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Choosing Prebuilt - Advice needed

A

aaizHERE

New Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2024
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Hi everyone,

I am looking to join the PC gaming community and need a prebuilt gaming PC. I live in the UAE, and it's quite challenging to find a budget gaming PC here. My budget is about 1,800 AED, which is approximately 490 USD. I want to play some medium-level games, like Fortnite and Valorant.

I have a few options in mind:


If anyone can help, I also need a monitor to pair with the PC. Thank you!
 
aaizHERE said:
Hi everyone,

I am looking to join the PC gaming community and need a prebuilt gaming PC. I live in the UAE, and it's quite challenging to find a budget gaming PC here. My budget is about 1,800 AED, which is approximately 490 USD. I want to play some medium-level games, like Fortnite and Valorant.

I have a few options in mind:


If anyone can help, I also need a monitor to pair with the PC. Thank you!
Click to expand...
If I had to choose between the two, I'd definitely go with the second option with the 9400f and GTX 1660 Ti. Regarding monitors, I would like to know how much you're willing to spend. Definitely buy a 1080p monitor because this PC won't be able to run more than that.
 
for the monitor, i was thinking this:

also, i was thinking of this pc instead:

this is nice as well:

to all professionals out there, I need help out of these options for the best one!!!

aaizHERE said:
for the monitor, i was thinking this:
Click to expand...
this is the monitor. i have other peripherals
 
So...two options using the 6700, one using a 7700, and one using a 9400F. If I'm going to be frank, buying a 10 year old processor (2015 was when the 6700 was released) is out of the question for anything. The budget is painful...so why not buy a refurbished business machine and install a semi-ancient GPU? There's always a premium to stuff with the "gaming" label. For instance, and it is slightly out of your budget, this decently new 10700 based system, and a seven year old 590 GPU.

I can't sugar coat this and say any of these systems will be able to do a lot of anything. The budget you are putting forward is one where a console might give you more bang for your unit of currency than a pre-built system...and it'd be hard to even build a modern APU based system assuming that you are willing to build it. That said...buying a piece of technology that's had at least 8 years of usage for the price you're willing to spend really feels like throwing money away. Is there any game that you want that you couldn't play on a console? This might be heretical on a computer forum, but I view the issue as gaming first and computer secondary...because what you're actually seeking is fun and not a computer. As such, maybe it's not worth it to invest in pretty ancient tech.
 
my 2 cents:

well, 9400F is OKayish, but... 6 cores without HT on low clocks... pain in the back.
also, 1660s was good back days, but now DLSS helps A LOT... so 3050 (8 gb version only!!!) is a perfect Nvidia starter's choice.

https://www.amazon.ae/2FR-Starter-i7-8700-Windows-Warranty/dp/B0BSLRJPMN/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U5WUsv9yRWl7X0MD49klfJUehn3nA0fg2W0XHMP2bE2VR0fagxAbyhLS18yEBUeSyDIg8FbFXFRVM__V28_rHFfQrnS7tgEFpMCyUmVujMQ0Y7ZY4Ceut3NwFBwyZKcSxHfx6g51iJFRi7mAzCZAJKd4RmSCAw0YJcOlvOHwQHm76Z7aEsE_N7zg6-WJCFP9ylyG4LXoSVAfNvxfs1Xm4WAPsggHpdPFOgvAtgcM7I_LdTm9gz2vH1tw930VHk3Z8RE9bAI6pSDcxOu7JTYMzzaka9DeaYdfNecf3irf64s.hGNnNE4tTxNN1K8D0xUt56bA46EC28jMzXumIwrrWSE&dib_tag=se&keywords=budget%2Bpc&qid=1733301342&refinements=p_n_feature_sixteen_browse-bin%3A15314783031%7C15314785031%2Cp_n_feature_twenty-two_browse-bin%3A27399112031%2Cp_n_feature_thirty-four_browse-bin%3A49894944031%7C49894946031%7C49894948031%7C49894950031%2Cp_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A27355724031%2Cp_n_feature_twelve_browse-bin%3A15314780031&rnid=49894942031&s=computers&sr=1-1&th=1

i7-8700 + RTX 3050. My choice, the lowest DECENT option I could find there...:(
 
AleXXX666 said:
my 2 cents:

well, 9400F is OKayish, but... 6 cores without HT on low clocks... pain in the back.
also, 1660s was good back days, but now DLSS helps A LOT... so 3050 (8 gb version only!!!) is a perfect Nvidia starter's choice.

