Best PC build for Dota 2?

Hey everyone,

Any Dota 2 fans hanging out here?

A buddy of mine is looking to pick up a rig, but honestly, he just wants it for one thing: playing Dota 2. He basically wants to fire it up, jump into a match, and then shut the whole thing down. Simple as that.

What kind of specs should we be aiming for if he wants everything cranked up to the max settings without any lag?

Do you think $2,500 would be enough to snag a decent used PC, or am I totally off base? Any recommendations on what to look for?

Thanks

Let's see if I can move this setup along with a new or used GPU:

ASRock H310M-HDV motherboard, LGA 1151, 8th Gen, 90-MXB6Z0-A0UAYZ
Intel Core i3-8100 processor (6MB Cache, 3.60GHz), LGA 1151, BX80684I38100
MS Helios III midi tower, ATX
2x 4GB DDR4 sticks (1x4GB) PC4-19200 2400MHz CL17 Crucial, CT4G4DFS824A
FSP Fortron Hexa plus 400 w power supply, ATX 2.4, PPA4004900
1TB WD Blue HDD, 3.5", 7200RPM, 64MB Cache, SATA3, WD10EZEX
Arctic F12 Silent fan, 120mm, 800rpm, 62.9m³/h, ACFAN00027A

Total: $2,$244 - ADM

Interesting thought, though does that processor actually come with integrated graphics?
Will that be enough to run Dota 2?

I mean, maybe if I save up a bit, I could snag a used GPU off Craigslist for about $200?

It’ll probably run smoothly on integrated graphics at 1080p low settings. You could always go with a Ryzen 3 2200 g build instead—it has much better integrated graphics, though I guess the CPU performance isn't quite as strong. But if you're aiming for max settings, it might be smarter to save that $67 and just pick up a dedicated GPU down the road.

Is this actually true? https://www.systemrequirementslab.co...s/dota-2/11352

With a Ryzen 3 2200 g, Dota 2 would absolutely fly...





This is how it looks on Intel...

Alright, sounds good! I'll pass along that exact build to him and suggest he just picks up a decent graphics card to round things out, and he'll be all set.

1 x AMD Ryzen 3 2200 g Processor (4C/4T, 3.7GHz, 6MB, 65W, AM4) box with RX Vega graphics
1 x MSI B350 mATX Desktop Motherboard (AM4, 2xDDR4 slots, PCI-Ex16, 2xPCI-Ex1, USB3.1, USB2.0, 4xSATA3, M.2, Raid, VGA, DVI-D, GLAN)
1 x Crucial 8GB DDR4 Memory Kit (2 x 4GB) 2400 MT/s (PC4-19200) CL17 Single Rank Unbuffered DIMM 288pin
1 x Kingston A400 120GB SATA SSD
1 x Fortron Hexa plus 400 w Power Supply, 80+ rated, active cooling, 12 cm fan
1 x MS PHANTOM mid-tower case

Total: $895 (After 2% discount: $0.88)
Free assembly and shipping included

A much better deal

https://www.craigslist.org/fo/pc-computers/listing-25506376

Alexander Moore67 said:way better deal

https://www.ebay.com/itm/desktop-pc-listing-example

The motherboard dies and you're left holding nothing.

Personally, I'd go the AMD Ryzen APU route. Even if it's just a Ryzen 3 2200 g, it's still a solid move.

Used gear, weaker performance? Here’s why.

so, is it actually your PC we're talking about, since you both happen to be from the same area around Tampa? 😁

Alexander Moore67 said:A much better deal

https://www.craigslist.org/listing/pc-desktop-gaming-rig...example-link

In what way? It’s just a pile of old parts with no warranty and a GPU that barely outperforms an old Radeon Vega 8.

Consider picking up a Ryzen APU build instead. You can always toss in a GTX 1660 or something similar later on to crank everything to max settings, and you’ve got the flexibility to swap out the CPU whenever you're ready for an upgrade. This old junk isn't even worth considering—honestly, who knows how many miles are already on this thing?