Gaming Computer Suggestions Budget $1200 roughly

[Summerbear5]

I apologize ahead of time if this is in the wrong category. I also apologize if this is the wrong forum as a brand new computer would potentially be windows 8 but currently all my machines are windows 7 and I'm only a member of this forum.

I normally buy HP. I trust them and never had a problem with them. Great customer support. If I don't purchase an HP computer directly threw them I usually purchase an HP in store.
I'm finally ready for a new computer. I want an HP gaming computer I want to spend roughly $1200 I seen on their website the HP ENVY Phoenix 810qe Desktop. I plan on customizing it and picking some of the better parts but still trying to stay around $1200.

I am wondering though what other options I have besides HP. I'm kinda nervous to deviate from them but want to see what else I can get for around $1200.
My only thing is the computer has to be just as good or better for the same price, and good customer service.

Also I'll probably be more seriously searching in November. I was told once upon a time that's when the gaming computers usually come out to support all upcoming new game releases as apposed to Summer time when a lot of their computers are more geared towards students going back to school.

Thank you for your suggestions and I'll be looking forward to what people suggest to me.
Summer

 

[Dude]

If your up to it, I would build your own.
Build this





Logical Increments - PC Buying Guide

 

[Summerbear5]

I do not know a lot in order to build my own computer. Also by the time I buy all the parts I'm paying the same price but now have the frustrations of putting it together. Rather buy an already put together one. lol

 

[Summerbear5]

Is CyberpowerPC a good brand for gaming computers? What about Alienware? I've been looking at Alienware and it looks good but kinda sad they don't have "beats audio" like HP does.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I think Alienware is owned by Dell. Good components, but typically over-priced.

The last I heard, Cyber Power was average.

There are some good smaller specialist builders out there like Pugetsystems.com, but the fact is if you are set on HP, buy an HP. Why fight your own instincts when you've apparently had good experience with them and are leaning that way anyway?

It isn't what I'd do, but you're the one in charge. Most people here would probably build their own and probably save a couple of hundred bucks compared to what HP or Dell or anyone else would put together--at the $1200 level. You don't want to do that, which is fine.

If you go with someone other than HP, you are going to be anxious about it breaking down and being properly supported. You've got a high opinion of them, so why sign up for worry with another outfit?

 

[Summerbear5]

The only reason why I was thinking about going with someone else is to try and get more for my money. I know building my own computer would possibly be cheaper I just don't know how to do it and don't want to mess anything up.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You might be able to get "more for your money" from HP competitors such as Dell. You'd have to do a side-by-side comparison and try to match the individual components as close as you can.

But then you'd have to worry because I assume you've never had a Dell and would have to take a leap of faith on their quality or support. I'd guess Dell has at least as good a reputation as HP on pre-built systems, but that doesn't mean you'd have a good experience. I had a horrific support experience with Dell 8 years ago on a monitor and would therefore never personally buy from them---but that means nothing. I just had bad luck. You've had good luck with HP but 60 seconds on Google will find you all kinds of people who have had terrible experiences with HP. So what?

How much "more for your money" would it take for you to swallow your doubt and buy another brand? It's not likely you can find the same $1200 machine at Dell or elsewhere for $900, but you'd have to try to evaluate them as best you can---component for component. Dell charges a lot for upgrading RAM, hard drives, and monitors, but I imagine HP does the same thing. That business is too competitive for there to be major price differences and why would you move from one to the other for $100 when you have no prior experience with Dell or any other brand but HP?

Obviously, whatever you buy can be a disaster. Your HP experience says nothing about HP's quality---it's just one man's experience. Just like I had with Dell.

 

[Wishmaster]

Your not really paying the same.

For a couple reasons.
When you build your own, you will be able to get much better quality parts. Sadly, pre-builts do not always use the best quality hardware. (In general that is)
For example, you can not only get a better quality RAM, but it'll likely be faster. You PSU will be of MUCH higher quality and capacity.

In the end, you may spend about the same but you'll have a computer that's far superior.

With a $1200 budget, you can build one heck of a nice Gaming PC that'll be on the Alienware level or better.


It's not that hard either. It looks more difficult than it is.

However, If you really aren't that comfortable doing it and are afraid to try it here's another option. Perhaps you have a friend or know someone who would do it for you for a small fee. Just buy all the stuff and pay them to build it/set it up. You'd likely still come out ahead. Just my 2c

When it comes to the pre-builts though, I'm of the opinion they are all about the same. Just go with what you're comfortable with and make sure they don't have a lot of bad reviews. History of faulty design/parts etc. for that model.

 

[Summerbear5]

I did own a Dell once upon a time and I wasn't completely satisfied but times have changed.

Thank you Wishmaster, I wouldn't mind building my own computer but frankly I wouldn't know where to start or what to buy. I would be a complete noob and would need someone's side by side assistance on what to purchase and what plugs into what lol. I don't know anyone personally and wouldn't want to bug anyone.

I know for $1,200.00 I would like at the very least a 2tb harddrive, 4gb Video card, 16gb memory, a very nice processor (suggest?), I would love to stay windows 7 because all other computers in my house are windows 7 and I feel it would be easier, but maybe it would be a good idea to upgrade to windows 8 only because I plan on keeping the computer long term and upgrading parts threw out the time I own it. As I did with my current PC which I bought in 2009. I have a 1tb harddrive, 2gb video card (needs upgrade), 8gb memory, but I have a really crudy processor.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

At $1200, you normally should get an SSD (maybe 120 GB) for Windows and applications and an HDD for data, but if you are going to buy pre-built, they may charge a ridiculous price for the SSD or may not even let you order an SSD and an HDD in the same PC.

