Poll: What is a midrange price for a build?

[piasabird]

To me a mid-range system is a system that will play games but maybe not all the High-end newest stuff at good resolutions. It may mean you settled on a less expensive Motherboard or just one Optical Drive or maybe a slightly slower Processor or 2 Gigs of RAM instead of 4. However it still has to have a good video card, just not top of the line.

For instance I built a computer with an Intel Integrated G35 MB with X35 graphics which can handle some HD Audio and Video with Vista 1st Update for $700.00. It actually could play some games like Age of empires 3. Without slowing down. I used the Intel E7200 CPU with the .45nm Die Process and 3 Megs Shared Cache.
It runs Vista Real Fast.

Used an Antec Value Case for For MATX Motherboards. It was a tight fit but had good cooling and is a nice basic black case good enough for any office.

It is like a High-end Budget Build.

 

[gators1223]

the price is so much different form 6 months ago when a midrange budget was more like 1.5 to 1.7k

 

[Superhal]

Imho, a midrange, barebones should cost around 600-700. My computer in my sig cost around $640, $750 after delivery charges. i've purchased around 4 computers since 2000 all for about the same price, and here's how it usually broke down:
$100-150 cpu/mobo combo
$150-200 gpu
$100-150 hardrive
$50-80 RAM
$50-80 PSU
usually, i recycle the case, keyboards, monitor, router, etc. in a couple builds, i recycled the PSU, ram and/or harddrive(s). the one in my sig is all new, except the monitor and router. also, in my sig, i got a discount on the graphics card (80), ram, and PSU.

To me, a "mid-range" computer is one that is equal to or better than a retail $1200 computer. in other words, i spent 600-700 for a computer worth $1000-1200. If I ever spend 1000-1200, you can be sure it's worth 1500-1750 retail.

So, on one hand, you could say a mid-range computer for me is 1200 or 600, depending on how you look at it. A budget computer for me is about $200 (worth $400 retail.) A high end computer (i'm guessing here, i don't really look at the prices of high end components) is 1200-1500 (worth 2k retail.)

 

[OMGiTzzFATAL]

Id say 1200 USD
If i was building a new midrange system at 1200USD i buy:
intel core 2 duo E8400
Asus P5KC Deluxe
ATi Radeon 4850
coolermaster real power 520W PSU
Antec 900 gaming case
250 samsung spinpoint HDD
Freezer 7 pro CPU heatsink
microsoft sidewinder gaming mouse

This would provide good performance/price ratio.

id say 2000USD for a beast of a machine
and 10000000000USD for a Crysis killer

 

[Papa Pepperronio]

Hello All!

I think that 700-900 is a decent amount to spend on a mid-range computer. And this is also a mid-range computer for the average user! Not entry-level nor enthusiast! I think it is important to remember the type of user the computer is aimed at as it makes a biiiiig difference!

Best,
Antonio

 

[akandy]

Mid range would start at slow DDR2 and end at fast DDR2.

 

[jcknouse]

Look at the broader market. You guys are all "cheap", probably because you build it yourself rather than paying someone else to build it.

Mid-priced systems are around $1k-$2k. High-end systems are $2k and above. Add up the parts and see for yourself, a Q6600, 2GB of good RAM, a high-quality (not super-high end) motherboard such as the Gigabyte EP35-DS4, a 750GB drive, $80 case, $70 power supply, $200 graphics card, etc.

I hate to be a voice of disagreement, but a $70 PS for a $200 video card? Sounds kinda low for a quality PS, IMHO.

I always get a good PS...usually $100+. That way things are not always running full-bore on the PS, and I have upgrade options in the future.

The PS i just ordered was a $200 ($100 off reg. price and free shipping) for the new rig I'm building, and it's 1100-watt and rated to run some of the highest-end SLi configs out there...and I will be running 2 9800 GTX+ cards in it, so I needed something good.

It might be some overkill, but I'd rather drop an extra $50-150 now and not have the option to re-use parts later.

 

[curtains-]

Personally I'd say about 600-800US for a midrange build. For example, my build:

AMD Phenom 8650 2.3GHZ X3 Triple Core
Asus M3N78 PRO Motherboard
2GB Kingston 1066mhz DDR2 RAM
ASUS PCI-E Geforce 8600 GT Graphics Card
500GB Western Digital SATA2 7200RPM HDD
CoolerMaster Aluminium Case (460W Power Supply, 120mm back/80mm front fan included).

