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Thread: £500 - upgrade PC or get prebuilt?

  1. #1
    Thundercats Ho! starbuck's Avatar
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    £500 - upgrade PC or get prebuilt?

    Have been looking at upgrading my pc, see this thread:
    http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.p...64#post1110364

    When I've totalled it up, it's come to about £500.

    Question is, could I get a better prebuilt for this price or is the spec I'm going for better than any prebuilt at that price?

    What I have included in the £500 is now 2 samsung drives to raid rather than the 1 I originally specced.
    I do know everything, just not all at once. It's a virtual memory problem.

  2. #2
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
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    Well those components will make a much better gaming pc than any prebuilt at that price especially with the parts you already have.

    Unless you're willing to sell the other stuff you have to fund something like a 3xs or mesh system stick with the upgrade...even then I would still stick with the upgrade.

  3. #3
    Mostly Me Lucio's Avatar
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    Only reason you'd want a pre-built system in your position is because you'd want a complete system warrenty

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    I would go for building it yourself, then you can get every part you want.

  5. #5
    Squirrely tigerboyce's Avatar
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    Problem with prebuilds is that the components are quite good, but theres always one bit thats useless, usually the ram or CPU

  6. #6
    Senior Member Colossous's Avatar
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    Build it yourself, you know you've got quality components and you'll love it that little bit more !!
    Hark the children of the Resolution !!

    http://trust.hexus.net/user_profile.php?user=7798

  7. #7
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
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    Depends on the company.

    If they are using consumer parts then you can vet exactly what goes in but if they use proprietory parts like dell or hp it's usually the motherboard and perhaps the ram thats naff.

  8. #8
    www.dougmcdonald.co.uk
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    It's a bit of a trade off between doing it yourself (for the love of it!) and system warranty,no hassle/time of a pre-built system etc

    IMO, build it if you can...and if you can't get well vetted parts as Mike suggests

  9. #9
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    Definately do it yourself! You'll get a better spec machine out of it, and you can build it to what you want!

  10. #10
    SiM
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    Why do people even ask these questions on this forum?

    This is hexus forums, full of geeks. the answer from here will be obvious.

  11. #11
    Thundercats Ho! starbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SiM View Post
    Why do people even ask these questions on this forum?

    This is hexus forums, full of geeks. the answer from here will be obvious.
    The only reason I asked this question is because a while ago there was starting to be a consensus that it would be cheaper to buy a decent prebuilt pc than build one.

    I have been building my own pc's for over 12 years now, ever since I got my first pentium 100mhz, so building has always been my 1st choice but as I stated above, there used to be a feeling for a while that prebuilt(which obviously we on the forum as we are all "geeks" would never normally go for) would be cheaper for equivalent spec.
    I do know everything, just not all at once. It's a virtual memory problem.

  12. #12
    sneaks quietly away. schmunk's Avatar
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    Upgrade, fo' sho'.

    You'll never get a full PC of the standard you've already specced for £500.

  13. #13
    Thundercats Ho! starbuck's Avatar
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    • starbuck's system
      • Motherboard:
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      • CPU:
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      • Memory:
      • 4gb
      • Storage:
      • 2x500gb Samsung spinpoint in raid 0, 320gb diamondmax SATA
      • Graphics card(s):
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    Cool, decision looks made then.

    TBH, I had noticed the "talk" I mentioned about getting prebuilt die down after a while.
    I do know everything, just not all at once. It's a virtual memory problem.

  14. #14
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    normally i'd say build it yourself, having said that im tempted by one of dell's offerings to use as a htpc.

  15. #15
    Thundercats Ho! starbuck's Avatar
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    • starbuck's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P5K Deluxe Wi-Fi
      • CPU:
      • E6600
      • Memory:
      • 4gb
      • Storage:
      • 2x500gb Samsung spinpoint in raid 0, 320gb diamondmax SATA
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GT240
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Galaxy 850watt
      • Case:
      • Silverstone TJ05
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Home Premium
      • Monitor(s):
      • 20" Dell(rebadged sony) trinitron CRT
      • Internet:
      • 20mb cable internet connection
    I'm planning on using some of my current gear to build a HTPC after I've upgraded.
    I do know everything, just not all at once. It's a virtual memory problem.

  16. #16
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    • prits_88's system
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    spend more,
    get a nicer rig
    be more happier

    and also ur gna have to work longer hours unfortunately

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