The most budget gaming computer. The cheapest computer

It's no secret to any of us that today Personal Computer can be used not only as a work assistant, but also as a gaming platform, for which a huge number of games have been released today. But what if you have a limited budget and want to buy a fast car?

We will try to help you and tell you which components you need to pay special attention to.

What components are suitable for a budget gaming computer?

First, and most importantly, you need to understand that a powerful budget gaming computer You will only be able to buy it if you assemble it yourself from ready-made components that can be found in any electronics store today.

Second, what I would like to draw attention to, especially for novice “assemblers”, is the correct choice of components of the future system so that their performance is balanced and the price range is approximately the same. Remember, you have a limited budget and it is not wise to buy a video card for 19,000 rubles, and leave 5,000 rubles for the processor and motherboard.

Since we are talking about components, we will move directly to their selection. Building a budget gaming computer starts with process selection- Intel or AMD. Both companies have powerful, inexpensive solutions, but you can focus on models Intel Core Latest generation i5 or i7 or similar solutions from AMD. Processors of these types can be bought today for approximately 15,000 - 25,000 rubles. It is also worth solving the issue with its cooling and buying a good cooler with a large radiator.

Next step - motherboard selection for our processor, and here it is important to pay attention to the chipset (chipset) and the socket for compatibility with the processor - for Intel Core-i5 it is 1155, for AMD it is AM3+. Also pay attention to the presence of two or more PCI-E x16 slots for connecting a video system, USB 3.0 ports and Sata-3 connectors for SSD connections and HDD. The cost of such a motherboard is now about 7,000 - 10,000 rubles.

One of the most important components in a gaming PC is video card. Its price should not be less than the price of the processor, it should have a built-in memory capacity of about 2 GB GDDR 5 with a bandwidth of at least 256 bit, high operating frequency GPU and cool well. For example, GF GTX 960 Ti or Radeon RX 480. The cost is about 15 - 20 thousand rubles.

Regarding memory in a computer - RAM You should choose one with a frequency of at least 1600 MHz, a capacity of at least 8 GB, or more.

HDD You should choose a fast one, Sata 3 format with a capacity of at least 750 GB, and the operating system can be installed on a high-speed SSD with a capacity of 128 GB - enough for programs and some games. The total cost is about 5 tr.

As for power supply, it is better to take it with a reserve of about 800W-1000W for the possibility of further upgrade.

Also don't forget choose a case for your computer, it must freely accommodate all components, have good passive cooling and a convenient location of the necessary ports.

Also for some, the sound insulation of the housing plays an important role. The cost is about 3 thousand rubles.

To summarize, I would like to add that today it is quite possible, with limited funds, to buy a budget computer that will also be a home gaming station.

Today there are still CPU models with two physical cores. Even with them you can achieve satisfactory graphics, but at medium settings in QHD resolution the quality of the gameplay leaves much to be desired. A processor with at least 4 cores is required. In this niche, competition between AMD and Intel has intensified. The golden mean is at the level of six physical cores, which are enough for comfortable gameplay. Do I need additional six virtual streams, and how much should I pay for them? Consider the following table, which presents popular six-core processors:

We discard the cheapest CPU due to its low speed in turbo mode and the most expensive one, since it does not fit into the concept of building a budget PC. Is it worth paying an additional 7 thousand rubles for Intel with an unlocked multiplier? Numerous tests will answer this question. Some of them can be found at the following links: - https://ru.gecid.com/cpu/amd_ryzen_5_2600x/?s=all and
- https://www.nix.ru/computer_hardware_news/hardware_news_viewer.html?id=196290.

If our goal was to build a computer for gaming with maximum settings and resolution, without focusing on price, the winner would be the Intel processor. But an extra 10 FPS is not important for the average gamer, so we add the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X to the build.