I can run Oblivion maxed out using this rig, about to check out Crysis (but will probably have to get a 8800GT or better).

I built this for just under US$600. Of course this is low-mid range but still an example of what can be bought for that kind of money. To say that you need to spend more than 1.1 - 1.2K for a medium range computer seems a bit over the top - that would easily encompass an 8800GT, an X4 Phenom, and 4GB of Ram. That's more of a gaming rig if you ask me.

 

[cruiseoveride]

I no the poll is closed but anyways...

I'd spend about $1.5k at max on the box, and i wouldnt put a cap on the price of the screen

 

[jcknouse]

Personally I'd say about 600-800US for a midrange build. For example, my build:

AMD Phenom 8650 2.3GHZ X3 Triple Core
Asus M3N78 PRO Motherboard
2GB Kingston 1066mhz DDR2 RAM
ASUS PCI-E Geforce 8600 GT Graphics Card
500GB Western Digital SATA2 7200RPM HDD
CoolerMaster Aluminium Case (460W Power Supply, 120mm back/80mm front fan included).

I can run Oblivion maxed out using this rig, about to check out Crysis (but will probably have to get a 8800GT or better).

I built this for just under US$600. Of course this is low-mid range but still an example of what can be bought for that kind of money. To say that you need to spend more than 1.1 - 1.2K for a medium range computer seems a bit over the top - that would easily encompass an 8800GT, an X4 Phenom, and 4GB of Ram. That's more of a gaming rig if you ask me.

Curtains,

Mind me asking? With 2GB, you are running Vista? or XP?

Just curious.

Thanks.

 

[curtains-]

XP / Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron.

If I was running Vista it would definitely be 4GB. That would only result in about US$60 more, however.

Personally I don't see Vista as middle-range yet. It costs substantially more than XP, and doesn't do much more for the home user.

 

[ezmack]

Here's my system specs that i built for $840 total after rebates came back.

XFX nForce 780i 3 way SLI Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 stepping

ZeroTherm Butterfly (BTF 90) CPU Cooler

XFX GeForce 9800GTX+ (Factory OC'd to 738mhz)

500GB sATA HDD 7,200RPM [Hitatchi (hey it was cheap!)]

OCZ 4 GB memory (PC6400 800mhz)

Ultra M923 Case with built in fan controller and LCD

Using my old DVDRW/CDRW combo optical drive

750 Watt Ultra PSU

The rebates were on GPU, Memory, Motherboard and the CPU Cooler

Total was $1,058 and after REBATES it was $839 from TigerDirect


not bad for 14,220 3Dmark06...........still need to get 2 more 9800GTX for 3 way SLI

 

[iflyems]

I just ordered my parts for a new system. I already have a Dell 23" LCD monitor.

Case: Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower Case w/ 25CM Fan $169.99

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Wolfdale 3.33GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor $269.99

MB: ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard $288.99

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $99.00(after $20 mail-in rebate)

CD/DVD: SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe $27.99

HDD: 1 Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $139.99

GIGABYTE GV-R485OC-1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card $179.99(after $20 mail in rebate)

RAM: ORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $79.99(after $40.00 mail in rebate)

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3 English for System Builders 1 Pack CD $89.99

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $5.95(good stuff)

Crysis PC Game EA $36.99(just for fun)

The total is around $1300 if you factor in the rebates

Did I get all the right "stuff"??? Do you guys see anything I bought that was wrong, or were I could do better?? I plan to mainly play first person shooters, like Fallout 3, Crysis, COD4, and the like.

I'm not sold yet on quad core cpu's for gaming as some of the games aren't ported yet, so I think its a waste of money right now. I can always upgrade my CPU in the future. Also, I may get a second one of these video cards and run crossfire, but, I want some input from the gamers out there if this is even worth the extra money.


Edit; Almost forgot, I ordered from New Egg, and the parts won't arrive for about a week.

