$1400 Gaming PC (Buy parts or get pre-built?)

berocca

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Jan 21, 2010
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18,510
I recently picked some specs for a new PC I want to build for myself and with the help of the community. I just found that I could buy it all done for about $100 extra from Digital Storm for the same specs (http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadvanquish.asp?id=822945&price=%241%2C399)

I don't want to waste my time doing this all if it's only costing me that much more... what do you guys think?

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UPBf
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UPBf/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UPBf/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LX ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($70.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Corsair Neutron Series GTX 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($129.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($369.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 300R Windowed ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($66.24 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-98 DVD/CD Writer ($22.29 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($94.44 @ Amazon)
Total: $1268.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-03 19:21 EDT-0400)
 

berocca

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Jan 21, 2010
7
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18,510
I know that it would be fun and learning to do all of that, I've built systems before. I wanted to ask you guys if you see anything wrong with the Digital Storm one? I dont mind paying that difference, seems like a good deal to me.
 
If you're buying in that price range and willing to build your own, you can get quite a bit more bang for your buck than by buying from Digital Storm. For example:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.62 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($445.91 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.96 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($94.44 @ Amazon)
Total: $1422.00
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-03 19:33 EDT-0400)
 

slomo4sho

Distinguished
Here is my recommended build:


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($95.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($117.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($363.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($94.44 @ Amazon)
Total: $1316.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 

berocca

Distinguished
Jan 21, 2010
7
0
18,510
Thanks guys. Looks like we're all on the same page with hardware (I prefer NVIDIA graphic cards).

I was looking to build it, but, now I saw the Digital Storm system, I think I will just buy that. If it was Cyberpower/IBuypower, then I would have built it myself but these guys seem legit.