For a gaming machine capable of playing demanding games, the minimum specs you ideally want:
An Intel i5 quad core processor; eg the Intel i5 6300HQ
The graphics card (GPU) will dictate how smoothly games will play. I'd suggest: Nvidia GTX960
8GB RAM
For storage, an SSD is the thing, but they can be pricey. If budget is an issue, you might have to get a spinning traditional hard drive - you can always replace it later.
Lower spec PCs will play some of these games at lower frames per second. And perhaps you'll need to reduce the display screen resolution.
Of course there are many older games designed to run on older computers, which should play smoothly.
For a gaming machine capable of playing demanding games, the minimum specs you ideally want:
An Intel i5 quad core processor; eg the Intel i5 6300HQ
The graphics card (GPU) will dictate how smoothly games will play. I'd suggest: Nvidia GTX960
8GB RAM
For storage, an SSD is the thing, but they can be pricey. If budget is an issue, you might have to get a spinning traditional hard drive - you can always replace it later.
Lower spec PCs will play some of these games at lower frames per second. And perhaps you'll need to reduce the display screen resolution.
Of course there are many older games designed to run on older computers, which should play smoothly.
I think you're over complicating it a little @CrayAddick
If it's just a bit of browsing, word processing and Football Manager then stick those specs into a filter on a site like ebuyer and take your pick of the machines.
Obviously a decent graphics card is always a plus but IMO a graphics card will only be needed if you intend of playing real intensive online games such as GTA or CS:GO.
I literally know nothing about computers and what to look for
@CrayAddick I have bought my last 2 pc's from here. You can configure it to how you want and they will build it for you, very good customer service as well. If its for some light gaming you may want to add a graphics card on there and change the processor to an i5 though.
4 x USB 2.0 ports. 2 x USB 3.0 ports. Ethernet port. Wireless/Wi-Fi enabled. Wired keyboard and mouse. Operating system and software: This device can be upgraded to Windows 10 for free. General features: Size H37, W18, D42.5cm. Weight 15kg. Power saving facility. EAN: 5055396016611.
4 x USB 2.0 ports. 2 x USB 3.0 ports. Ethernet port. Wireless/Wi-Fi enabled. Wired keyboard and mouse. Operating system and software: This device can be upgraded to Windows 10 for free. General features: Size H37, W18, D42.5cm. Weight 15kg. Power saving facility. EAN: 5055396016611.
If I were you, I'd think it important to know which processor and which graphics card?
These 2 components dictate the capabilities of the computer - and whether it is up to the job you need it to do.
Really not true. The two components that are going to make a PC speedy on a day-to-day basis are the storage options (i.e. an SSD) and the amount of RAM.
@CrayAddick, the i5 in Leaburn's computer will run rings around the AMD 3.0ghz CPU.
Besides, the integrated graphics on 4th generation intel CPUs is pretty good these days so the performance of Sims will largely come down to what resolution the monitor your PC is using is!
If I were you, I'd think it important to know which processor and which graphics card?
These 2 components dictate the capabilities of the computer - and whether it is up to the job you need it to do.
Really not true. The two components that are going to make a PC speedy on a day-to-day basis are the storage options (i.e. an SSD) and the amount of RAM.
@CrayAddick, the i5 in Leaburn's computer will run rings around the AMD 3.0ghz CPU.
Besides, the integrated graphics on 4th generation intel CPUs is pretty good these days so the performance of Sims will largely come down to what resolution the monitor your PC is using is!
Of course an SSD is always going to make accessing files much speedier than the traditional slow hard drives. But at the moment, SSDs are much more expensive - if you can afford it go for it, otherwise you can always replace the slow HDD later on.
Right now, 8GB RAM is going to be ample for everyday use, general multiple browsing even most games - anything substantially more is only really needed for multiple intensive tasks like video editing, CAD etc. Again, it's normally easy enough to add another stick of RAM later on.
As Nick says, the i5 in Leaburn's computer will run rings around the AMD 3.0ghz CPU. A weak or slow processor will always make life difficult, and all the RAM in the world won't change that.