 

[miller89]

I really think it all depends on what your goal is as far as are you building a gaming, office, 3d dev, ect. and also where and when you get your parts. Ive bought parts from my local frys and a week later found a sale on newegg for 80 bucks less and free shipping and its happened vice versa it. Id say the best deal ive been able to work up on an ok midrange pc was about 900 (including mail-in rebates)

 

[EAZY-E]

Woah dudes you can build a decent quad core system for 600$ Any thing more than a thousand isnt midrange.

 

[inteldoucore2]

First you have to consider the retail vs wholesale purchasing ability. Resellers such as Malabs, Mighty Micro, and Wintec can save you approximately 25% plus sales tax rather than buying through a retailer such as Fryes or Microcenter.

With that being said, I have recently spent upwards of $3,000 on what I consider to be a very high end gaming system and another $3,000 on the 46" HDtv monitor. I could have easily spent $1,500 and had a very nice system, dual core extreme or lower end quad core with very nice video card using wholesale vendors.

I'm going to go with:

High End $2,800.00- $4,500.00
Mid-Range $1,300-$2,000.00
Low End $650.00-$1,000.00

This depends on your wholesale purchasing ability and your willingness to shop for the best deal.

 

[MAHAVISHNU-ORCHESTRA]

The way Canada's prices are, IMO to simply put it in CDN:

Poverty: 0-350
Low End: 350-1200
Mid Range: 1200-2000
High End: 2000-5000

 

[leatherneck1954]

High range to me would be with all the goodies at $4,500.00 - $5,000.00 (excluding the falcon and other high dollar gamers)
and a low range off the shelf gamer would be $1,000.00. Also that would be assembled and not home built.
I made a list from a supplier of the the components and compared that list to 2 different on line stores and came up with $2,000.00 home built and $2,600.00 from the store.
SOOOO my mid range home built gamer pc would be $2,000.00.

 

[r_manic]

SOOOO my mid range home built gamer pc would be $2,000.00.

I honestly think the mid-range "cap" should be $1,600 (or ok, $1,500)... here's a config I whipped up on NewEgg: Just a hair under $1,600 (click thumbnail for bigger pic):

 

[skander]

Hardware changes so fast and prices come down to reflect that reality that any super high-end computer returns so little value as to not really be worth it. And if you don't believe me, check the beginning of this thread started 1 year ago and find out what people spec'd out at $1,000 as opposed to what that amt of money will get you today.

Providing you keep some things from your previous machine (case, monitor, keyboard, sound (if necessary)). You really shouldn't have to spend $1000 to call your machine MID-RANGE!!

The best way to think about building a machine is maximizing your value. Performance/Dollar. The next thing is hopefully building a versatile machine for the future to make subsequent upgrades either cheap or scarce.
$600-800 (no monitor, no OS) should build you a very valuable machine. If you want to play it safe and future proof, add about $150. Anymore and value begins to diminish. That is unless they plan on keeping that $2000 rig for 8 years.

As of today: 1/14/2009. Core i7, x58 setup, 4th best graphics card on the planet, more power + memory than your going to need for 3 years comes to $800.

Would a $1.5-2K build one year ago really wipe the floor with the above machine?

 

[Akebono 98]

+1 to Skander

 

[nerdic]

1k-1.5k at most.

i built a midrange system a year ago, and still manages to play all the current games

 

[ericjohnson1981]

Jeeze I would of thought a midrange would be around 800 for sure

 

[JB4times4]

Jeeze I would of thought a midrange would be around 800 for sure http://www.imagehunt.info/andre09/smile1.gif http://www.imagehunt.info/andre09/smile.gif

Thats what I figured, I don't know what I'm missing but I pieced everything together and it looks like from scratch $700-$900 is a midrange.

 

[Obie327]

Ah, Tom's Hardware Guide Forum fights inflation!

"Lol", funny remark on inflation. He's on to something. Gigabyte board P45 ds3L($100), 4 gigs ddr2(80), E8500 overclocked to 4 ghz(160),GTX 260 core 216 overclocked($250), Velociraptor hd, 650 corsair tx for a $100, And a Xfi extreme gamer(80) Running right their on a 22 inch display (1680 by 1050) That seems like a higher end gaming rig right now. Pratical and powerful. Case Clearance isle($10)And I can see what 1200 dollars can do. And some of us might have spare parts We could use. Thanks for letting get that out...lol.