Cooling for CPU

The heat generation of the “stone” is small – 95 watts. Any fan that dissipates power up to 150 watts will do. We will focus on noiselessness and high-quality thermal interface. The Arctic Cooling Freezer 12 CPU cooler has a diameter of 92 mm, a speed of 2000 rpm and a hydrodynamic bearing type. The lack of backlight does not matter. A weight of 480 grams will not create much pressure on the PCB. An important feature is an improved controller that implements a semi-passive operating mode: under light load, the speed is reduced to zero. This miracle costs about 2 thousand rubles.

Motherboard

In the described case, overclocking is not provided, so a motherboard with the simplest AM4 chipset will do. LED backlight also no. It is desirable to have four sockets for RAM for the purpose of future upgrade. Noteworthy are the Gigabyte GA-AB350-Gaming and Asrock AB350 Gaming K4. The first is preferable, since it has the function of controlling all fans in the case in the range of 0 - 100%. For 6900 we get the following technical characteristics:

1. Four DIMM connectors for DDR4 RAM with a frequency of up to 3200 MHz and dual-channel operation;
2. One slot for high-speed M.2 drives (types 22110, 2280, 2260 and 2242);
3. Support for branded utilities EasyTune and Cloud Station;
4. Thanks to six temperature sensors, Smart Fan 5 controls the operation of all coolers in the system;
5. Increased protection from humidity and high temperatures;
6. Clear and secure BIOS update thanks to DualBIOS technology.

Price motherboard fits into 7 thousand rubles.

RAM

How much RAM does any gamer need? We are talking about 8 GB and 16 GB. Eight gigabytes was the normal amount five years ago, at this moment it is only enough to run the operating system and download several high-cost programs. Savings are inappropriate here. 16 GB is the minimum for modern games.

Let's look at two affordable 16 GB kits consisting of two sticks - Patriot Viper Elite at 2400 MHz and Patriot Viper at 3000 MHz. The first, with a price of 9 thousand rubles, operates at a voltage of 1.2 V with timings of 15-15-15-35, and the second, which costs 10,000 rubles, operates at 1.35 V and 16-16-16-36. Memory frequency is not so important if a discrete video card is present. At lower frequencies, timings and voltage are lower. It turns out that we can save another thousand rubles. If you're lucky, the utility that comes with motherboard, will allow you to increase the frequency to the range 2666 – 3000 MHz.

Video card

Many who buy a PC for gaming will not chase technical numbers such as FPS frequency: 60, 50 or even 40 will suit them. After all, you can vary the gameplay settings and screen resolution. Any modern video card is capable of getting 50 frames at FullHD. The question of price remains. Competition for this niche between AMD and Nvidia is only growing. Let's see what options we have at the beginning of 2019:

Choosing a video card is a rather difficult task. Know full specifications There are not enough devices. Additionally, we look at the test results on the Internet.

The memory capacity of 4 GB is not enough today. Two are interesting latest models in the table.

For example, in the review https://www.overclockers.ua/video/sapphire-pulse-radeon-rx-580-8GD5/all video cards AMD series The 580 is in no way inferior to the Nvidia 1060. Here on one side of the scale is the lower power consumption of Nvidia cards, and on the other - more low price AMD products. Energy dissipation in both cases is small compared to top solutions. Taking into account the fact that in our configuration the CPU is from AMD, we will give preference to the MSI AMD Radeon RX 580 ARMOR OC video card for 17,200 rubles, reducing cash costs by another 3 thousand.

power unit

It can be compared to the “heart” of any computer. The manufacturer of the MSI AMD Radeon RX 580 video card indicates the need to use a 500-watt power supply. The choice is quite large. The system's energy consumption is unlikely to exceed 320 Watts, let's add a 20% power reserve. We take into account how much energy the power supply can supply via the 12 V line, from which the processor and graphics adapter are powered. The guarantee it gives service center, is also important. Let's see what the power supply market with the 80 Plus certificate gives us, which affects its efficiency:

Cougar and Aerocool power supplies are out of consideration due to lower warranties. Have Be Quiet! and Deepcool look at Extra options: the first has an efficiency of 89%, the second – 87%. In addition to the full range of protection systems, the model from Be Quiet assumes operation even with the video adapter disabled (Zero Load). The choice remains with the device from the company that is number one in sales in Germany - be quiet! System Power 9 at 500 watts.

