PC Purchase Budget Gaming Build

tomokaicho on 06/12/2020 - 00:15
Last edited 28/12/2020 - 11:10 by 1 other user

I am going to build a cheap gaming PC and upgrade it over time. Right now what I am looking to buy is:

Ryzen 3 3100 CPU
A B550 motherboard (particular model yet to be determined)
32GB of RAM
+ the various other things needed.

Should I buy now, or are there opportunities that I should look out for as an OzBargainer? I won't be able to play any games until the end of the year because I am busy, so I don't mind waiting if I can get what I want at a lower price. Anything I should look out for?

This is a follow up to my previous post here. As all of you predicted, Boxing Day as a total bust and there was nary a bargain to be seen.

Thanks to a friend, I already have part of my build. My friend gave me his old GTX 1060 6GB. What I need is a CPU, Motherboard, PSU, case, and so on.

Because this is a budget build I am looking at the Ryzen 3 3100 ($159 at MSY). However, I have noticed in the last few days that a few shops now have the Ryzen 3 3300X on preorder(i-tech.com.au) for $225 + shipping. That's not a good deal considering it was originally only $30 more than the 3100. So I will probably get the 3100.

Any suggestions for a B550 motherboard?

This is part of Boxing Day Sales for 2020
Computing Boxing Day

Comments

  • stewy on 06/12/2020 - 00:40
    +5

    I wouldn't expect there to be massive sales on computer gear, the recent Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales would have been as good as you are going to get I think.

    Keep in mind also post will be slow the closer to Xmas and you run the risk of items going out stock with the COVID delays on international freight.

    Personally I'd just look for the best deal you can find now and be done with it.

  • User2049 on 06/12/2020 - 09:59
    +1

    Do you really need 32 GB ram and a B550 if your pairing them both with a Ryzen 3 3100?

    I would either upgrade CPU or downgrade ram and motherboard to 16 GB B450.

    • tomokaicho on 06/12/2020 - 17:08

      I don't want to deal with B450 BIOS issues. As for the RAM, I am going to need it. I usually have 50 or 60 tabs open on my browser. The Ryzen 3100 will be upgraded in a year or so. Right now it has to be cheap.

  • Freezies on 06/12/2020 - 10:26

    There have been some pretty cheap Ryzen pre-builts here on OB recently. I prefer building my own but for what you are building it might be more worthwhile. If you are going with 32GB ram, you should at least go for Ryzen 5 or higher.

    Nobody knows if there will be anything cheaper on Boxing day. I actually got my build parts at their cheapest in January, but there's no guarante. However, there are PC parts on sale all year round so it's possible to build cheap even when there aren't any sales events on.

  • serpserpserp on 06/12/2020 - 15:55
    +2

    Boxing Day has been a massive disappointment for about the last 3 to 4 years.

    The sales have also been pretty bad.

    • tomokaicho on 06/12/2020 - 17:09

      Yeah. I've been disappointed too. I don't have a lot of urgency since I am too busy to play any games until the end of the year. Either way, waiting is probably for the best.

  • SF3 on 06/12/2020 - 20:50
    +2

    Like “forever” boxing day sales, are:
    (1) clearing “junk” stock,
    (2) if any good, quantity too low (so you’ll never have a chance),
    (3) generic “seasonal” discounting that you get all year round (if it wasn’t on sale before, it highly unlikely it’ll have a boxing day special).

    For “good” items, I would look for discounting that occurs randomly through the year.

  • tomokaicho on 28/12/2020 - 01:06
    Merged from January PC Purchase Budget Gaming Build

    This is a follow up to my previous post here. As all of you predicted, Boxing Day as a total bust and there was nary a bargain to be seen.

    Thanks to a friend, I already have part of my build. My friend gave me his old GTX 1060 6GB. What I need is a CPU, Motherboard, PSU, case, and so on.

    Because this is a budget build I am looking at the Ryzen 3 3100 ($159 at MSY). However, I have noticed in the last few days that a few shops now have the Ryzen 3 3300X on preorder for $225 + shipping. That's not a good deal considering it was originally only $30 more than the 3100. So I will probably get the 3100.

    Any suggestions for a B550 motherboard?

    • nxllson on 28/12/2020 - 01:16
      +6

      You'd be better off getting the Intel i5-10400F and paired with the Asus TUF Gaming B460-PRO.

      $408 for both and you're getting much better value on the Intel, rather than going for a more expensive but older Ryzen 3 3300X.

    • Sinnerator on 28/12/2020 - 09:56
      +1

      You can use a cheap mobo for that set up, I got an ASRock H410m HDV/M2 for $78 from umart hot deals. I5 10400f for around $200 is great value. Cheap ram from Mwave PNY xlr8 16gb $89.

    • pharkurnell on 28/12/2020 - 10:49
      +1

      Look at evilbay for a cheap system that someone is gettin rid of cheap - then plonk in your GPU

  • tomokaicho on 29/12/2020 - 00:08

    The reason why I am looking at AMD B550 motherboard is because I want to use PCIe4 NVMe. The CPU will remain in my PC for 12 to 18 months, then I will pick up a better Ryzen CPU once the prices of the current generation have floored.

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