Prebuilt Gaming System, Need advice! (1000k Budget)

[NoGGy]

Hi All,

Well I will try keep this short and sweet. I have just sold a couple of my old desktops on eBay which included a Core 2 Duo and more recently an Alienware Area 51 (Quad core etc). I now have about £1100 to play with but will also need a decent screen with this.

I used to build my own desktops back in the day, but it's been about 2 years since I last did that but by the looks of it, its actually cheaper and more cost effective to now buy a pre-built desktop due to the competitive nature of the products (I may be wrong!)

I have been looking on Scan (which I've probably spent 20k plus on since 2007) and Overclockers but I'm not entirely sure of the solution at the moment. I'm either looking at a overclocked bundle (Mobo, CPU, Memory and GFX) and do the rest which averages about £800 for a decent bundle or just spent the full £850-900 on a total rig which will get me a decent case, PSU and the rest. I'm also unsure of who currently offers the best system spec for price.

From what I've seen you get all that fancy testing and overclocking etc from Scan for an overclocked i5 system or you can get a full blown watercooled i7 for the same price.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Its still cheaper to build your own PC IMHO unless you are getting a budget desktop.

[deejayburnout]

Take your time and build your own.

Not only cheaper but also a great sense of achievement when it all works.

[NoGGy]

Thanks guys. I totally agree that building your own is allot more fun and gives a better sense of achievement, but buying the same products and building them yourself actually add up to more then a medium ranged 3xs system.

[deejayburnout]

If you know what you want and its within your price range get it.

Not matter what you buy, there will always be something that is the same price and you will wish you bought it.

Stick to what you want and get it.

Brap Brap

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks guys. I totally agree that building your own is allot more fun and gives a better sense of achievement, but buying the same products and building them yourself actually add up to more then a medium ranged 3xs system.

I had a look at what Scan has to offer:

http://3xs.scan.co.uk/ShowSystem.asp?SystemID=1015

I might be able to do better!

[Willzzz]

Thanks guys. I totally agree that building your own is allot more fun and gives a better sense of achievement, but buying the same products and building them yourself actually add up to more then a medium ranged 3xs system.

That is not true, I fear you may be forgetting to add VAT to the 3XS system.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The £1000 Scan build does come with a decent warranty,although doing a build yourself would give you better components.

An example is the following which I came up with quickly.



With some optimisation of the build you could get the following monitor within your £1100 budget:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/23-de...-m2-4-port-usb

This monitor is cheaper but also is quite decent:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/23-vi...01-14ms-pc-mac

Both monitors use 6 bit IPS panels.

[NoGGy]

Thanks mate much appreciated

I will take a look at that spec, really appreciate it. I've just started looking at the 2011 socket, didnt even realise this was out. Pricey mobo but i might just actually build the best machine I can and spend a little bit more.

[dacads]

The LG IPS235V and IPS234V are also good monitors for the price

[NoGGy]

The LG IPS235V and IPS234V are also good monitors for the price

Thanks I will take a look.

[NoGGy]

Has anyone got an advice on the 2011 socket? Or is the 1155 Ivy a better choice?

[Willzzz]

Ivy is far better value for money, you'd need to be spending an awful lot more to get any real benefit from socket 2011.
And even if you do choose to spend an awful lot more the benefits will be modest.

Unless you have a specific reason for needing socket 2011 then you shouldn't get it.