Creator1234 said:
Hello there!
Ok Im finally considering making the leap to PC gaming from Console gaming, but My current Desktop PC is well... crap and cant even run the likes of L4D or TF2 so what im saying is Is there a Desktop Computer for £300 or less that can easily run these games
I think I found one but im not sure can someone tell me if this pc is any good:
Intel Celeron E1400 Dual Core (2.00GHz, 512KB)
Windows Vista
1GB DDR 2 Memory
160GB SATA hard drive(7200 rpm)
256MB NVIDIA Geforce 7050 Graphics
Dual Layer DVD rewriter
6x USB ports
10/100 Network Lan Port
Any Replys would really Help THANKS!
Like the others, I would suggest researching what each piece of hardware is doing for your computer so that you can understand which specs are important when making a purchase.
The best way to get a gaming computer for the best price, is to select each part yourself. It'll be a better computer, and at a cheaper price. If you don't know how to assemble a computer there are online stores that let you select each part online and they'll put it together for you (it'll cost about 100-150USD more, but it should also come with a warranty on the whole PC as well, which is easier than dealing with a whole bunch of individual part warranties). But the internet is there to teach you how to put it together yourself, and they come with manuals anyway. Putting a computer together is simple, not much more involved than sticking things into the holes that fit, so I'd encourage saving money by learning to do it yourself.
To learn about each type of component, I'd recommend just reading reviews on products in that category. I'd start with Toms Hardware, or HardOCP (www.hardforum.com has categorized forums where you can ask questions about each specific part. Everybody there wants to help you.)
General rule of thumb, you want to get technology that's at least one step BEHIND the cutting edge. The most advanced product is extremely expensive, but when they are released, the previous product is reduced in price.
Store bundles are generally rubbish. The problems with the PC in the OP are:
1)A weak CPU(Try looking for a core 2 duo, and perhaps at a slightly higher clockspeed. o)
2)Only 1gb of ram (2GB of ram is cheap of obtain and it's a BIG step up from 1gb. But keep in mind the speed of the RAM matters as well, the motherboard determines what RAM speed is usable. You don't need more than 2gb of ram in your situation.
3)A weak GPU(You'd want a geforce 8800 or better).
7200 rpm is fine for the harddrive, because faster RPM stuff costs quite a bit more, for not a whole lot of improvement in load time. Not a big upgrade priority from a bang-for-buck perspective.
USB ports, and network ports aren't important to look at since they come with any motherboard, and the disc drive is easily upgraded(but just about any disc drive is good enough)
Don't worry about overclocking, it'll just make things complicated. Most people don't do it, and all of them don't need to. It's just a hobby.
It's really not that hard to research, and it's very rewarding. This will be a significant purchase so being informed will make the best use of your money. Take your time, prices will only go down in the meantime anyway. Always read reviews for any product you're considering. Ideally a review including comparisons to competing products.
300GBP (~475USD) is ambitious for a gaming PC, but it should be doable I think. Good luck!
