Budget entry level gaming computer????

In reply to Tom_Spangler:

Yep, a PS4 is likely the best choice here.

I wish you could save $100 on Alienware and get a case that doesn't look like a Spaceship. I know that's there thing, but still.

Regarding the PS4:

What if they want to play League of Legends? Everyone plays League of Legends. What if their friends play Ark on PC?

Seriously, for Windows gaming, this is the easy plug-and-play solution for someone on a budget.

The base model $450 one is still more powerful than any of the bargain base computers linked in this thread so far BTW.

^Alienware's steambox thingy might not be a bad idea, although generally you're never going to save money with a pre-built gaming PC, and especially not from Alienware.

GameboyRMH wrote: ^Alienware's steambox thingy might not be a bad idea, although generally you're never going to save money with a pre-built gaming PC, and especially not from Alienware.

In this case I'm advocating the Windows version, as SteamOS isn't quite fully realized if you want to play stuff on Origin, Battle.net, GOG, etc.

I'd honestly have a hard time building something better at $450 that would come with a legal Windows license and a GPU that powerful.

MCarp22 wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote: ^Alienware's steambox thingy might not be a bad idea, although generally you're never going to save money with a pre-built gaming PC, and especially not from Alienware.

In this case I'm advocating the Windows version, as SteamOS isn't quite fully realized if you want to play stuff on Origin, Battle.net, GOG, etc. I'd honestly have a hard time building something better at $450 that would come with a legal Windows license and a GPU that powerful.

Agreed. That $100 for a Windows license is a budget-killer when you are trying to build a sub-$500 PC. You could always go with Linux, but then you are limiting yourself again, when it comes to gaming.

I just looked at that Alpha, I'm on board. I run an 860M in my laptop and they are claiming better graphics than that. I have been pretty happy with mine so that little box should kick some serious butt for the money.

Just got here but Dell Outlet version of the Alpha is your answer. Good little unit that should match exactly what you want.

In reply to bmw88rider:

The outlet version is more expensive than the new version with the sale they are running right now.

OK, I'll have to find out what she wants to play and take it from there.

Tom, when you say we don't have many TV's what you mean is we have only one TV in the whole house.

I'll have to ask my neighbors WTF then. I sit right next to the marketing team for alienware.

bmw88rider wrote: I'll have to ask my neighbors WTF then. I sit right next to the marketing team for alienware.

I once signed up for their newsletter (maybe about 5 years ago), of which they sent out far too many per month, but what really turned me off was the content. It seemed that every 3rd word in every newsletter was "envy" and it made me think that the average Alienware buyer was solely concerned with making their e-peen as big as possible via high-end computer hardware.

Maybe you could hire someone here to build a computer for you, and have it shipped to your door. I'd trust these guys long before I ever trusted a Geek Squad type dude. They might even cut you a deal, because, well, you're Adrian Thompson.

Appleseed wrote: Maybe you could hire someone here to build a computer for you, and have it shipped to your door. I'd trust these guys long before I ever trusted a Geek Squad type dude. They might even cut you a deal, because, well, you're Adrian Thompson.

OK, if it comes to it I'd ask Tom Spangler for help with a build as he's local and we've been friends since the last millennium. But, this is going to be hard for you to believe, that last Windows based machine I got back in 1994 that I mentioned on page one was one I specced myself. I then upgraded over time doing really cutting edge E36 M3 like fit a 4, yes FOUR times CD Rom reader, then E36 M3 got really serious and I got a 12x read AND write drive, try and not wet your panties there ladies and gentlemen. I used to know, and give a E36 M3 about, PC’s. I was one of the dorks that queued up to buy Windows 95 on the first day it was released at Best Buy, I did add/change graphics and sound cards etc. Then I went over to the dark side and became an Apple fan boi who only entered rehab in the last couple of years with the blessed simplicity of Android for tablets and phones which are now what Apple once was before Jobs shed his mortal processor.

I live with Windows at work, but have the whole subcontinent of India on the other end of the phone (AKA Corporate IT) to help me when things don’t work, which has been less and less over the years as I have more and more Apple issues at home.

