New pc, should I build or get one from ibuypower.com?

[bolekman]

Hi, I will be replacing my 5 year old pc with a new Quad core Intel (using for 3D and motion graphics work). I haven?t build a pc in 5 years and I?m afraid of messing/breaking something but going with newegg, I'll get the exact parts I want. HOw do you guys feel about ibuypower? Is it easy to build my pc with newegg parts? Here is what I decided upon with newegg - video card is one compatible with adobe CS3 software which I use:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600

EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

Rosewill RP500-2 500W ATX12V v2.01 Power Supply

Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

 

[bolekman]

My budget is $700.

 

[Harvey]

If you have good parts, they only go together one way. Building your own system is easy as long as you know your parts and you know which end of a medium phillips screwdriver is the business end.

I live in L.A., Ca., where we have well stocked local B&M shops with good prices. The one advantage of buying locally is that you have instant recourse if something fails, but I've dealt with Newegg several times, and their support has always been excellent when I needed help.

Once you decide to buy online, in addition to price, it's always a matter of trust. For reference:

Newegg's page on resellerratings.com.

ibuypower's page on resellerratings.com.

Ibuypower's ratings are OK. Newegg's ratings are stellar. If those are your only choices, Newegg wins hands down.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Phenom 720BE / Asus 790gx AM3 combo: $180 AR

G.Skill 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600: $95

XFX Radeon HD 4850 1GB: $125


There are a number of HD4850s with 512Mb that are less than $100.

 

[bolekman]

Any reason I should get the Phenom II X3 720 instead of the Intel Quad? Will After Effects run much slower on the AMD compared to the Quad Intel? I see that I configured a system with the X3 AMD and it will save me $173 which is a lot.. so maybe I should get the X3. I just want to make sure it runs great in CS3 and Cinema 4d. Here is my AMD setup:

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black
BFG Tech BFGE96512GTOCE GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
Rosewill RP500-2 500W ATX12V v2.01 Power Supply
Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Rosewill R5717-P BK 120mm Fan ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, with mesh air filters, adjustable vents & Tool-Free kits
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK
SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM

 

[M0RPH]

Originally posted by: bolekman
Any reason I should get the Phenom II X3 720 instead of the Intel Quad?

Cost. That X3 720 deal is hard to beat. Yeah, the Intel quads are faster at Photoshop but not that much to justify the added cost.

You were looking at the wrong Intel quad though. You want the Yorksfield ones like the Q8400. The cheapest combo deal I see with a motherboard is $280 AR. So that's $100 more than the X3 720 deal. More bang for your buck with the 720 for sure.

 

[bolekman]

So after much thinking and research I decided I'm going with the Intel Q8200. How do I know if my video card with aftermarket fan, and motherboard will fit into a specific case? Here are the 4 parts:
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard
COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
BFG Tech BFGE96512GTOCE GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

 

[alcoholbob]

ibuypower is a nice custom pc company. Sometimes if they have a holiday special their setups are even cheaper than buying the parts piecemeal from newegg.

That said, when you build your own computer, it's a lot easier to troubleshoot problems. You did the wiring, you remember the install order, and you know how the hardware looked like when you installed it. With a pre-built, parts may have been physically defective before they were installed and you won't know until you unplug everything.