Performance of desktops

Games, Gaming & Hardware
1

I’m looking at upgrading my PC and have found the below 3 options. Can anyone help me out (I’m absolutely clueless), as to whether or not there is a significant difference expected in performance between these? I’m currently playing on lowest settings so to be honest anything is an upgrade…

Cheapest:

CPU and Memory:

  • Intel Core i59400 processor.
  • Hex core processor.
  • Processor speed 2.9GHz with a burst speed of 4.1GHz.
  • 256GB RAM DDR4.

Hard drive:

  • 256GB SSD storage.
  • 1TB HDD storage.
  • Hard drive speed 7200RPM.

Graphics:

  • Dedicated graphics.
  • NVIDIA GeForce 1660 Ti with 6GB memory GDDR6.

Middle:
CPU and Memory:

  • Intel Core i59600KF processor.
  • Hex core processor.
  • Processor speed 3.7GHz with a burst speed of 4.6GHz.
  • 16GB RAM DDR4.

Hard drive:

  • 2TB HDD storage.
  • 240GB SSD storage.
  • Hard drive speed 7200RPM.

Graphics:

  • Dedicated graphics.
  • NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super with 8GB memory.

Most expensive:
CPU and Memory:

  • Intel Core i79700KF processor.
  • Octa core processor.
  • Processor speed 3.6GHz with a burst speed of 4.9GHz.
  • 16GB RAM DDR4.

Hard drive:

  • 2TB HDD storage.
  • 240GB SSD storage.
  • Hard drive speed 7200RPM.

Graphics:

  • Dedicated graphics.
  • NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super with 8GB memory.

Any input would be super helpful!

2

Can you confirm the amount of RAM in the cheapest machine, please? 256GB RAM doesn’t sound right.

In short, though, the middle machine would be the better of the three, but Intel CPU’s aren’t leading any charts for value-for-money, at the moment.

3

Yes, although i would prefer a 500GB SSD over a 240 SSD + a mechanical drive.
240GB is nothing in 2020. One single AAA game today is over 100GB sometimes already.
WoW is around 80 + Shadowlands then.
Also Windows and some programs.

I would also recommend going for a Ryzen 3600 with 16GB 3200Mhz RAM and a 2060 Super or 1660 Super if you want to go cheap but good enough for 1080P.
Also don’t forget to go for a quality PSU.

4

16GB RAM.

Would you say the middle would be noticeably better than the cheapest?

They’re £900, £1,250 and £1,660 respectively.

5

It would be better value with a 480/500/512GB SSD - as @Kiyuki said - and a Ryzen spec’d machine would probably get you closer to the £1000 barrier.

My own PC is a Ryzen 5 3600 machine that has TWO SSD’s, a 250GB Windows System drive & a 500GB Games drive (so I don’t have top reinstall WoW with a fresh Windows install).

6

I suppose WoW is likely the only game I’ll have on there so should technically be fine with 240GB.

These are all pre-built machines so can’t chop and change parts unfortunately.

7

Where from? Are there no customisation options, at all?

240GB is a tad tight, to be honest… my WoW installation is a gnat’s short of 70GB.

8

Argos. Looking for somewhere that can deliver in the next week or so and most other places I’ve looked won’t deliver before the end of April.

I’m not too worried about the space as I really won’t have much else on the PC. More concerned about whether or not the game will run well?

9

You looking at just a tower… or a full machine?

10

Will show just how little knowledge I have here and say I don’t even know what that means…

It’s a pre-built system. The cheapest is Lenovo (weird as I associate the brand with work laptops…), the other 2 are Cyberpower.

11

Put this catalogue no. into the search box, at the top:
684/1531

That would be my recommendation from what they have to offer.

12

Ah, of course that one isn’t available to deliver to my area!

Seems as though it’s same spec as the cheapest option but just has more SSD space? And comes with a Monitor…

Definitely better value for money, damn!

Do you think that this will run WoW on good settings? Not ultra but at least 7?

13

OK; put it this way:
Do you already have a keyboard, mouse and monitor you’re happy (to make do) with?
Is the £1660 you mentioned earlier more than you want to spend?

14

I have a gaming mouse and an OK monitor so happy with those for now. Would need to pick up a keyboard.

I should mention I got the £1,660 wrong - the most expensive one was £1,500.

The £1,660 option is:
CPU and Memory:

  • Intel Core i79700K processor.
  • Octa core processor.
  • Processor speed 5GHz.
  • 16GB RAM DDR4.

Hard drive:

  • 1TB HDD storage.
  • 500GB SSD storage.
  • Hard drive speed 5400RPM.

Graphics:

  • Dedicated graphics.
  • NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super with 8GB memory GDDR4.
15

Try this one: 741/6738 (dependent on delivery, ofc)

16

Not having much luck, doesn’t deliver to me!

17

Is this the £1660 one? 879/9760

BTW, I’m seeing no delivery options on many of them, too - s/be a way to sort by ‘In stock’.

EDIT:
I will say this - £1600 is more than enough to buy the bits & build it yerself, if you have the confidence…

18

https ://uk.pcpartpicker. com/list/7Kb2YH
All available from Amazon & a gnat’s over £1000 (add Windows10 on top, too).

19

Yep that’s the one. The delivery is a strange one, I think they must only deliver if it’s in stock near you. Strange!

I’d say I’m probably looking to spend closer to the £1k mark. Not sure I have the confidence to build myself or to wait for the inevitable failed “attempts at delivery” on all of the parts!

Looks like you save a hell of a lot doing that though.

I’m wondering if there are any shops open locally that build PCs for you. May look into that.

Quite keen to have a workable PC ASAP though so potentially end up buying one of these Argos ones… tricky!

20

Ohhhh, yes… and the satisfaction of ‘I made this!’

Add in that YouTube has a multitude of ‘build it yerself’ guides… from highly reputable channels, too.