BUILD OR BUY?

[elandys1]

Hi guys,I have a question for all of you:

What do you prefer, building your own machine or buy a brand name computer like alienware, falcon northwest, dell, etc....?

The machine alone (without monitor, keyboard, mouse and speaker) cost 2.700$ if i build it.

I was thinking to buy an alienware machine, with the same specification cost like 3.500$

What would you do? Build or Brand?

I want the ultimate game machine!! I love Videogames!!


THANKS!

 

[AMCRambler]

steal! Haha, j/k. I would definitely build my own computer to save $700.

 

[allanw]

Uhh, $800 lol.

 

[elandys1]

From the point of view that i see it is that the only benefit that a brand gives you is warranty, but if you build your own machine you have the warranty for each piece, its almost the same.

If only i could buy only the alienware case...........its so fuck.ing cool!!

 

[Cook1]

You can get better looking cases...

BUILD

 

[gf4200isdabest]

Depends how much you value your time. I have always built but, on the other hand, i've always said that "anyone who has to ask probably should just buy"

 

[elandys1]

I agree with that, did you see the new thermaltake case, the SHARK? its awesome, but like all thermaltake cases, its so difficult to find!

 

[elandys1]

Originally posted by: elandys1
I agree with that, did you see the new thermaltake case, the SHARK? its awesome, but like all thermaltake cases, its so difficult to find!

I meant the new ones, cause the tsunami dream is in every store. That is a cool case.

 

[zodder]

If you are honestly interested in building machines and would like to have it as a hobby, then by all means build your own. You will learn a lot about how they function , interact, and how to tweak the hell out of them. I warn you, though, it's an expensive hobby. (I guarantee almost everyone here has at least one "Hot Deals" part running in their rigs. )

If you just want to have something that you can be sure will run the latest games and you don't want to be bothered by its upkeep, OEMs are a good way to go. You can almost be guaranteed to be able to play games at very high settings for at least a year just by how they come stock. They'd last for quite awhile longer if you just made minor upgrades every year or so, too. MaximumPC just did reviews this month on the best the OEMs have to offer and they loved the Falcon Northwest Mach V and the Alienware Aurora ALX.

 

[masshass81]

What are the components you are looking at? Maybe we can help you get something equivalent for more than $800 cheaper. I would suggest to build, but if you really wanted to get it pre-built, I would suggest Alienware.

 

[biostud]

We're all builders (or close to).

 

[elandys1]

I want something like this:

Processor: Fx-53 939 socket
Motherboard: K8N NEO2 PLATINUM
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 2 x 512 or maybe 4 x 512 i dont know.... its very expensive hehehe
Harddrive: Maxtor Maxdrive III 300Gb
Videocard: I would like the X800XT PE but its impossible to find one!, so i dont know what videocard.
Soundcard: The audigy2 ZS
Optical1: Lite-On DVD ROM 16X
Optical2: Plextor DVD Writer PX-712A
Case: Thermaltake tsunami Dream or the new Shark(if i find it)
Monitor: Nec FP-2141FB 22"
Mouse: Logitech MX 510 Blue
Powersupply: Antec truepower 550w
Speakers: Logitech Z-680

All of this cost like 3400$, if i buy an alienware it cost only the machine more than this, and the falcon northwest cost like 4200$ ONLY THE MACHINE............

I think i will buy the machine..............dont get me wrong, i have read a lot about this to build this......im not a newbie, im a semi-newbie hehehe

 

[elandys1]

Originally posted by: elandys1

I think i will buy the machine..............dont get me wrong, i have read a lot about this to build this......im not a newbie, im a semi-newbie hehehe

Sorry, i will BUILD the machine.

 

[Reckoner]

If you have the money to throw at a system like that, by all means do it. But with technology as it is these days, you may want to rethink going top of the line on every single item. I guess it also depends in how often you upgrade. If you upgrade once in a blue moon, go for it. If you upgrade constantly, then you will probably want to rethink the processor at the very least.

 

[Antoneo]

Building a computer can be much more worthwhile if you choose to do all of the research and shopping yourself. The knowledge gained cannot be bought nor can the frustrations that come with the undertaking of such a task.

