Budget gaming Custom built system vs premade one

[Imconfused1234]

Hey guys, my friend is interested in getting a new budget gaming pc.

He is interested in this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229100 which is about $540

I suggest he wait 2 weeks till his next pay check to get and build http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-e5200-radeon,2144.html which is about $625 AND it is missing a few things such as an operating system.

Can I get some feedback as to the perferormance/price ratio comparing these two systems? He is definately itching to buy a new comp asap, is it worth the wait?

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!

PS sorry if this is the wrong forum I was not entirely sure where this should have been placed.

 

[techwizard08]

It would definitely worth the wait considering it's a gaming PC.

The 4870 would grab the 9500 by its very girly hair, drag it over the table as it pulls it out of the booth its sitting at, throw it's blended strawberry (or other fruited) margarita in its face, and slowly kick it into submission.

QFT?

 

[smithereen]

Pretty much the right forum. If he doesn't want to game, you get get a better system by losing the descrite graphics card. If he's gaming, the SBM PC will be several times better. If he's not, a 790GX or 780G chipset and a Phenom II would be better. If you are not comfortable with high overclocking, a 770X and a Ph2 710 or 810 would also be significantly better.

Edit: Double fail. I got ninja'd, than missed that you specified that it was a gaming PC. My points still stand, though.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The pre-built computer can't really be called a "gaming" computer with a 9500 GT. This build is about the same price as the SBM build and includes the OS:

AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103681

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.203445 $129.66 (CPU + RAM combo)

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM (Includes free Windows 7 updrade coupon)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.205067.13-128-387 $214.98 (Motherboard + OS combo)

SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770 $94.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=wd6401aals $69.99

Antec Three Hundred 430 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065 $99.99

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188 $28.99

Total - $638.60

You could save $100 now and just use the 64-bit Windows 7 RC, but he'll eventually have to buy the non RC version. If he's itching to get the build now, using the RC version for now makes sense.

 

[smithereen]

Build looks good. You could downgrade the mobo and RAM to save some $$$, if you want, but that board is amazing value.