If you are comfortable enough to upgrade parts as you say, you could buy it with just one drive and easily add another on your own.

For gaming, start with something like an Intel i-5 4670 or 4690 processor. I wouldn't go for 16 GB of RAM unless you know you use more than 8 and have money left in the budget that you can't spend elsewhere.

Windows 7 will be supported until 2020, but you may find it difficult to find a pre-built with Windows 7. Windows 10 will be out next summer. So you may have to go with Windows 8.1 now.

Gamers tell me that an Intel i-7 is generally a waste of money on a gaming machine.

If you are willing to upgrade parts, I'd probably try to buy the thing without any video card (maybe not possible) and then add my own to avoid the big markup HP or Dell would charge.

 

[Wishmaster]

I agree, you'd be better off with 8GB RAM.
16GB is a bit overkill at this point and time for many of us, especially those who are mainly gamers.
Unless you are doing alot of work that requires it obviously.


But I think you'd be better off dropping to 8GB (2x4 kit) and put that saving towards a SSD, better GPU or PSU. Those 16GB kits are a good deal more expensive and a bit of a waste if you do not have a specific need for it.

Personally, I would stay with Win7 HP myself.


I7s rock on heavily muti threaded apps. Especially Video Encoding. Gaming, they are just as good as the cheaper 4 core version ($100 cheaper on Intel side)
So, unless you do a LOT of heavily threading work, an i5 will serve you just as well.
I went i7 myself because I do lot of things that benefit from it. But I'll admit, outside of that, the large majority of my work (gaming included) it just kinda sits there.

This was a quick setup, so it would need tweaking, but check this out:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1670091
Gigabyte z97 MOBO, Intel i5 4690, 8GB Gskil Ripjaws DDR3 1600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147247
120GB Samsung SSD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236343
2TB Western Digital HD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133564
Nvidia GTX 970

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
Coolermaster 212 CPU Cooler

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139060
Corsair 650W PSU

Windows 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416806

Total Build cost: $1145
But, you'd need a case still to put it all in.

Of course you can find some better deals, combos, and maybe even go cheaper on a few things or more expensive on others. Better quality here and there etc. Just have to balance it out and have a set budget in mind.


The point is, That would be a very good gaming rig at the price. Keep in mind I threw that together in a matter of just a couple minutes. So just an example and not exactly a "get all this" list.
But still, I think probably better than most pre-builts at that price. I could be wrong though.

 

[Summerbear5]

How about this? It's a little over my budget but I might back down the memory. http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/saved/1GDNUQ

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If I read that right, you chose an AMD processor with no SSD.

No indication at all about the power supply. Which is code for "we'd rather not tell you".

Not what I'd do with $1357.

What can you get at HP for the same price?

 

[Summerbear5]

I picked the power supply at 800W. (800 Watts - Standard 80 Plus Certified Power Supply - SLI/CrossFireX Ready)
What is SSD?

What do I need an SSD for?

How about this? (256GB ADATA SP610 SSD + 2TB SATA III Hard Drive Combo (Single Drive))

 

[ignatzatsonic]

800 watts says nothing about the quality of the unit.

You certainly don't need 800 watts. You need 500 or 600 and a quality unit. That would handle any video card and the rest of the components.

SSD is Solid State Drive. As opposed to an ordinary hard drive. For that money, you should have one of each.

 

[Summerbear5]

How about this? (256GB ADATA SP610 SSD + 2TB SATA III Hard Drive Combo (Single Drive))

 

[ignatzatsonic]

How about this? (256GB ADATA SP610 SSD + 2TB SATA III Hard Drive Combo (Single Drive))

Hard to say without seeing a total price for the entire machine.

You may well not need an SSD that large.

ADATA is not at the top of the food chain for SSDs.

Is that one single drive containing both SSD and HDD or is that 2 separate units?

 

[Summerbear5]

I chose this power supply (800 Watts - Standard 80 Plus Certified Power Supply - SLI/CrossFireX Ready) because it was actually cheaper than the 600W ones and I figured more is better especially if it's cheaper right?

 

[Summerbear5]

You seem pretty knowledgable could you maybe go to cyberpowerpc and share a configuration with me? I customized the AMD FX5 Eight Core. Would love to compare yours to mine within my $1200.00 budget...doesn't have to be exactly of course hehe.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I chose this power supply (800 Watts - Standard 80 Plus Certified Power Supply - SLI/CrossFireX Ready) because it was actually cheaper than the 600W ones and I figured more is better especially if it's cheaper right?

Wrong.

An 800 watt unit that is cheaper than a 600 watt unit doesn't speak well for the 800 watt unit.

More is not better.

You don't need over 500 or 600.

Both of those are likely mediocre quality at best, with a brand name no one ever heard of or would consider if building their own PC.

You could look for power supply brands like Antec, Seasonic, Corsair, XFX, EVGA, etc, but you may find those name in short supply at Cyberpower. I'd guess Dell units would be better than whatever Cyber Power would come up with.