The main benefit (actually the only one I can think of right now) would be the warranty coverage provided by the company. If you decide to build one yourself, warranty is provided on a part by part, company by company basis. You may be interested in shopping at NewEgg as they offer some of the best customer service around and will usually try to take care of any component that goes bad even a little after their terms.

 

[PsharkJF]

Build, because you don't have to deal with someone in India if something goes wrong.
Why, you can just come here

 

[masshass81]

Since I know you want to save money, let me suggest this

Processor: The A64 3500+ performs within about 5% of the FX-53 for half the price, check out the review here on AT and maybe the cpu benchmarks for doom 3. ~$400 saved

Memory: Great choice of RAM. 2x512 should be enough for you right now, especially for gaming. You would need 2Gb if you did a bunch of hardcore encoding stuff. ~$280 saved

VideoCard: Kinda the same thing with the processor, you can either get an X800XT or 6800Ultra that will perform within 5% of the X800XT PE at a much lower cost. You can even get a 6800GT that will easily overclock to an Ultra for $400.. ~$200 saved with XT or Ultra... ~$300 saved with GT (performs within 10% of XT PE.

Optical 2: You can get a Pioneer 16x DVD burner with dual layer burning for about $10-15 cheaper. Check out the review on AT.

Case: This is all personal preference, but I really like the CoolerMaster WaveMaster in black

Power Supply: With the money I saved, I would get an OCZ PowerStream (470 or 520), best PSUs on the market IMO. They have a lot more amps on the +12v rail than Antec. Theres a bunch of great review on the PowerStreams if you want to know more and I could also link you a few.

So you can save about $900-1000 with this system that will perform within 10% of the more expensive one you are looking at. Anyone wanna suggest anything else?

 

[carni]

Have Monarch build it and save a chunk over Alienware and Falcone. You can get just about any case you want to.

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: masshass81
Since I know you want to save money, let me suggest this

Processor: The A64 3500+ performs within about 5% of the FX-53 for half the price, check out the review here on AT and maybe the cpu benchmarks for doom 3. ~$400 saved

Memory: Great choice of RAM. 2x512 should be enough for you right now, especially for gaming. You would need 2Gb if you did a bunch of hardcore encoding stuff. ~$280 saved

VideoCard: Kinda the same thing with the processor, you can either get an X800XT or 6800Ultra that will perform within 5% of the X800XT PE at a much lower cost. You can even get a 6800GT that will easily overclock to an Ultra for $400.. ~$200 saved with XT or Ultra... ~$300 saved with GT (performs within 10% of XT PE.

Optical 2: You can get a Pioneer 16x DVD burner with dual layer burning for about $10-15 cheaper. Check out the review on AT.

Case: This is all personal preference, but I really like the CoolerMaster WaveMaster in black

Power Supply: With the money I saved, I would get an OCZ PowerStream (470 or 520), best PSUs on the market IMO. They have a lot more amps on the +12v rail than Antec. Theres a bunch of great review on the PowerStreams if you want to know more and I could also link you a few.

So you can save about $900-1000 with this system that will perform within 10% of the more expensive one you are looking at. Anyone wanna suggest anything else?

werd!

Listen to this guy OP, a difference you won't notice to save you almost 2k from the alienware and 1k from a self build... It is a NO BRAINER...

 

[LifeStealer]

lol for some reason people from GA builing pcs doesn't inspire confidence in me. Maybe its just because I live so close to GA

 

[Akira1224]

My only advise would be in the memory department. I have had great success with Crucial Ballistix. See the AT memory roundup from a few weeks ago. It's fast, highly OC'able and very stable at just about any speed. The price is about right too. If you order direct from Crucial thats usualy the best price.


Other than that go with what masshass81 said.

 

[Cook1]

Originally posted by: elandys1

Originally posted by: elandys1
I agree with that, did you see the new thermaltake case, the SHARK? its awesome, but like all thermaltake cases, its so difficult to find!

I meant the new ones, cause the tsunami dream is in every store. That is a cool case.

I agree, just bought a Tsunami Dream Silver w/Side Panel Window...awesome looking case.