Dilemma: To buy or to build?

[TOO S0BER]

Ok, so I'm just watching TV, "attack of the show" on G4, and they're reviewing a gaming PC by Alienware. I'm think "Wow, that is so cool"...until they unveiled the price tag. The one they had on the show was $2200, and even better, they said that was the starting price. Apparently it goes up to $3900 as well.

I also have Starcraft 2 (come on, who doesn't) and I have to play everything on it's lowest graphical settings in order for it to run. I've been planning on building my own PC, only for gaming, so I can crank the graphics all the way up. But I don't know the first thing about computers beyond just playing the game and surfing the web. I heard from friends who are into building computers, that building your own would only cost around $800 (no I don't know if that's one-hundred percent true or not).

So I'm asking you guys. Would it be better to stop pinching the penny and buy an Alienware PC, or to take the time and effort to build my own?

 

[im-white]

build your own comp companies overprice their crap big time. alienware is the worst for price product ratio

 

[number2301]

You have to build a gaming PC, it's the only way to ensure you get exactly the right components in.

 

[Azure Sky]

Gonna have to say build your own here.

Considering that when it comes to computers some parts are retardedly expensive, where as some parts are quite cheap and can still run most of today's software.

The best advice I can give is to have someone (A friend preferably) with knowledge in the field sit down with you and work out what you need from a computer, and what you need to make it last a few years.

While getting a $4000-$5000 gaming beast may last upwards of 5 years before you even notice any performance issues, a $2000-$3000 machine will still last for a good few years before it starts becoming out of date.

As for the $800 you said? Yeah no, just no. Unless you want a comp that is under pressure from just running its OS...

Edit:
I just remembered that a friend of mine priced up a computer for another friend.
The result was a computer that could run things like SCII, WoW, etc without issue but would probably need to be upgraded in a year or two to keep up with technology.
I believe it totaled to just under $2000, not including kb/mouse.

Spoiler: Parts Copy/Paste from a txt

cpu - i7-930 - $359
heatsink - Noctua U12DX-1366 - $89
mobo - evga x58 sli micro - $279
ram - 6gb ocz PC3-12800 c8 - $229
vid - Gigabyte GTX465 - $299
hdd - 500gb WD-Black - $79
dvd - Samsung 223C DVD-RW - $39
psu - corsair HX-650 - $147
case - CM Storm Scout - $119
win7 - Home Premium 64bit - $135
lcd - Benq E2420HD - $259

Hope the info helps. =3

Another Edit: Probably should mention that the above is Australian prices. =x

 

[Bloodstain]

Alienware is really, really, really expensive.

Build your own. That way, you get the most for your money.

As for the $800 you said? Yeah no, just no. Unless you want a comp that is under pressure from just running its OS...

I built my PC for 450?, which should be about $400. 3.2GHz dual-core, 4GB RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT 1GB. With $800, you should get really good stuff if you look at the right places.

 

[TOO S0BER]

Gonna have to say build your own here.

Considering that when it comes to computers some parts are retardedly expensive, where as some parts are quite cheap and can still run most of today's software.

The best advice I can give is to have someone (A friend preferably) with knowledge in the field sit down with you and work out what you need from a computer, and what you need to make it last a few years.

While getting a $4000-$5000 gaming beast may last upwards of 5 years before you even notice any performance issues, a $2000-$3000 machine will still last for a good few years before it starts becoming out of date.

As for the $800 you said? Yeah no, just no. Unless you want a comp that is under pressure from just running its OS...

Hmm Okay, sounds like building my own is definitely the better deal. Any advice or info on hardware, software, etc? Like what stores might carry the best stuff? I wasn't joking when I said i know nothing lol.

 

[TOO S0BER]

Alienware is really, really, really expensive.

Build your own. That way, you get the most for your money.

As for the $800 you said? Yeah no, just no. Unless you want a comp that is under pressure from just running its OS...

I built my PC for 450?, which should be about $400. 3.2GHz dual-core, 4GB RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT 1GB. With $800, you should get really good stuff if you look at the right places.

Can you give me some info as to what the "best places" are to buy computer parts? Also I like in Arizona, in case it makes any difference.

 

[Megacherv]

Gonna have to say build your own here.

Considering that when it comes to computers some parts are retardedly expensive, where as some parts are quite cheap and can still run most of today's software.

The best advice I can give is to have someone (A friend preferably) with knowledge in the field sit down with you and work out what you need from a computer, and what you need to make it last a few years.

While getting a $4000-$5000 gaming beast may last upwards of 5 years before you even notice any performance issues, a $2000-$3000 machine will still last for a good few years before it starts becoming out of date.

As for the $800 you said? Yeah no, just no. Unless you want a comp that is under pressure from just running its OS...

Hmm Okay, sounds like building my own is definitely the better deal. Any advice or info on hardware, software, etc? Like what stores might carry the best stuff? I wasn't joking when I said i know nothing lol.

Well, you could either build, OR find a site that does custom builds for you. This is generally as cheap (and easier) than building your own, as they generally test them first to make sure they run perfectly. Not sure what sites you can use, since I used one and it's based in the UK and doesn't do overseas delivery.

 

[Nincompoop]

You want a gaming PC for Starcraft 2? ... Not the most cosmetique extraordinaire of games, but whatever.

