Barebones Pc to build for gaming purposes

Hillfly

Can anyone suggest a competitively proced barebones pc that could be added to in order to get a reasonable gaming unit together. Doesn't have to be very top of the range stuff - just for occasional gaming mainly on flight sims and the like. This is for a gift the idea being the recipient can get the more expensive extras in the new year (Graphics cards etc etc).

All help much appreciated.

djheath

Hmmm thats a bit of a catch 22 with that one I think. The reason is, from my experience, if your were to get a bare bones PC then they wont really incorporate the ideal components to then add high spec components at a later date. Its a bit like buying a mini for someone - its a car it will get you there, but when they want to make it perform like a ferrari they will end up replacing just about everything so that the engine power isn't wasted on the existing brakes, suspension, chassis etc. If you bought say a basic DELL then the motherboard, RAM etc will be good, but not great when it comes to adding more graphics processing etc. You could add more RAM at a later date, but why bother when the mother board wont use it as quickly as a more expensive top spec one.

Then on the other hand you get a top spec PC. This will have good CPU, RAM, mother board etc, but will probably have everything else you need that you want at a later date so is pointless if you want to upgrade.

Personally, I would look at getting a top spec bundle - something like a case, motherboard, PSU, CPU, RAM and a hardisk. This will get you a PC that will be top spec and then you will be able to add all the extra bits when needed and be more inclined to be upgradeable in the future.
This site is very good:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=339

Hillfly

A fair point and one I sort of discovered. As this is for a gift I can't really afford the full bundle option - hence the thoughts of getting a barebones with potential.

BillScarab

What do you mean by barebones? Do you ean a basic PC that is upgradable or a bundle where you get Motherboard, CPU, Case PSu etc. and the buy your own Video card, discs etc. ?

Hillfly

I would take either as the recipient of the gift is capable of either building or upgrading. Best value wins!

BillScarab

What's your budget?

Scan have a CPU, Motherboard, Memory, Cooler, Hard disc combo at the moment on their mixit page.

http://www.scan.co.uk/mixit/ it's option 5, but it is over £300

Overclockers also have some bundles

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=339

Or I configured this on pcspecialist, everything except a Graphics card

Here is your chosen specification...
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™2 Duo E4500 (2 X 2.20GHz) 800MHz FSB/2MB L2 Cache
Memory (RAM)
2GB CORSAIR DDR2 667MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x1GB)
Motherboard
ASUS® P5VD2-VM: DDR2, S-ATA II, 1 x PCI-E x16, 2 PCI, etc
Operating System
WINDOWS® VISTA Home Premium (inc Genuine CD & License) (£59)
USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS (4 REAR + 2 FRONT) AS STANDARD
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
160GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7200rpm)
2nd Hard Disk
NONE
RAID (HDD 1 & 2)
NONE
1st CD/DVD Drive
16x DVD-ROM WITH 48x CD-ROM
2nd CD/DVD Drive
NONE
Graphics Card
NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A GRAPHICS CARD
2nd Graphics Card
NONE
Sound Card
6 Channel SoundMAX High Definition Audio (Standard on P5VD2-VM)
Modem
NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND
Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Floppy Disk Drive
NONE
Memory Card Reader
NONE
Case
Stylish Black/Silver Trident case + 2 front USB
Power Supply & Case Cooling
STANDARD 350W (Peak) Dual Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan
Processor Cooling
STANDARD CPU COOLER
Firewire & Video Editing
NONE
TV Card
NONE
Monitor
NONE
2nd Monitor
NONE
DVI Cable
NONE
Keyboard & Mouse
NONE
Mouse
NONE
Speakers
NONE
Printer
NONE
Surge Protection
NONE
Webcam & VoIP
NONE
Media Center Kit
NONE
Anti-Virus
NONE
Office Software
NONE
Warranty
1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1st Month Free Collect & Return
Delivery
Standard Insured Delivery to UK Mainland (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)
Quantity
1


Other Features Included As Standard...
Software
CD/DVD authoring software and Power DVD software is included with all DVD Writers.
Ports
Each computer comes with 1 x PS/2 keyboard port and either 1 x PS/2 mouse port or 2 extra USB ports.
Fans
Where necessary your computer will come with extra case fans fitted.
Memory
Our memory comes with a 100% tested lifetime warranty!
Bezels
All our drives come in either silver, black or beige and are all of a
high quality & matched brand.
Support
We offer lifetime hardware technical support during normal office hours.
Cables & Manuals
A power cable, all drivers, manuals, and a heatsink & fan are included with every order.
Service
Our computers come fully assembled & thoroughly tested. We are so confident
in the quality of our computers that we offer a free collection and re-delivery service* should you ever have a problem with your computer.
Installation
If you order an operating system it will come fully installed with the CD and licence key.
And Finally
If you are lucky enough to have seen a cheaper quote, click here.


Price for this PC System:
Price for this PC System:

£280.00 ex VAT.

£329 inc VAT and Delivery.

Our computers are far cheaper than the high street prices!

Click here for current delivery lead times.

Hillfly

Thanks for your time.

I have dcided to go for the machine linked below and the upgrade the CPU and Graphics at alater date. This should suffice and is much closer tot he £200 budget i was thinking of.

http://www.pcwb.com/catalogue/item/HPPC1194

BillScarab

It will be even closer when you claim the cashback!

spakkker

What m/board does it use? I guess it's pcie-16 graphics, its a micro tower, will it be big enough?

CHR15

That is a great machine for the money. I linked to some specs here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=639029


The mainboard is an: MSI 0A7C (from Belarc Advisor)

The only negative of course is the onboard graphics (Radeon Express 1150) but the PCIe-16 slot gives it the option to upgrade. It would be wise to also up the PSU from it's standard 250W unit as fitted.

Very quiet machine, the Western Digital 250GB hard drive clicking away is pretty much the only noise from it.

£50 cashback from HP AND 5% from Quidco bring it down to around £176!!