Store bought, or home built?

[Melor]

I am looking to buy/build a new PC. I very seldom play a game but want a decent video card. The most intensive use is in Photoshop and Proshow ( slideshow/video production ) with a little video work.

I have built my own computers for 25+ years and generally sidestep store-bought computers unless I am buying one for work or one of my family members.

So, thinking about an I7-920 machine I saw an HP Pavilion Elite e9290f at Fry's for $1250. The basic specs are I7-920, 9GB DDR3 P3C-8500, 1TB, nVideo GeForce TGX-260. More specs at http://www.frys.com/product/6060268#detailed if you are interested.

What makes me pause about buying the HP is: Low end PS, hard drive expansion ( want to pop in 2 more HD's. )

Can I build a better computer for about the same cost ( I have an unused copy of Windows7 ultimate already )

Paul

 

[rudder]

You can get close. Large OEM's like HP get bulk pricing... especially on window's licensing. So if you already have a copy you can narrow the gap. They can always beat you out on the low end. If you just don't feel like building your own due to time constraints there are companies like cyperpowerpc.com where you can select your power supply for instance and still not bad pricing.

 

[lxskllr]

You can get close. Large OEM's like HP get bulk pricing... especially on window's licensing. So if you already have a copy you can narrow the gap. They can always beat you out on the low end. If you just don't feel like building your own due to time constraints there are companies like cyperpowerpc.com where you can select your power supply for instance and still not bad pricing.

It's almost always at the O/S where home building loses. You can build cheaper, or the same price with better components, but the O/S is where the price pushes past the oems.

In your case, I think you'd do better building. The one caveat is the case. I'm not familiar with HP, but Dell uses great cases for their builds. They're tough and quiet at the expense of heat build up.

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,

Pre-built has the advantage of mass production parts and mass licensed OS's. Building an i7 machine will likely be very close compared to buying a pre-built. Personally, I'd still build it myself because I'd rather have control over every part that goes into the machine; Especially the motherboard and case, which typically are gimped junk when prebuilt. Here's an example build in the same price range:

Mobo (GA-EX58-UD3R) - $188
CPU (i7 920) - $288
RAM (6Gb OCZ Gold DDR3 1600) - $149
GPU (Saphire HD5770 1Gb) - $154
PSU (OCZ 700W Modular) - $99
HDD1 (WD Black 1TB 7200rpm) - $99
DVD (Sony Optiarc) - $31
Case (NZXT EVO) - $109

OS (Win 7 Home Premium 64bit) - $104

$1,117

A bit cheaper. You're getting 6Gb of memory instead of 9Gb, but it's seriously not going to make a difference. But you get way more control and options on that motherboard and a way better case. From here, you can add more drives.

You have $130 to play with still to hit the same price. You could add more RAM if you thought it would matter (I don't think it will help at all to do this beyond the 6Gb already here even for your needs). You could put it towards a huge GPU (like the HD5850), or you could use it for an SSD, or you could get another 1TB (or 1.5TB) HDD for additional storage use. You end up with a better machine for the money and more options.

Very best,

 

[Blain]

I wouldn't buy an HP desktop or laptop.
Buy a Dell or Lenovo.

 

[pugh]

We build because it is a passion. We love to learn. Read manuals.. trouble shoot. Fix what ain't broke. Install endless apps and software to tweak it..... Nothing like getting new hardware and installing it.

If you build it.. they will come........

Lol heck it is just so much fun to build a pc over buying someone's stuff.

 

[In2Photos]

I would build as well. I built my i7 machine for about $1100 including OS back in February. Price would still be similar actually which is surprising.

The only time I would buy a store bought machine is if I had no intentions of adding anything to the machine (like a cheap email/web surfing PC) or if I needed a laptop.

 

[M0RPH]

There's nothing wrong with the power supply in that HP. It's a Delta 450W, perfectly adequate for that system... unless you have plans to upgrade to some monster video card or SLI, which I'm sure you don't.

I do think you're buying too much computer for your needs though. Something like this would fit your needs for half the price:
Gateway LX6820-01 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz Desktop (8GB/1TB) Nvidia GT 230 $599 Free Shipping
http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop...SourceID=k3736
You can see the details of this system at Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_re=Gateway_LX6820-01-_-83-113-105-_-Product
It has a special opening in the case with two removable hard drive bays, which I think is pretty cool.

Save yourself $600 now and you'll be upgrading your computer again that much sooner.

 

[Melor]

I do think you're buying too much computer for your needs though.

How can you say that?

OUCH.

I feel the need, the need for speed. Bigger is better. Give me an inch, I will take a mile...

You must not live in the USA.

Seriously, you are correct, which is why I haven't bought the new hardware yet, but where is the fun in that?

I have been choosing to buy or build a new machine, or possibly by breathing a little fun into my tired old system by buying a SSD boot drive and a bigger monitor ( running duals now, a 1600*1200 and a 1280*1024. Would like to replace the 1280 with a 1920*1200 but I can't seem to find one in a local store.

Paul

 

[djnsmith7]

As far as I'm concerned, I won't buy another pre-built system, regardless of the price. No matter how expensive the system is, it can still have low quality parts, which is unacceptable. Most systems over $1500 are overpriced anyway, which makes it even more difficult to justify.

I need to know everything about each component installed in the system. Not only that, but I can't stand the cases used on 99.99% of pre-built systems anyway & the power supplies are usually mediocre, at best.

If it's for a friend or family member, I'll either help them build it (supervised build), or I will help them pick out a pre-built system.