pre-built computer VS building one myself...help!

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koolaidjuice

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Aug 17, 2012
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Hey guys, if anyone would so kindly help me...I am struggling with deciding on what to do with my next computer purchase...

this is going to be a full on PC for GAMING...mostly at resolutions of 1440p to 4K.

Heres the problem, I found a Dell XPS 8900 computer on dell.com with a 6th gen i7 6700 @4.0 ghz...a motherboard that can have up to 64 GB of RAM...it also comes with a GT 730 videocard that can hold me over until I get the new beefy GTX 1080...I also have a extra Rosewill 650watt PSU I can put in...and comes with Windows 10 all for just 700 bucks with a special code I have..

problem is there are a majority of people telling me NOT to get this computer and I just dont understand why....they tell its cheaper and better to build my own from scratch and I dont understand it...id have to buy everything separately down to the OS...I dont see it being cheaper then 700 bucks AT ALL..

also looking at the specs, would you say this is a very excellent computer capable on playing any new game out there?? I mean its got an i7 with a potential for 64 GB of ram for crying out loud....why bother building a computer???

Can anyone advise me on this please? The only downside to the dell computer is that its only got 1 slot for a graphics card..

so anyways, if anyone can help me...why are people suggesting to build a computer when the dell computer has more then enough specs and umph for PC gaming?

Heres a link to the Dell PC I want...

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/productdetails/xps-8900-desktop/fdcwgsk104bxps

thanks in advanced Toms Hardware.
 
Solution
BadActor
This is basically what you could build it yourself for, but remember, you don't really need the graphics card as the onboard video is better and the power supply is probably low watt and quality anyway. Also consider that the motherboard is more than likely proprietary which means it isn't easily replaceable and will lack features. Adding a large graphics card may not be possible due to the size/layout of the case.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($297.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($47.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory...
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Icaraeus

Icaraeus

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The power supply that comes with the prebuilt PC is rubbish. Power supply is very important. "64GiB RAM" For playing video games you are not getting over 8GiB. 64GiB is for specific work-related purposes like for 3D rendering, art, science simulations, modelling etc (and even for that 32GiB is fine). Additionally, GT 730 video card is very weak by today's standards.
 
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Supahos

Supahos

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Nov 11, 2013
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Couple of issues with your plan, Dell is notorious for using odd sized power supplies, and boards that may or may not be able to handle a 1080. this would likely leave u needing a new case... but guess what the Dell board won't fit in a standard case... so now u need a new board. Building your own will give you what u need, buying a premade and upgrading is dicey. I'd build you the same spec (I think I can go cheaper than $700 for it) but pcpartpicker is being a pain and won't let me actually add anything to parts list
 
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koolaidjuice

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Aug 17, 2012
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Thanks for the reply guys...

I actually have a Rosewill 650watt power supply and I will be putting it in the Dell computer. The 650watt PSU is currently in my crappy dell vostro 230 so I am sure itll fit inside the new 8900...

also..i have a Radeon 6870 already, and the GT730 that will come inside the the 8900 already. It doesn't matter though because in about a month or 2 I plan on buying the heavy hitter GTX 1080 graphics card..

so the question is...with upgrading my PSU to the 650watt Rosewill that I already have..and getting the newer better 1080 graphics...do you guys still justify BUILDING pc over this cheap dell 8900??

I mean its got a top notch 6th gen i7 6700...and the ability to add as much ram as needed for gaming....I have a strong PSU ready to go and a 1080 graphics are in the future....why build if I get get a setup like this? Just trying to learn...because if there are TRUE performance benefits to building a computer ill gladly do it....but I don't want to throw away money for no reason because its "cooler and funnier to build"...

@Supahos, ive already clarified with dell that indeed the 1080 and just about any other heavy hitter graphics card can indeed fit..
 
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BadActor

BadActor

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Oct 31, 2015
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This is basically what you could build it yourself for, but remember, you don't really need the graphics card as the onboard video is better and the power supply is probably low watt and quality anyway. Also consider that the motherboard is more than likely proprietary which means it isn't easily replaceable and will lack features. Adding a large graphics card may not be possible due to the size/layout of the case.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($297.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($47.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GT 730 1GB Video Card ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Rosewill SRM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 350W ATX Power Supply ($26.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $621.70
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-04 12:20 EDT-0400

This is what you could build for the same money and will be higher quality, better features, and more performance. Just add your PSU and a GTX 1080.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($297.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B150 GAMING K4/HYPER ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($113.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Case: DIYPC Solo-T1-R ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.88 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $705.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-04 12:26 EDT-0400

 
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thx1138v2

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Jun 18, 2011
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I've been building my own for over 20 years and I doubt I ever saved any money doing it. But I know exactly what is in my machine and I can choose high quality/performance parts where I want them and skimp a bit on things that I don't consider critical so save a few buck. When I'm done I know exactly what I have.

When you buy a pre-built you get what they ship you. You want the highest quality HDD? That usually won't come in a pre-built.

The problem I've had with Dell (and this applies to some degree to HP and other pre-builts) is that they don't always use industry standard assemblies. Dell was notorious for proprietary PSU's and they wouldn't license anyone else to build them. So you couldn't go down to the nearest store and buy a new PSU. You had to get the replacement from Dell because a standard component simply would not fit. I've seen some machines with proprietary graphics adapter buses so you had to buy their graphics adapters. Etc. This doesn't apply so much to laptops because you usually can't put a laptop together from off the shelf parts.

A problem with DIY machines is warranty. You are service technician so it's all up to you although you can usually get replacements or credits from vendors for parts that were bad when they shipped. But there's usually no extended warranty.

Just my 2 cents worth. Don't assume you can add parts as desired to a pre-built machine, i.e. GPUs, CPUs PSU's, etc. If you're going to buy pre-built it's best to buy it with exactly what you want to begin with.
 
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Supahos

Supahos

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His $700 build will 100% be better than the Dell setup. That's the point of this. Buy 2000 processors at once save like $10 a piece same with boards... in order for the to turn a profit they have to use dirt cheap crap parts and pay someone who is dirt cheap to assemble it... any computer prebuilt over about $550 is much cheaper to build by yourself.
 
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K

koolaidjuice

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Aug 17, 2012
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ok...this thread is helping a lot! you guys are great!

BadActor's breakdown really proves a point....so it is possible to build a top tier computer with better parts for cheaper then buying pre-built dell computer with potentially cheaper parts..

hmmmm...I may now highly consider building a computer now..

 
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