HPE-372F or CUSTOM BUILD?

[SGP495]

Hey everyone,

I currently have a dilemma because I have the choice between the HPE-372F desktop computer and a custom PC. Since I'm living in Montreal, Canada I have to always count the taxes in addition to the price. Basically, I'm stuck with one pre-built computer and one that I can build at PCZONE ( https://www.pcczone.com/ ). Personally, it seems to me like there's not a big difference between those two machines, so it would be nice if anybody could give me an advice. Sadly, I cannot build my PC by buying the parts I need for some reasons (it's complicated to explain). My budget is 1450$ with taxes/max which is 1200-1250$ without taxes. So here's the two computers:

1) HPE-372F (1200$)

Intel Core i7-860
2.80 GHz
8 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM (Expandable to 16 GB)
1 TB - 7200RPM
ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB

This is the link for more details:
HP Elite Intel Core i7-860 Computer (HPE-372F) - Future Shop


2) Custom PC (arround 1350-1400$ ), the price isn't that bad if you tell me it's worth it.

-Intel Core I7 860 2.8GHz QUAD CORE PROCESSOR (BX80605I7860) or

Intel Core I5 750 2.66GHz QUAD CORE PROCESSOR (BX80605I5750) - This would make me save 100$

Intel Core I5 760 2.8GHz QUAD CORE PROCESSOR BX80605I5760 (-100$ too)

-Gigabyte GA-P55-USB3 LGA1156 DDR3 Motherboard ATX

-Kingston 4GB KIT DDR3 KVR1333D3N9K2/4G

-WD Caviarâ„¢ Blackâ„¢ WD1001FALS, 1 TB SATA

-ASUS EAH5830DIRECTCU/2DIS/1GD5 1GB DDR5 Video Card
or (which are similar in the price)

ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU/2DI/1GD5 1GB DDR5 Video Card

EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SuperClocked 768MB DDR5 768-P3-1362-AR Video Card

EVGA GeForce GTX 465 1024MB DDR5 01G-P3-1465-TR Video Card

ASUS ENGTX465/2DI/1GD5 1GB DDR5 Video Card

or

XFX Radeonâ„¢ HD 5850 1024 MB DDR5 DisplayPort HD-585X-ZAFC Video Card (IF i take off the i7 processor)


-Asus XONAR ESSENCE STX Sound Card

-CORSAIR CWCH50 Hydro Water Cooler LGA775, LGA1366, LGA1156, AM2/AM3 High-Performance CPU Cooler

-Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 500w (RS-500-PCAR-A3) or

Thermaltake TR2 500W Power Supply Core i5 & i7 Ready (W0379RU)

-ANTEC NINE HUNDRED TWO (0761345-15920-1) Gaming Case or

Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Mid Tower

Link:
https://www.pcczone.com/pc-builder/


Like I said, I cannot use any other resources like newegg.ca or NSIX. Also, I could go to MICROBYTES in Montreal ( MicroBytes Montreal Computer Ordinateur ) but I'm pretty sure it's gonna cost me more money to build it there because they are evil.

My guess is that the custom build PC is way better, but I would still like to hear your advices.

Thank you .

 

[Trotter]

The custom, for sure.

I went through their builder and put this one together. The total on it is $1292.25.

AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4GHZ Black Edition (HDZ965FBGIBOX)

ASUS M4A87TD/USB3 AM3 DDR3 MOTHERBOARD ATX

Kingston 4GB DDR3 1600MHZ KHX1600c9d3K2/4G

WD Caviarâ„¢ Blackâ„¢ WD1002FAEX 1 TB SATA 6.0GB/s HDD

EVGA GeForce GTX 465 1024MB DDR5 01G-P3-1465-TR Video Card

LG GH22NS50 SATA Black

CORSAIR CWCH50 Hydro Water Cooler LGA775, LGA1366, LGA1156, AM2/AM3 High-Performance CPU Cooler

Corsair TX650W CMPSU-650TX

Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Mid Tower

Microsoft Windows 7 PRO 64-bit English 1PK DVD OEM (FQC-00765)

Complete assembly and testing of the system includes 6 months warranty

The 965 will give you the same performance as an i5 750, but both the chip and the motherboard will cost you less.

Go with the 1600 RAM as the motherboard will run it native. Kingston > OCZ.

The price difference is negligible, so go with the 6GB/s drive. The WD Blacks have a five year warranty vs three year with Seagate anymore, plus they are faster.