Keepers of information

Games, unlike other programs and applications, require high response speed from hard drive. Mechanical HDDs cannot boast of this. Gone are the days when SSDs cost a lot of money. SSD for operating system 120 GB can be purchased for less than two thousand - the price has dropped by 2 times over the past three years. And this is not the limit: in 2019, a further decrease in value is expected.

Budget assembly does not imply the purchase of M.2 disks with PCIe interface Gen 3.0 x4 having maximum speeds read/write. For average graphics, SATA-based SSDs are suitable.

Our motherboard allows you to install one M.2 device. A capacity of 240 GB is enough for an operating system, various utilities and a couple of games. It is recommended to leave several tens of gigabytes free to prevent performance degradation.
Let's present three candidates for purchase in the table of comparative characteristics:

The first model attracts with its price, the second – with a guarantee, the third – high speeds. We won't feel any difference in performance within the SATA interface; the warranty is more important. But the budget comes to the fore. Perhaps in a couple of years we will upgrade to 500 MB or 1 TB. WD Green is the best choice.

Frame

We place all the contents of the computer in a durable block. We check the presence of dust filters, the maximum possible length of the video card and the height of the processor cooler. If you have a collection of CD-DVD discs, then there should be a place for installation optical drive, thereby not overpaying for an external ODD.

A discrete video adapter requires good air circulation inside the frame. Therefore, the presence of additional turntables is desirable, preferably backlit, so that the case matches the gaming one.

These needs are met by the case of the European company Genesis from the Titan 800 series, costing 3,300 rubles. Its specification is as follows:

• The power supply is located at the bottom in the casing;
• max cooler height for CPU – 16 cm;
• max video card size – 38 cm;
• transparent acrylic side window;
• one 5.25" device, two 2.5" and two 3.5";
• four USB ports on the top panel;
• installed 120mm LED fans (red, blue or green): two in front, one in back and one on top;
• dust filters at the bottom and top;
• dimensions – 470 mm x 223 mm x 470 mm, weight 4.3 kg.

Collect system unit for a more or less playable computer means carefully analyzing the component markets at the moment and paying attention to the price/performance ratio. To save money, we sacrificed dozens of FPS, but this will not affect the smoothness of the gameplay in Full HD resolution. We hope for further price reductions SSD drives, RAM and the appearance of video cards in 2019 Nvidia new generation from model range 2050/2060.

At the beginning of January Intel company introduced a new generation of processors. Although they did not bring revolutionary changes, they became a little better than their predecessors. The most significant innovation for those who want to build a powerful gaming computer in 2017 for little money was the release of Pentium processors that support HyperThreading technology. Thus, they are now practically no different from previous Core i3s, and are well suited for games. What else, besides the Pentium, do you need to buy in order to play well for little money? Read below.

Processor - Intel Pentium G4560, from 3540 rubles

As mentioned in the introduction, the best build of a budget gaming computer is based on an Intel Pentium G4560 processor. This is a new generation chip Kaby Lake, which just recently went on sale. At a frankly budget price, it is equipped with a pair of powerful cores operating at frequencies up to 3.5 GHz. Compared to competitors AMD Bulldozer microarchitecture - when equal frequency one Intel core can equal three AMD cores. Thanks to HyperThreading technology, Intel Pentium The G4560 is capable of processing 2 threads per core, so the system recognizes it as quad-core.

