Computer Shopper - UK (2020-05)

(Antfer) #1

52 MAY2020|COMPUTERSHOPPER|ISSUE387


BUDGET PCs

01


Building your own PC is oftencheaper
than buying apre-made system, and
gives full control over the components. You
don’t need any special computer knowledge:
just afew spare hours, ascrewdriver and
your choice of parts. Even things such as
liquid-cooling systems can be found in
user-friendly,easy-to-install packages, and
forthe most part it’s as simple as inserting
each component intoaparticular slot.

02


Arguably the most important
component is the CPU. These days
you can get aquad-core chip even on atight
budget, which should provide more than
enough brainpower forsimple tasks such as
web browsing, but hexa-core and octa-core
chips are better fortougher jobs such as
media editing, gaming and content creation.
The CPU will also determine which
motherboards you can choose from.
Intel CPUs will only work with boards that
use an Intel chipset, like Z390, Z370 and
B360, while AMD processors need AMD
chipsets, such as X470 and B450.

03


When choosing amotherboard, think
about both the size of the PC’s
chassis (smaller cases won’t fit larger ATXor
EATX boards, forinstance) and how many

Choosinga... CustomPCspec

additional components you’ll want to install.
Forsystems with alot of expansion cards
(such as graphics cards, sound cards or Wi-Fi
cards), it’s best to go with ATXmotherboards
and larger.For simpler builds, microATX or
Mini-ITX boards could well provide all the
connectivity you need. Keep in mind, too,
that if you want to try overclocking, only
certain Intel chipsets will support it, such as
Z370 and Z390. AMD is more relaxed,
enabling overclocking on all its Ryzen-
compatible chipsets, except A320 and A300.

04


While CPU integrated graphics will
suffice foreverydaybrowsing, a
dedicated graphics card is essential for
high-quality gaming. These can be installed in
aPCI-E x16 slot on your motherboard, and
have the bonus of adding more display
outputs to use–just make sure the card
will fit inside your chosen case.

05


On the subject of cases, personal
tastewill factor highly here: nobody
wants an ugly PC. That said, picking achassis
with adequatespace forcomponents is vital.
As already mentioned, an ATXmotherboard
likely won’t fit in amini-tower case,and if
you want to install alot of hard disks, you’ll
need acase with sufficient drive bays.

06


Every PC requires RAM and aPSU.
Performance doesn’t vary much
between specific models, but generally you
should aim for8GB of RAM forabasic build
and 16GB forhigher-end systems, and at least
a550W,Bronze-certified PSU. It’s better to
buy ahigher-wattage PSU than you strictly
need, as it will allow you to add more
components in the future.Also, check which
RAM is compatible with your motherboard
before buying, although forall current
models it’s probably going to be DDR4.

07


Our recommended storage setup
comprises both an SSD and alarger
mechanical hard disk. By installing Windows
(and afew choice applications) on the SSD,
you can ensure fast booting and loading
times, while the HDD is acost-effective way
of storing lots of files. Alternatively,you
could buy ahard disk, and then install an
Intel Optane Memory module to accelerate
its writespeeds to SSD levels, although since
SSDs are barely more expensive than Optane
drives, this is perhaps better forsituations
when you want to upgrade from an existing
hard disk, rather than when you’re building a
whole new system. In the latter case,anSSD/
HDD combo is better all round. See page 58
forour recommended storage drives.

ASROCK Fatal1tyAB350

Gaming-ITX/ac
★★★★★
£99•www.cclonline.com

AMDAthlon3000G
★★★★★
£44•www.scan.co.uk

Tiny itmaybe,but theAB350makes the
most of what space it has available.Multiple display
outputs, arear-mounted M.2 port and onboard Wi-Fi
mean it almost has the specs of arespectable ATXmodel.

All eyes have been on
Ryzen recently,but the
Athlon 3000G is anifty
little dual-core chip: it has integrated
graphics, ideal forbasic builds, and unlike most
budget CPUs, it’s unlocked foroverclocking. It’s not tremendously
fast, relatively speaking, but forthis little cash, it’s aterrific deal.
PROCESSORSOCKETAM4•DIMENSIONS170x170mm•CHIPSETAMDB350•MEMORY

SLOTS (^2) • PCI-EX16SLOTS (^1) • PCI-EX1SLOTS (^0) • PCISLOTS (^0) • USBPORTS2x USB2, 2x USB3,
1x USB Type-C•VIDEOOUTPUTS2x HDMI•WARRANTYOneyearRTB•DETAILSwww.asrock.
com•PARTCODE90-MXB5P0-A0UAYZ•FULLREVIEWJul2018
SOCKETAM4•CORES (^2) • FREQUENCY3.5GHz•INTEGRATEDGRAPHICSAMDRadeon RX
Vega 3•WARRANTYTwoyears RTB•DETAILSwww.amd.com•PARTCODEYD3000C6FHBOX•
FULLREVIEWMar2020
ASUSROGStrixRX570OC
★★★★★
£120•www.ebuyer.com


SILVERSTONE


PrecisionSeriesPS15
★★★★★
£40•www.scan.co.uk Although this is
an older GPU, it’s
cheaper than a
lot of the more recent ‘budget’
cards and, crucially,more powerful,
too. It therefore comes highly
recommended if you want to take astepupfrom
integrated graphics without having to spend much.

Aslong as you work within its limit as
amicroATX chassis, the PS15 is a
great fit forbudget builds. Despitecosting apittance,
it’s well designed and can take amultitude of fans and radiators, so
all-in-one watercooling is apossibilityfor future upgrades.

GPUAMDRadeon RX 570•MEMORY4GBGDDR5•GRAPHICSCARDLENGTH240mm•
WARRANTYTwoyears repairand replace•DETAILSwww.asus.com•
PARTCODEROG-STRIX-RX570-O4G-GAMING•FULLREVIEWJan2020

CASETYPEMini tower•MOTHERBOARDTYPEMicroATX,Mini-ITX•SUPPLIEDFANS1x 120mm


  • MAXIMUMDRIVEBAYS1x 3.5in, 3x 2.5in•DIMENSIONS381x192x351mm•WEIGHT3.5kg•
    WARRANTYOneyearRTB•DETAILSwww.silverstonetk.com•PARTCODESST-PS15B-G•
    FULLREVIEWAug2019


350


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