Build vs. Buy

[DaPandaRage]

Hello

So recently I've been playing a lot more pc gaming than usual and am enjoying to more than console. I have decided to buy a gaming pc but am on a budget of 300 or so dollars. What are the pros and cons of building a pc and buying one? I'm not looking for the best computer just a good beginner one.

Just a note, I have no experience with building AT ALL so if you think building is better can you refer me to somewhere to learn?

 

[timeconsumer]

There are a lot of build guides on youtube. However, a budget of $300 is almost impossible to deliver even a low-level gaming box, depending on the circumstances. What does this budget need to include? Monitor, OS, peripherals?

What games are you playing? Would you be playing on a 1080p monitor?

If the $300 does not have to include monitor, OS, key, mouse etc this is about the best you can do (but it is $350 before mail-in rebates) The power supply isn't one I normally like to recommend, but it should be able to handle a lower power build like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($68.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI A68HM-E33 V2 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($32.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 370 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H21 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($18.25 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $299.19
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-29 11:35 EST-0500

 

[cleanshot911]

Well pc gaming as a whole is a much more customizable experience overall than console gaming, it has better deals on games, you can use any console controller with a pc if you know how to hook it up (if you don't you can just look up how to do it online), building a pc is much easier than people think it is, just watch some youtube videos and read some guides online, and you can most certainly put a pc together for $300, but it's not gonna be top tier quality of course. Now if you want to build a gaming pc for $300 you CAN achieve the same performance as a console if not better, but that's assuming you already have a mouse and keyboard, a monitor or tv to display the image on, and an OS (operating system) ready to go (usually they cost around $100), so if you've got a key for one or you're willing to pirate windows, yeah you can build a pc for $300. So it's possible, you just have to meet those qualifications beforehand. If so then the build I've posted below is what I'd suggest. This build can play just about any game at 1080p 30fps at max settings or 1080p 60fps at low to medium settings. It's excellent for the price. Not every part is high quality, but it's the best you're gonna get for the price.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mk4Jcf
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mk4Jcf/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($68.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.10 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H21 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($18.25 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $300.19
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-29 11:35 EST-0500

 

[taopc]

i build pc because its fun. the customization is endless. where to learn? youtube, google, etc theres not that many major parts. And $300 is a tight budget. so idk...

 

[martinch]

I have decided to buy a gaming pc but am on a budget of 300 or so dollars. What are the pros and cons of building a pc and buying one?

As a general rule, you'll get better value for money if you build your own PC (obviously, the PC manufacturers have to make their money somewhere, and a volume discount only gets you so far), and you can tailor the parts to exactly the ones you want. Obviously, a pre-built PC should be soak tested (hopefully!) before you get it, and any warranty issues should become the manufacturer's problem.

For ideas, it might be worth looking at the PCPartPicker.com build guides (as a starting point): http://pcpartpicker.com/guide/#T=2&X=24729,35628&sort=a2&page=1&Q=6,252

Just a note, I have no experience with building AT ALL so if you think building is better can you refer me to somewhere to learn?

ASUS USA's "how to" video is probably a good starting point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAVTdwFwYPA

 

[lodders]

IMHO it is better to buy a computer if you are on a low budget...

Most of the benefits of building yourself come when you can afford more expensive components

 

[DaPandaRage]

Thanks for your responses. I'm just counting the tower not a monitor or anything like that. I don't need 1080 I am just fine with 720 though 1080 is always nice. I would mostly play games like cs: go, battlefield 4, and league of legends.

 

[timeconsumer]

Do you need an operating system?

 

[DaPandaRage]

Do you need an operating system?

No