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

Appleseed wrote: Maybe you could hire someone here to build a computer for you, and have it shipped to your door. I'd trust these guys long before I ever trusted a Geek Squad type dude. They might even cut you a deal, because, well, you're Adrian Thompson.

OK, if it comes to it I'd ask Tom Spangler for help with a build as he's local and we've been friends since the last millennium. But, this is going to be hard for you to believe, that last Windows based machine I got back in 1994 that I mentioned on page one was one I specced myself. I then upgraded over time doing really cutting edge E36 M3 like fit a 4, yes FOUR times CD Rom reader, then E36 M3 got really serious and I got a 12x read AND write drive, try and not wet your panties there ladies and gentlemen. I used to know, and give a E36 M3 about, PC’s. I was one of the dorks that queued up to buy Windows 95 on the first day it was released at Best Buy, I did add/change graphics and sound cards etc. Then I went over to the dark side and became an Apple fan boi who only entered rehab in the last couple of years with the blessed simplicity of Android for tablets and phones which are now what Apple once was before Jobs shed his mortal processor. I live with Windows at work, but have the whole subcontinent of India on the other end of the phone (AKA Corporate IT) to help me when things don’t work, which has been less and less over the years as I have more and more Apple issues at home.

Luckily with the internet (and combined with the aforementioned Android tablets and phones) the need to call the Indian subcontinent is less frequent than ever.

Can boxes like the Alienware Alpha handle multiple HDs? Or would you need a bunch of external drives for CD/DVD and backup storage?

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

Appleseed wrote: Maybe you could hire someone here to build a computer for you, and have it shipped to your door. I'd trust these guys long before I ever trusted a Geek Squad type dude. They might even cut you a deal, because, well, you're Adrian Thompson.

OK, if it comes to it I'd ask Tom Spangler for help with a build as he's local and we've been friends since the last millennium. But, this is going to be hard for you to believe, that last Windows based machine I got back in 1994 that I mentioned on page one was one I specced myself. I then upgraded over time doing really cutting edge E36 M3 like fit a 4, yes FOUR times CD Rom reader, then E36 M3 got really serious and I got a 12x read AND write drive, try and not wet your panties there ladies and gentlemen. I used to know, and give a E36 M3 about, PC’s. I was one of the dorks that queued up to buy Windows 95 on the first day it was released at Best Buy, I did add/change graphics and sound cards etc. Then I went over to the dark side and became an Apple fan boi who only entered rehab in the last couple of years with the blessed simplicity of Android for tablets and phones which are now what Apple once was before Jobs shed his mortal processor. I live with Windows at work, but have the whole subcontinent of India on the other end of the phone (AKA Corporate IT) to help me when things don’t work, which has been less and less over the years as I have more and more Apple issues at home.

I got your back. Stuff hasn't changed THAT much since the mid 90s. Pick a mobo, a processor, some RAM, and a graphics card. Optical drives are pretty much a commodity. Find a nice-looking cheap case and a decent power supply. Assemble. Turn it on, install Winders, and you're rolling.

Good info and lots of reviews here (no affiliation ): http://www.tomshardware.com/

PHeller wrote: Can boxes like the Alienware Alpha handle multiple HDs? Or would you need a bunch of external drives for CD/DVD and backup storage?

Depends on the chassis. The Alpha only has a single 2.5" drive bay.

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/requirements/ark-survival-evolved/12631/?p=r

Those are the minimum system requirements for the game your daughter plays.

You could order one of the pc's everyone else has mentioned but i feel like if your handy around a car, you could build a pc with a little guidance.

If you wanted to save a little money upfront and have a pc that is upgrade able down the road, I would suggest an AMD chip with an integrated graphics processing unit. I would try to keep your budget around 400-600, but any pc you make should last 5+ years and pc gaming is much cheaper then console gaming in the long run.

revhard wrote: you could build a pc with a little guidance.

I think we determined that, and also that within his price range its better to buy premade.

I would suggest an AMD chip with an integrated graphics processing unit.

That's a terrible idea, even the fastest A10 APUs do not have as much graphics power as the 860M found in the Alpha.