Budget Price Question

[mlee49]

At what price is it better to just buy prebuilt? It's hard enough to put together a decent computer for under $400 that will do light gaming, but at what point would it be better to just buy a Dell or Acer?

Any thoughts?

 

[PaulieG]

For me, never, if I'm doing any gaming at all. That $400 Dell or Acer will seriously struggle with any fairly current games. I'd say, save your pennies, and try to save about $600, and find some good used parts here. Does this $400 include a monitor?

 

[mlee49]

Yeah I just configured a Dell with a e7200, 2GB ddr6400, 200GB HDD, Vista basic, and a 19" Wide screen. Keyboard, mouse, and DVD drive were all basic.
The only thing was the graphics was integrated. So for $450 thats not really that bad. I agree $600 will give so much more than a pre-built or $400 custom build.

 

[BrooksyX]

Well if your not needing a monitor you should be able to build a nice little amd dual core computer for about $400. Should be able to play most new games at med/low settings just fine.

edit: should be able to build a sweet budget gamer around the e5200. its only $80:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

 

[Marcam923]

Actually look used. You would be amazed at what kinds of deals you can find.

I just assembled this:

Foxconn P35A - $50 (insert similar board here )
E7200 (retail on sale at Fry's) $91 shipped
2 x 1 GB ram DDR2 (ocz has some good 800mhz) $20 after rebate
Bought a used 160gb HDD (from here) $30
Used an old dvd burner I had
Antec Sonata III 500 case plus Zalman 9500 led - $35 shipped
Got an OCZ 600w stealth xstreme PSU on sale for $38 after rebate with a free 4gb flash drive

Thats $264 and all you need is a GPU and windows.

I see people selling windows xp for $40 - $50 all the time, pick up a 3870 for $50 - $75

Bam under $400 and better than a DELL everyday of the week.

If you look around for the deals, you can find them. I just did It just takes a little time, but thats the only way when you are trying to not spend a bundle on hardware that is already a little old.

 

[PaulieG]

Yeah I just configured a Dell with a e7200, 2GB ddr6400, 200GB HDD, Vista basic, and a 19" Wide screen. Keyboard, mouse, and DVD drive were all basic.
The only thing was the graphics was integrated. So for $450 thats not really that bad. I agree $600 will give so much more than a pre-built or $400 custom build.

Those integrated graphics is where you get killed. It makes that $450 not worth it, if you game.

 

[Fitseries3]

like paulieg said..... onboard = total crap. for $500 you can build a decent gamer with a pcie gpu.


<<---- 1 year and 4900posts~!

 

[mlee49]

Actually look used. You would be amazed at what kinds of deals you can find.

I just assembled this:

Foxconn P35A - $50 (insert similar board here )
E7200 (retail on sale at Fry's) $91 shipped
2 x 1 GB ram DDR2 (ocz has some good 800mhz) $20 after rebate
Bought a used 160gb HDD (from here) $30
Used an old dvd burner I had
Antec Sonata III 500 case plus Zalman 9500 led - $35 shipped
Got an OCZ 600w stealth xstreme PSU on sale for $38 after rebate with a free 4gb flash drive

Thats $264 and all you need is a GPU and windows.

I see people selling windows xp for $40 - $50 all the time, pick up a 3870 for $50 - $75

Bam under $400 and better than a DELL everyday of the week.

If you look around for the deals, you can find them. I just did It just takes a little time, but thats the only way when you are trying to not spend a bundle on hardware that is already a little old.

Great input! Buying used would be a great option for an entry level gaming system.

Those integrated graphics is where you get killed. It makes that $450 not worth it, if you game.

I know, but 9/10 times the mobo will have a PCI-e or at least a AGP slot for a cheap 8600 or 3850.

like paulieg said..... onboard = total crap. for $500 you can build a decent gamer with a pcie gpu.


<<---- 1 year and 4900posts~!

Congrats on gaining that much closer to your custom title!

I think the best option for the conservative gaming builder would be to buy used!