In addition to two cores, the processor has 3 MB of cache memory, a RAM controller that supports DDR4 and low-voltage DDR3 memory. There is also a built-in Intel HD 610 graphics card on board, but we won't need it. The declared TDP (power consumption/discharge level) of the processor is 54 W, but in practice it is much lower. At full load, the processor consumes 20-30 W. Therefore, the stock cooler that comes with the BOX version of the Intel Pentium G4560 is sufficient for cooling without unnecessary noise. Like all Kaby Lake, the chip is installed in boards with socket 1151.

Motherboard - Asus H110M-K, from 3185 rubles

Asus H110M-K is a budget motherboard designed for assembling computers that do not support overclocking functions. She's different high quality with a very affordable price tag, so the best build for a budget gaming computer will be based on it. The board has everything a simple user needs: 2 DDR4 RAM slots, 6-phase power supply circuit for components, 4 SATA III ports, 1 PCI-E x16 for video card and PCI-E pair x1 - for peripherals (like a Hi-Fi sound card) or a high-speed SSD (although why would it be in a cheap gaming PC).

There is a good set of connectors on the back panel of the board. There are even sockets for connecting PS/2 mice and keyboards, which are as old as the world. There are also a pair of USB 3.0 ports and four USB 2.0. You can output the image from the built-in video card using the old VGA and the newer digital DVI. There is also a network port and three headphone/speaker/microphone jacks. Inside there are also a pair of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, as well as a connector for audio connectors on the front panel. The audio path looks interesting: it is isolated to protect against interference, soldered using solid-state Japanese capacitors and illuminated in orange. Of course, it can’t compare with Hi-Fi cards in terms of sound quality, but it can reveal the potential of good speakers/headphones a little better than regular integrated sound.

Important point: When purchasing this board (or any other Intel chipset 100 series) ask the seller to update BIOS firmware before latest version. Otherwise, Kaby Lake processors will not be able to work. If the seller cannot do this, you will have to overpay a little and buy a board on an Intel B250 chip, for example, MSI B250M PRO-VD.

RAM - Crucial CT8G4DFS8213, from 3185 rubles

When choosing RAM for a budget gaming PC, there is no point in going through various heatsinks and decorations. DDR4 without overclocking is not prone to significant heating at all, and that’s all external elements on it it is more of a decoration than a necessity. It is more important to pay attention to the memory chips than to the manufacturer. Crucial CT8G4DFS8213 is just an example of inexpensive and high-quality RAM without frills. One 8 GB stick is enough for games in the near future, and if it becomes not enough, you can buy a second one.

The brand was not chosen by chance: unlike Kingston, Patriot, Corsair, Cruical is a trademark of Micron, which independently produces chips. The listed companies do not produce the semiconductors themselves, but only purchase them from others (Micron, Hynix, Samsung), and assemble ready-made modules that they sell under their own name.

Video card - Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti G1 Gaming 4G, from 11,640 rubles

Without a powerful video card, building a good gaming computer makes no sense. The optimal candidate for this role in our case is Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti G1 Gaming 4G. This is one of the best implementations of the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti on the market, and at the same time, it is not the most expensive. The map has something to show competitors and something to please gamers. All modern games can easily run on high settings; only ultra-graphics with stable 60+ FPS and 4K gaming on high settings are too tough for it. But otherwise, it’s an ideal option for your money.

The card is equipped with a GP107 graphics processor, which has 768 cores for image processing. There are also 48 texture blocks. The chip operates at a frequency of up to 1481 MHz, but this value can be increased. A good radiator with heat pipes, a pair of fans and an additional power connector allow you to overclock the card without problems. When overclocked, you can reach values ​​of almost 2 GHz. There is 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on board, it operates at an effective frequency of 7 GHz.

On the back of the card there is a DVI port (no analogue lines), three HDMI and one DisplayPort. A standard set, as for 2017, the absence of VGA does not look unusual. Therefore, anyone who wants to connect a card to an old VGA-only monitor will also be forced to buy an HDMI-VGA adapter for about 500-1000 rubles.

