Comparison of Tigerdirect/SYX Builds

[macjr82]

I originally posted this in the new build forum with little response, but I see that it should've been posted here in the first place.

All of three of these builds seems to be selling for far less than I could build myself. Still, I am unsure which has the best value. Should I get an SYX-125 for $999 and upgrade it. Is the SYX-130 or SYX UG-5, both $1499, a better deal.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1277082&SRCCODE=BIZRATE&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB5ObkkzCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=26-94864372-2



http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1277091&SRCCODE=BIZRATE&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB5ObkkzCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=26-94864398-2

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1347180&SRCCODE=BIZRATE&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB5ObkkzCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=26-94864494-2


I know I will not overclock immediately, but would down the road to extend life. Also I would upgrade the $999 build by adding a second 550Ti, a SDD drive and adding RAM for arounf $500.

At the same price, which of the last two is better and why? One has more RAM, but the other has, from what I've read, a better video card. One has a better OS, but I plan on upgrading to Windows 8 anyway later this year.

For $999 build, can it with the addition of $500 or about that, be made better or just as good as the $1499 builds.

SYX SG-125 Gaming PC featuring Intel technology
Lifestyle: Gaming
Business
Entertainment
Home & Student

Condition: New

Colors: Black

Platform: PC

Orientations Allowed: Vertical

Form Factor: Mid-Tower

Bays: 3 - 5.25" Drive Bays
1 - 3.5" Drive Bay

Internal Bays: 4 - 3.5" Drive Bays

Available 3.5" Drive Bays: 3

Available 5.25" Drive Bays: 2

PCI Slots (Total): 3

PCI Slots (Available): 3

PCI Express X1 Slots (Total): 2

PCI Express X1 Slots (Available): 2

PCI Express X16 Slots (Total): 1

PCI Express X16 Slots (Available): 0

Memory Type: DDR3

Memory Speed MHz: 1333MHz

Total Memory Size: 8GB

Memory Slots (Total): 4

Memory Slots (Available): 2

Memory Configuration: 4GB + 4GB

Maximum Memory Supported: 32GB - 64 bit

PS/2 Connectors: 1 - Keyboard/Mouse Combo

LAN Ports: 1

USB Ports (Total): 2x USB 3.0 (Rear)
12x USB 2.0 (4 Front)

Line In Jacks: 1

Microphone Jacks: 1

S/PDIF Connectors: 1 - S/PDIF out (coaxial)
1 x Optical (Out)

Processor Brand: Intel

Processor Class: Core i7

Processor Number: i7-2600

Processor Speed: 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost)

Processor Interface: LGA 1155

Hard Drives Included: 1

Interface: SATA 3G

Capacity: 1TB

Hard Drive Types: Hard Disk Drive

Speed: 7,200RPM

Optical Drive Type: 12x Blu-Ray/DVD-RW Combo Drive

Interface: SATA

Optical Drives Included: 1

Optical Drive Class: Blu-Ray Player/DVD Burner

Audio Description: Integrated Audio

Audio Chipset: Realtek ALC892

Channels: 8 Channel

Graphics Description: Dedicated Graphics

GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti

Video Memory: 1GB dedicated

Video Interface: Mini HDMI
2x DVI-I

LAN Chipset: Realtek 8111E

LAN Data Transfer Rate: 10/100/1000Mbps

LAN Description: Integrated Gigabit

LAN Interface Type: RJ-45

Power: 550 Watt

Power Supply Type: 80+ Bronze

Mouse Type: Optical

Buttons: 2

Connection Type: USB Mouse

Keyboard Type: Multimedia

Connection Type: USB Keyboard

Height: 17.3"

Width: 8.6"

Depth: 21.2"

========================================================
SYX SG-130 Gaming PC - INTEL CORE i7, DUAL 1GB GFX
Lifestyle: Gaming
Business
Entertainment
Home & Student

Condition: New

Operating Systems: Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit

Platform: PC

Orientations Allowed: Vertical

Form Factor: Mid-Tower

Bays: 4x 5.25"
1x 3.5"

Internal Bays: 6 - 3.5" Drive Bays

PCI Slots (Total): 3

PCI Slots (Available): 2

PCI Express X1 Slots (Total): 2

PCI Express X1 Slots (Available): 0 (disabled)

PCI Express X16 Slots (Total): 2

PCI Express X16 Slots (Available): 0

Memory Type: DDR3

Memory Speed MHz: 1600MHz

Total Memory Size: 16GB

Memory Slots (Total): 4

Memory Slots (Available): 0

Memory Configuration: 4GB + 4GB + 4GB + 4GB

Maximum Memory Supported: 32GB - 64 bit

PS/2 Connectors: 1 - Keyboard/Mouse Combo

LAN Ports: 1

USB Ports (Total): 4
2x USB 3.0 (Rear)

Line In Jacks: 1

Microphone Jacks: 1

S/PDIF Connectors: 1 - Optical

Processor Brand: Intel

Processor Class: Core i7

Processor Number: i7-2600K

Processor Speed: 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost)

Processor Interface:

Hard Drives Included: 1

Interface: SATA 6.0Gb/s

Capacity: 2TB

Hard Drive Types: Hard Disk Drive

Speed: 7,200RPM

Optical Drive Type: 12x Blu-Ray/DVD-RW Combo Drive

Interface: SATA

Optical Drive Class: Blu-Ray Player/DVD Burner

Audio Description:

Audio Chipset: Realtek ALC892

Channels: 8 Channel

Graphics Description: Crossfire Mode

GPU/VPU: 2x 1GB ATI Radeon 6770

Video Memory: 1GB dedicated per card

Video Interface: 2x HDMI
2x Display Port
4x DVI-I

LAN Chipset: Realtek 8111E

LAN Data Transfer Rate: 10/100/1000Mbps

LAN Description: Integrated Gigabit

LAN Interface Type: RJ-45

Power: 750 Watt

Mouse Type: Optical

Buttons: 2

Connection Type: USB Mouse

Keyboard Type: Multimedia

Connection Type: USB Keyboard

Height: 18.9"

Width: 9.10"

Depth: 19.50"
=================================================
SYX UG-5 Intel Ultimate Gamer
Lifestyle: Gaming
Entertainment
Home & Student

Condition: New

Operating Systems: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

Platform: PC

Orientations Allowed: Vertical

Form Factor: Mid-Tower

Bays: 4 - 5.25" Drive Bays
1 - 3.5" Drive Bay

Internal Bays: 6 - 3.5" Drive Bays

Available 3.5" Drive Bays: 5

Available 5.25" Drive Bays: 3

PCI Slots (Total): 2

PCI Slots (Available): 1

PCI Express X1 Slots (Total): 3

PCI Express X1 Slots (Available): 2

PCI Express X16 Slots (Total): 2

PCI Express X16 Slots (Available): 0

Memory Type: DDR3

Memory Speed MHz: 1600MHz

Total Memory Size: 8GB

Memory Slots (Total): 4

Memory Slots (Available): 2

Memory Configuration: 4GB + 4GB

Maximum Memory Supported: 32GB - 64 bit

LAN Ports: 1

USB Ports (Total): 10 USB 2.0 (2 Front)
2 USB 3.0 (Rear)

FireWire Ports: 1

eSATA Ports: 1

Line In Jacks: 1

Microphone Jacks: 1

S/PDIF Connectors: 1 x Optical (Out)

Processor Brand: Intel

Processor Class: Core i7

Processor Number: i7-2600K

Processor Speed: 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost)

Processor Interface: LGA 1155

Hard Drives Included: 1

Interface: SATA 3.0Gb/s

Capacity: 1TB

Hard Drive Types: Hard Disk Drive

Speed: 7,200RPM

Optical Drive Type: 12x Blu-Ray/DVD-RW Combo Drive

Interface: SATA

Optical Drive Class: Blu-Ray Player/DVD Burner

Audio Description: Integrated Audio

Audio Chipset: Realtek ALC892

Channels: 8 Channel

Graphics Description:
Nvidia SLI mode

GPU/VPU: 2x 1GB GTX 560 in SLI Configuration

Video Memory: 1GB dedicated per card

Video Interface: 1x Mini-HDMI
2x DVI-I

LAN Chipset: Intel 82579V

LAN Data Transfer Rate: 10/100/1000Mbps

LAN Description: Integrated Gigabit

LAN Interface Type: RJ-45

Power: 850 Watt Modular

Power Supply Type: 80+ Efficient

Mouse Type: Optical

Buttons: 2

Connection Type: USB Mouse

Keyboard Type: Multimedia

Connection Type: USB Keyboard

Height: 19.50"

Width: 9.10"

Depth: 18.90"

 

[tlmck]

What all those builds have in common is that they give you a powerful system saddled with a mid level vid card. Since that is still the most important for gaming, it makes little sense. For the same money, you could build a more powerful system.

The specs to look for are as follows:

CPU - Core i5-2500k. There is no gaming advantage to the i7-2600k unless you are also doing video editing, CAD, 3D modeling, etc...

Motherboard - ASUS or Gigabyte z68.

RAM - 8gb for gaming is plenty. 16gb for the other apps mentioned with the CPU above.

Hard drive - at least 500gb SATA 6gb/s and preferably Western Digital.

Video card - Minimum of a GTX 560 Ti (not plain 560) or AMD 6950. This assumes a 23" LED monitor at 1920x1080p which is pretty standard these days.

Power Supply - for the possibility of adding a second card at that level, at least a 650 watt, 80 plus Bronze certified quality power supply from makers such as Antec, Seasonic, Silverstone, Corsair, or XFX. For higher end dual cards, 750 or 850w would be indicated. I doubt they include such quality, and I know Tiger does not.

The cases they are presenting are fine, but they are only in the $50-60 range so they are probably overcharging there.

One advantage they have is that they can include Windows 7 for about $50, where we pay $100.

The other stuff you are paying for is their assembly and a warranty, as opposed to your assembly, and diagnosing and sending parts back for warranty yourself.

BTW, here is another maker that is pretty popular. http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

 

[macjr82]

With my current employment I work 14 hours/day - 6 days a week on average. Though Sat is typically a short day and I have it off sometimes. I don't have time to do a build from scratch, but would upgrade these over time.

My current PC is over 6 year old. It's an HP, but the only thing original is the motherboard and CPU. Everything else from the optical drive, to the ram, to the GPU, to the PSU has been upgraded.

 

[macjr82]

I ended up getting the $999 SYX-125. You really can't build a better machine for that money. So far it plays well with everything I throw at it. It came with a free copy of Batman Arkham City and Battlefield 3. It is able to run both fluidly with all of the settings turned up. The $500 over the other two leaves plenty of room to upgrade when this is no longer the case.

 

[macjr82]

Best answer selected by macjr82.