Best Gaming Computer for Budget $1000-1500

[KnucklePuckk]

Stumbled upon these forums trying to find out the difference between a couple harddrives and thought I would just straight up ask you guys your opinions..

I need a new gaming computer and I wanted to go with a Desktop this time. I currently have an Alienware 15x Laptop from like 8 years ago and it still runs games just fine, but I want to upgrade..

I want to be able to play WoW and LoL at the very highest level with the best FPS.. I know hardly nothing about computers but have been trying to do a little research.. The two computers I was leaning towards were the Alienware X51, and the Origin Chronos ITX..

My budget is around $1000-1500, and I DON'T KNOW HOW to build my own computer, so that option is out.. Any suggestions on what computer would be best for around that price? Doesn't have to be Alienware or Origin, I'm open to other brands.

Thanks for your opinions!

 

[the54thvoid]

Damn shame you can't build your own - It may seem scary at first but it's pretty easy once you know how. It's just the initial 'learning how' part that stops most folk before they start. Frankly, after having a quick look, at least the Origin one looks way overpriced for the configurations on offer.

 

[eidairaman1]

Pick up a book on computer building or go to youtube and see how its done. Go to newegg.com or frys.com for starter rigs.

 

[KnucklePuckk]

Will I really be savings that much by building my own?

 

[eidairaman1]

Yes because you can set your budget, decide what parts you want or need and go ftom there. Plus you skip the middleman that builds them gor you.

 

[ASOT]

Skylake!!!

 

[xvi]

Will I really be savings that much by building my own?

Yes because you can set your budget, decide what parts you want or need and go ftom there. Plus you skip the middleman that builds them gor you.

You also get more control over what you want, won't be paying for features you know you won't use.
I've seen some pretty decently priced manufactured rigs though, if you can get a deal on them.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Do you have a freegeek near you? They will teach you how to build a PC for the price of an investment of your time.

 

[alucasa]

I wouldn't recommend building on your own if you don't have any experience or you don't want to do so. Things can get pretty ugly ... Just browsing around here will reveal how newbies can really, really, really, mess up.

Finding a neighbor who knows how to do it may be better as long as you and he keep things clean. Request receipts for all components and do promise the dude a hundred bucks.

 

[Ithanul]

Indeed, if going for first build. Videos are your friend and researching about parts. Best is to have a peep who has built one before to show you the ropes. You can do your first by yourself. Just make sure you fully understand what you doing. I did my first by myself, boy the stress when I finally hit that power button for the first time.

Pre-builts are not bad though, best to look at several computers in your budget range and research up the parts to figure out which one giving you the best bang for buck.

Also, look in your local area. They maybe people selling off some used rigs that are perfectly fine. They usually just upgrading to a newer rig or parts.

 

[Toothless]

Do you have a freegeek near you? They will teach you how to build a PC for the price of an investment of your time.

Not universal but i loved going to their shop.

 

[GhostRyder]

Will I really be savings that much by building my own?

It can be quite a lot actually as some components cost a lot more from custom builders than just doing it yourself. Of course we can make suggestions for either but its up to you whether you want to try it for yourself or just save yourself the hassle and spend the extra to get one pre-built.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Will I really be savings that much by building my own?

No.

Dell, HP, Acer and the other big makers go to Microsoft, Seagate, ASUS, Micron, and Intel and promise to buy 1,000,000 Windows licenses, drives, motherboards, RAM modules and CPUs over the course of the next year. For that, they can demand and get HUGE volume discounts individual or small-time custom builders can't get.

So NO WAY can you build a decent computer as cheaply as the big guys. But you can build a better computer that more closely meets your specific needs and in the process, learn a great deal about computers in general and your computer specifically. Remember, building a computer is just putting together a few parts, then installing Windows. It takes two tools; a #2 Phillips screwdriver and a small nut driver (and my last Gigabyte motherboard came with a nut driver adapter ).

A big (IMO) problem with factory built computers is they all the extra junk they pre-install on drive that you do not need, will not want, and may have a very hard time getting rid of. This is not a problem when you build your own.

Also, when you build your own, should you decide later on down the road, you want to add RAM, or replace integrated graphics with a more powerful card, you can do it yourself. With factory builds, upgrade options may be limited.

When you build your own, it can "evolve" through many years of upgrades. Factory builds typically just get replaced. Evolving computers can stay current longer and that can help reduce costs over the long run.

One of the upsides to factory systems is one phone number to call for all tech support, even Windows (for 1 year).

One of the downsides to building your own is you are tech support - even for Windows. And if you encounter problems, you have to deal with warranty support, keeping track of where you bought the parts, multiple receipts and a variety of manufactures. That said, computer electronics are really reliable so warranty support is rarely needed.

