New PC: Build or buy?

[B_Metal]

So I'm looking to get a new PC, obviously. I built the one I'm currently on but I had help picking parts out back then. Said help actually got me bottle necked where I CAN'T upgrade this computer without basically replacing damn near everything.

SOOOO, I've looked at ibuypower and cyberpower at their builds and yeah I could pick some stuff from those lists but I somehow always end up in the $1200 - $1500 range. I'd like to push that back down closer to $900 - $1000 but I'm really shit at researching all the parts.

Anyone willing to help a brotha out? I'm willing to buy if you can find a better priced site that pre-builds. And I'm not afraid to build if I can get a little guidance. Things like intel vs amd and bargain prices on video cards and what not. Things like how much ram and what kind one really needs for windows 7 and the like.

I know most will probably read this and sound off with a "fuuuuuuuuuuck that" and I'd understand it but if anyone is willing to guide me back to the light I'd love the help.

I'm just out of the loop as I haven't kept up with the nitty gritty tech talk on all the new parts in years.

[BillyG]

Buy a good set up at ibuypower then upgrade a little here and there if need be. Cut down the video card to save money, then buy a badass one down the road, quickest way to save money on IBP. I hate building fucking PCs.

[B_Metal]

Yeah it's a pain to build especially install of everything software wise but I'm trying to cut cost as much as possible. Any suggestions on cpu? I've heard Intel's the way to go right now but again, so out of the loop.

[BillyG]

I prefer intel.

[B_Metal]

Ok so I've come up with this....

Case
Azza Spartan Gaming Case Black

Case Lighting
None

iBUYPOWER Labs - Noise Reduction
None

iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion
None

Processor
[= Quad Core =] AMD Athlon™ II X4 640 Quad-Core CPU

Processor Cooling
Liquid CPU Cooling System [AMD] - [Free Upgrade] Standard 120mm Fan

Memory
8 GB [2 GB X4] DDR3-1333 Memory Module - ** FREE Upgrade to DDR3-1600 ** Corsair or Major Brand

Video Card
ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB - Single Card

Video Card Brand
Major Brand Powered by ATI or NVIDIA

Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-770T-USB3 -- AMD 770

Motherboard USB / SATA Interface
Motherboard default USB / SATA Interface

Power Supply
700 Watt -- Standard

Primary Hard Drive
500 GB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s - Single Drive

Data Hard Drive
None

Optical Drive
24X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black

2nd Optical Drive
None

Flash Media Reader / Writer
12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer - Black

Meter Display
None

Sound Card
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE

Network Card
Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)

Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional + Office Starter 2010 (Includes basic versions of Word and Excel) 64-bit

Mouse
iBUYPOWER Internet Mouse

Monitor
None

2nd Monitor
None

Speaker System
iBUYPOWER 2.1 Channel Stereo Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System

Headset
None

Video Camera
None

Warranty
Standard Warranty Service - Standard 3-Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Technical Support

Rush Service
Rush Service Fee (not shipping fee) - No Rush Service, Estimate Ship Out in 5~10 Business Days

Keyboard
1 x iBUYPOWER USB Keyboard **FREE Upgrade to Thermaltake eSPORTS CHALLENGER Gaming Keyboard**

Advanced Build Options
1 x Tuniq TX-2 High Performance Thermal Compound The best interface between your CPU and the heatsinks

For $876 Monitor not included as I think I can find a better price than what they have listed. I'm going to try and put an intel build together to see if I can come out better........


OK intel based build but otherwise just about the same box $944......

