4 at high res settings?


 

CPU and Memory:

AMD A Series quad core.
A10 7700.
Processor speed 4.1GHz.
8GB RAM.
Hard drive:

2TB SATA-III hard drive.
DVD optical drives:

Dual layer.
Graphics:

Shared graphics.
ATI Radeon R7 with .
Interfaces and connectivity:

6 x USB 2.0 ports.
Ethernet port.
Wireless/Wi-Fi enabled.
Wired keyboard and mouse.
Operating system and software:

Microsoft Windows 8.1.

 

 

Will this cut it? I really want a Gaming PC. It's £450 by the way. What do you think?

[Scrubbed user 3,416]

Sounds like a pre-built. Link to the system?

[ScarfaceOne 263]

Sounds like a pre-built. Link to the system?

 

Yeah It's Prebuilt.

 

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3391747.htm

 

How good is it?

[Scrubbed user 3,416]

It seems to be a decent PC, but with pretty much every pre-built I've seen, components like the motherboard and power supply are unknown.

 

Here is a mostly similar build. I had to guess with the video card and the rest of the parts are from reputable manufacturers. I also left out the keyboard and mouse in case you already had ones you're planning to use.

 

It would cost a bit more, but I am sure you'll be getting quality parts.

Edited November 28, 2015 by Azure Flare

[Blaze Bronson 343]

This PC doesn't have a dedicated graphics card, but rather an integrated one in the CPU.

For gaming, this is not very good. You should expect something like this with that PC. It will essentially perform much worse than a console. Quite terrible.

 

Taken from one of the recommendations on the same site, I would recommend this one.

It will out perform consoles, and give you roughly this performance. That is exponentially better performance right there.

 

I see that my recommendation is actually on sale now, and it's quite a steal at that price. If you can buy it right away I'd recommend doing so.

 

Edit: I see now it's a Christmas wish so I guess the sale is irrelevant, so my other recommendation would then be this.

This one will also perform exponentially better, but not quite as good as my previous recommended one.

Edited November 28, 2015 by Blaze Bronson

[ScarfaceOne 263]

This PC doesn't have a dedicated graphics card, but rather an integrated one in the CPU.

For gaming, this is not very good. You should expect something like this with that PC. It will essentially perform much worse than a console. Quite terrible.

 

Taken from one of the recommendations on the same site, I would recommend this one.

It will out perform consoles, and give you roughly this performance. That is exponentially better performance right there.

 

I see that my recommendation is actually on sale now, and it's quite a steal at that price. If you can buy it right away I'd recommend doing so.

 

Edit: I see now it's a Christmas wish so I guess the sale is irrelevant, so my other recommendation would then be this.

This one will also perform exponentially better, but not quite as good as my previous recommended one.

 

But Intel i3 was always considered worse than I5. It's not very good for gaming.

 

I'd rather have a Pentium II over it, doesn't the number indicate the number of cores? Or like AMD The number of advancement?

It seems to be a decent PC, but with pretty much every pre-built I've seen, components like the motherboard and power supply are unknown.

 

Here is a mostly similar build. I had to guess with the video card and the rest of the parts are from reputable manufacturers. I also left out the keyboard and mouse in case you already had ones you're planning to use.

 

It would cost a bit more, but I am sure you'll be getting quality parts.

 

Actually, I calculated the price to Pounds, it's £423.

[Blaze Bronson 343]

But Intel i3 was always considered worse than I5. It's not very good for gaming.

 

I'd rather have a Pentium II over it, doesn't the number indicate the number of cores? Or like AMD The number of advancement?

 

The i3 is indeed worse compared to an i5. However in a 450 budget the money is better placed in a good graphics card.

 

The pentium has 2 cores (edit: the pentium II   I mean, as you mentioned)

The i3 has 2 cores and 2 threads

The i5 has 4 cores

The i7 has 4 cores and 4 threads

 

A thread is a virtual core, so the computer interprets the i3 as a quad-core. In the games coming out today, and in Battlefield 4 also, it's advantageous to have a quad-core (4 core) processor.

 

When it comes to the AMD side, they are falling behind, since they haven't released a new CPU architecture in 2+ years.

The only CPU I'd recommend from them at this point is the 860k, which is a very cheap quad-core. An i3 will still beat it however.

:grin2:

 

The main takeaway from all this however, is that the graphics card is the most important thing for gaming. It handles all of the graphic, while the CPU is more or less just support.

That's why you should always get a dedicated graphics card, and not one that is built into the CPU, as it performs much worse.

My second recommendation has a GTX 750ti, which is a solid card which will perform similarly to current gen consoles.

 

If you however decide to build your own PC, as @, mentioned, then I could help you chose the parts that gives the most performance for the money 

Edited November 28, 2015 by Blaze Bronson

[ScarfaceOne 263]

The i3 is indeed worse compared to an i5. However in a 450 budget the money is better placed in a good graphics card.

 

The pentium has 2 cores (edit: the pentium II   I mean, as you mentioned)

The i3 has 2 cores and 2 threads

The i5 has 4 cores

The i7 has 4 cores and 4 threads

 

A thread is a virtual core, so the computer interprets the i3 as a quad-core. In the games coming out today, and in Battlefield 4 also, it's advantageous to have a quad-core (4 core) processor.

 

When it comes to the AMD side, they are falling behind, since they haven't released a new CPU architecture in 2+ years.

