Looking for a prebuilt gaming computer between $900-1100

Turbomoose · Jan 30, 2014

Hey guys I am looking for a pre-built computer for gaming. My budget is $900-1100, with me being more interested in getting my moneys worth than anything else. I know the build-your-own arguments but I am still going with a pre-built system. The budget does not include monitors but I could use a recommendation on that as well.

I looked around the forums and here are a couple machines people were bullish on. Are these okay, are there better ones for the same price range? I also wouldn't mind some sort of customer support for it, so I don't know how well that coincides with good specs.
http://www.gaminggurupc.com/Xenomorph-Gaming-PC-p/xenomorphpremade.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227504

I pretty much need a new computer so I can play the games I got during the steam sale since my old laptop is about 5 years old. I want something that will last so I'm partially asking to avoid buying crappy 3rd party stuff that will break in a year. Thanks for your time.

Edit: Live in mainland USA

bdiddytampa · Jan 30, 2014

Ibuypower and CyberpowerPC both do a good job of giving you your moneys worth on prebuilt systems. They can often price out for less than you'd pay for similar parts and building yourself, along with customer support.

You can go to their site and go through all the options yourself to price it within your budget

http://www.ibuypower.com/Site/Intel-4th-Generation
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_Z87_i5_Configurator

If you need help configuring for your price range let me know and I'll put something together for you using their website

- I've never heard of the first link you posted, but the second one from Newegg is an IBuypower PC that would get you along nicely, it is a pretty good setup.

Turbomoose · Jan 30, 2014

bdiddytampa :

I definitely could use some help. I have terrible intuition about things like this, about the only thing is I think I probably only need 8GB of RAM, especially since that is super easy to upgrade later (since it's the only thing I've done before). I have questions like is there a significant difference between AMD/Nvidia? Is there a reason to get an i7 over an i5? This is some stuff I feel is pretty basic that I don't know the answer to. I've been looking for a couple days but pretty much am at information overload at this point. I wouldn't mind getting it down to ~$1000 but I don't know what the first cut would be, and if I'm losing out on significant value while only saving $50 then I'll spend the money.

Edit: also feel free to ask me about anything I left out. I'm sure that the answer to some of these questions depend on usage and so forth.

bdiddytampa · Jan 30, 2014

8GB of RAM will be plenty, and getting an i5 is probably plenty for you as well, I'll put something together with each of the sites I mentioned and be back to post them shortly

Turbomoose · Jan 30, 2014

bdiddytampa :

Wow you are awesome! Thanks so much for your help, I've been stressing out over this

bdiddytampa · Jan 30, 2014

Special-A
http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Special-A/W/206077

Case 1 x ARC 647 Gaming Case-Black
Processor 1 x Intel® Core™ i5-4670K Processor (4x 3.40GHz/6MB L3 Cache)-Intel Core™ i5-4670K
Motherboard 1 x ASRock Z87 Pro3 -- 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 4x SATA 6Gb/s, 4x USB 3.0
Memory 1 x 8 GB [4 GB X2] DDR3-1600 Memory Module-FREE Upgrade to DDR3-1866 ADATA XPG V2
Video Card 1 x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 - 2GB-Single Card
Case Lighting None
Power Supply 1 x 500 Watt - Standard
Processor Cooling 1 x Liquid CPU Cooling System [Intel]-ARC Dual Silent High Performance Fan Upgrade (Push-Pull Airflow)
Primary Hard Drive 1 x 120 GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD -- Read: 540MB/s, Write: 410MB/s-Single Drive *Free Upgrade from ADATA 64GB SSD Single Drive Only*
Data Hard Drive 1 x 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 32M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s-Single Drive
2nd Optical Drive None
Optical Drive 1 x 24x Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive-Black - FREE upgrade to BLU-RAY Reader Combo Drive for Primary Optical Drive
Sound Card 1 x 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard
Speaker System None
Network Card 1 x Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)
Monitor None
Keyboard 1 x iBUYPOWER Standard Gaming Keyboard
Mouse 1 x iBUYPOWER Standard Gaming Mouse
Operating System 1 x Windows 8.1 + Office 365 Trial [Free 30-Day !!!] 64-bit
Warranty 1 x 3 Year Standard Warranty Service
Rush Service 1 x No Rush Service (Ships in 10-15 Business Days)
Video Camera None
Meter Display None
Flash Media Reader / Writer None
2nd Monitor None
Free Stuff 1 x [FREE] - GG Cruiser PC200-I Headset w/ large 57mm drivers for clear audio-FREE with any System ($29 Value)
Free Stuff 1 x [FREE Game Coupon] - Tom Clancy Splinter Cell: Black List + Assassin Creed IV Black Flag-Free w/ purchase of GeForce GTX 660 or above
iBUYPOWER Labs - Noise Reduction None
iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion None
iBUYPOWER PowerDrive None
Intel Smart Response Technology None
Case Engraving Service None
Subtotal $1,129.00

Extremely capable gaming PC, slightly over your budget, we could drop the SSD and it would drop the price to $1050 or so, but the SSD is an amazing piece of kit that will speed up your OS by miles. You also get some freebies with this one: a headset and a free games (Splinter Cell Blacklist and AC4 Black Flag). It is running liquid cooling system with dual high performance quiet rated fans.

