Current Events > Should I build a PC or just buy one prebuilt?

(+) Yeah! (+)

What sort of specifications would I need to run an average game on average settings these days?

What sort of cost (in United States Dollars) will I have to spend for this sort of thing?

Right now I am using an 8 year old laptop that can barely run PowerPoint.

I did some research but I am hecking confused guys.

What's your goal?

You could always buy an optiplex and add a GPU which could keep it under $400

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My goal is that I would like to play games on my computer.

Like what kind of games? What's your target frame rate and resolution?

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PC builds should depend on your budget, not the other way around.

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Villain posted...

Like what kind of games? What's your target frame rate and resolution?

All kinds. Not super concerned about optimal frame rate and resolution as long as games run smoothly.

its up to you.

if you're looking at cost, yeah build one. you can do it for about 800 bucks. heres a good guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yKfGzY_tRw

but you have to deal with building it. its worth it, but a lot of people dont want to deal with it. i think thats okay. if you're not a tech guy, why bother? you can buy prebuilt pcs. i recommend https://www.originpc.com/ because they have G R E A T customer service if things go wrong.

just dont buy those walmart prebuilt ones. the "Overpowered" brand. they are literally shit.

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AsucaHayashi posted...

PC builds should depend on your budget, not the other way around.

This. Decide how much you are willing to invest in a gaming PC, and build from there. To that end, there are several Tech YouTubers that specialize in PC builds and components: JayzTwoCents, Bitwit, Linus Tech Tips, Hardware Canucks, and Gamers Nexus are the ones I watch when I want to know something.

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Always build. The cost depends on the resolution you'd like to play at, but for 1080p @ 60 fps with mostly top settings you can build one for around $800, given you already have a monitor.
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also if you want to build your own pc, people use this website to post all the parts they use and share it with each other

https://pcpartpicker.com/

it shows you total cost and even has links to where to buy them for the cheapest!

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voldothegr8 posted...

Always build. The cost depends on the resolution you'd like to play at, but for 1080p @ 60 fps with mostly top settings you can build one for around $800, given you already have a monitor.

I have a monitor, but it is probably around 15 years old. Will that still work or will I need to buy a new one?

CrocodileCannon posted...

I have a monitor, but it is probably around 15 years old. Will that still work or will I need to buy a new one?

You'll probably need a new one, you can get a 1080p 60hz pretty cheap for ~$100 or go 1080p 144hz for ~$200. Of course if you have a big budget you can go to higher resolutions which means more expensive PC, but like everyone says it depends what you have to spend.
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_BIueMonk posted...

but you have to deal with building it. its worth it, but a lot of people dont want to deal with it. i think thats okay. if you're not a tech guy, why bother? you can buy prebuilt pcs. i recommend https://www.originpc.com/ because they have G R E A T customer service if things go wrong.

just dont buy those walmart prebuilt ones. the "Overpowered" brand. they are literally shit.

Linus Tech Tips did a "stress test" of System Integrators (SIs for short) a while back. They tested Alienware, Cyberpower, iBuyPower, Origin, HP, and Maingear.

Part 1(Ordering): https://youtu.be/rzpYkpZX8qw
Part 2 (Shipping): https://youtu.be/yGoCMDrzCq0
Part 3 (Tech Support): https://youtu.be/wsfjx5T46Zk
Part 4 (PC Benches): https://youtu.be/VRFEr3rAizY

I echo that you don't buy Walmart's Overpowered brand. They are garbage.

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CrocodileCannon posted...

I have a monitor, but it is probably around 15 years old. Will that still work or will I need to buy a new one?

it depends on what connecter the graphics card has. but a new monitor can be had for under 100$ now.
for a flat screen and above.
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CrocodileCannon posted...

My goal is that I would like to play games on my computer.

You know what I started losing my shit with this response

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prebuilt kind of assumes you're only playing older games. it's also a bit up in the air when finding the right price for one.

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Can I run any games with this?

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/VDk6Nq

CrocodileCannon posted...

Can I run any games with this?

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/VDk6Nq

better parts than my computer can run WOW on medium settings.
you're good to go imo.

but would get other opinions first.
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CrocodileCannon posted...

Can I run any games with this?

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/VDk6Nq

Yes, but get a 5600 xt graphics card instead of a 580.

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How hard is it to build a water-cooled system

I've built 3 regular ones

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im not 13 posted...

How hard is it to build a water-cooled system

I've built 3 regular ones

Depends on how hard you go with it. Water cooling requires a reservoir, pump, tubing, and the water/oil to help with heat transfer. They're for a hardcore enthusiast who is on top of everything in their build. While they can be the most efficient at keeping your temperatures low, they offer the most risk for failure. AIOs (all-in-ones) are a mixture of water-cooling and air, and are generally as easy to install as a standard heatsink + fan.

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Consider a Mac

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Alucard188 posted...

