Advice on new/old gaming build for a kid?

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Sleepingforest

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Nov 18, 2012
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You'll need dual-link DVI and you'll basically be limited to non-AAA games (the 7770, a similar card from 2 generations up, struggles to power ultra or even high at 1080p) but it should be posssible.
 
IntoxicatedPuma

IntoxicatedPuma

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Apr 21, 2012
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I gave my 11 year old nephew my old gaming computer (well sort of refurbished it), a Asus G41 motherboard, E6850 Core2Duo and then I put in a GTX 550 ti I had and upgraded to a HD6850. It does all right for gaming but I also kept the two old 160GB WD Hard drives and just installed a copy of XP from an old netbook I had. I think I spent $40 for the Rosewill Ranger case, $40 on the Silverstone 400W PSU, $45 on the G41 motherboard, and then just because I was bored I threw a Corsair H60 water cooler in there. He plays a lot of minecraft and I was really disappointed with the results, my Thinkpad Twist runs at significantly higher FPS than the system I gave him does. I'm not sure what kind of games he plays but I think you could probably go without a graphics card these days, it's not like he's going to have the money to be playing the latest and greatest games. I figure most younger kids don't really get into the new stuff. Oh I also ditched the DVD drive on the computer because I figured he's never going to use that. I barely use my own DVD drive and almost feel like it's about how a floppy was 10 years ago, you'll need it every once in awhile but 99% of the time it just sits there. I don't really know how young kids think but I'm guessing they feel the same way about physical media in general that I did about floppys and VHS in the 90s growing up.
 
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Insert_Nickname

Diamond Member
May 6, 2012
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Charles Kozierok said:
Hmm, looks like my video card is the cryptically named EAH5770 CUcore/G/2DI/1GD5, which it appears will drive 2560x1600. Anyone see anything there that suggests I'll have an issue doing that?
Click to expand...

So long as it has a dual-link DVI, no problem. The 5770 can drive a 1600p monitor, but I would not expect it to be able to do much gaming. You'll most likely be limited to low-medium settings at that high resolution.
 
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Charles Kozierok

Elite Member
May 14, 2012
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The high resolution is only for regular use.

I am mostly a light gamer. I can see myself occasionally playing an RPG or something but I'm fine to reduce the resolution for that.

I'm pretty sure the card is dual-link since the specs say 2560x1600, so assuming the monitor is, I just need a new cable, correct? Haven't played with monitors in a long time...

Anyone have any thoughts on how decent the IGP in the IB Pentium will be? I'm assuming the IGP in an AMD Trinity would be a lot better, but will the Intel handle light gaming, stuff like Minecraft and so forth? If I have to add a video card, it makes the Dell deal less of a deal.
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
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I would expect the monitor to be bundled with a DL-DVI cable

IB Pentium graphics is HD 2500, it can drive 2560x1600 as well. It can handle minecraft at a lower resolution just fine
 
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Insert_Nickname

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May 6, 2012
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lehtv said:
I would expect the monitor to be bundled with a DL-DVI cable

IB Pentium graphics is HD 2500, it can drive 2560x1600 as well. It can handle minecraft at a lower resolution just fine
Click to expand...

Provided the MB in question has dual-link DVI... :whiste:
 
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Charles Kozierok

Elite Member
May 14, 2012
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I don't need my son's machine to drive 2560x1600, just mine. I'm only bringing that up to figure out if I need a new video card for my box, in which case I'd give him my video card and get a new one. But if mine will work okay at 2560x1600 and he will be okay with the IB IGP, I don't need a video card.
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
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You just have to make sure the motherboard has DP. The monitor should also preferably have DP, otherwise you need an active DP to DL-DVI adapter.
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
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Ah right, I misread you there a bit, sorry. Yes you don't need DP.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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www.mfenn.com
Charles Kozierok said:
Intel Pentium G2020 Processor (3M Cache, 2.9 GHz)
Windows 8
Dell Outlet Inspiron 660 Slimtower
500GB 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
4GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz
16X DVD +/- RW Drive
Intel HD Integrated Graphics
Black Bezel
Slim Tower
Dell DW1506 (802.11 b/g/n) WLAN half mini-Card
USB Keyboard
Dell USB Optical Mouse
120V Power Cord
Heatsink
Windows 64 Bit

I'd have to make sure that I can put an after-market video card in there though. I don't know if the IGP will be enough.
Click to expand...

I highlighted the critical part of the spec. You will only be able to put a half-height card in that machine, which limits you to very low end cards. I'd look for the normal Midtower version of the same machine.
 
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Charles Kozierok

Elite Member
May 14, 2012
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So I'm putting this machine together and trying to size the PSU.

Given a Socket 1155 board, Pentium or i3 processor, 4-8 GB of RAM, single mid-grade GPU, and one hard drive plus possibly a small SSD -- I'm assuming a decent 430W will suffice?

Thanks.
 
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Hubb1e

Senior member
Aug 25, 2011
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250W would suffice but they don't sell many. The Corsair builders series 430W has been a good choice for a cheap PSU.
 
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Charles Kozierok

Elite Member
May 14, 2012
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Thanks, that's what I figured. A little breathing room is good too.

That series is what I was looking at. There's actually a nice rebate on them. But I'm annoyed because Newegg raised the price by $5 while it was in my cart. I hate when they do that. :)
 
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Insert_Nickname

Diamond Member
May 6, 2012
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Hubb1e said:
The Corsair builders series 430W has been a good choice for a cheap PSU.
Click to expand...

Termie said:
Agreed.

Check out the Corsair CX430M. It's modular, so you can pick and choose the cables you need.
Click to expand...

Both the CX430 and CX430M is an excellent choice. However you can usually get the CX500 for the same price as the 430M, so its a question how much modular cables is worth to you... (They're priceless if you have a cramped or slimline case... :))
 
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Charles Kozierok

Elite Member
May 14, 2012
6,762
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I actually don't care about modular, and you're right about their prices being the same. But there's a $20 rebate card on the 430 right now, and only $10 on the 500.. and since it seems the 430 is enough, might as well go for that.

Thanks. :)
 
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