How low can I go?

[fwtong]

I'm trying to build a super cheap gaming rig. That means that I don't need to have top of the line components. Instead, I'm just looking for something that's going to give me decent framerates playing on my old 17" monitor craking out 1280x1024 resolution on stuff like Bioshock and COD4. I just want something that's going to be a bit better then the Mobility x1600 on my laptop. My CPU budget is going to be roughly $100, maybe a little more, but not significantly more. I've been out of the CPU loop for a while, so I'm not sure what I'm looking at. I know I can get an AMD X2 5200+, but what are my other options going to be?

 

[Capitalizt]

Get an E2180 and Gigabye DS3L mobo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128059
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116052

This combination will overclock to 3ghz without breaking a sweat.

Throw in an 8800GS like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...A&Item=N82E16814150275

and you've got a $270 system that will run Bioshock silky smooth (50-60FPS) on the highest settings.

Enjoy

 

[fwtong]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely look into it. I forgot to add, I probably won't be overclocking because I'm too lazy.

 

[Glavinsolo]

3mins

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: fwtong
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely look into it. I forgot to add, I probably won't be overclocking because I'm too lazy.

As easy as overclocking is right now, it doesn't make sense not to in a budget rig. (Provided that you need the extra processing power and know enough to get yourself started.)

Read graysky's guide stickied at the top of the forum before you rule it out.

 

[Drsignguy]

With that setup, even a moderate OC would be worthwhile.

 

[hnzw rui]

Got a E2160 + P35-DS3R oc'ed to 2.4GHz at stock volts and cooling. 3GHz required vcore increase and I didn't like the load temps I was seeing (60C in relatively cool weather in socal). With the higher multi, E2180 will probably oc easier.

If you're not oc'ing, though, AMD is probably more bang for the buck.

 

[fwtong]

Sorry for the noob question, but I've been out of the game for a couple of years. But if I OC a 2xxx CPU, can I do so with stock cooling?

 

[deepin]

fyi, i overclocked my E1200 (same as 2xxx except lower cache) to 3.0g on stock cooling (the very thin one). temps during orthos is 55C max (stock voltage). mobo is p35ds3.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: fwtong
Sorry for the noob question, but I've been out of the game for a couple of years. But if I OC a 2xxx CPU, can I do so with stock cooling?

Absolutely. Temperatures will be lower with a better aftermarket cooler, but you can overclock using the stock heatsink without damaging a 2xxx chip.

 

[hnzw rui]

Originally posted by: fwtong
Sorry for the noob question, but I've been out of the game for a couple of years. But if I OC a 2xxx CPU, can I do so with stock cooling?

Yep. That's what I'm doing. Stopped at 2.4 because of temps (sunny Cali), but if you live somewhere colder, should be easy to go higher.

 

[Martimus]

I made up a spreadsheet for questions like this (I got them all the time, and it was easier to just make a tool to help with all the decisions.) It should help you figure out what sacrifices you want to make on the build, by showing relative prices of some of the most common components.

Computer Building Tool

 

[v8envy]

As a gamer on a $71 E2180 I can tell you this is sound advice indeed. Mild overclocks are a complete no-brainer since these specs run at 200 mhz fsb for marketing reasons. Fire up the bios, lock the PCIe at 100 mhz and type '266' into the FSB field and you're DONE. 2.66 mhz on a E2180 with zero effort. More than that will take a bit of reading and testing.

You could even go ghetto with the graphics card by getting a $60ish 8600GT. At low res it should get you by, and won't require a manly PSU. You could probably do the whole machine build sans OS for under $250.