Building a Gaming Computer - Help

[MrPlow]

So i'm thinking about building a gaming computer and I don't really know much about hardware brands and value. I think that there are 3 ways of going about this. My price range is ideally around 1500 but would go upwards of 1800 depending on the cost of the video card or other expensive add ons

Also i'm considering getting 2 computers... 1 for my wife and 1 for myself. We're both gamers.

1.Build a computer through Memory Express
-I think this is where I would get the best value
-Local company, so I don't have to worry about assembling
-This tool can help me price out a system

2.Buy an Alienware or other gaming laptop
-I travel with work, and it would be nice to play video games on the road.
-Don't have to worry about finding or paying for assembly
-discounts on dell products through work
-potential bad value (I'm assuming)
-She's back in school anyways and needs a laptop
-no need to buy monitor right away

3. Reach out to the CP word for advice and suggestions
-What do you folks think is the best option?
-Are there better gaming laptops than alienware?
-What are peoples experiences with newegg or tigerdirect?

I feel like such a newb asking these questions. My computer knowledge is all on the software side.

Thanks CP Braintrust

[GoinAllTheWay]

With that budget you could easily build a very capable gaming rig.

Personally, I'd go the build through ME route. I've done that for my past 3 or 4 rigs and it's worked out well each time. They will even help you select parts.

Never looked really closely at Alienware. Although I'm sure they are very good machines, I think they are a bit overpriced.

[RinkRat]

Never been a big Alienware fan, its just a glorified Dell now with overpriced sub par parts.

I've always just researched and purchased my own parts from Memory express, spending a few hours putting it all together on the kitchen table, but next time I'm simply going to pick all my parts and have them set it up, its cheap and they know what their doing, also if you have any issues they have great customer service.

[Vulcan]

Here's a thread with some good suggestions from a poster on the NCIX forum. NCIX will build it for you for $50 and give it a one year warranty but Memory Express should price match everything as well. He lists parts for $1500, $1000 and a $2000 build.

http://forums.ncix.com/forums/?mode=...t=31&subpage=1

[Vulcan]

Here's another tool you can use

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/

and use this for price matching

http://www.shopbot.ca/

oh yeah, for the money you're spending I would hold out for the latest GTX 9xx card.

[MrPlow]

thanks for the insight guys!

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by RinkRat

Never been a big Alienware fan, its just a glorified Dell now with overpriced sub par parts.

I've always just researched and purchased my own parts from Memory express, spending a few hours putting it all together on the kitchen table, but next time I'm simply going to pick all my parts and have them set it up, its cheap and they know what their doing, also if you have any issues they have great customer service.

Agreed. I built my current PC myself (parts all from MemEx) and encountered issues with it booting up. Took it back to Memory Express and found that a few of the parts had been faulty. They replaced all the faulty parts and basically rebuilt the computer for free. Building it yourself is handy because you'll know your way around the thing when it comes time to clean or upgrade. I've never bought anything off newegg or NCIX but I have gotten MemEx to price match.

[MrPlow]

I just found this website: http://www.choosemypc.net/#

Might be helpful to others researching computers

[cDnStealth]

Sorry to hijack this thread. I am not even sure where to put something like this but I don't want to make a new thread. My mom is in need of a new PC and since I've been toying around with the idea of upgrading I was thinking of selling my current rig to her. What do you guys think something like this would sell for:

Intel i7 860 2.8ghz
GTX 670
8 GB DDR 3
1 TB Hard Drive

Initially I was thinking $500 but I have no idea and I don't really want to rip my mom off lol. Is that i7 better than the newer i3? Would I be better off just building her one from the ground up?

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

Sorry to hijack this thread. I am not even sure where to put something like this but I don't want to make a new thread. My mom is in need of a new PC and since I've been toying around with the idea of upgrading I was thinking of selling my current rig to her. What do you guys think something like this would sell for:

Intel i7 860 2.8ghz
GTX 670
8 GB DDR 3
1 TB Hard Drive

Initially I was thinking $500 but I have no idea and I don't really want to rip my mom off lol. Is that i7 better than the newer i3? Would I be better off just building her one from the ground up?

Does she even need the video card? I would sell it to her for like $350 with some baloney graphics output (the first gen i-series CPUs don't have integrated GFX I believe) and sell the 670 separately for $150 bucks. I have like, a half dozen 6 year old video cards I can give you for free if you need one.

[rbochan]

Give the computer to your Mom ferchristsake.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by rbochan

Give the computer to your Mom ferchristsake.

Wow. Thanks for that. That's exactly how she got her current computer and I'd love to give her mine but I can't afford to buy a brand new computer for myself right now. I am just trying to help her out and save her a bit of money.

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Does she even need the video card? I would sell it to her for like $350 with some baloney graphics output (the first gen i-series CPUs don't have integrated GFX I believe) and sell the 670 separately for $150 bucks. I have like, a half dozen 6 year old video cards I can give you for free if you need one.

This is a good question and I don't really think she needs one. When I was looking at my system info last night it appeared that my i7 did in fact have an integrated graphics card. One of my original thoughts was to give her my processor/motherboard and ram to use with some new components. That would save her about $300. Although I have no idea how good that integrated card would be. I am sort of inexperienced when it comes to integrated cards.

[PsYcNeT]

Well if she isn't doing anything that requires a GPU (gaming, 3d modelling, CAD work) integrated is more than enough. I can't seem to find any info regarding that chip...

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Well if she isn't doing anything that requires a GPU (gaming, 3d modelling, CAD work) integrated is more than enough. I can't seem to find any info regarding that chip...

Ya they wouldn't be doing any of that stuff. I've never built a budget PC so I have no idea what I should be looking at. When I was checking out the i3s at MemEx I wondered if the integrated cards would be sufficient. I might be wrong about my i7 but I'll check again tonight. Thanks. That actually helps quite a bit.