Best budget PC parts for Dolphin emulator - Help?

[mbudden2015]

Hi there. My friend wants to build a gaming PC that can run the Dolphin Gamecube emulator, at playable speeds. He doesn't do any heavy gaming. My friend doesn't have a lot of money and is on a tight budget, so lowest prices POSSIBLE for the parts. (e.g. motherboard, cpu, gpu, psu, etc etc). Now, he doesn't have the money for a video card just yet so keep in mind he's looking for either a CPU + APU combo AMD processor, or an Intel CPU with Intel HD graphics. Like I said, he just wants something that can play the Dolphin emulator at playable speeds and needs it to work with on-board video, too. Anyway, please help me and him out with this. Thanks in advance!

EDIT: he found the Intel Core i3-4170 3M Haswell Dual-Core 3.7 GHz online, so would that be okay?

EDIT: Canadian prices ONLY!!! Thanks!

 

[Toothless]

That would be fine, what GPU will he be running?

Could go with a Broadwell or Skylake and use the iGPU on those.

 

[mbudden2015]

That would be fine, what GPU will he be running?

Could go with a Broadwell or Skylake and use the iGPU on those.

It's already stated in my initial post that he can't buy a video card right now, so it will have to be an CPU + GPU combo. And he's on a really tight budget so nothing uber expensive, know what I mean?

 

[NdMk2o1o]

I'd be more inclined to go with an AMD APU as opposed to using the Intel IGP

 

[mbudden2015]

I'd be more inclined to go with an AMD APU as opposed to using the Intel IGP

Okay! So, can you fully help me out with my initial post, then, please? He's looking for budget parts to be able to play on the Dolphin emulator at acceptable speeds. Nothing overly expensive. And what AMD processor would you recommend for his use? Has to be Canadian prices, too!

 

[NdMk2o1o]

Okay! So, can you fully help me out with my initial post, then, please? He's looking for budget parts to be able to play on the Dolphin emulator at acceptable speeds.

What exactly is his budget? may be better buying used parts if it's really tight

 

[mbudden2015]

What exactly is his budget? may be better buying used parts if it's really tight

Uhhh it's not that big. It's $400 (including shipping & taxes). Like I said, he just wants to be able to play games on the Dolphin Gamecube emulator like Super Mario Sunshine, Zelda Wind Waker, etc etc. When you say used parts, do you mean ordering refurbished parts?

 

[Toothless]

I'd be more inclined to go with an AMD APU as opposed to using the Intel IGP

Have you seen the performance of the iGPU on Broadwell and Skylake? It's actually pretty decent and those kind of emulators do need the extra CPU power.

Uhhh it's not that big. It's $400 (including shipping & taxes). Like I said, he just wants to be able to play games on the Dolphin Gamecube emulator like Super Mario Sunshine, Zelda Wind Waker, etc etc. When you say used parts, do you mean ordering refurbished parts?

Used parts are not too bad. My two 780's are both used and both work to perfection.

 

[mbudden2015]

Have you seen the performance of the iGPU on Broadwell and Skylake? It's actually pretty decent and those kind of emulators do need the extra CPU power.

Used parts are not too bad. My two 780's are both used and both work to perfection.

So can you or can you not answer my first initial post, please? I'm trying to help out a friend here.

 

[mbudden2015]

I just need a definite answer on low-budget PC parts to run the Dolphin Gamecube emulator at playable/acceptable speeds, and has to have a CPU with integrated video into it, thanks! Need help with this like ASAP!

 

[Toothless]

So can you or can you not answer my first initial post, please? I'm trying to help out a friend here.

First post was to other user, and second was to answer your question.

Can just upgrade PSU and get a dedicated GPU later on if needed. This should run pretty well.

 

[mbudden2015]

First post was to other user, and second was to answer your question. Borderline rude in that post.

Can just upgrade PSU and get a dedicated GPU later on if needed. This should run pretty well.

But I did ask for help on my initial post and not just a part of it. Sorry if it came off as "rude", but it wasn't rude. lol! And in the above comments, I answered the guy's question on what my friend's budget is and it's $400. So I think what you just listed was too high lol

 

[Toothless]

But I did ask for help on my initial post and not just a part of it. Sorry if it came off as "rude", but it wasn't rude. lol! And in the above comments, I answered the guy's question on what my friend's budget is and it's $400. So I think what you just listed was too high lol

Think for more future usage. An APU is nice, sure, but move down the line a few years it won't keep up. Think of it as "pay more now but get more later."

Either/or it's a personal preference. You'll pay more later with AMD unless Zen does something.

 

[mbudden2015]

Think for more future usage. An APU is nice, sure, but move down the line a few years it won't keep up. Think of it as "pay more now but get more later."

Either/or it's a personal preference. You'll pay more later with AMD unless Zen does something.

So you can't help me out, then? He JUST wants to use the computer for Dolphin Gamecube emulator. That's all! He doesn't want to do anything else with it. And he can't pay more because he's on social assistance. He's not worried about what happens years from now. He just wants to play Gamecube.

 

[Toothless]

So you can't help me out, then? He JUST wants to use the computer for Dolphin Gamecube emulator. That's all!

What do you think is helping? I suggested a build and there it is. We gave you an AMD and a Intel build with you picking on personal preference. Your standards for "help" are a bit off there bud.

 

[Toothless]

I ASKED FOR A BUILD THAT CAN PLAY DOLPHIN EMULATOR!!!!!!!!! NOT ANYTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!! NOTHING THAT IS WAY OVERKILL FOR SIMPLE GAMECUBE EMULATION, LIKE OVER $600!!!! SO NO! MY "STANDARDS" FOR HELP IS NOT OFF!

But you got two builds..?

 

[mbudden2015]

But you got two builds..?

I was only provided with one. The one that was over $600.

 

[Toothless]

I was only provided with one.

I thought @NdMk2o1o provided one, oops. Lemme go find an APU rig

 

[mbudden2015]

I thought @NdMk2o1o provided one, oops. Lemme go find an APU rig

No, he didn't. He asked me what my friend's budget was and said that the AMD APU would be better. I replied, but never got an answer.

 

[Toothless]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qqHL3C

Dolphan and basic web browsing with no future upgrades here you go

@sneekypeet hi there

 

[Dead_Again]

AMD variant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fwgNdC

Edit - Canada: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/fwgNdC

 

[mbudden2015]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qqHL3C

Dolphan and basic web browsing with no future upgrades here you go

I should have mentioned that we live in Canada, so it has to be Canadian prices. XD Sorry! And it'll all be bought from Newegg.

 

[Toothless]

I should have mentioned that we live in Canada, so it has to be Canadian prices. XD Sorry! And it'll all be bought from Newegg.

Fix your first post then with needing CA prices.

 

[mbudden2015]

Fix your first post then with needing CA prices.

Done. Is that AMD processor overkill for Dolphin or no?

AMD variant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fwgNdC

Edit - Canada: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/fwgNdC

Okay, great! Thanks a bunch! Will that be adequate enough to run Zelda Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and Super Mario Sunshine on the Dolphin emulator, though? Also, will it be enough to run PS2 emulation? It's for my friend.

 

[Toothless]

Okay, great! Thanks a bunch! Will that be adequate enough to run Zelda Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and Super Mario Sunshine on the Dolphin emulator, though? It's for my friend.

It'll work yes but if emulators need more power later it'll probably struggle. Should be good for at least a few years.