The only CPU I'd recommend from them at this point is the 860k, which is a very cheap quad-core. An i3 will still beat it however.

:grin2:

 

The main takeaway from all this however, is that the graphics card is the most important thing for gaming. It handles all of the graphic, while the CPU is more or less just support.

That's why you should always get a dedicated graphics card, and not one that is built into the CPU, as it performs much worse.

My second recommendation has a GTX 750ti, which is a solid card which will perform similarly to current gen consoles.

 

If you however decide to build your own PC, as @, mentioned, then I could help you chose the parts that gives the most performance for the money 

 

Is GHZ a Factor as well? If this is 3.6 GHZ, how many games will I be able to play on high settings? 

 

So four factors.

 

The Processor.

The Graphics Card.

The GHZ

The Motherboard.

 

So does this mean that the i3, with virtual cores, can be easily overclocked and almost as equally powerful as the i5?

[The Viking Pony 12]

AMD A10 Elite Quad Core 7800 Kavari is an amazing APU. I have it, and when it's overclocked just a little it matches up to an i5. Besides that I have an AMD Radeon r9 255 graphics card, which runs my games pretty smooth. I can run GTA 4 in high graphics, also with CSGO and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited and Skyrim. 

 

Anyways. I would recommend you try to build your own Computer, it's a very easy process and much less expensive. I spend a little over 300 dollars on my gaming PC, and it runs absolutely amazing!

[ScarfaceOne 263]

AMD A10 Elite Quad Core 7800 Kavari is an amazing APU. I have it, and when it's overclocked just a little it matches up to an i5. Besides that I have an AMD Radeon r9 255 graphics card, which runs my games pretty smooth. I can run GTA 4 in high graphics, also with CSGO and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited and Skyrim. 

 

Anyways. I would recommend you try to build your own Computer, it's a very easy process and much less expensive. I spend a little over 300 dollars on my gaming PC, and it runs absolutely amazing!

 

Pre Built Christmas sounds better though.

[The Viking Pony 12]

I would gladly look for a few low price PC's which still runs games unexpectedly good. I work with these sorta things everyday. Just expect them to be a little more expensive than if you've built it yourself

[Blaze Bronson 343]

Is GHZ a Factor as well? If this is 3.6 GHZ, how many games will I be able to play on high settings? 

 

So four factors.

 

The Processor.

The Graphics Card.

The GHZ

The Motherboard.

 

So does this mean that the i3, with virtual cores, can be easily overclocked and almost as equally powerful as the i5?

 

GHz is a factor, however not all GHz are created equally, so it is not a good way to determine the power of a CPU. 

It's only a factor if you are comparing two of the same CPU's which runs at different GHz. For instance when overclocking.

 

The i3 is unfortunately not overclockable. The 860k is however.

The i5 (if it's name ends with a K) is overclockable.

I wouldn't worry about overclocking, without good enough cooling, there isn't too much to gain anyway.

 

A quick guide to finding a good pre-built would be something like this:

 

What is the graphics card?

If your budget is 450, I'd look for a 750ti, 760, 950, 960, r7 360 or r7 370. Any of these are good cards in that budget.

 

Then if it has a good graphics card, check the CPU.

An i5 is awesome, an i3 will perform good, and an 860k will be alright.

Also an FX-6000 or above will work

And an A8 or above will work.

 

Don't worry about the motherboard in pre-builts. They don't give any more performance. Only if you are overclocking you should consider a quality motherboard.

 

 

That become a lot of names and specifications... sorry 

You can send me links, and I can review the PCs for you if you want.

From the ones I have seen, this is still my recommendation.

[ScarfaceOne 263]

Also, got any advice for basic cooling? Cheap basic cooling?

[Blaze Bronson 343]

The 212 evo is a clasic, popular CPU cooler, and that's about what I know about coolers.

I do know that having 3 fans in the case is enough. Adding more gives very little extra cooling.

 

In pre-builts I guess they should have sufficient cooling. Adding a CPU cooler can be done if you plan to overclock.

[ScarfaceOne 263]

The 212 evo is a clasic, popular CPU cooler, and that's about what I know about coolers.

I do know that having 3 fans in the case is enough. Adding more gives very little extra cooling.

 

In pre-builts I guess they should have sufficient cooling. Adding a CPU cooler can be done if you plan to overclock.

 

Is it wise to put bottles of cold water next to it?

[Blaze Bronson 343]

Is it wise to put bottles of cold water next to it?

Next to the PC? Nope. Or maybe for 5 min until the water heats up, but I have never heard of anything like this as a solution, wouldn't recommend 

[ScarfaceOne 263]

Found a new one, an I5-750. £549, I know it sounds out of budget. But is it good so long as the chip isn't integrated? Hello?

Edited December 5, 2015 by ScarfaceOne

[Blaze Bronson 343]

Found a new one, an I5-750. £549, I know it sounds out of budget. But is it good so long as the chip isn't integrated? Hello?

Do you have a link to this? That's a first generation intel processor, and given we are now at the 6th generation, I don't know if I'd recommend it.

It does however depend on what else is in there, and I could check how it holds up

 

[ScarfaceOne 263]

Never mind, I think it's the one though.

[Mouse 302]

Please please please build your own computer. For 400£ you can build a computer that plays games twice as well as that prebuilt.

Edited December 12, 2015 by Mouse