Gaming System Question

[Ryios]

How much are those?

You could build one for less than $1000 with multiple SSD's and it would have better specs. In fact I built one just last weekend for $482 dollars using an Intel GS3640 (3.5ghz dual core), would just need to up the CPU to an I5 for another 160 bucks and beef up the GPU a little putting it around $750.

You can get a 256gb Crucial SSD right now on new egg for $89.99 (included in above price), and if you use a Mini ATX mother board, you can can put it in a Mini ATX case and get it (not much bigger than that alien ware).

If you happen to live in northern VA.. I build them for people for $50 labor fee.

Update: Quick price check, with an nvidia 960 GTX 4GB GPU and an i5 Devils Canyon (unlocked) puts that $482 build at $840 something, $900 to upgrade ram to 16gb and psu another 200 watts, much cheaper than most bought gaming pc's. And that 900$ is with SSD's and Hard Drives and a raid, the alien ware will shoot up over that $700 range when you start doing that.

The way dell works, Just try their builder tool. They want $217 dollars to upgrade 4GB DDR3 to 16GB DDR3, but you can buy 16gb DDR3 for about 80$.... Rip off.

To be honest though, building computers isn't that hard now days. Pick a case, Pick a socket (Intel 1150, 1151) or (AM3+ AMD), pick a CPU that matches the socket, pick out an SSD, video card, Power Supply, RAM (ddr3 1600mhz). Make sure the Power Supply is at least 600 watts, by some thermal paste (to adhere the process fan to the processor better). Then when you get all the parts, just youtube a how to. All the parts are color coded now days, pins that only plug in one way, tool less cases (don't need any tools except a phillips screw driver), and once you make the leap to do this you can buy upgrade parts and do it yourself and save a mint.

[CGMidlander]

Make sure the Power Supply is at least 600 watts, by some thermal paste (to adhere the process fan to the processor better).

Wattage alone isn't indicative of quality. There are a ton of bad quality PSUs that can't output even half of what their labels claim before frying.
It's not uncommon for new PC builders to skimp on the PSU because they don't know any better, so I feel like I should mention this at least.

[Ryios]

Wattage alone isn't indicative of quality. There are a ton of bad quality PSUs that can't output even half of what their labels claim before frying.
It's not uncommon for new PC builders to skimp on the PSU because they don't know any better, so I feel like I should mention this at least.

True,

I generally buy everything on new egg. They have a really good review system. My basic process for filtering parts is filter only parts with 4 stars or above, then by lowest price. Then I find the pest part for the lowest price with the best rating. Then I read through some of the reviews to see the cons people listed, which is generally where you will see someone mention "Not correct wattage rating" then I move on to another one until I find one where no one has much bad to say about it.

The downside to that process is I generally stay away from brand new stuff, I buy things that have been tried and tested with the exception of processors, graphics cards and motherboards because I trust Intel and asus/asrock/gigabyte, nvidia etc. But for RAM, Power Supplies, Cases, Hard Drives, etc etc (tried and tested).

Very important to check review count to, 8 reviews isn't really a good indicator of quality, but 1500 is.

It's also worth mentioning that black friday is around the corner. In 2011 I built a 1800$ rig for $1100 with black friday specials.... New egg has some CRAZY black friday/cyber monday deals. For example, I got 2 22" monitors that were originally 140 for 89.99 each. I got two ssd's that were 149.99 for $90 each, I saved about 50$ on ram, 100$ on a case, and 50% on a motherboard, etc etc.

[CGMidlander]

It's also worth mentioning that black friday is around the corner. In 2011 I built a 1800$ rig for $1100 with black friday specials.... New egg has some CRAZY black friday/cyber monday deals. For example, I got 2 22" monitors that were originally 140 for 89.99 each. I got two ssd's that were 149.99 for $90 each, I saved about 50$ on ram, 100$ on a case, and 50% on a motherboard, etc etc.

Yeah Black Friday sales can be pretty good