I ran up a CyberpowerPC build as well and it was very similar, just not as many freebies lol. The iBuypower platform is really nice, and we can adjust it no problem if you need to. One thing we could do is put together an AMD build for you if you'd like? Any questions on this one? or anything you'd like me to change? The link at the top of the description should take you to the config page and you can take a look and see your options

Turbomoose · Jan 30, 2014

bdiddytampa :

This looks great. I do have a question about the SSD/Hard Drive split. I know it is relatively common to do the OS on the SSD and then anything else spilling over to the hard drive. Do I just go in and change the BIOS before installing windows?

Also what would the differences be with an AMD build? Is there a consensus "better" with Intel versus AMD or are there just fans of both? I'm fine going with this build if you don't think there are major differences between the two.

marc79 · Jan 30, 2014

I would change PSU from standard, and get a quality one, one of the key components in a system, especially a gaming rig with mid-high end gpus.

Turbomoose · Jan 30, 2014

marc79 :

Is there one, or a couple you would suggest? Is this one good quality: "Corsair CX500 V2 - 80 PLUS Bronze"? Thanks for your input.

marc79 · Jan 30, 2014

It's decent.

bdiddytampa · Jan 30, 2014

I honestly didn't look at what PSU they were throwing in there, and that is a big nono when it comes to experienced builders lol :-/ The Corsair would be an improvement on the standard for sure, thanks for pointing that out marc79.

The OS will come preinstalled on your system Turbo, it should arrive up and running, just plug it in and turn it on. Your OS will be on the SSD, but with a smaller SSD like that just pay attention to where you are installing things. Most of your programs will be able to go on that drive (which I'm assuming will be the C: drive) no problem. The only thing you'll want to intsall on your other drive is your Steam library and your pictures, videos, and music. You might fit a game or 2 on the SSD, but it really doesn't do much for games other than decrease load times, which in my experience isn't too bad on PC anyway. Changing the user library directories is pretty important though because they will fill up your SSD quick lol, and it isn't difficult to do. IF you just right click on the library (videos, music, pictures, etc.) and go to properties you can select any folder for them to default to.

Now as far as an AMD build goes, your performance can be just as good in gaming, but AMD parts are usually a bit lower price, and sometimes you can squeeze a few more things in that you might not be able to with an Intel build. I can put one together similar to that Intel build real quick if you'd like and see how it pans out

bdiddytampa · Jan 30, 2014

This is the AMD FX build with the better PSU and everything else the same, works out to be a little bit cheaper

Special-C
http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Special-C/W/206117

Case 1 x ARC 647 Gaming Case-Black
Processor 1 x AMD FX-8350 CPU (8x 4.00GHz/8MB L3 Cache)
Motherboard 1 x ASUS M5A97 R2.0 -- AMD 970
Memory 1 x 8 GB [4 GB X2] DDR3-1600 Memory Module-FREE Upgrade to DDR3-1866 ADATA XPG V2
Video Card 1 x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 - 2GB-Single Card
Case Lighting None
Power Supply 1 x 500 Watt - Corsair CX500 V2 - 80 PLUS Bronze
Processor Cooling 1 x Liquid CPU Cooling System [AMD]-ARC Dual Silent High Performance Fan Upgrade (Push-Pull Airflow)
Primary Hard Drive 1 x 64 GB ADATA SP900 SSD-Single Drive** Free upgrade to 120 Samsung 840 EVO
Data Hard Drive 1 x 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 32M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s-Single Drive
2nd Optical Drive None
Optical Drive 1 x 24x Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive-Black - FREE upgrade to BLU-RAY Reader Combo Drive for Primary Optical Drive
Sound Card 1 x 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard
Speaker System None
Network Card 1 x Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)
Monitor None
Keyboard 1 x iBUYPOWER Standard Gaming Keyboard
Mouse 1 x iBUYPOWER Standard Gaming Mouse
Operating System 1 x Windows 8.1 + Office 365 Trial [Free 30-Day !!!] 64-bit
Warranty 1 x 3 Year Standard Warranty Service
Rush Service 1 x No Rush Service (Ships in 10-15 Business Days)
Video Camera None
Meter Display None
Flash Media Reader / Writer None
2nd Monitor None
Free Stuff 1 x [FREE] - GG Cruiser PC200-I Headset w/ large 57mm drivers for clear audio-FREE with any System ($29 Value)
Free Stuff 1 x [FREE Game Coupon] - Tom Clancy Splinter Cell: Black List + Assassin Creed IV Black Flag-Free w/ purchase of GeForce GTX 660 or above
iBUYPOWER Labs - Noise Reduction None
iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion None
iBUYPOWER PowerDrive None
Case Engraving Service None
Subtotal $1,073.00

Turbomoose · Jan 31, 2014

I went with the Special-A with the psu upgrade. Thanks to everyone for all their help. Y'all made this process really great.

bdiddytampa · Jan 31, 2014

Cool

Good Luck Turbomoose! Have fun with your new system!

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