To Build or not to build?

[Gabb]

Ive been doing a lot of internet research lately on my new future planned computer system and wether to build it myself or to buy it. Sure a lot of you say buying it is always overpriced, but I'm a very inexperienced builder and I fear the dangers in building such a high end 2,000$+ system myself. Anyways heres my system compiled on newegg:

NZXT Zero Aluminum Full Tower
$150
Newegg.com - NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

APEVIA ATX-AS680W-BK ATX12V / EPS12V 680W Power Supply 115/230 V CB IEC 950/ TUV EN 60950/ UL 1950/ CSA 950 - Retail
$110
Newegg.com - APEVIA ATX-AS680W-BK ATX12V / EPS12V 680W Power Supply 115/230 V CB IEC 950/ TUV EN 60950/ UL 1950/ CSA 950 - Retail

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6700 CPU
$320
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail

Asus P5N32-E nForce 680i SLI
$210
Newegg.com - ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Corsair XMS2 Xtreme Memory w/ Heat Spreader ( 2x1 gig )
$70
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB 16X PCI Express(Major Brand Powered by NVIDIA)[+0]More Brand...
$560
Newegg.com - EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

150GB Gaming Western Digital Rapter 10,000RPM SATA150 16MB Cache WD1500ADFD[+0]
$180
Newegg.com - Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

DVD Burners (2x generic)
$40
Newegg.com - SONY Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM IDE DVD Burner - Retail

X-FI XtremeGamer 24-BIT PCI Sound Card
$90
Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
$112
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

total cost- 1842
shipping 10% = 184
contengency 5% = 87

Total cost altogether = $2113

This same system by Cyberpowerpc.com comes out to be $2429. When you factor in the 24/7 tech support and warranty, I don't think spending $316 dollars for labor is that bad, what do u guys think? ( Plus I can always just get the ram at newegg instead of cyberpowerpc since its easy to install right? )

I really don't know if I have the time to invest in learning to build and maintain a high end computer on my own.

 

[Rich_Franklin]

youll want to get the e6600 instead. Its $100 cheaper

 

[b1gapl]

Come on man, it's not as hard as it looks. I was in the same situation as you, when I first joined here a couple of years ago. This place has taught me everything I know. You really should invest in learning how to build one, because it would save you hundreds of dollars. Who wouldn't want that? If you have a problem, we'll be glad to help you. So you got your 24/7 tech support right here....for free!

For that budget, I would suggest:
Case - Thermaltake Armor or Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570 or Antec 900
Motherboard - ASUS P5N32-E SLI or MSI P6N Platinum
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo Q6600($270 on July 22) or E6600
RAM - 2 x 1GB G.Skill DDR2-800 HZs
Graphics - EVGA 8800GTX
Power Supply - Corsair 620HX
Hard drive - Seagate 7200.10 320GB 16mb cache(x2 if you want to RAID them)
Optical Drive - Sony NEC Optiarc DVD Burner
Optional Sound card - Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty or X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1(Cheaper)
Optional aftermarket CPU cooler - Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme edition(No fan included) or Tuniq 120(Cheaper)

That comes to around $1700-2000 right there. Has more reliable parts, such as the Corsair PSU.

 

[azzyork]

Come on man, it's not as hard as it looks. I was in the same situation as you, when I first joined here a couple of years ago. This place has taught me everything I know. You really should invest in learning how to build one, because it could save you hundreds of dollars. Who wouldn't want that? If you have a problem, we'll be glad to help you. So you got your 24/7 tech support right here....for free!

not to sound gay but man i love this guy...lol 24/7 tech support right here, for free!! lol...but gyeah it is easy

 

[saltynay]

cough cough I am here quite a lot of the time too its just I get bored recommending the same pc to everyone lol as thats all it is for gamers, I prefer the modding type threads or the more outlandish creations

 

[Sora]

Come on man, it's not as hard as it looks. I was in the same situation as you, when I first joined here a couple of years ago. This place has taught me everything I know. You really should invest in learning how to build one, because it could save you hundreds of dollars. Who wouldn't want that? If you have a problem, we'll be glad to help you. So you got your 24/7 tech support right here....for free!

For that budget, I would suggest:

Case - Thermaltake Armor or Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570 or Antec 900
Motherboard - ASUS P5N32-E SLI or MSI P6N Platinum
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo Q6600($270 on July 22) or E6600
RAM - 2 x 1GB G.Skill DDR2-800 HZs
Graphics - EVGA 8800GTX
Power Supply - Corsair 620HX
Hard drive - Seagate 7200.10 320GB 16mb cache(x2 if you want to RAID them)
Optical Drive - Sony NEC Optiarc DVD Burner
Optional Sound card - Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty or X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1(Cheaper)
Optional aftermarket CPU cooler - Tuniq 120

That comes to around $1700-2000 right there. Has more reliable parts, such as the Corsair PSU.

As always a nice build. With that kind of money I would go RAID 0 and get a Thermalright 120 Extreme off SVC.com

The Tuniqs are still amazing but the Thermalright 120 Extremes are the best coolers out right now ( Gemin II is second but its WIDE)

 

[saltynay]

optiarc part of sony then????? I was looking at buying a couple of slot loaders for my next mod and they were both named optiarc but there was no mention of sony

 

[UA_Iron]

Agreed with above.

Go with the G. Skill Ram.

Quad cores will be cheaper next month too, just something to keep in mind.

 

[siddanth3]

the b1gpal suggested is better and is cheaper. but i suggest u wait till july so u can get more bang for ur buck. but if u cant wait then, go with the build suggested by b1gpal.