EVGA offers a lifetime warranty on the 465 but not on the 460. I have no idea why.

They didn't give you much choice on CPU coolers, that's for sure.

Corsair is a much better brand than CoolerMaster as far as PSUs go.

 

[SGP495]

Thanks for you precious advice Trotter.

Would you mind telling me the difference between AMD and INTEL chip sets other than the performance?

Also, I don't mind wasting another 50$, and I noticed that I could get the AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8GHZ for +30$. Should I ? 6 cores seems very cool to me, but that's just an opinion with no experience.

Appreciate your help.

P.S. Someone told me that the water cooler is useless.

 

[Trotter]

Think of Intel and AMD as two different brands of automobile. Both do the exact same thing, but are built differently. AMD excels in the low ti mid range and cost less, while Intel owns the high-end market (for know).

The x6 is a good chip, but would be a waste unless you are a huge multi-tasker as no software really takes advantage of the extra cores that well. It's good for bragging rights, though.

The H50 works as well as a good air cooler, but that site doesn't offer any really good air coolers. You might as well go with the H50. You can add an additional fan to the back of the radiator to improve its cooling ability later on.

 

[aspire]

The H50 works as well as a good air cooler, but that site doesn't offer any really good air coolers. You might as well go with the H50. You can add an additional fan to the back of the radiator to improve its cooling ability later on.

I have to say, I hate seeing people recommend budget water cooling...

It's like going to Tijuana for a triple bypass. Do it right or don't do it at all...

 

[Trotter]

Well, his only choices there are these:

CORSAIR CWCH50 Hydro Water Cooler LGA775, LGA1366, LGA1156, AM2/AM3 High-Performance CPU Cooler

ZALMAN CNPS10X EXTREME LGA775, LGA1366, LGA1156, AM2/AM3 CPU Cooler

ZALMAN CNPS10X QUIET LGA775, LGA1366, LGA1156, AM2/AM3 CPU Cooler

The H50 is the lesser of the three evils.

 

[SGP495]

Think of Intel and AMD as two different brands of automobile. Both do the exact same thing, but are built differently. AMD excels in the low ti mid range and cost less, while Intel owns the high-end market (for know).

The x6 is a good chip, but would be a waste unless you are a huge multi-tasker as no software really takes advantage of the extra cores that well. It's good for bragging rights, though.

The H50 works as well as a good air cooler, but that site doesn't offer any really good air coolers. You might as well go with the H50. You can add an additional fan to the back of the radiator to improve its cooling ability later on.

Honestly, after hearing different stuff about water cooling and the leaks that can happen I hardly believe I'm going to take the H50 since I'm not planning on over clocking.

But I'm definitively going for the AMD because it's really cheaper and I've read reviews about the X6, I have to say its convincing! There's almost no cons.

I will probably get a better or another fan in a couple months.

I'm planning customizing it on Monday, still gonna think about some details...maybe I will get the GTX460 (I guess you probably agree that's a good choice too).

Seems like a good computer overall. Thanks for your help between, it's very helpful for my limited knowledge.

 

[Trotter]

The H50 is a sealed loop and not like a custom loop that has fittings that can leak. But if you fo with a different cooler, go for the Extreme and not the Quiet.

If you get a 4xx series, get the EVGA 465 for the lifetime warranty. Graphics cards can die, and they are not cheap to replace if they do.

 

[SGP495]

This is my AMD setup:

$1,355.91

1 x AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8GHZ HDT55TFBGRBOX
1 x ASUS M4A87TD/USB3 AM3 DDR3 MOTHERBOARD ATX
1 x Kingston 4GB DDR3 1600MHZ KHX1600c9d3K2/4G
1 x WD Caviarâ„¢ Blackâ„¢ WD1002FAEX 1 TB SATA 6.0GB/s HDD
1 x EVGA GeForce GTX 465 1024MB DDR5 01G-P3-1465-TR Video Card
1 x LG GH22NS50 SATA Black
1 x ZALMAN CNPS10X EXTREME LGA775, LGA1366, LGA1156, AM2/AM3 CPU Cooler
1 x Corsair TX650W CMPSU-650TX
1 x Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Mid Tower
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 PRO 64-bit English 1PK DVD OEM (FQC-00765)
1 x Complete assembly and testing of the system includes 6 months warranty

 

[SGP495]

Looks like I'll have to waste an extra 50$ for the PCI wireless card because my second computer doesn't have wifi (It's an old iMac)