 

[Fitseries3]

buying used is about the smartest thing you can do. you can get some sweet gpus for around 150-225 easily.

 

[MKmods]

At what price is it better to just buy prebuilt? It's hard enough to put together a decent computer for under $400 that will do light gaming, but at what point would it be better to just buy a Dell or Acer?

Any thoughts?

Thats a hard question to answer. It "REALLY" depends on your skill level (and the skills of your friends). Also it matters the amount of spare time you have (to shop for the parts, put them together and program) And how fussy you are about software (to pirate or not to pirate).

I have built hundreds of comps and have never considered buying one prebuilt. So my first response is go ahead its a good learning experience.

Remember what dosent kill us makes us stronger....

TigerDirect has some good deals on reman comps. (be careful with prebuilt comps, make sure there is a slot for the video card and than unless you use a Nvidia 8600GT or ATI 3600 type card a power supply upgrade may be in your cards)

 

[PaulieG]

buying used is about the smartest thing you can do. you can get some sweet gpus for around 150-225 easily.

I've got a BFG 8800gts 640 I'd sell him for $80. Good clocks too.

 

[Marcam923]

Yeah look around, I know for my main rig, some parts only last a few weeks, and I know when I sell them I am gonna take a hit.

So instead of looking for a GTX280 or 4870x2, you have to find the person with the 3870, or 8800gt, (which are still great gaming cards) looking to sell for a good price and willing to negotiate because they wanna buy the biggest baddest card!

I have my main rig, then I just built that second one, and I actually made a deal, my 9800GTX for 2 - Visiontek 3870 OC's. I was gonna use the 9800GTX, but that was a deal I could not pass up.

Good luck man, glad I could help!

 

[Fitseries3]

i'll have a freshly RMAed 3870 in the next week or so... if you want it.

 

[skamaster]

Actually look used. You would be amazed at what kinds of deals you can find.

I just assembled this:

Foxconn P35A - $50 (insert similar board here )
E7200 (retail on sale at Fry's) $91 shipped
2 x 1 GB ram DDR2 (ocz has some good 800mhz) $20 after rebate
Bought a used 160gb HDD (from here) $30
Used an old dvd burner I had
Antec Sonata III 500 case plus Zalman 9500 led - $35 shipped
Got an OCZ 600w stealth xstreme PSU on sale for $38 after rebate with a free 4gb flash drive

Thats $264 and all you need is a GPU and windows.

I see people selling windows xp for $40 - $50 all the time, pick up a 3870 for $50 - $75

Bam under $400 and better than a DELL everyday of the week.

If you look around for the deals, you can find them. I just did It just takes a little time, but thats the only way when you are trying to not spend a bundle on hardware that is already a little old.

monitor ....

i dont think you could built smth with 400$ ( even with the screen )
so save 2 more hundreds.

 

[Marcam923]

monitor ....

i dont think you could built smth with 400$ ( even with the screen )
so save 2 more hundreds.

Go to ebay a 15" LCD will run you about $50, remember a 22" LCD is under $200, but a 22" LCD is not a budget lcd, for a budget computer.

Yeah you need a keyboard and mouse too, but thats another $20.

You could probably build the computer, keyboard and mouse for right around $400, add a cheap LCD:

Dell 15" LCD on Ebay

Phillips 15" LCD on ebay

You are right at about the $450 the dell costs, with a much better computer.

Add the LCD of your choice of course, those two are just examples.

 

[3870x2]

hmm, maybe grab an e2180 for $50, 2gb cheep gskill for $50, a cheap board for about $100,
~300w psu for $30, a 3870x2 on sale here on TPU for $175 shipped, and youll play all games at max settings.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Built both of my rigs for approx $450 ea., that is not including HDTV/Monitor . The wife's crossfire rig could use a gpu, but plays her Sims 2 with everything on, and thats all she cares. Only thing I cant play on max with my rig is the obvious, Crysis & Crysis Warhead.

I say buy used, no wait let me rephrase that RECYCLED, saves you money and you get a whippin' rig at the same time.