Cheap Computer Tips
How to Stretch Your Budget Even Further
Keep in mind these cheap computer tips, some of them will hurt your gaming system and some of them are only a
minor inconvenience if that. Depending on your needs your "mileage will vary".
Ways to save money:
- On a tight budget, use barebones kits
-
DVD drive instead of a Blu-Ray drive
- Readers instead of burners
-
Operating Systems
- OEM (check the licensing requirements, they've tightened them) instead of Windows retail (upgrade
or full version)
-
Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium instead of Professional
- Professional instead of Ultimate
- Upgrade (assumes your current version qualifies for an upgrade) instead of Full
Version
- Ubuntu- free (use Wine for gaming) instead of Windows
- Conservative on RAM 4 or 8 GB instead of 16, 24 or 32 GB
- 1 video card config instead of SLI or Crossfire multiple video card configs
-
1 mid range video card instead of 1 high end video card
- Don't do a low end card if you want to enjoy gaming
- 1 hard drive instead of JBOD (Just a bunch of disks) or RAID solution
- SATA hard drive instead of a SSD (solid state drive)
- Low end case instead of medium or high end case
- Second tier (last season's) motherboard and CPU (ie not the current iCore or Phenom options)
- Integrated sound instead of an add in card
- Use your existing speakers, keyboard, mouse and montior
-
Use your existing case
- Buy a new PSU inline with your upgrade needs
Things never to be cheap on:
-
Power Supply Unit
- Solid brand
- Right wattage with a bit of wiggle room for future needs
-
Brand Names
- Don't use unknown generic parts
- Get parts with a solid track record
-
Licensing
-
It's smarter / safer to buy what you use
- Read the terms of agreement
- If you cannot afford or do not like the Windows solutions, there are open source alternatives to
everything
Tips:
Spend the most of your budget on your:
In order to really take advantage of a smokin' hot CPU, don't go cheap on a Motherboard.
Money Basics - A quick break down on what you can expect to pay for a video card
and a CPU per type of gaming build. Also an example of price and performance, how to get the most bang for your
buck.
Build List - Parts needed to build your own gaming computer.
Cheap Gamers - A budget gaming configuration.
Casual Gamers / Mid Range Gamers - A solid gaming
configuration.
Hardcore Gaming Rig - A high end gaming configuration.
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