If you HAD to buy pre-built??

vccox on 07/09/2018 - 20:03
Last edited 07/09/2018 - 20:55

I'm running out of time to organise a gaming desktop for my turning 12yo gamer-child! She's saved a chunk herself and our budget all up is up is about $1000, a bit lower if possible as we need to upgrade our monitor too.

She plays Fortnite, G-Mod and SIMS games mostly - she also wants to save up and buy a VR system of some kind in the future.

Any advice about good places to start looking would be greatly appreciated. I've had my eye on deals here but nothing has grabbed my eye since this one https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/desktops/dell-ga…
which I probably should have snapped up :/.
TIA

edited - wrong link, I meant this one https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-New-Inspiron-Gaming-PC-Desk…

Computing

Comments

  • Godric on 07/09/2018 - 20:06
    +5

    Please don't buy pre-built, if you do please not from JB it's the complete opposite of bargain

    • vccox on 07/09/2018 - 20:54

      oops I meant THIS one https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-New-Inspiron-Gaming-PC-Desk…

      • Kangal on 07/09/2018 - 22:05

        Still comes to $1,200 (or more) and you get gridlocked into that system.
        Perhaps a wiser approach would be a Ryzen APU, with the foresight to upgrade the 3.6GHz 4c/4t and 1.1GHz 8-CU Vega GPU, to something more mainstream like a 4.9GHz 8c/16t CPU and 1.8GHz 32-CU Navi GPU in the future.

        For example:
        https://www.pccasegear.com/products/43723/pccg-ryzen-home-sy…

        Otherwise: Dell Optiplex SFF
        worst: 790 (3.1GHz i5-2400, 8GB DDR3-1300, GTX 750 Ti, 1TB HDD 5,400rpm)
        value: 9010 (3.8GHz i7-2600, 16GB DDR3-1800, GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB MX300 and 1TB HDD 5,400rpm)
        best: 9020 (4.5GHz i7-4770, 32GB DDR3-1800, GTX 1050 Ti, 1TB WD Blue3D and 2TB HDD 5,400rpm)
        …it could also be a father/daughter project if you guys search for parts online and put them together like legos when they arrive

  • scrimshaw on 07/09/2018 - 20:22
    +1

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Inspiron-Gaming-PC-Desktop-Intel… AU $1,119.2 with coupon PIXEL

    See the full range on Dell eBay store.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2018 - 20:33
    +1

    Agree with Godric. But if you had to buy prebuilt, I couldn't recommend PC Case Gear more highly.

    https://www.pccasegear.com/products/43344/pccg-glacier-1070-…

    For the same cost as what you posted, you get:
    Ryzen 2700 (8 core, 16 thread) vs Intel i7 7700 (4 core, 8 thread)
    1070ti vs 1070
    2tb+256 ssd vs 1tb+256ssd

    You also get brand name components that can be sold off for more when you decide to upgrade, RGB lighting and all that.

    Have made a few warranty claims on items, and PCCG has swapped them over on the spot without drama. Once I returned an AIO cooler and they didn't have its replacement in stock so they upgraded for free.

  • Blitzfx on 07/09/2018 - 20:38

    I'm guessing stores normally charge $100~ish to the customer in labour (built into the price). It really doesn't take that long to build one yourself.

    I'd recommend a GTX1060 or GTX 1070 for budget graphics card; and for VR capability.
    Some i5 7XXX CPU (latest is 8XXX series), 16GB RAM and 250GB SSD. I can't imagine a 12 y/o being picky about a motherboard, so any should do.

    Some reference prices.

    $380 https://www.pccasegear.com/products/40949/inno3d-geforce-gtx…
    $280 https://www.pccasegear.com/products/40461/intel-core-i5-8400
    $170 2x https://www.pccasegear.com/products/42087/g-skill-value-f4-2…
    $100 https://www.pccasegear.com/products/41395/samsung-860-evo-25…

    I can't really tell if your budget is $1k or $2k because the JB hifi pc is $2k.

    • vccox on 07/09/2018 - 20:57

      Sorry I put in the wrong link. I can get that JB one for a significant staff family discount but still over my budget of a grand (ish).

  • Axelstrife on 07/09/2018 - 20:39
    +6

    Who's forcing you to do this terrible act?
    Do you need me to call the police?

    • Pharos5 on 07/09/2018 - 22:10
      +1

      His 12yo daughter.

      You always hear that video games make children more violent. I didn't realise it was this bad.

  • indium on 07/09/2018 - 21:00
    +3

    Buy the parts and build it with her, it will be that much more satisfying when she is playing on a PC she built herself

  • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 07/09/2018 - 21:57
    -2

    Maybe buy her a good book and walk around outside in nature…

    • Blurem on 08/09/2018 - 01:00

      This is probably the worst comment I've read all day all week.

