Cheapest Desktop PC for Emulation?

I'm looking to pick up a cheap desktop PC that can run most of the emulators out there easily.

I'd like it to be HDMI capable as the new Dolphin emulator for Wii comes to mind.

I'd like to have the ability to play Wii and Cube games in HD.

But, I also don't want to spend a ton.

Note: My desire to use Dolphin is for its ability to output high resolutions.
I don't intend to use it for piracy.

 

Your wants are polar opposites. Dolphin requires an expensive CPU to perform well. Well atleast not a cheap one. I don't really see the appeal of it if you own a Wii and you don't want it for piracy. But I guess you have a reason.

You'll just have to look into and price parts. You also might want to define a budget. You can make a cheap PC if you want to emulate anything PS1/N64 and down. I just got one thats a tiny PC for about $200. It can handle Neogeo, CPS1,2,3, NES, SNES (not BSNES), Genesis, etc no problem.

Meanwhile, my Desktop's processor goes alone for that $200, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036&cm_re=e8500-_-19-115-036-_-Product

And while it handles Dolphin decently it could probably do with being a bit faster, unless I'm GPU handicapped for Dolphin but I doubt it.

 

for ps2/dreamcast and GC emulation you have to look for a multicore cpu with 3.0Ghz speed at the very least...

my quad core 2.66 is too slow for many games on pcsx2... sadly i have to say :/

 

you can build a pc with a dedicated GPU and a 4 core CPU for 500 USD
and it will play every emulator out there

check out http://www.newegg.com

i recommend going AMD to meet that 500 dollar figure
as INTEL cpu's with 4 cores start at about 200 usd

 

Youll want an Intel CPU for Dolphin and PCSX2. Most people seem to agree that they work better.

 

Do not go for more cores. Go for faster performing cores. For example don't get a Core 2 Quad Core, get a DUO with faster performing but less cores. The reason being that most emulators at most can use 2 cores, no more. PCSX2 can technically use more I hear but only for software rendering that you won't likely use anyway.

Again depending on your definition of cheap this may be mission impossible.

 

i doubt hes gonna spend all this money on a computer solely for emulation
seems more like hes getting a new PC at the same time the emulation factor is just a bonus

so in that case more cores are the better option

if he was gonna get a computer just for emulation hed be better off getting a used PC off of ebay for less then 200

 

The sole purpose would be emulation and by cheap I mean like below 600 dollars.

If dolphin isn't possible it'd be nice to have emulators up to whatever would be feasible for that cheap.

 

dolphin is more then possible at that price

200 for the cpu fast duel core i5 cpus are pricey between 50 and 70 for the motherboard
another 50 or 60 for 4 gigs of ram
another 100 for a dedicated video card
another 50 for a power supply of 450 watts minimum
and another 30-50 for a case

 

I don't think Dolphin will perform very well at those specs. My specs are far above that, and my computer still has difficulty with some games in Dolphin.

 

never said it would work perfect..

but you can get 1 1 gig video card for about 100 bucks on newegg
and a very speedy duel core cpu and easily run dolphin

 

450 watts minimum? with an i5 a dedicated video card and all the ram I wouldn't risk anywhere below 600w as it could easily hit that at maximum load when you add in the hard drives and everything.

 

ummm why the hell dose everyone think of some 200 or 300 usd monster video card at 200 watts or more when they hear dedicated video card?

a modest 1 gig video card is around 100 wants likely a little more

the expensive video cards are only clocked higher other wise they are exactly the same as mainstream cards

also i5's are right around 100 watts and one 2TB drive hovers at less then 50 watts

i dont see how a 450 minimum would be broken easaly

 

Look at it this way. I have a Dual core 4gb of ram and a 5770 amongst other things and Newegg and other people recommended a 600w. You have to think of maximum load. If it ever hit that much the rig your thinking of would blow it.

 

the 5770 isnt a modest card thats actually a rather beefy card
im talking more about something from the 55XX series

or the 200 series of nvida

 

I run Mario Kart Wii at fullspeed in a i5 760 @ 2.8 (stock) and a GT220 1gb sddr3.

You'd probably have a look on the Sandy Bridge processors and a GT4xx for optimal emulation. I mean, you can run those systems on lower specs, but you'll be more limited when it comes to graphical enhancements.

 

Seriously? It was only a £90 card. I didn't think it was that beefy. It did however get my rendering times down massively. Maybe next step is upgrading CPU.

 

the 5770 was top of the line for a few months in 2010 atlast in the mid range catagory

but you are right the bare minimum isn't where you should stay
i was just pointing out that 450 for a minimum wasn't really that bad

hope i didn't errk you to badly

 

BOTTOM LINE HERE.


IF you want to Emulate the Gamecube/PS2,
Get either an LGA1366 Processor or a Corei5/Corei7 LGA1155 processor. And use SSE4.2 Optimized builds of Dolphin.(AMD Processors are near useless for PCSX2)

And use at least a GTX 460 and above from Nvidia(Or a 6850 and above from AMD) for constant 60FPS @1080p (rendering @ 1080p for PCSX2, not above like 2560x1440, though a lot of PS2 games will run perfect rendering at that)


You can get a Corei7 950 that can overclock to 4+Ghz for 250$ brand new now(I got mine 240$ back when it was going for over 300$+)

And if you look in the right spots you can get a 1GB 460(not the SE version or 768) for under 150$ used.


Make sure you overclock and get the most out of both your CPU and GPU(CPU will need Aftermarket cooling though, it's not expensive).
because it WILL make a difference.




Buy this power supply, it's cheap , high quality and very reliable
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthu...5AZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306366914&sr=8-1
it will give you the headroom you need for a high quality CPU and GPU as well as enough room in the future for upgrades.


GTX460 for 145$
http://cgi.ebay.com/MSI-N460GTX-CYC...=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item45fac91c7b&vil=1
One of the best models too.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Process...TF8&coliid=I11OVZDRHETO6O&colid=2ST0B6S3ILVMC
As low as 179$


Case
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master...7YTA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306368361&sr=8-1


Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131711R
Same as
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...711&cm_re=ASUS_P8H67-M-_-13-131-711-_-Product

Ram
http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-240-P...UTF8&coliid=IMVY3UU9IQ4ME&colid=2ST0B6S3ILVMC

Don't know if you need a hard drive, keyboard/etc whatnot

It will cost you more than 500$
For sure, but it will be worth it.

 

Wouldn't it just be easier to buy a PS2/gamecube/xbox and stuff them into a PC case? cheaper too...