Building vs. buying

[ktm407]

I bought all the parts I wanted in my computer and built it for about $800. I have seen advertisements for Gateway systems at $800 and they have the same amount of RAM, HDD space, same dual-layer DVD burner... and they have better processors and graphics cards than I do! (i.e. I have an AMD Athlon 3000+, they advertise AMD Athlon 3500+, etc.) Why wouldn't it be a good idea to buy a Gateway system? I asked my computer-savvy friend, who built my system for me, and he said not to get a Gateway because they are crap.


My specs:
UT LANparty nF3 250gb motherboard
Seagate 250gb HDD
AMD Athlon 3000+ processor
1GB Corsair DDR RAM
Lite-On Dual layer DVD burner
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro graphics card
Xion case, 450-watt power supply
(I kept a Sony 48x CD burner from my previous computer)

I'm sure many of you guys have seen those ads in the paper for Gateway computers at Best Buy and Circuit City, etc. What is the difference between store-bought Dell and the one I built?

 

[bamacre]

I'd like to see a Dell with an AMD 3500+ cpu.

And they don't sell Dell systems at BB nor CC. Maybe you are thinking of E-machines, or HP?

Nevertheless, if you are getting a low-end PC, many times it is best to buy a pre-built. But most of the time, higher-end systems are cheaper if you build.

 

[ktm407]

Yeah, not Dell. Best Buy sells Gateway... in fact, I went and got the ad and I'm looking at it. A Gateway with Athlon 64 4000+, LCD monitor, photo printer, 1GB DDR RAM, 200GB HDD, double-layer DVDRW drive, GeForce 6100 graphics.... all for $700.

WTF? Why shouldn't I have just bought that thing? Can anyone tell me what the difference is?

 

[krotchy]

The problem with dell is their price tends to scale exponentially.

If you have a 400 dollar budget, your barely going to get off the ground floor on newegg, but on dell youll get a full system with monitor, keyboard and mouse etc.

On the other hand, if you have 1600 bucks. Dell will get you a decent mid range machine, newegg will result in a much faster machine. Newegg scales better than dell, but your probably not gonna do as well as dell on the low end.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: ktm407
Yeah, not Dell. Best Buy sells Gateway... in fact, I went and got the ad and I'm looking at it. A Gateway with Athlon 64 4000+, LCD monitor, photo printer, 1GB DDR RAM, 200GB HDD, double-layer DVDRW drive, GeForce 6100 graphics.... all for $700.

WTF? Why shouldn't I have just bought that thing? Can anyone tell me what the difference is?

Well, for one, those systems are not quite designed for gaming in mind. It is possible to add a video card and new PSU to some of those systems however.

That particular system you mention would not be good for gaming unless it's upgraded.

 

[ktm407]

Why isn't it good for gaming? Are you talking about hardcore live gaming or just like... playing Civilization 4. I don't really game that much, I'm more into music recording, downloading music/video, heavy multitasking... I just want a computer that will last me a while, do everything I want it to, and go fast. I hate nothing more than a slow computer or one that gives me problems.

 

[jackschmittusa]

If you really need some reasons, try these:

on-board graphics

memory shared with video

smaller hd

minimal psu that may die shortly after warranty (have replaced many Bestecs in low end factory machines)

no oc capability

lots of useless crap pre-loaded on hd

usually no stand-alone copy of Windows, just a restore disk

 

[Powermoloch]

Here's my experience with two systems that I owned. I built and bought from dell. I'm pretty bummed out that I shell alot of cash with my first rig, although it served me well. it almost cost me $1550 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but I have left over parts for backup ^_^

http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=31215 gaming pc = $ 1300

http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=32752 photochop/entertainment/gaming pc = $1000 from dell.

Yet, the dell machine performed wonderfully...came with all the stuff I need especially with the 2007FP 20" LCD. Just enought to power up a 7600GT KO with no sweat.

 

[jondl]

I'm sure you can get a better system if you shop around for the parts. Newegg used to have the lowest prices but those days are over. They occasionally have some exceptionally good deals but overall, i wouldn't purchase a whole system from them. Try other online e-tailers by searching froogle, pricegrabber, and other hot deals forums. Also, make sure to check resellerratings.com for good/bad places to shop.

