Complete noob, need help on deciding on a gaming computer?

Rakkae17

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Mar 4, 2014
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I am planning on buying a new computer soon (my current is pathetic) and my friend is willing to sell me his alienware x51 for 800$. But I always hear everyone talking about how building a computer is x10 better and alienware rips you off. Well i don't know how to build a computer (even if i watched a tutorial i would still mess something up) and its pretty convenient to just buy it from him. I am not really that picky when it comes to fps in games (former console player) and i would never really need more than 60-90 depending on the game.

I play alot of minecraft, starcraft 2, league of legends, and alot of rts's. I want to be able to play skyrim, dark souls, and others at a reasonable frame rate.

I really don't understand computer talk all that much, so i was just curious if i could buy a prebuilt that's better than the alienware x51, or somehow build my own if i knew how to. Budget is $800-1,000, and i don't need a mouse, keyboard or monitor.

Thanks for the help in advance.
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227545 This is the most powerful one graphics wise you can get

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103854 This one has a slightly slower GPU, but has a more future proof CPU.

Both are much better than a x51.

If you built your own.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/345kz
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/345kz/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/345kz/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.96 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper N520 43.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($38.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($328.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($37.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $965.82

This is the best of both worlds.