Should I buy a Dell XPS 8920 or build A PC

[Shoobadooba]

I'm looking for a new computer. I've been considering one of the new Dell XPS tower. Or I've been thinking if I should build my own if it is cheaper and better. I've never built a pc before and I don't know much about it.

I mostly want a computer for 3D modelling, animating, adobe stuff video editing and some gaming. And I'd like it to have 16GB ram.

The Dell XPS towers I've been looking at all have intel core i7-7700 (8m cache up to 4.2ghz) and come with a keyboard and mouse. I'm indifferent about the keyboard and mouse though. And I don't care if it comes with a monitor.

I could get one of these models
1. 8GB Memory 1TB hard drive, with GeForce GT 730 2GB DDR3 graphics memory. For $1,599 AU dollars + free monitor worth $426

2. 8GB memory 2TB hard drive + 32GB solid state drive with geforce gtx 745 with 4GB DDR3 graphics memory. For $1,798.99 AUD + free monitor worth $312

3. 16GB memory 2TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD with nvidia geforce 1070 with 8GB DDR5 graphics memory. For $1, 874 AUD (25% off was $2,499) no monitor.

The video card estimated prices on their own:
GeForce 1070 = around $399
GeForce gtx 745 = around $82 ?
GeForce GT 730 2GB = around $69.99

I estimated that it would probably be cheaper buying the most expensive model on sale than trying to upgrade the cheaper model. But I'm still not sure for $1,874 it is worth the price.

Should I just build my own or try buying a cheap computer and upgrading it? Or should I buy something else of an XPS tower.

Thanks

 

[Icaraeus]

Best to build. This is what you can do for AU$1500

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($465.00 @ Shopping Express)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG M9i 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($11.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Motherboard: Asus PRIME B250M-K Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($102.00 @ Umart)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($159.00 @ Umart)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($94.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($199.00 @ Shopping Express)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 88R MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($65.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Power Supply: Corsair CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24D5MT DVD/CD Writer ($18.00 @ Shopping Express)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($129.00 @ IJK)
Total: $1495.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-30 20:10 AEST+1000

 

[jaslion]

Best to build. This is what you can do for AU$1500

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($465.00 @ Shopping Express)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG M9i 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($11.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Motherboard: Asus PRIME B250M-K Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($102.00 @ Umart)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($159.00 @ Umart)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($94.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($199.00 @ Shopping Express)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 88R MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($65.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Power Supply: Corsair CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24D5MT DVD/CD Writer ($18.00 @ Shopping Express)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($129.00 @ IJK)
Total: $1495.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-30 20:10 AEST+1000

Why get a k series cpu when you aren't giving him a z series motherboard to oc?

 

[Icaraeus]

Better CPU clockrate. Also overclocking is irrelevant. i7 7700K doesn't get much further than what it was designed for, without liquid cooling or very expensive air cooling

 

[jaslion]

https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/H6NdYr

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($299.00 @ Mwave Australia)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($55.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Motherboard: ASRock AB350M-HDV Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($109.00 @ Scorptec)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($159.00 @ Umart)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($94.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($199.00 @ Shopping Express)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 88R MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($65.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24D5MT DVD/CD Writer ($18.00 @ Shopping Express)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($129.00 @ IJK)
Total: $1266.00

Gpu can be changed no problem for a better one depending on the games you want to play.
This pc is overall better for the work you intend to do on it.

 

[Icaraeus]

https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/H6NdYr

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($299.00 @ Mwave Australia)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($55.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Motherboard: ASRock AB350M-HDV Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($109.00 @ Scorptec)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($159.00 @ Umart)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($139.00 @ Shopping Express)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($94.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($199.00 @ Shopping Express)
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 88R MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($65.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24D5MT DVD/CD Writer ($18.00 @ Shopping Express)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($129.00 @ IJK)
Total: $1266.00

Gpu can be changed no problem for a better one depending on the games you want to play.
This pc is overall better for the work you intend to do on it.

You can't buy that PSU. You can do away with the aftermarket cooler.