Computer Shopper - UK (2019-12)

52 DECEMBER 2019|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE 382

BUDGET PCs

01

Building your own PC isoften cheaper

than buyingapre-made system, and

gives full controlover the components.You

don’t need any special computer knowledge:

just afew spare hours,ascrewdriver and

your choiceof parts. Even things such as

liquid-cooling systems can befound 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 getaquad-core chipeven on atight

budget, which should provide more than

enough brainpowerforsimple tasks such as

web browsing, but hexa-core and octa-core

chips are betterfortougher 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 choosingamotherboard, think

about both the sizeof the PC’s

chassis (smaller cases won’t fit largerATXor

EATX boards,forinstance) and how many

Choosinga... CustomPCspec

additional components you’ll wantto install.

Forsystems withalot of expansion cards

(such as graphics cards, sound cards or Wi-Fi

cards), it’s bestto go withATXmotherboards

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 wantto try overclocking, only

certain Intel chipsets will support it, such as

Z370 and Z390. AMD is more relaxed,

enablingoverclocking on all itsRyzen-

compatible chipsets, except A320 and A300.

04

While CPU integrated graphics will

suffice foreverydaybrowsing, a

dedicated graphics card is essentialfor

high-quality gaming. These can be installed in

aPCI-E x16 slot on your motherboard, and

have the bonusof adding more display

outputsto use –just make sure the card

will fit inside your chosen case.

05

On the subjectof cases, personal

tastewill factor highly here: nobody

wants an ugly PC. That said, pickingachassis

with adequatespace forcomponents is vital.

As already mentioned, anATXmotherboard

likely won’t fit inamini-tower case,and if

you wantto install alot of hard disks, you’ll

need acase with sufficient drive bays.

06

Every PC requires RAM andaPSU.

Performance doesn’tvary much

between specific models, but generally you

should aimfor8GB of RAM forabasic build

and 16GBforhigher-end systems, and at least

a550W,Bronze-certified PSU. It’s betterto

buy ahigher-wattage PSU than you strictly

need, as it will allow youto add more

components in the future.Also,check which

RAM is compatible with your motherboard

before buying, althoughforall current

models it’s probably goingto be DDR4.

07

Our recommended storage setup

comprises both an SSD andalarger

mechanical hard disk.By installing Windows

(and afew choice applications) on the SSD,

you can ensurefast booting and loading

times, while the HDD isacost-effective way

of storing lotsof files. Alternatively,you

could buyahard disk, and then install an

Intel Optane Memory moduleto accelerate

its writ espeeds to SSD levels, although since

SSDs are barely more expensive than Optane

drives, this is perhaps betterforsituations

when you wantto upgrade from an existing

hard disk, rather than when you’re building a

whole new system. In the latter case,anS SD/

HDD combo is better all round. See page 58

forour recommended storage drives.

ASROCK Fatal1tyAB350

Gaming-ITX/ac

★★★★★

£96•www.cclonline.com

AMD Ryzen32200G

★★★★★

£77•www.amzn.to/2TImlHh

Tiny it maybe, but the AB350 makes the

most of what space it hasavailable.Multiple display

outputs,arear-mounted M.2 port and onboard Wi-Fi

mean it almost has the specsof arespectableATXmodel.

This pluckyquad-core

chip is decentlyfast,

comes bundled with its

own cooler and–unlike mostRyzen chips

–includes integrated Radeon RXVega graphics.

It’s therefore particularly ideal if you don’t need the added power

of dedicated graphics.

PROCESSORSOCKETAM4•DIMENSIONS170x170mm•CHIPSETAMDB350•MEMORY

SLOTS (^2) • PCI-EX16SLOTS (^1) • PCI-EX1SLOTS (^0) • PCISLOTS (^0) • USBPORTS2xUSB2,2xUSB3,
1xUSBType-C•VIDEOOUTPUTS2xHDMI•WARRANTYOneyearRTB•DETAILSwww.asrock.
com•PARTCO DE90-MXB5P0-A0UAYZ•FULLREVIEWJul2018
SOCKETAM4•CORES (^4) • FREQUENCY3.4GHz•INTEGRATEDGRAPHICSAMDRadeon RX
Vega8•WARRANTYThreeyearsRTB•DETAILSwww.amd.com•PARTCO DEYD22 00C5FBBOX

• FULLREVIEWJul2018

ZOTAC GeForceGTX1050Ti Mini

★★★★★

£140•www.amzn.to/2Qi7bG7

SILVERSTONE

PrecisionSeriesPS15

★★★★★

£40•www.scan.co.uk An optional purchase,

thanks to the Ryzen

CPU’s onboard

graphics, but if you’d likeaspot of

1080p gaming capability,the GTX 1050 Ti

is the best budget GPU around.Zotac’s

compact design will allow itto easily fit in

small cases,too.

As long as you work within its limit as

amicroATX chassis, the PS15 is a

great fitforbudget builds. Despitecosting apittance,

it’s well designed and can takeamultitudeof fans and radiators, so

all-in-one watercooling isapossibilityforfuture upgrades.

GPUNvidiaGeForceGTX1050Ti•MEMORY4GBGDDR5•GRAPHICSCARDLENGTH145mm•

WARRANTYFiveye arsRTB•DETAILSwww.zotac .com•PARTCO DEZT-P 10510 A-10L•FULL

REVIEWNov2017

CASETYPEMinitower•MOTHERBOARDTYPEMicr oATX,Mini-ITX•SUPP LIEDFANS1x120mm

• MAXIMUMDRIVEBAYS1x3.5in,3x2 .5in•DIMENSI ONS381x19 2x351mm•WEIGHT3.5kg•
  WARRANTYOneyearRTB•DETAILSwww.sil verstonetk.c om•PARTCO DESST-PS15B-G•
  FULLREVIEWAug2019

350

AB350 mak the

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yzen

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Zotac’s

asily fit in

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★★

£96

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