    • vccox on 08/09/2018 - 20:43

      We have lots of books as well. Doesn't have to be one or the other surely?

  • AlienC on 07/09/2018 - 22:02
    -1

    From someone who bought a pc recently in a rush.. don't do it.. watch the deals and pick it slow you will get so much more value for your money.. I overpaid my current pc by at least $4-500 minimum had I just built my own. Sure I didn't have the headache of installing or unboxing and putting in parts myself but my builder rushed some items and didn't buy some parts on cheap because he is a builder and not a steady patient seasoned bargain hunter.

    Also stuffed up and got me a Wi-Fi n card and not ac but it is not so bad (trust me when I say this but wireless gaming is very doable atm very doable Ethernet only gaming is not the only option guys I just realized I have been gaming pretty heavily on WiFi this past few months and it is not so bad really.. especially since I don't need to run any cable to my computer whatsoever, can't wait for usable power over WiFi or something.. completely wireless desktop gaming would be unreal).

    But yeah I figure if I had done it right I would have enough money now to upgrade to maybe a second hand 1080ti from my current 1050ti easily and maybe even some left over money for a new motherboard or power supply but I was pretty busy at the time and full on half sick so the investment paid off.

    Health over wealth.

    • Tuanor on 08/09/2018 - 00:03

      Agree with this. Maybe just let her know what you intend to do and mention any money saved can be put towards the VR system. Also MSY occasionally run a promotion where they will put your PC together as long as you buy all the components from them. Wouldn't hurt to ask if they could do that for you or if you were to pay them how much that would be. You would probably still come out on top as opposed to buying completely pre-built.

    • Seedy seed on 08/09/2018 - 21:42

      Wifi gaming is the bane of fps online gamers, it adds to the lag and gets u shot before you see them. You wouldnt notice it if u didnt know what to look for lol.

  • theHMASfriendship on 08/09/2018 - 07:29
    +1

    I'd personally go something like a Dell prebuilt. They'll be fine. Good value on eBay with a 20% off code.

    I wouldn't get anything without an ssd though, unless you're planning to put that in yourself

    • boomramada on 08/09/2018 - 08:50
      +1

      This, don't bother with custom builds. With a good discount coupon code you can't go wrong and comes with a good warranty. Not msy warranty.

    • vccox on 08/09/2018 - 14:29

      That sounds like a goer.

  • vccox on 08/09/2018 - 14:51

    Thanks for all your thoughts, I really appreciate it.

    I'm thinking of this https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-New-Inspiron-Gaming-PC-Desk…

    Comes to $999 - leaves some $$ for a new monitor.

    Will it be okay with VR down the track??

    • scrimshaw on 08/09/2018 - 18:19

      Put in a new GPU and you're ready to VR.

      Ryzen is also very easy to upgrade, all the 2nd gen AMD CPUs have stuck with the same socket and also very likely 3rd gen Zen processor as well.

  • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 08/09/2018 - 17:12
    -1

    I know you're probably sick of hearing it, but for $1,000 I would highly recommend just building your own. Will get you something more than capable of playing games like that well with a decent chunk to spend on a monitor.

    If you really can't however, I believe PCCG would be your best bet in Aus. Maybe newegg Aus, they've got a few decent ones. But even the best pre-builts I found are more expensive for worse specs.

    • vccox on 08/09/2018 - 21:22

      How hard is it to build if you are a total noob? What if we stuff up? I'm also find the idea of choosing the components overwhelming and confusing but if I got something for a couple of hundred less but better then the bargain hunter in me will consider giving it a crack.

      • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 09/09/2018 - 16:00
        +1

        Give a look on YT. It's confusing as hell to read it (I'd know) but some of the guides on YT will really help.

        You'll definitely save a fair chubk compared to buying a pre-built. Some can be obnoxiously overpriced

      • indium on 09/09/2018 - 16:11
        +2

        Picking the parts is the hard part imo, I understand what you mean by it being overwhelming, I was a complete noob when I first built my pc but used http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/rmp_sg_whirlpoolpcs_gaming_conf… to help pick my parts. Or you can try opening a new thread asking ozbargain for recommendations. Try and do some research beforehand to gain a better understanding of what each part does and the different options to help you make your choice.

        Actually building the PC is the easy part. It's daunting when you think about all the parts at once but when you break it down you're really just adding one part at a time. Watch a youtube video of how to build a pc and before you add each component rewatch the section on how it connects then move onto the next one and it will be up and running before you know it. Just take your time and don't rush it.

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