Question Looking to replace 9 year old PC. Suggestions?

[Homerboy]

I'm currently running a 9 year old PC.

AMD Phenom II B55 - OC'ed and 4 cores unlocked
8GB RAM
750Ti (thanks @VirtualLarry ) that I used to keep it afloat for as long as I could.

I don't game too much on it anymore. I'm old and slow. I still play Path of Exile quite a bit and occasionally will fire up some other games - new and old. City Sky Lines, TF2 and I'd like to try out some newer games I guess with limited eye candy obviously.
I'm looking to keep this CHEAP. Used equipment is fine, but I'm not even sure what I should be looking for to be honest. I haven't been in the PC building process for... about 9 years

So what should I be looking for that will help out in some of those old games. But at the same time, not breaking my wallet. I could/should probably do CPU/MB/RAM first, reuse the 750Ti and then upgrade the GPU later on down the line.

Thanks for any input.

 

[whm1974]

I'm currently running a 9 year old PC.

AMD Phenom II B55 - OC'ed and 4 cores unlocked
8GB RAM
750Ti (thanks @VirtualLarry ) that I used to keep it afloat for as long as I could.

I don't game too much on it anymore. I'm old and slow. I still play Path of Exile quite a bit and occasionally will fire up some other games - new and old. City Sky Lines, TF2 and I'd like to try out some newer games I guess with limited eye candy obviously.
I'm looking to keep this CHEAP. Used equipment is fine, but I'm not even sure what I should be looking for to be honest. I haven't been in the PC building process for... about 9 years

So what should I be looking for that will help out in some of those old games. But at the same time, not breaking my wallet. I could/should probably do CPU/MB/RAM first, reuse the 750Ti and then upgrade the GPU later on down the line.

Thanks for any input.

First, what is your budget and how strict is it?

Second, given your current specs, it is entirely reasonable to do the CPU, MB, RAM first and reusing the GPU for now.

Third, how long do you expect this new system to last you?

 

[fralexandr]

could buy a prebuilt and later pick up a better PSU, GPU, and SSD and RAM

these computers are pretty well spec'd for the price, though I can't find any images of the inside. If the PSU isn't easily replaceable, you should be able to put in a 1050TI in them.
i5 8400 (6 core/6 thread) $429
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883101688&ignorebbr=1

i3 8100 (4 core/4 thread) $319
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883101686&ignorebbr=1

 

[whm1974]

could buy a prebuilt and later pick up a better PSU, GPU, and SSD and RAM

these computers are pretty well spec'd for the price, though I can't find any images of the inside. If the PSU isn't easily replaceable, you should be able to put in a 1050TI in them.
i5 8400 (6 core/6 thread) $429
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883101688&ignorebbr=1

i3 8100 (4 core/4 thread) $319
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883101686&ignorebbr=1

Those examples have fairly decent specs for the price they are selling at.

 

[VirtualLarry]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-90J...-2200G-with-Radeon-Vega-Graphics/113376148296

According to the ebay coupon thread in Hot Deals, there's another 10% off electronics coupon on Sun., Dec 16.

So, with that coupon, this Lenovo Ryzen 2200G PC would be under $300 shipped. (At least, it was for me, when the last coupon came around a week or two ago.)

I'm still waiting for the PC to get here (they e-mailed me about shipping delays to due to weather where they are), but it seems decent, for the specs. Only issue is, I think that the only warranty on it is 90 days from the vendor. Advertised as "Brand New", though.

Edit: I don't know how amenable this PC would be, PSU-wise, to adding a GPU, like a GTX 1050-class card without a separate PCI-E 6-pin connector. I think that the PSU is only 180W.

Edit: Coupon live today, Sat. Dec. 15th of 2018! 6 of those Lenovo 2200G PCs left.

(Haven't opened mine yet.)

 

[Sonikku]

You got a Walmart? This laptop is only $480.

https://slickdeals.net/f/12444505-h...-1tb-hdd-8gb-ram-15-cx0056wm-shadow-black-479

It has 8 gigs of ram, an i5 8300, 1tb spindle and a 1050ti for $480. If you want to upgrade the ram, it has another ram slot and even an m.2 slot if you decide to get a ssd or intel optane later. It is a laptop rather than a desktop, but you can still output it to a monitor and mouse/keyboard easily.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That laptop is a great deal... but if he made his last PC last 9 years... most laptops don't hold up past 3-5 years.