https://www.amazon.ae/2FR-Starter-i7-8700-Windows-Warranty/dp/B0BSLRJPMN/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U5WUsv9yRWl7X0MD49klfJUehn3nA0fg2W0XHMP2bE2VR0fagxAbyhLS18yEBUeSyDIg8FbFXFRVM__V28_rHFfQrnS7tgEFpMCyUmVujMQ0Y7ZY4Ceut3NwFBwyZKcSxHfx6g51iJFRi7mAzCZAJKd4RmSCAw0YJcOlvOHwQHm76Z7aEsE_N7zg6-WJCFP9ylyG4LXoSVAfNvxfs1Xm4WAPsggHpdPFOgvAtgcM7I_LdTm9gz2vH1tw930VHk3Z8RE9bAI6pSDcxOu7JTYMzzaka9DeaYdfNecf3irf64s.hGNnNE4tTxNN1K8D0xUt56bA46EC28jMzXumIwrrWSE&dib_tag=se&keywords=budget%2Bpc&qid=1733301342&refinements=p_n_feature_sixteen_browse-bin%3A15314783031%7C15314785031%2Cp_n_feature_twenty-two_browse-bin%3A27399112031%2Cp_n_feature_thirty-four_browse-bin%3A49894944031%7C49894946031%7C49894948031%7C49894950031%2Cp_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A27355724031%2Cp_n_feature_twelve_browse-bin%3A15314780031&rnid=49894942031&s=computers&sr=1-1&th=1

i7-8700 + RTX 3050. My choice, the lowest DECENT option I could find there...:(
Click to expand...
That's a little too out of my budget.
 
lilhasselhoffer said:
So...two options using the 6700, one using a 7700, and one using a 9400F. If I'm going to be frank, buying a 10 year old processor (2015 was when the 6700 was released) is out of the question for anything. The budget is painful...so why not buy a refurbished business machine and install a semi-ancient GPU? There's always a premium to stuff with the "gaming" label. For instance, and it is slightly out of your budget, this decently new 10700 based system, and a seven year old 590 GPU.

I can't sugar coat this and say any of these systems will be able to do a lot of anything. The budget you are putting forward is one where a console might give you more bang for your unit of currency than a pre-built system...and it'd be hard to even build a modern APU based system assuming that you are willing to build it. That said...buying a piece of technology that's had at least 8 years of usage for the price you're willing to spend really feels like throwing money away. Is there any game that you want that you couldn't play on a console? This might be heretical on a computer forum, but I view the issue as gaming first and computer secondary...because what you're actually seeking is fun and not a computer. As such, maybe it's not worth it to invest in pretty ancient tech.
Click to expand...
Could you help me find a powerful yet affordable mini PC as an alternative to a traditional gaming PC? I'm not a fan of laptops, but I'm open to mini PCs. I was recently interested in the Beelink SER6, but the prices on Amazon.ae have become quite high. I would greatly appreciate it if you could suggest a suitable option for my needs!
 
One option if prebuilts are hard to find in the UAE is to grab an ex-lease / refurbished workstation from Dell/HP/Lenovo and pop a new graphics card into it.

There are plenty of videos and guides all over the web on the topic, but the only real caveats are that some of them use proprietary power supplies and motherboards so if you find a good deal on one with such a caveat, then make sure it's powerful enough to accept your intended graphics card.
 
Chrispy_ said:
One option if prebuilts are hard to find in the UAE is to grab an ex-lease / refurbished workstation from Dell/HP/Lenovo and pop a new graphics card into it.

There are plenty of videos and guides all over the web on the topic, but the only real caveats are that some of them use proprietary power supplies and motherboards so if you find a good deal on one with such a caveat, then make sure it's powerful enough to accept your intended graphics card.
Click to expand...
That might be the best option. I did that for a friend who needed a low-cost computer by purchasing a Lenovo ThinkStation P310 and throwing a GTX 1070 in it. The whole computer cost less than $200 to put together. However, upgradeability will be quite limited due to the proprietary components. The PCs mentioned previously at least use standard components as far as I know. The one with the 9400F would be the one I'd pick because that platform can go up to a 9900K (theoretically, not sure about the motherboard).
 
Honestly, it's hard to choose between the two. For now, I'm opting for the UM773 Lite.

I'm in the process of selecting a new monitor and would appreciate some assistance in making the right choice. As of now, I have narrowed it down to two options. However, my budget is quite limited, sitting at around $90, which is approximately 360 dirhams. I'm looking for a monitor that offers the best value for my money within this price range.i have a few options, but recommendations would be appreciated!
option1 :

23.8 inch, IPS, 0.5ms response time, 165hz refresh rate, seems right.

option2 :

100hz, reliable company (seems so) and 1 ms refresh rate, IPS. seems good too.
 
aaizHERE said:
Honestly, it's hard to choose between the two. For now, I'm opting for the UM773 Lite.

I'm in the process of selecting a new monitor and would appreciate some assistance in making the right choice. As of now, I have narrowed it down to two options. However, my budget is quite limited, sitting at around $90, which is approximately 360 dirhams. I'm looking for a monitor that offers the best value for my money within this price range.i have a few options, but recommendations would be appreciated!
option1 :

23.8 inch, IPS, 0.5ms response time, 165hz refresh rate, seems right.

option2 :

100hz, reliable company (seems so) and 1 ms refresh rate, IPS. seems good too.
Click to expand...
First one seems better. It has a higher refresh rate which you'll appreciate considering you mainly play esports games from what I gather, and it's physically larger.
 
The problem is that I’m uncertain whether that option is a good choice for me. The reviews I’ve come across suggest that it isn’t very reliable, especially for that particular size. Additionally, based on public experience, I don't trust that brand. Given these factors, should I play it safe and opt for a more established option? After all, it seems like the MSI monitor has a good reputation and is generally considered a solid choice. any thoughts on this?

also, since the MSI is with a VA panel, I'm thinking this one instead:
 
aaizHERE said:
The problem is that I’m uncertain whether that option is a good choice for me. The reviews I’ve come across suggest that it isn’t very reliable, especially for that particular size. Additionally, based on public experience, I don't trust that brand. Given these factors, should I play it safe and opt for a more established option? After all, it seems like the MSI monitor has a good reputation and is generally considered a solid choice. any thoughts on this?

also, since the MSI is with a VA panel, I'm thinking this one instead:
Click to expand...
Go for the LG because it's IPS and larger than the MSI.
 
aaizHERE said:
Could you help me find a powerful yet affordable mini PC as an alternative to a traditional gaming PC? I'm not a fan of laptops, but I'm open to mini PCs. I was recently interested in the Beelink SER6, but the prices on Amazon.ae have become quite high. I would greatly appreciate it if you could suggest a suitable option for my needs!
Click to expand...

So...please take this with a huge grain of salt. If you are buying a mini-pc it's not ever going to be upgradeable, with the exception of RAM and storage space. The best I've used these for is light gaming, web browsing, and as a media link to home servers that do most of the lifting when it comes to compute.

I have had some luck with something like these:
1195G7 based - Decent setup, with something left in the budget for RAM, an SSD, or the monitor.
12700H based - Very top of your budget. Not a lot of room for extras.
6900HX based - near your budget range

If it were my money, and I had to get something, then I'd probably do the 6900HX based system. It's got pretty much everything you'll ever need. That said, it's still 680m graphics, which doesn't beat a 1660 ti, but the power draw of the entire system is almost a third of the GPU's draw alone. If you play less GPU intensive games, and at reasonably low settings, you could probably get 45-60 FPS in older titles. Newer one would be closer to 20-40 FPS.

I do have to ask a second time, why does it have to be a PC? If you want portability, there's the Switch. If you want library, there's the PS5. If you want dirt cheap and a library, there's the PS4. If you want an extremely specific set of games there's the Xbox. All of these things, barring the newest PS5, would probably be cheaper than a mini-pc. That'd free up a lot of money to buy games, or save so that in the future you could purchase a much more capable PC...or maybe learn to build your own. Right now the premium on GPUs is just silly.
 
aaizHERE said:
Could you help me find a powerful yet affordable mini PC as an alternative to a traditional gaming PC? I'm not a fan of laptops, but I'm open to mini PCs. I was recently interested in the Beelink SER6, but the prices on Amazon.ae have become quite high. I would greatly appreciate it if you could suggest a suitable option for my needs!
Click to expand...
1. you can use laptop same way as mini PC - connect peripherals and go.
2. I doubt well-cooled mini-pc would cost less than any "budget gaming" laptop.

so, my point is basically it's same crap when it comes to cooling.
 
I'm not too fond of laptops; they have small screens, and if I buy peripherals, I would prefer a mini PC with a monitor. Gaming laptops with mediocre specs are costly. Considering my budget and the performance for the price, I prefer the mini PC.

lilhasselhoffer said:
So...please take this with a huge grain of salt. If you are buying a mini-pc it's not ever going to be upgradeable, with the exception of RAM and storage space. The best I've used these for is light gaming, web browsing, and as a media link to home servers that do most of the lifting when it comes to compute.

I have had some luck with something like these:
1195G7 based - Decent setup, with something left in the budget for RAM, an SSD, or the monitor.
12700H based - Very top of your budget. Not a lot of room for extras.
6900HX based - near your budget range

If it were my money, and I had to get something, then I'd probably do the 6900HX based system. It's got pretty much everything you'll ever need. That said, it's still 680m graphics, which doesn't beat a 1660 ti, but the power draw of the entire system is almost a third of the GPU's draw alone. If you play less GPU intensive games, and at reasonably low settings, you could probably get 45-60 FPS in older titles. Newer one would be closer to 20-40 FPS.

I do have to ask a second time, why does it have to be a PC? If you want portability, there's the Switch. If you want library, there's the PS5. If you want dirt cheap and a library, there's the PS4. If you want an extremely specific set of games there's the Xbox. All of these things, barring the newest PS5, would probably be cheaper than a mini-pc. That'd free up a lot of money to buy games, or save so that in the future you could purchase a much more capable PC...or maybe learn to build your own. Right now the premium on GPUs is just silly.
Click to expand...
I dont like to play on consoles, besides, I want a PC for other works as well, its not just gaming.

Anyways, isnt the system i sent better than the 6900hx?

If anyone can recommend a really budget-effective mini PC, or a gaming PC (preferably ITX) it would be great!
do keep in mind I'm choosing performance over aesthetics, and hope to find something cheap and effective.
 
I would consider this option.

It's 2150 AED, so slightly above your budget, but you get a modern CPU (Core i5-12400F) that will give you much better CPU performance, and better future upgrade options, compared to an old i5-9400F. Though the i5-9400F with a GTX 1660 Super would be slightly faster than the i5-12400F with a GTX 1660 (non-Super) in GPU-intensive games, the i5-12400F would be much faster in CPU-intensive games (e.g. strategy games, simulation games, competitive multiplayer shooters). The i5-9400F would bottleneck more powerful GPUs if you ever upgraded your graphics card, while the i5-12400F can handle much more powerful GPUs, up to about an RTX 4070 or RX 6800, in most games at 1080p.

Though if you mostly play very GPU-intensive games and wouldn't be CPU-limited, and don't care much about long-term upgrade options, the cheaper 9400F + GTX 1660 Super build would be better.
 
do you have any itx options?

I was going to buy the Daseen PC, but the problem that arises is space on my desk and the fact that I don't know how to upgrade a PC. I'm very young, and not very confident if I can take care of a PC yet. I was thinking of starting with a mini PC/itx PC, so I can first learn how to manage a computer, and then buy a proper one. As of now, I have only used laptops and am not very proficient
 
aaizHERE said:
Anyways, isnt the system i sent better than the 6900hx?

If anyone can recommend a really budget-effective mini PC, or a gaming PC (preferably ITX) it would be great!
do keep in mind I'm choosing performance over aesthetics, and hope to find something cheap and effective.
Click to expand...

aaizHERE said:
do you have any itx options?
Click to expand...
The GTX 1660 Super is about 2.5x as fast as the Ryzen 9 6900HX's integrated Radeon 680M GPU, but the 6900HX's CPU performance is about 2x the 9400F's. The best choice between the two for gaming would depend on what sort of games you play, and whether they benefit more from a stronger CPU or GPU.

Also, you can often get MiniPCs with a Ryzen 7 7840HS, which is slightly faster (about 15% better in both CPU and GPU) and more efficient than the 6900HX, for about the same price. A miniPC is harder to upgrade or maintain than a standard desktop PC, but could be ideal if you're looking for a small-form-factor gaming computer in this price range.

 
Monitor is that: https://www.amazon.ae/PHILIPS-27E1N...031&s=computers&sr=1-7&ts_id=12050246031&th=1

1733404329432.png


PC is this: https://www.amazon.ae/BUDGET-GAMING...031&rnid=27410741031&s=computers&sr=1-11&th=1

1733404311254.png
 
aaizHERE said:
I was going to buy the Daseen PC, but the problem that arises is space on my desk and the fact that I don't know how to upgrade a PC. I'm very young, and not very confident if I can take care of a PC yet. I was thinking of starting with a mini PC/itx PC, so I can first learn how to manage a computer, and then buy a proper one. As of now, I have only used laptops and am not very proficient
Click to expand...
I don't think you'd need to worry much about not knowing how to upgrade a PC if you chose the DASEEN PC. It wouldn't need an upgrade immediately, only when you need a faster GPU and have the budget for it. Swapping a computer's graphics card is fairly easy (just turn off the PC's power, remove the computer's side panel, remove the power cables from the old card, unscrew the screw holding the card in place, pull the card out of the slot; then reverse the process with the replacement card) compared to things like installing a CPU or motherboard, and you can find a lot of useful tutorials online.

Though if you still wouldn't be interested to try it, or have other concerns like space or power usage, then a miniPC might be better for you.

A smaller PC wouldn't necessarily be easier to take care of; if anything, the opposite is probably true. Smaller PCs often use more fragile components which are harder to replace if they do break, and are also harder to clean. It's useful to clean dust out of a PC at least once every few years, to ensure that the cooling (vents, fans, and heatsinks) doesn't get clogged up and cause damage or overheating.
 
Last edited:
What do you suggest for a 13 year old?
My budget is actually 1850 dhs for the PC. there is one more, but with an rx580 for 1850dhs. should I take that? or daseen? also daseen has a PC with i5 11400f and gtx 1660 super. i might take that instead. firstly because it is cheaper, and second, the cable management is horrible and the i5 11400f one has no glass panels.
 
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