Building vs Buying

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Jeff Lo

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Feb 5, 2014
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Hello Everyone!

I'm looking to build a computer about a bit less then $1000. I found all the parts i wanted, you can check them yourselves: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Peacekeeper94/saved/3DWg.
Anyway, my father bet that I could buy a similar computer for a cheaper price. I disagreed, but I said I'd check. I haven't found one yet, but I'm challenging the community of experts/experienced (far more efficient this way too), is there a cheaper pre-built computer with these minimum specs?

Minimum Specs:
CPU: Intel i5/i7
GPU: Geforce GTX 660
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 1TB

Thanks!
 
Solution
someguynamedmatt
There's a reason prebuilts are cheap, and I'm not saying they're inexpensive. They are cheap in every sense of the word. Chances are you won't find a discrete video card like the 660 in ANY prebuilt system for $1000 - they just don't give you the option.

When you buy a prebuilt system, you're paying for the cheapest power supply the manufacturer could put in there, coupled with a generally garbage proprietary motherboard with only the bare minimum requirements to be called a PC. Cooling is generally poor, and component quality is generally going to be horrible, as the average person wont be able to tell the difference between a $10 stick of OEM junk memory and a $40 stick of decent brand-name memory, at least until it dies...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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For a real comparison, you need a detailed list of ALL the parts. Very, very often, a prebuit includes one or more substandard parts.

600W PSU !! Yeah, a crappy one I wouldn't trust to run a desk lamp.
A case with only USB 2 ports
Really cheesy LIQUID COOLING !!

Or a serious mismatch somewhere:
"GAMER EXTREME !!" (with 32GB RAM)
"ULTIMATE GAMING RIG ! " (with an i7 and 6670 GPU)

The prices may be similar, but you'll end up replacing one or more parts soon.
 
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someguynamedmatt

someguynamedmatt

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Feb 7, 2010
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There's a reason prebuilts are cheap, and I'm not saying they're inexpensive. They are cheap in every sense of the word. Chances are you won't find a discrete video card like the 660 in ANY prebuilt system for $1000 - they just don't give you the option.

When you buy a prebuilt system, you're paying for the cheapest power supply the manufacturer could put in there, coupled with a generally garbage proprietary motherboard with only the bare minimum requirements to be called a PC. Cooling is generally poor, and component quality is generally going to be horrible, as the average person wont be able to tell the difference between a $10 stick of OEM junk memory and a $40 stick of decent brand-name memory, at least until it dies prematurely.

The only exceptions I've ever seen to this rule are small boutique brands, like Falcon Northwest and Velocity Micro, though you're going to pay an absurd premium for both of them, since they still have to make money yet are using components of actually decent quality. Falcon-NW is like the Cadillac of prebuilts - they exist for people with too much money and not enough patience to do it themselves.

Take my opinion for what it's worth. Maybe you'll find something 'similar' in specification, but go beneath the surface and most prebuilt systems are just laughable these days.
 
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Solution
H

Hazle

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Oct 28, 2011
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first off; consider getting a slightly cheaper PSU: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1750xxxb9
if you're not going to SLI that GPU, a 550-650W psu will do. use this as a guide: http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

ibuypower/cyberpower comes to mind to decently priced pre-builts. however, they're known to use low quality parts. this starts off at $999. with a 750. and a nameless standard 400W PSU that likely has low quality parts that will fail: http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Special-A

getting even a 660 and a better reliable PSU will require you to sped well over a $1000. you win. use the eggxpert link above to drill your dad on how a reliable PSU can mean a whole lot between a long running system and one that can blow up and taking the rest of your PC with you. the only thing he has a point on is the single product warranty vs multiple products.
 
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