Power supply - Chieftec GPS-450A8, from 2327 rubles

Despite the fact that now any assembly of a budget gaming computer consumes little energy, you should not skimp on the power supply. Complete power supplies sold together with cases are usually not of high quality and are only suitable for an office PC with integrated graphics. Chieftec GPS-450A8 - high-quality power supply with powerful filling, capable of withstanding high loads. It has an active PFC mechanism, so it is not afraid of load changes.

The unit has, in addition to 4 and 24-pin cables for the processor and board, three SATA cables for power hard drives and SSD, 6+2-pin cable for video card and two Molex connectors. For a computer that is not equipped with a bunch of HDDs, the set is more than sufficient. And even during an upgrade, if over time you want to install a Core i5 or i7 and a video card like a GTX 1070 or 1080, the Chieftec GPS-450A8 has enough power.

SSD drive - Kingston SKC400S37/128G, from 4097 rubles

The best gaming computer build of 2017 could do without an SSD, but now its absence can ruin the impression of a good PC. Just because HDD capabilities have already reached the ceiling a long time ago, and a slow drive reduces the responsiveness of the system as a whole. With Kingston SKC400S37/128G, the system will start in 20 seconds, programs will open very quickly, and there will be less noise. This drive has very decent speed characteristics: about 540 MB/s read and about 440 MB/s write. In addition, this SSD belongs to the business segment, so it comes with a 5-year warranty.

Selecting the optimal components for a future PC is a very difficult task. Here you need to take into account both the budget allocated for gaming needs and current generation components, and the desired ones showed performance in certain games. The easiest way is to buy a ready-made gaming PC and enjoy the perfect tandem between different parts of the system. However, in this case, you will have to fork out a markup of 10-20% of the cost of the components and will not always get the desired speed of operation.

Useful on the topic:

While building a gaming PC may seem like a risky endeavor, once you delve a little deeper into the interplay of the various components available for purchase, the simplicity of the process immediately becomes clear. So let's look at the best components at different price points to build your dream PC. Our topic today is building a gaming PC in 2018.

A budget gaming PC for 20,000 rubles is a myth

The most economical options in all respects may be suitable as components for this PC, which It will be difficult to call a gaming PC. On the other hand, you can use individual components from old system(if you have one) and calmly invest in this budget, selecting the remaining details from the list below.

If you want to make a total upgrade, we recommend leaving at least the case (if it is well ventilated and has enough space for new components) and a power supply with sufficient power reserve (preferably above 500 W). In addition, old drives are great for storing videos, most games, photos and music.

Building an entry-level gaming PC for 30,000 rubles

This category includes systems total cost which is within $470, excluding the monitor. Selected components will allow you to enjoy stable work almost any new product in FullHD resolution, using medium or even high graphics settings with anti-aliasing disabled and most visual effects. At the same time, older games from 16-17 years in most cases (except Dishonored 2) will demonstrate 30-60 fps even at high graphics settings. Therefore, let's look at each part of the system separately.

Gaming PC Processor entry level — Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 ($113 and $93, respectively). 4-core processors that can easily cope with all assigned tasks and have good overclocking potential. After changing the cooling, of course.

The FX-8300 and corresponding AMD 3+ motherboard are also available for AMD based systems. However, in this case, the possibility of an update in the future will have to be abandoned, and we consider the use of parts from the previous generation in the 2018 selection inappropriate. If you are using an AMD 3+ motherboard, you can simply deliver the 8-core FX-8300 and the video card below without throwing away extra money on other components.

ASUS Radeon RX 560 1326Mhz PCI-E 3.0 4096Mb 7000Mhz 128 bit

Entry-level gaming PC graphics card- GeForce GTX 1050 2 GB (or a new 3 GB, the price of which is only $10-15 higher) or RX 560 4 GB (about $170 for both options). We give preference to the GTX modification with 3 GB on board, which in most cases is slightly faster than the original, and another gigabyte is eaten up very quickly by modern games. If the system is limited by RAM, in the near future it is better to take the RX 560 with 4 GB, which is slightly inferior to competitors in speed, which will eliminate unnecessary freezes and texture loading.