Another downside to building your own (depending on your perception) is you then become the go-to guy for all your friends, family and neighbors!

 

[thebluebumblebee]

With factory builds, upgrade objects may be limited.

Nice, well written reply, except I think you meant to say options instead of objects. Auto-correction strikes again?

I'd like to nominate that response to a stickeyed thread. The pros and cons of building your own gaming system.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Building your own computer you have 100% control of the parts going into the system. Which can result in better quality parts and performance. Unless you go to like digitalstormpcs where you can choose from all sorts of parts, same as ones you can get from newegg, but the prices in the end are jacked up. And you'll be paying an extra premium for their time and labor of putting it together.

 

[the54thvoid]

...NO WAY can you build a decent computer as cheaply as the big guys.

I can't agree with that.

Except semantically that of course you can't build it as cheaply as them but then they charge you more for it to make the profit.

The best option is PC retailers who do 'custom' builds but the bigger guys will charge a premium for pre-built gaming rigs. Given the freedom of choice with a self build (or to a lesser extent online custom build) you find that you aren't shoe horned into making 'limited' and costly buying decisions.

Unfortunately, UK and US prices don't travel well so we cant do a competition but a Skylake gaming PC can be made for a relatively small amount given the freedom of buying options (Powercolor for AMD GPU's, or Palit for Nvidia) over the pre determined and more costly 'corporate' builds.

As much as they get an occasional hard time, Overclockers.co.uk are a good example of a limited premium for a custom build as a good intermediary between self built and 'big brand' gaming boxes.

EDIT: £600 - 6600k, Asus 170Z mobo, 16GB ram, 500GB SSD, 600W PSU, Case. Base system no OS.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Nice, well written reply, except I think you meant to say options instead of objects. Auto-correction strikes again?

I'd like to nominate that response to a stickeyed thread. The pros and cons of building your own gaming system.

Thanks. The problem with objects vs options was probably more likely my fingers not paying attention to what my brain was telling them. Original posted edited.

 

[Jborg]

I taught myself how to build a computer when I was 10.... I just watched my dad build em.

Very easy to do... Mostly just plug and play....

All I can say is looking back on my failures is to make sure you use standoffs on for the motherboard on the case, also I honestly think the harder part of the whole process is actually buying the correct parts that will get the job done for YOU.

I would probably go with a Skylake build, or if you don't want to mess around with newer RAM (Like me) you could just grab a Z-97 build. An i5 or an i7 will be more than enough to do what you need, both of those games are more CPU bound.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I can't agree with that.

Except semantically that of course you can't build it as cheaply as them but then they charge you more for it to make the profit.

Then I suggest you price a few "options" out and see for yourself and you will find you cannot compete in price with the big boys.

The best option is PC retailers who do 'custom' builds

How is that the best option? They still have to charge to put it together. And note in my business I do custom builds and I cannot compete with in price with them either. While I can in some cases get discount prices for buying 3 or maybe 10 at a time, I won't buy parts like that unless I know they will soon sell. Otherwise, they will just sit on the shelf and go obsolete in 6 months. No profit there.

And I still charge $50 to $100 to put it together too so your option for a PC custom retailer is not valid either. Even Dell "custom builds" are done on an assembly line with pre-imaged disks so they can assemble them fast and cheap.

But even if you build it yourself and cut out the assembly charges, here's an example of what I mean. Look at this Dell Inspiron from Best Buy. See if you can build an equivalent computer buying parts from Amazon or Newegg or wherever.

You need a case (with memory card reader and USB 3.0), a power supply, 4GB of RAM, 500 GB 7200HD, motherboard (with integrated Wireless N and Bluetooth), Intel 2.4GHz Pentium processor, mouse, keyboard, DVD-RW drive and don't forget a new Windows 10 license too - all for $280.

Note that Windows 10 Home cost $99 at Newegg, $85 if you buy from Amazon before the last 7 are sold. That leaves just $180 to $195 for all the hardware.

And lets say you, as an individual buying 1 at a time (instead of a million every year) could find a cheap case and cheap power supply and cheap everything else. Would you trust that level of quality? Would you buy those cheap products (especially a cheap power supply) for your own personal build - even if on a tight budget?

I sure wouldn't. So again, you can compete in quality, but not in price.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I would probably go with a Skylake build

I would (and currently am) too, but Skylake is the latest generation in Intel CPU technologies and going with the most recent always costs more (not just for the CPU, but for motherboards that support them). So if the budget is a big issue, step back a generation or two. Performance will still be great.

 

[the54thvoid]

Then I suggest you price a few "options" out and see for yourself and you will find you cannot compete in price with the big boys.

