I'm looking to build my first PC and I've come across a used Xeon E5 2660 v3 being sold for $30, along with the motherboard. I did some benchmarking online and it seemed like a decent deal. I'm on a really tight budget and want to build something better than my Ryzen 3 laptop to play games like Fallout 76, Dark Souls 3, or Elden Ring at minimum settings. My budget is around $50 per part. I'm wondering if this Xeon CPU/motherboard combo is a good choice or if I should consider alternatives like some older 4th gen i7s. I also learned that different generations of CPUs require different sockets, so I'm curious if this Xeon setup might be too niche to upgrade in the future. Any advice would be appreciated!
1 Answer
Let's get your budget sorted first! You mentioned $50 for each component, so let's aim for a total budget around $280 (including the $30 for the CPU and motherboard). You've got two main paths:
1. Stick with the Xeon. It’s decent but keep in mind it’s an older server CPU which comes with its quirks.
2. Consider 4th or 5th gen i7s. If you look at older OptiPlexes with those i7s, you can often find a package deal that includes a case, RAM, and storage for about $50-80.
For the Xeon, you'll need ECC RAM which is a bit more costly, and you'll have to ensure the motherboard fits in a supporting case. Storage should be low cost—aim for around $15-20 for a decent drive. The graphics card will be the biggest chunk of your budget; I’d suggest anything under a GTX 3060 or RX 6600, which should fit around $100-120.
Comparatively, the older i7s might be a little slower, but the rest you get in that package will really help stretch your budget, giving you more room for a good GPU.
Thanks for the detailed breakdown! I had no idea it was a server CPU or that it made a difference. What are the pros and cons? If I buy it now, can I use it for running Minecraft servers later if I upgrade? I saw a cheap motherboard by Qiyida that was used for only a month.