Motherboard - any using the LGA1151 socket for Intel and AM4 for AMD. We recommend that you pay attention to the Intel H310, costing $75, and AMD A320, costing $65.

RAM . Select any 8 GB stick from the company you like, type DDR4 with a frequency of 2400/2666 MHz. Most best option will cost $76.

power unit For an entry-level gaming PC, it is advisable to go for 500 W. Can be purchased together with the case. This tandem will cost $35. If you buy only a power supply, then $23 will be enough for you. We advise you to pay attention to the company's products FSP, time-tested.

Storage device. If you are going to play one or three games, then we recommend purchasing a 128 GB SSD, costing $34. This will allow you to launch games in a few moments, just like the system itself. If you want to have fast access to an extensive game library - then we advise you to pay attention to the HDD with a capacity of 1 TB. Such a drive will cost $46.

Assembly of an entry-level gaming PC with the specified components on Intel based will cost $503. This is taking into account the purchase of a case and an SSD. Using AMD as the preferred manufacturer will reduce the cost of the finished PC to $473, which is in line with the price set as a target.

Now let's move on to a more expensive variation of the gaming PC.

Building an optimal level gaming PC for 60,000 rubles ($950)

An additional budget will dramatically expand the capabilities of your PC and create the conditions to enjoy maximum graphics quality in all modern games at 1920x1080 (with the exception of some particularly unoptimized projects). This system is also suitable for playing in 4K, but the graphics settings will have to be reduced to medium-high, depending on the requirements of the game. Building a gaming PC to achieve the specified performance is not difficult and requires the following components.

Optimal Gaming PC Processor— Intel Core i5-8400 ($203) or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 ($227). The use of 6-core processors with high frequency will provide the video card with all the necessary computing power. In this case, AMD is ahead of the competition thanks to 12 threads and higher cache memory.

Video card— NVIDIA GTX 1060 6 GB ($340) or AMD RX 580 8 GB ($375). In most cases, the GTX model is more than enough and the speed is not inferior to the competitor due to its high overclocking potential, but newer products (for example, Battlefield V) demonstrate much better performance on the RX 580. Therefore, we advise you to opt for a graphics adapter from AMD.

Motherboard— Intel B360 or AMD B350 ($80 and $72). When choosing the optimal gaming PC motherboard, pay attention to the presence of many slots for video cards and RAM. This will allow you to add another bar and increase productivity after a few years.

Maternal MSI board B360-A PRO based on Intel B360 chipset

RAM. Any 16 GB stick, DDR4 with 2666-3000 MHz ($180). In addition, we recommend buying not one, but two 8 GB sticks at once - this will distribute the load between two slots and increase the RAM speed by 2 times.

power unit with a power of 550-600 W and the case will cost you $60-72, depending on the power of the power supply and the manufacturer.

Building a gaming PC with the appropriate components will cost $968 (Intel) or $1019 (AMD). As you can see, we have deviated a little from our goal, but you may be lucky enough to get on sale and grab expensive components a little cheaper and get closer to the $950 mark. Next up is the most expensive variation of a gaming PC.

Building a top-level gaming PC for 100,000 rubles ($1,600)

We would like to point out right away that in a few months we are expected to announce a new generation of video cards from Nvidia (not exactly) with higher performance (10-15%) at a more affordable price. However, from the announcement to the appearance of adapters on store shelves, it can take from several months to six months (given the hype). These components will allow you to enjoy a comfortable game at 30-60 fps with 4K resolution at the highest graphics settings in any game.

Top-tier gaming PC processor— Intel Core i7-8700K ($360) or AMD Ryzen 7 2700 ($300). We can discuss the advantages of each processor for a long time, but one thing we can say for sure is that none modern game unable to load them 100%.