If it's a laptop you want, buy one. If it's a stationary, it's cheaper to build one. But only if you have someone to help you.

I would think newegg.com would be the place to buy stuff, but ask your nerd friends where they order their stuff.

 

[Azure Sky]

Alienware is really, really, really expensive.

Build your own. That way, you get the most for your money.

As for the $800 you said? Yeah no, just no. Unless you want a comp that is under pressure from just running its OS...

I built my PC for 450?, which should be about $400. 3.2GHz dual-core, 4GB RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT 1GB. With $800, you should get really good stuff if you look at the right places.

Well, considering that dual core is so old that it isn't funny any more (Mine is a D/C, it makes me cry) as well as the 8600 series being just as bad (My comp had a GeForce 8800 GTS when it was built... 3 years ago..)

While it IS possible to build one for that price, you wouldn't do it in this day and age, as it would be several years out of date before it is even built, which defeats the point of a gaming PC.

I edited my above post with a parts list, quote below will jump to it. =3

Linkysnip

 

[Bloodstain]

Alienware is really, really, really expensive.

Build your own. That way, you get the most for your money.

As for the $800 you said? Yeah no, just no. Unless you want a comp that is under pressure from just running its OS...

I built my PC for 450?, which should be about $400. 3.2GHz dual-core, 4GB RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT 1GB. With $800, you should get really good stuff if you look at the right places.

Can you give me some info as to what the "best places" are to buy computer parts? Also I like in Arizona, in case it makes any difference.

Usually, it's Google. Always looking for the cheapest deal.
But I do have good experiences with some German retailers, such as Hardwareversand [http://www1.hardwareversand.de/home.jsp] and Alternate [http://www.alternate.de/html/index.html].

Also, never understimate ebay. If you're careful enough (because of suspicious offers and so on) you can get unused hardware at a good price.

 

[Delusibeta]

I just remembered that a friend of mine priced up a computer for another friend.
The result was a computer that could run things like SCII, WoW, etc without issue but would probably need to be upgraded in a year or two to keep up with technology.
I believe it totaled to just under $2000, not including kb/mouse.

Spoiler: Parts Copy/Paste from a txt

cpu - i7-930 - $359
heatsink - Noctua U12DX-1366 - $89
mobo - evga x58 sli micro - $279
ram - 6gb ocz PC3-12800 c8 - $229
vid - Gigabyte GTX465 - $299
hdd - 500gb WD-Black - $79
dvd - Samsung 223C DVD-RW - $39
psu - corsair HX-650 - $147
case - CM Storm Scout - $119
win7 - Home Premium 64bit - $135
lcd - Benq E2420HD - $259

Hope the info helps. =3

Another Edit: Probably should mention that the above is Australian prices. =x

I'm going to bet that it'll be a good five years before an upgrade is required, to be honest. The CPU will probably be a keeper with a little overclocking untill six-cores have got rid of quad cores (and considering dual cores are the standard now, that'll be a while) Myself, I bought a laptop with a Core i5 and and ATi 5650, and it's ran everything I've thrown at it (admittedly a few games was a bit slow with everything maxed out, but still perfectly playable).

 

[Azure Sky]

I just remembered that a friend of mine priced up a computer for another friend.
The result was a computer that could run things like SCII, WoW, etc without issue but would probably need to be upgraded in a year or two to keep up with technology.
I believe it totaled to just under $2000, not including kb/mouse.

Spoiler: Parts Copy/Paste from a txt

cpu - i7-930 - $359
heatsink - Noctua U12DX-1366 - $89
mobo - evga x58 sli micro - $279
ram - 6gb ocz PC3-12800 c8 - $229
vid - Gigabyte GTX465 - $299
hdd - 500gb WD-Black - $79
dvd - Samsung 223C DVD-RW - $39
psu - corsair HX-650 - $147
case - CM Storm Scout - $119
win7 - Home Premium 64bit - $135
lcd - Benq E2420HD - $259

Hope the info helps. =3

Another Edit: Probably should mention that the above is Australian prices. =x

I'm going to bet that it'll be a good five years before an upgrade is required, to be honest. The CPU will probably be a keeper with a little overclocking untill six-cores have got rid of quad cores (and considering dual cores are the standard now, that'll be a while) Myself, I bought a laptop with a Core i5 and and ATi 5650, and it's ran everything I've thrown at it (admittedly a few games was a bit slow with everything maxed out, but still perfectly playable).

Maybe, gaming has been advancing quite fast so who knows. I seems so recent that Crysis was eating one PC after another.

As for me, I intend to replace my very much out dated PC (Dual Core, 2g ram, Win XP, etc) with an absolute gaming beast sometime before the year is out.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[Subzerowings]

I'm thinking of having one built too.
I have a budget of about 5500 euros, so I hope I can get one that plays Fallout 3 and Oblivion on max settings.

 

[Superior Mind]

Think of it as like a fragile and expensive Lego set with about 12 pieces.

Hah, that's exactly how I describe it to my mates.

Building is a piece of piss. I built my current PC with hardly any prevous knowledge - not even ever adding more RAM. You can get something far better for a far better price if you do your research or get the assistance of an expert into what you buy and then just put it together yourself. It's pretty satisfying too.