How is that the best option? They still have to charge to put it together. And note in my business I do custom builds and I cannot compete with in price with them either. While I can in some cases get discount prices for buying 3 or maybe 10 at a time, I won't buy parts like that unless I know they will soon sell. Otherwise, they will just sit on the shelf and go obsolete in 6 months. No profit there.

And I still charge $50 to $100 to put it together too so your option for a PC custom retailer is not valid either. Even Dell "custom builds" are done on an assembly line with pre-imaged disks so they can assemble them fast and cheap.

But even if you build it yourself and cut out the assembly charges, here's an example of what I mean. Look at this Dell Inspiron from Best Buy. See if you can build an equivalent computer buying parts from Amazon or Newegg or wherever.

You need a case (with memory card reader and USB 3.0), a power supply, 4GB of RAM, 500 GB 7200HD, motherboard (with integrated Wireless N and Bluetooth), Intel 2.4GHz Pentium processor, mouse, keyboard, DVD-RW drive and don't forget a new Windows 10 license too - all for $280.

Note that Windows 10 Home cost $99 at Newegg, $85 if you buy from Amazon before the last 7 are sold. That leaves just $180 to $195 for all the hardware.

And lets say you, as an individual buying 1 at a time (instead of a million every year) could find a cheap case and cheap power supply and cheap everything else. Would you trust that level of quality? Would you buy those cheap products (especially a cheap power supply) for your own personal build - even if on a tight budget?

I sure wouldn't. So again, you can compete in quality, but not in price.

Not trying to derail OP but what you specced was a budget build. Give me an equivalent gaming system. From this side of the pond, its very much business as usual insofar as budget builds are mass production and sold close to margins but the 'prestigious' gaming builds have the premium.

In UK, HP Envy is £1200 with K/B + Mouse. (6600, 16Gb 128SSD, standard PSU + R9 380)

Add that gfx card to mine plus periphals, £155 for gfx, £200 inc mouse/kb) it costs £800 to build. Add OS, £900. UK, pre built big company systems for gaming cost more. And my version is a 6600K with 500GB SSD. So yes, cheaper and better components.

 

[ZakkWylde]

This is fairly comprehensive and straight forward.

I encourage you to give it a go! Its not much harder than assembling a lego set and the feeling of accomplishment is well worth the effort!

 

[Bill_Bright]

Give me an equivalent gaming system.

No. Because I already know individuals cannot compete in prices when they don't have the purchasing power to demand the huge volume discounts.

Show us links to the pre-built you mention, then to the equal parts for self-building and I will reconsider. Don't forget case and cooler (since the 6600K does not come with one). And make sure these are the quality parts you would put in your builds, or the builds you recommend for friends and family - not just the cheapest parts you can find.

 

[GhostRyder]

Not trying to derail OP but what you specced was a budget build. Give me an equivalent gaming system. From this side of the pond, its very much business as usual insofar as budget builds are mass production and sold close to margins but the 'prestigious' gaming builds have the premium.

In UK, HP Envy is £1200 with K/B + Mouse. (6600, 16Gb 128SSD, standard PSU + R9 380)

Add that gfx card to mine plus periphals, £155 for gfx, £200 inc mouse/kb) it costs £800 to build. Add OS, £900. UK, pre built big company systems for gaming cost more. And my version is a 6600K with 500GB SSD. So yes, cheaper and better components.

No. Because I already know individuals cannot compete in prices when they don't have the purchasing power to demand the huge volume discounts.

Show us links to the pre-built you mention, then to the equal parts for self-building and I will reconsider. Don't forget case and cooler (since the 6600K does not come with one). And make sure these are the quality parts you would put in your builds, or the builds you recommend for friends and family - not just the cheapest parts you can find.

I am with @the54thvoid in that you can build for much cheaper than manufacturers put out. While budget builds can be cheaper, gaming builds cost a significant amount more. Even if they get in bulk, they charge more because of labor, warranty, service, etc. Here is a quick example I made as close to each other as possible.

CyberPower PC
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Gamer_Xtreme_1000
$1159 (with the same LC cooler and PSU)

Same build (mostly) just bought from newegg
i5 6600K
MSI Z170A Pro Gaming
8gb Adata DDR4 2800
Corsair Spec-01
GTX 950
EVGA 600watt Bronze
DeepCool Captain 120mm Cooler
Seagate 1tb 7200RPM
Asus DVD Drive
CM Storm Keyboard and mouse
$900.90
Throw in Windows 10, 1000.90. Comparing the two its over $150 in savings building the same machine on your own. That's just a quick one of course for comparison with custom builders. That's not my recommendation for a build here, but just a quick example.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Okay, mea culpa. Though I admit I've been looking at Dell, Acer and HP who use OEM/generic components and not sites like that using brand names (except for the PSU - but that actually works in your favor, not mine).