Processor Intel Core i7-8700K

for top-end PCs — NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB ($645). Here we are left without a competitor from AMD - their models are either very behind in performance or have an incredible price. In addition, if you want to have a reserve of productivity for the next few years, look away GTX 1080 Ti($910). Moreover, after the release, prices for 10th generation video cards should drop significantly.

Gaming GeForce video card GTX 1080 Ti

Motherboard — Intel Z370($170) or AMD X470($140). Choose towards compactness or the presence of many different sockets.

RAM. Two 16 GB DDR4 sticks, or one 16 GB and the other 8 GB with a frequency of 3200 MHz ($300). However, keep in mind that 16GB is more than enough for any gaming PC these days.

Storage device. A 1 TB SSD ($260) is enough for any needs of a real gamer.

Power supply 650-700 W and the case will cost $70-115, depending on the manufacturer.

In total, building a gaming PC for real gamers based on Intel will cost around $1,805 for the version with 24 GB of RAM and $1,705 for the version with 16 GB. The AMD version is $1715 and $1615, respectively, which allows you to invest within your desired budget.

We hope, together with our advice, assembling a gaming PC will not seem difficult to you and will bring only positive emotions.

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Assembly desktop computer may turn out to be a much more complex undertaking than it seems. If you don't have a computer-savvy friend and your own knowledge limited, then you may decide to rely on employees in this matter computer store. However, you may end up with a terrible-looking device in black without any texture. Such a computer is bad even before it is turned on. It will be even worse if its configuration used components from the previous generation found in the warehouse.

If you care appearance computer, then you probably want to make it as less boring as possible. You might even want an aesthetically pleasing piece of art—and many users will agree with you. Personalized computers can be completely different. They are decorated with colored LEDs or equipped with a liquid cooling system. Some particularly dedicated gamers spend a lot of effort to turn their computers into truly unique machines. IN this manual You'll learn how to select the latest computer components to build a powerful, stylish computer with a crisp white finish for a reasonable price.

1. Processor: Intel Core i3-8100

The processor is the “brain” of the computer and its most important component. At present best choice are the eighth generation Intel processors (Coffee Lake series), which differ modern characteristics and have superior performance. The model number of these processors, consisting of four digits, starts with an eight: Core i3-8100, Core i5-8400, Core i7-8700. For casual gaming, we recommend the Intel Core i3-8100 model. It is the most affordable, but quite powerful. In the eighth generation of its processors, Intel increased the number of cores from 2 to 4, and the size of the built-in L3 cache from 4 to 6 megabytes. Clock frequency The Core i3-8100 can boost up to as much as 3.6 GHz, and the thermal package is only 65 W. Overall, this processor is faster than most of its competitors in the same price range.

2. Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4 8GB

More RAM means faster computer performance and allows the user to work with many applications at the same time. If your budget is limited and the computer is intended to be used for general purposes, installing one memory module will be enough. However, it should be remembered that the capacity of one module must be at least 8 GB. The motherboard recommended in this article has an additional memory slot that can be reserved for upgrading and switching to dual channel mode in future. A higher priority is purchasing a more powerful video card, which is where you should spend the rest of your budget. This solution would be optimal, given the current high prices for DDR4 memory modules. In terms of speed, the Intel Core i3-8100 processor supports memory up to DDR4-2400, while the MSI H310M GAMING ARCTIC motherboard supports up to DDR4-2666. The CORSAIR Vengeance LPX series DDR4 memory modules that we recommend in this article operate at 1.2 V, are cooled with aluminum heatsinks, are made in a compact form factor and have an 8-layer printed circuit board, designed for overclocking. Quality guaranteed.