250 GB gets eaten up fairly quick these days though if @CrayAddick has a decent sized music collection, a few movies and a collection of digital family photos then he'll have a fast but full SSD.
For what he says he is using it for a traditional hard drive with more capacity and less price will be more than enough. Like Oggy says, it can easily be switched out once large capacity SSD drives become more affordable.
Comments
An Intel i5 quad core processor; eg the Intel i5 6300HQ
The graphics card (GPU) will dictate how smoothly games will play.
I'd suggest: Nvidia GTX960
8GB RAM
For storage, an SSD is the thing, but they can be pricey.
If budget is an issue, you might have to get a spinning traditional hard drive - you can always replace it later.
Lower spec PCs will play some of these games at lower frames per second.
And perhaps you'll need to reduce the display screen resolution.
Of course there are many older games designed to run on older computers,
which should play smoothly.
If it's just a bit of browsing, word processing and Football Manager then stick those specs into a filter on a site like ebuyer and take your pick of the machines.
Obviously a decent graphics card is always a plus but IMO a graphics card will only be needed if you intend of playing real intensive online games such as GTA or CS:GO.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk-tech-labs-h170-b150-skylake-ddr3-home-and-small-office-atx-pc-configurator-fs-012-tl.html#t=c3
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/desktop-pcs/desktop-pcs/lenovo-h30-desktop-pc-10137494-pdt.html
CPU and Memory:
Intel Core i3 dual core.
I3-4170.
Processor speed 3.7GHz.
8GB RAM.
Hard drive:
1TB SATA-III hard drive.
DVD optical drives:
Dual layer.
Graphics:
Dedicated graphics.
NVIDIA GeForce gtx-750ti 1gb ddr5 with 1000MB memory.
Interfaces and connectivity:
4 x USB 2.0 ports.
2 x USB 3.0 ports.
Ethernet port.
Wireless/Wi-Fi enabled.
Wired keyboard and mouse.
Operating system and software:
This device can be upgraded to Windows 10 for free.
General features:
Size H37, W18, D42.5cm.
Weight 15kg.
Power saving facility.
EAN: 5055396016611.
It's £449
Zoostorm Core i3 4170 GTX-750 1TB 8GB WiFi Desktop PC.
http://m.ebuyer.com/719668
Oops clicked quote instead of edit
1TB SATA drive
Window 10
Dual Core processor
8GB RAM
Mid range graphics card
WIFI receiver
£399... Custom made.. thoughts?
@cafcnick1992
Cray Addick:
If I were you, I'd think it important to know which processor and which graphics card?
These 2 components dictate the capabilities of the computer - and whether it is up to the job you need it to do.
Quad core AMD 3.0GHz. Not sure the graphics card yet.
@CrayAddick, the i5 in Leaburn's computer will run rings around the AMD 3.0ghz CPU.
You're right, it doesn't have a dedicated GPU. I really cannot stress how easy it is to fit a graphics card. Slots in like a lego brick! On the motherboard of a PC you buy, there will be a big graphics card shaped hole. All you'd have to do is slot something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-Nvidia-GeForce-Graphics-Card/dp/B00NAS5RT8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1454961259&sr=8-3&keywords=nvidia+geforce+730 into it.
Besides, the integrated graphics on 4th generation intel CPUs is pretty good these days so the performance of Sims will largely come down to what resolution the monitor your PC is using is!
But at the moment, SSDs are much more expensive - if you can afford it go for it, otherwise you can always replace the slow HDD later on.
Right now, 8GB RAM is going to be ample for everyday use, general multiple browsing even most games - anything substantially more is only really needed for multiple intensive tasks like video editing, CAD etc. Again, it's normally easy enough to add another stick of RAM later on.
As Nick says, the i5 in Leaburn's computer will run rings around the AMD 3.0ghz CPU.
A weak or slow processor will always make life difficult, and all the RAM in the world won't change that.
I disagree about changing the HDD later on. Does the average guy know how to replace a hard drive and copy all the data across?
Much better for @CrayAddick to get the machine with an SSD out of the box.
For what he says he is using it for a traditional hard drive with more capacity and less price will be more than enough. Like Oggy says, it can easily be switched out once large capacity SSD drives become more affordable.