If you don't want to go through all this trouble to get your money's worth, maybe you are better off with a dell or gateway.

 

[alimoalem]

the hard drives they have are ide and generally slower

the ram is more likely than not not from a namebrand

the power supply is poor

basically what jackschmittusa said.

sometimes the prebuilt are good, but not all the time. you don't know what kind of motherboard they have, etc. so that can be a pain at times

 

[soydios]

Under $1200, and the economies of scale work incredibly in favor of prebuilt systems.
Over $1500, and Newegg.com will be your savior. Over $2000, and Newegg.com is the only sane option.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: soydios
Under $1200, and the economies of scale work incredibly in favor of prebuilt systems.
Over $1500, and Newegg.com will be your savior. Over $2000, and Newegg.com is the only sane option.

Pretty much, but there are some exceptions. Also, I prefer ZZF over NewEgg most of the time anyway.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
If you really need some reasons, try these:

on-board graphics

memory shared with video

smaller hd

minimal psu that may die shortly after warranty (have replaced many Bestecs in low end factory machines)

no oc capability

lots of useless crap pre-loaded on hd

usually no stand-alone copy of Windows, just a restore disk

This would be my biggest complaint:

lots of useless crap pre-loaded on hd

usually no stand-alone copy of Windows, just a restore disk

 

[vanvock]

They also tend to use proprietary harware that when it breaks out of warranty you have to get replacements from them, they have you by the short hairs then.

 

[imported_fx]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...ctCategoryId=cat01172&id=1149040474160

^Pretty nice deal for AMD X2 Gateway with 2GB RAM.

If you willing to spend little more than $800 then get this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...ctCategoryId=cat01172&id=1149040474235

You can get them at bestbuy.. you could buy video card from newegg.. probably 7900gt, x1800xt or x1900xt.

 

[bX510]

This is what i hate about prebuilt systems. Because the case is so customed, the power supply has to be turned out and then u can reach to mobo and etc... You probably will not find another PSU like that if it burns out (this would clean out your pockets). If your cpu is running at really high temps and you want to put in a CPU cooler from newegg, it will most likely not fit because of the PSU. Change the DRIVEs are pain in the ass (based on sony vaio). The face would look ugly if u do not replace the new drive with the old face (I had to saw some stuff inorder for it to fit). Preloaed applications which are waste of space. Overall, it's a pain.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: soydios
Under $1200, and the economies of scale work incredibly in favor of prebuilt systems.
Over $1500, and Newegg.com will be your savior. Over $2000, and Newegg.com is the only sane option.

That?s pretty much how I look at it also, but I would go as far to say that anything between $800-$900 and it will be pretty competitive. And anything over $1,000 and custom is the easy choice.

 

[fire400]

how pestimistic, look at the bright side, you get a system built by professionals, an entire system backed by a warranty that covers the entire system, and not part by part.

you sound like you know enough to build your own system, so why don't you do the research and start buyin' stuff.

who the hell wants to go back when they've experienced a custom built system? you can even custom build a laptop, but the prices aren't the same as desktop components.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: fire400
how pestimistic, look at the bright side, you get a system built by professionals, an entire system backed by a warranty that covers the entire system, and not part by part.

you sound like you know enough to build your own system, so why don't you do the research and start buyin' stuff.

who the hell wants to go back when they've experienced a custom built system? you can even custom build a laptop, but the prices aren't the same as desktop components.

There are some unique situations. I am a Dell Outlet junkie, and I will tell you straight up, with the right know-how, there isn't a cheaper way of buying a desktop. Any desktop, gaming or not.

I could show you some stuff I pulled today that would make you wet your pants.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Originally posted by: jadinolf

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
If you really need some reasons, try these:

on-board graphics

memory shared with video

smaller hd

minimal psu that may die shortly after warranty (have replaced many Bestecs in low end factory machines)

no oc capability

lots of useless crap pre-loaded on hd

usually no stand-alone copy of Windows, just a restore disk

This would be my biggest complaint:

lots of useless crap pre-loaded on hd

usually no stand-alone copy of Windows, just a restore disk

QFT. Then you get to watch it boot for 10 minutes.