Case
Azza Spartan Gaming Case - Black

Case Lighting
None

iBUYPOWER Labs - Noise Reduction
None

iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion
None

Processor
Intel® Core™ i3 540 Processor (2x 3.06GHz/4MB L3 Cache)

Processor Cooling
Liquid CPU Cooling System [SOCKET-1155 & 1156] - [Free Upgrade] Standard 120mm Fan

Memory
8 GB [2 GB X4] DDR3-1333 Memory Module - ** FREE Upgrade to DDR3-1600 ** Corsair or Major Brand

Video Card
ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB - Single Card

Video Card Brand
Major Brand Powered by ATI or NVIDIA

Motherboard
MSI H55M-P33 -- Intel H55 Express Chipset w/ 8ch HD Audio, Dual-Channel DDR3, Gb LAN, S-ATA, USB 2.0, 1x PCI-E 2.0 x16

Motherboard USB / SATA Interface
[Free] Internal USB 3.0 PCI-E 2.0 x1 Expansion Card

Power Supply
700 Watt -- Standard

Primary Hard Drive
500 GB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s - Single Drive

Data Hard Drive
None

Optical Drive
24X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black

2nd Optical Drive
None

Flash Media Reader / Writer
12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer - Black

Meter Display
None

Sound Card
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE

Network Card
Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)

Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium + Office Starter 2010 (Includes basic versions of Word and Excel) 64-Bit

Keyboard
iBUYPOWER USB Keyboard - **FREE Upgrade to Thermaltake eSPORTS CHALLENGER Gaming Keyboard**

Mouse
iBUYPOWER Internet Mouse

Monitor
None

2nd Monitor
None

Speaker System
iBUYPOWER 2.1 Channel Stereo Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System

Headset
None

Video Camera
None

Warranty
Standard Warranty Service - Standard 3-Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Technical Support

Rush Service
Rush Service Fee (not shipping fee) - No Rush Service, Estimate Ship Out in 5~10 Business Days

Advanced Build Options
1 x Tuniq TX-2 High Performance Thermal Compound The best interface between your CPU and the heatsinks

What say ye William of Gingerland?

[BillyG]

Currently rolling the lulz out of Ulduar, will review. Monitor buy somewhere else, there's ALWAYS someone with them on sell.

[B_Metal]

Cool, probably gonna re up my WoW too. Been missing it a bit.

[BillyG]

Everything looks pretty good, but can you link me the case? I have to advise get the BIGGEST CASE POSSIBLE because going in and upgrading shit later will be so much easier with a big case. Also, I would recommend going to a TB HDD, especially if you ever get a job and start going nuts on Steam sales. How fast my 500GB HDD filled up is insane.

You might also want to skimp on the 2.1 sound, get a nice logitech headset for Vent use. Also, price a good Razer keyboard/mouse and go that way. It makes a difference!

Then transfer to Terenas and join my guild and we shall turn you boomkin because we need ranged kkthx.

[B_Metal]

I already have a 300 gb external that's gonna be added to the new system from the old. Might do the headset route but I'd still want speakers for non gaming. Other than that, cool.

When'd you leave Rexxar? Also I have a boomkin already. Kthxu2

[BillyG]

Been off Rexxar since Xmas when my fucking guild split up and all the officers went to a hardcore raiding guild. Back with people I raided with since launch and having more fun than ever.

[B_Metal]

Awesome. Probably getting back on tonight and after some questing I may look into a transfer. Maybe. Also wish I could get the new PC today.

[BillyG]

Just sign in and transfer and log in and be awesome on Terenas.

[Anderson]

Who here runs MAC?

[nerdious dorkus]

Don't get a liquid cooling system. It's such a fucking hassle. Also, WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU NOT GETTING AN i7?

Grab like a 150-250 SSD for your OS and just for the OS. And a 2-3 TB internal HD (they're fucking cheap now) for the rest of your drives.

And why didn't you grab a blu-ray drive?

My system cost like 1k with a quad-core intel processor with 4 gigs of ram, with blu-ray and 2 TB HDD. That was three years ago.

[B_Metal]

Yeah well, I would if everything cost that buying from this place. It did not. And I just didn't want the hassle of building this time around. Blu-ray drive can be bought later and 500gb hd is fine for me, I don't collect porn.

As for the i7, it was a price difference of about $200 so I had to pass.