Depends on how hard you go with it. Water cooling requires a reservoir, pump, tubing, and the water/oil to help with heat transfer. They're for a hardcore enthusiast who is on top of everything in their build. While they can be the most efficient at keeping your temperatures low, they offer the most risk for failure. AIOs (all-in-ones) are a mixture of water-cooling and air, and are generally as easy to install as a standard heatsink + fan.

Do AIOs have another name? What do I search

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im not 13 posted...

Do AIOs have another name? What do I search

They're generally listed under water cooling.

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TheBlueMonk_ posted...

Yes, but get a 5600 xt graphics card instead of a 580.

Whats the difference?

voldothegr8 posted...

Always build. The cost depends on the resolution you'd like to play at, but for 1080p @ 60 fps with mostly top settings you can build one for around $800, given you already have a monitor.

For kicks I recently bought an optiplex with an i7, upgraded the ram, hdd, and bought a 1650. This is a perfect 1080p 60fps machine that was around $400 in all

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When you guys say optiplex what models are you talking about. They seem a lot more expensive that what you folks are talking

Dell optiplex. If you see one on eBay with an i7, 16gb ram and an SSD as a primary drive for under $250 that's a good value. A 1650 low profile is only $150 and a 1 TB 7200 RPM drive can be found for around $50

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do you want a regular hdd or a solid state drive, crocodile?

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How much better is a SSD. A build someone recommended has both, but with the monitor I need I am over $1000 and I was shooting for the $800 range.

Is 500 gb on SSD enough for my entire computer do I need the 1TB HDD with that?

logicalincrements.com

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CrocodileCannon posted...

How much better is a SSD. A build someone recommended has both, but with the monitor I need I am over $1000 and I was shooting for the $800 range.

Is 500 gb on SSD enough for my entire computer do I need the 1TB HDD with that?

An SSD is worth it. The boot up and loading times are super quick. They will likely become a minimum requirement in the next couple of years since next gen consoles have them.

You could always go for a 500GB SSD and add a HDD or another SSD later.

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Though I don't PC game I built a couple over the years.

Got tired of the hassle in picking and buying parts and sometimes shit I don't need (just for looks) and now just buy what's the best deal or some markdown.

My laptop was priced at $800, but I got it on clearance around $550.

Been going strong for basic stuff for like 2 years now.

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Darmik posted...

They will likely become a minimum requirement in the next couple of years since next gen consoles have them.

i hope not

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Wewillrocku posted...

i hope not

SSDs are super affordable right now. You can get a 500GB SSD with modest R/W speeds for $65. Shit, the standard for high-speed storage is quickly becoming m.2 NVMe drives.

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If you want a known brand that is dependable and have a great reputation, look no further than the Alienware. Their rigs are LIT

Correct_Facts posted...

If you want a known brand that is dependable and have a great reputation, look no further than the Alienware. Their rigs are LIT

In case you're unaware, TC, this user is always ironically posting.

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Alucard188 posted...

In case you're unaware, TC, this user is always ironically posting.

What part of my post is ironic? The whole thing is true

A good way to set your build is to look at a particular game you want to be able to run, and spec to target that. In Dec 2015 when I made my current build, I wanted to be able to play Witcher 3 on high-ultra settings at 1080p and get a good 60fps.
I ended up with a GTX1060 6gb and a Core i5-6500. I can still run most games from 2019 on high at 1080p and get 60fps (e.g. Jedi Fallen Order, Division 2). Control and RDR2 can hit >30fps on high, but not 60.

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As someone who actually built their PC I say get a pre-made one. The hassle of putting one together and buying all the shit is a lot. Plus pre-made ones will most likely look a lot better than you can do as a first timer.

The next PC I get (mid of next year) is going to be a pre-made. Just a ton easier.

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I think pre-builts aren't as expensive as they used to be so it really depends person to person if it's worth it. It does save time.

But you learn a lot about how your computer ticks if you build it yourself too. Stuff like adding in a new internal drive or replacing the GPU is easy if you build it yourself.

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Rain_Dust posted...

As someone who actually built their PC I say get a pre-made one. The hassle of putting one together and buying all the shit is a lot. Plus pre-made ones will most likely look a lot better than you can do as a first timer.

The next PC I get (mid of next year) is going to be a pre-made. Just a ton easier.

Don't know about the looks part.

I had neon fans, tubed wiring, had fan controls and temp gauges, front bay speakers, frontal intake fan, a card reader thing that looked like it took 1000s of various SD Cards and some I assume that didn't exist.

And all I ever really used was the DVD/CD drive.

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Here's the optiplex I bought and upgraded recently for my living room. Great for 1080p 60fps gaming:

Dell Optiplex 990 SFF: https://www.ebay.com/itm/254477652741

2TB SSHD - https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FireCuda-Accelerated-Performance-ST2000LX001/dp/B01M1NHCZT/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=2tb+firecuda&qid=1581996933&sr=8-4 (I already had this though and moved it from an older PC to this)

Low profile 1650: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W15Y8R8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

16 GB of RAM (2 orders) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B9VVBHF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Roughly $425 in all

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