Is it worth building a PC?

[Edwarric]

This question may sound soooo silly but here me out.
I am looking into a gaming desktop, this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-Erazer-Tower-Desktop-Black/dp/B00LM9T8EM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430254741&sr=8-1&keywords=lenovo+x510

I thought that the deal was a very good price for what I am getting, so I put it to the test and tried to figure out which one was more worth it: whether building a PC or buying the Lenovo X510 (£999.99):

Using UKPCpartspicker (http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/) - a website that lets you pick your computer components and finds the best price for all the components - I roughly added the components (because the exact specs. are a bit unclear) used in the Lenovo X510 on Amazon into my basket, and the total came to over £1200! That's more than £200 more than the pre-built desktop on Amazon. I couldn't believe it!

Obviously the parts I picked out on the PC parts picker website were not the exact ones but I wouldn't have expected the price to be that expensive.

I have never built a PC before, so the task seems quite daunting and you could say I am procrastinating this challenge by finding excuses for not building one even though it sounds like an exciting prospect. The main thing I'm worried about is warranty because I just know something will go wrong, and I don't earn that much so I don't want to waste my money!

Anyway, worries aside, my question is: Is it worth building a PC considering that I can get a pretty good one for £999.99 on Amazon? My budget was £1300 and I already have a monitor. It just seems to me that in this case, the pre-built desktop is the best 'bang for the buck'. Or could I get something better out of building one?

Cheers

 

[-HH-]

Cost is not the only part of the equation.
You also need to factor in...
1. Time
2. Stress (if a novice)
3. Support options
4. Warranty simplification
5. Pride and bragging rights
6. Things you will learn upon building it

If you're not 80% comfortable you can build it without any issues then I would buy the components and build it. If not - it would be worth it to buy pre-built.

Alotanor

Pride and Bragging rights?xD

 

[Alotanor]

Cost is not the only part of the equation.
You also need to factor in...
1. Time
2. Stress (if a novice)
3. Support options
4. Warranty simplification
5. Pride and bragging rights
6. Things you will learn upon building it

If you're not 80% comfortable you can build it without any issues then I would buy the components and build it. If not - it would be worth it to buy pre-built.

Alotanor

Pride and Bragging rights?xD

Yes - the pride you get from building your own rig, and being able to brag about it to your friends.

 

[-HH-]

True... I built my own rig and it costed $4000 (bragging achieved).

Well, it's still in the making though I don't think the CM212Evo is really cooling the CPU all that well XD

 

[sora]

OP, building a PC is definitely worth it. @-HH-, I personally do NOT think it is worth spending $4k on a PC under any circumstances whatsoever. You could put that money towards much more useful things in life.

 

[john181818]

ifIwasarichman is correct about the sourcing aspect and making sure the parts are mutually compatible and will fit together well on the motherboard and fit inside the case. The sourcing aspect for me when I started buying components that were on a deep discount sale. My HDD was first, followed a few weeks later by the SSD. Then it was the case and then it was the power supply. Finally Newegg had a big special on the processor and motherboard. Once I knew them It was time for the RAM and the fan (Thermaltake Frio) for the processor. Since my fan is so huge I needed low profile RAM to fit inside. (My RAM is G.Skil Ares 1866MHz)

The point is, as ifIwasarichman said, to source and acquire as sales occur. Know you are building and commit to it, and then source and buy when the price and/or finances allow. Commit to completing it within a reasonable timeframe like 4-6 months. In my case I did that but when Newegg had their big sale I pushed up the rest since there was no point having the processor, motherboard, RAM, case, memory and power supply and not finish the project. In my case it was two months from start to finish.

I am trying to encourage you but keeping you within your comfort zone. If this scares you too much or you lack the time you can then either find someone who will actually build the computer for you from your parts or just buy off the shelf. Alontanor mentioned support options as a criteria, but in my case I always hated dealing with a manufacturer's support department. (HP to be precise.) So lack of HP support didn't bother me, I still had the warranties on the components and I was sufficiently familiar with Windows to buy an OEM version of Windows and figure out issues on my own.

So keep that in mind and commit some time to deciding if this is for you.

Best wishes.

 

[-HH-]

OP, building a PC is definitely worth it. @-HH-, I personally do NOT think it is worth spending $4k on a PC under any circumstances whatsoever. You could put that money towards much more useful things in life.

Don't worry it's still going up C;

I'm 17 so it's acceptable. I have nothing to spend on except maybe moving out but eh that's way too expensive for life!

 

[GObonzo]

you will find many videos and tutorials for building a PC on Tom's, Gamepsot, Newegg, many sites.

4790K and the XFX Double-D 8GB 290X were on sale for good prices at Newegg this week. and no, these 290X cards do not generate heat like the nvidia fanboys will spout. my PCS+ 8GB 290X has never passed 58° with very high-end games at their highest settings running 1440p.

i imagine you're looking into higher tiered CPU and components so i wouldn't bother with 4GB of VRAM, and really only 3.5GB if it's the 970. at higher frame rates you will be limited to low resolutions(1080p) with all the effects turned up. if you're going nvidia, the only one i would go for is the 980. its VRAM is still only 4GB though and it costs quite a bit more than the 8GB 290X deals.

am running 1.65v DDR3 2400 with the 4790K now and both are operating perfect, CPU @ 4.6GHz. mostly will depend on the motherboard for RAM compatibility.