 

[Sonikku]

That laptop is a great deal... but if he made his last PC last 9 years... most laptops don't hold up past 3-5 years.

Poppycock. A gaming laptop can last 20!

 

[fralexandr]

Poppycock. A gaming laptop can last 20!

Hah, yeah, but upgrading their gpus isn't worth it even with replaceable mxm cards due to how expensive they tend to be

 

[Sonikku]

If it has to be a desktop, this deal is decent.

https://slickdeals.net/f/12454147-h...0-599-99-free-shipping-best-buy?src=frontpage

Solid 1080p gaming rig for $600 without any tinkering or fiddling with. As a bonus you have the peace of mind of knowing it has a psu powerful enough to push the gpu. Ideally, I would suggest a system with a Ryzen 2600 and 16gigs of ram if it's a system that needs to last nine years, marrying "cheap" with "Good enough for nine years" is tough.

 

[fralexandr]

If it has to be a desktop, this deal is decent.

https://slickdeals.net/f/12454147-h...0-599-99-free-shipping-best-buy?src=frontpage

Solid 1080p gaming rig for $600 without any tinkering or fiddling with. As a bonus you have the peace of mind of knowing it has a psu powerful enough to push the gpu. Ideally, I would suggest a system with a Ryzen 2600 and 16gigs of ram if it's a system that needs to last nine years, marrying "cheap" with "Good enough for nine years" is tough.

yep, only downside is that it uses a Small Form Factor PSU, however HP states it's a platinum rated one, and 400W should be good for something like a 1070 or 1080. So unless it dies there should be no problems. Decent SFF PSUs can be had for ~$50-$80, which isn't too bad, but they aren't as cheap as standard ATX ones.

 

[DigDog]

Aren't there like, minimum specs you need to have, to be a Lifer??
What kind of insult to the Pc enthusiast is showing here, on AT, with a NINE YEAR OLD COMPUTER !!
You, sir, are a disgrace! A disgrace, i say !!
Go out forthwith and purchase no less than a 9900k with due overclocking implements, and do not return afore having clocked five gigahertz !
(Just eBay some parts, cheap stuff)
Or $255 for an all new stuff, no gpu.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/dRgQ9J

 

[VirtualLarry]

What kind of insult to the Pc enthusiast is showing here, on AT, with a NINE YEAR OLD COMPUTER !!
You, sir, are a disgrace! A disgrace, i say !!

How do you think that those ATOT'ers have so much money?

I think that there's some sort of inverse rule between ATOT and the tech forums.

Tech forum users == broke, due to constant upgrading. Always have the latest tech, and the highest FPS and Cinebench scores. (*)

ATOT == rich, due to not upgrading their PCs for nine years, and thus have to make a pilgrimage to the tech forums to ask about new PCs every decade.

(*) @AdamK47 being a notable exception to the "broke" description. Though he probably does have the highest Cinebench scores. That, or some of our DC TeAm guys, with the TR2 rigs.

 

[Sonikku]

If it has to be a desktop, this deal is decent.

https://slickdeals.net/f/12454147-h...0-599-99-free-shipping-best-buy?src=frontpage

Solid 1080p gaming rig for $600 without any tinkering or fiddling with. As a bonus you have the peace of mind of knowing it has a psu powerful enough to push the gpu. Ideally, I would suggest a system with a Ryzen 2600 and 16gigs of ram if it's a system that needs to last nine years, marrying "cheap" with "Good enough for nine years" is tough.

Now $70 cheaper with free games!

https://slickdeals.net/f/12488725-h...9-99-free-shipping?src=catpagev2_catnav_games

Go for it, Homer!!

 

[whm1974]

Now $70 cheaper with free games!

https://slickdeals.net/f/12488725-h...9-99-free-shipping?src=catpagev2_catnav_games

Go for it, Homer!!

Not bad at all, add and 8 gigs to it and it should last a while.