3. Power supply: CORSAIR CX500 500W

The power supply works like a heart, providing stable and sufficient power to every component of the computer. For our configuration, we chose one of the Corsair models, which are highly regarded by gamers for their outstanding quality. We recommend the CORSAIR CX500 500W power supply for a budget PC like ours. It is "80 PLUS Bronze" certified, meaning greater than 82% efficiency at low, medium and high loads, and is efficiently and quietly cooled by a 12cm temperature-controlled fan, allowing the entire computer to run at full speed without any hiccups. problems. The power supply is not modular, but is cost-effective and offers a separate PCI-E cable for graphics cards, as well as up to five SATA cables for HDDs and SSDs. Thus, it provides ample room for upgrades.

4. Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 1 TB

Solid state drives offer fast data transfer speeds, but have lower capacity and are also more expensive than traditional ones hard disks. Users who don't prioritize peak performance may want to skimp on these in favor of other components. Unless you download a huge amount of movies, a 3.5-inch hard drive Seagate Barracuda With a capacity of 1 terabyte, it will be an excellent choice as a drive without overburdening your budget. It connects via SATA interface 6 Gbps and has a built-in cache of 64 MB with a throughput of 210 MB/s. This high-performance and reliable device is designed to operate for 2,400 hours per year with an annual load of 55 TB.

5. Body: CORSAIR Carbide 275R

The case is spacious and has holes for neat routing of power cables. It can accommodate an ATX motherboard and up to seven expansion cards. It is compatible with CPU coolers up to 17 cm in height, graphics cards up to 37 cm in length and power supplies up to 18 cm. In addition, the CORSAIR Carbide 275R is equipped with a powerful cooling system in the form of built-in 12 cm fans: three on the front panel, two on the rear and one on the top. The case is compatible with liquid cooling systems. It's worth noting that there's no room for a 5.25-inch optical drive, but there are several removable drive cages for 3.5- and 2.5-inch devices, so there's plenty of room for expansion.

6. MSI Product Description
6.1 Motherboard: MSI H310M GAMING ARCTIC

If you want to build a snow-white computer with Intel processor Core 8th generation for a reasonable price, then the best choice would be the MSI H310M GAMING ARCTIC motherboard. This is the only white model in this price range, as this finish adds to the cost of production. This is why most white motherboards tend to cost more than regular ones.

The H310 GAMING ARCTIC motherboard has other advantages besides its beautiful white finish. The layout of all elements, including memory slots, and the power system have been optimized to improve stability and meet the requirements of modern multi-core processors. The PCI-E slot has been reinforced with MSI Steel Armor technology, which protects the graphics card from damage and electromagnetic interference. To connect a drive there is an M.2 slot with support PCI-E mode Gen2 x4, which provides throughput up to 20 GB/s. In the future, it will be possible to install a high-speed solid state drive to get maximum performance from your motherboard.

6.2 Video card: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 ARMOR 3G OC

MSI GeForce The GTX 1060 Armor 3G OC is a mid-range graphics card based on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU. Its performance and power consumption are better than previous generation graphics cards. It comes with overclocked settings and its frequencies are quite high. It is equipped with 3 gigabytes of GDDR5 video memory, which allows you to comfortably play in Full-HD resolution (1080p). This video card has modest power consumption (120 W) and can be powered using a single 8-pin cable. It offers two DisplayPort and HDMI ports, as well as dual-channel DVI-D interface. The maximum supported resolution is 7680x4320 pixels.

The MSI GeForce GTX 1060 ARMOR 3G OC is a masterfully designed graphics card. Its graphics chip is cooled using two heat pipes and a radiator with longitudinal aluminum fins, which provide a large heat dissipation area. The cooling system also includes two 10cm Armor 2X Propeller Blade fans, which produce more powerful airflow than conventional ones. Under low loads, the fans stop, making the video card silent.

7. Shopping list for building an Arctic gaming PC

Processor: Intel Core i3-8100

Motherboard: MSI H310M GAMING ARCTIC


RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 8GB

Video card: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 ARMOR 3G OC

Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda, 1 TB

Power supply: CORSAIR CX500, 500 W

Case: CORSAIR Carbide 275R

Looking for more PC buying tips? The latest MSI recommendations can be found at complete guide On the page: