whats better
whats better
Consider an alternative setup for PC gaming—something different from your primary rig. You might explore a laptop or a compact mini-LAN build to host friends for League and similar titles.
Yes, there are affordable laptops offering good value for money.
mitx lan rig offers a solid choice when you need reliability and setup time, but laptops remain more practical for everyday tasks due to their portability and cost-effectiveness. Laptops are ideal if you have alternative needs (like school) and can function as a LAN setup, making them a better fit overall.
a reliable mid-range model like the Dell XPS 13 or HP Spectre x360, offering good performance and portability.
At that level, the value is limited, offering only about 850 or 860 units at most.
Another aspect of using a laptop for friends is the noticeable difference compared to a desktop setup. My laptop works fine for basic tasks but feels quite distinct from my desktop, especially when playing ranked games there. However, when I connect my desktop and use the extra monitor, it behaves just like at home. My desktop is an elite 130 mITX build. You might consider similar setups with a NCASE M1 or SG13 (when it arrives), or an elite 110. I’d really like my machine to be more compact. A device that runs excellently for around $500-600 in a mITX size would be ideal.
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I’d recommend the following components based on what I understand about your needs. For CPUs, consider the Intel Pentium G3258 at 3.2GHz with a dual-core configuration ($64.99 from NCIX US). Pair it with the Cooler Master Seidon 120V 86.2 CFM liquid cooler ($29.99 from Newegg). The motherboard should be the MSI H81I Mini ITX LGA1150 model ($63.99 from SuperBiiz). For memory, opt for Team Xtreem Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 at $54.99 from Newegg). Storage can be the Crucial MX100 128GB SSD ($64.95 from SuperBiiz), and the video card is the Sapphire Radeon R7 260X with 2GB VRAM ($104.99 from SuperBiiz). The case should be the Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower ($36.99 from Newegg), while the power supply is the EVGA 500W 80+ ATX model ($24.99 from NCIX US).
The total comes to approximately $445.88, including shipping and taxes where applicable. Prices reflect what I found on PCPartPicker as of March 1, 2015. You can swap the SSD for a hard drive or combine both options. The Seidon cooler is quite affordable right now thanks to its MIR design, which is why I selected it. You might consider using 4GB of RAM if you prefer, since I rarely exceed that amount despite having eight slots. This case offers the smallest size without sacrificing quality. The GPU handles League of Legends well and can also tackle other titles effectively. My 750Ti (slightly slower than the 260X) supports Bioshock Infinite at ultra settings in 1080p, while my G3258 with a similar cooler is overclocked by about 40% (to 4.5GHz). If you can overclock, go for that CPU; otherwise, an i3 with the stock cooler would work fine. I’ve used the same motherboard before and it performs excellently. All selections were made with cost efficiency in mind, aiming to keep your system optimized for League of Legends for several years. If you’d like to invest more, just let me know and I can suggest a better build.