Prebuilt or custom build?

BrayWood

BrayWood

BrayWood

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Joined
25 Oct 2012
Posts
66
I've had some pc's spec'd up for me but I'm not sure if I'll be able to build it myself. I have never built one and my budget is £500 including OS. Should I just buy a prebuilt off OcUK and will I get a better pc if I make it myself? I want to play games like cod4, bf3, mw2 and witcher 2.
 
If you can read instructions you can build a pc

Plenty of people on here will keep you right

A pc is a very simple thing to put together as long as you plan correctly
 
You'll get more for your money and a spec that fits your need exactly rather that's that will do spec
 
It may seem daunting but is really quite straightforward, you will find plenty of advice if you get stuck.
As far as value for money is concerned building it yourself is the way to go and the experience it gives you will be invaluable.
 
Sounds like the way to go ;) As far as gaming goes on a pc of this budget will I be able to acheive playable smooth frame rates on high settings? Especially on modern games :S
 
Hi there, I was in a similar boat to you at the start of the year. I had put together an old 286 when I was ten or so, but that was old parts and not nearly as intimidating as buying a large amount of valuable kit to put together myself.

However I read a few threads here, checked on some YouTube vids and it was remarkably easy. Any problems and the guys here are fantastic with their help, I would definitely go with putting it together yourself :)
 
Its quite easy and you know exactly what is in your PC and you can make it to suit your needs. Build it yourself its fairly straightforward.

As for your budget a lower spec gaming system is possible and should play games at an ok rate. Im sure others will be able to spec a system for you, i cant as im on holiday and using a tablet...


Cam.
 
As far as it goes, if it fits then that's where it goes. And as long as someone has specced compatible parts you'll be fine.

A £500 Prebuilt PC is as good as a £300 Custom built.

So a £500 Custom built would get you as good as a £650-£800 Prebuilt.
And if a part breaks you don't have to send off the whole PC, just the single part :)
 
Certainly build your own, much more "bang for buck" ... experience you will never gain anywhere else too... and you get the right to say "I did that!"
 
OliverDavis said:
As far as it goes, if it fits then that's where it goes. And as long as someone has specced compatible parts you'll be fine.

A £500 Prebuilt PC is as good as a £300 Custom built.

So a £500 Custom built would get you as good as a £650-£800 Prebuilt.
And if a part breaks you don't have to send off the whole PC, just the single part :)
Click to expand...

Excellent, so at least I'll have a good pc :) I'm hoping to play new games.. Do you think they'll run on high settings?
 
Depends what your budget is?

£800 including monitor and OS etc (aka £600 for the tower) will defientley play latest games on at least high.
 
I prefer to build them as said post your items you want to get and people on here will make sure there compatible.

Then when it comes to building it we will all so help ya with any questions you may have.

OCUK are the best community and you will find every one here will help any one.
 
A decent graphics card will be able to play latest games on high, thats the main thing. Something like a 7850 will be good.


Cam.
 
I have a 1GB 7850 and its running everything I throw at it on Ultra... Its a really impressive card!

Its in my mITX machine that sits by my TV :) very quick with a nice IB i3 !

EDIT: something maybe like this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards w/ FARCRY3, Nexuiz & Sleeping Dogs PC Games £119.99
1 x Intel Core i3-3220 3.30GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £99.95
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST2000DM001) £66.66
1 x ASRock H77M Intel H77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £62.99
1 x Corsair Enthusiast Series TX550M High Performance 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Modular Power Supply (CP-9020001-UK) £59.99
1 x GeIL Black Dragon 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel Kit (GD38GB1333C9DC) £23.99
1 x Zalman T1 Mini Tower Case - Black ** OcUK Exclusive ** £21.98
1 x OcUK 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £17.99
Total : £570.12 (includes shipping : £10.50).

 
Last edited:
Indie said:
I have a 1GB 7850 and its running everything I throw at it on Ultra... Its a really impressive card!

Its in my mITX machine that sits by my TV :) very quick with a nice IB i3 !

EDIT: something maybe like this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards w/ FARCRY3, Nexuiz & Sleeping Dogs PC Games £119.99
1 x Intel Core i3-3220 3.30GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £99.95
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST2000DM001) £66.66
1 x ASRock H77M Intel H77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £62.99
1 x Corsair Enthusiast Series TX550M High Performance 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Modular Power Supply (CP-9020001-UK) £59.99
1 x GeIL Black Dragon 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel Kit (GD38GB1333C9DC) £23.99
1 x Zalman T1 Mini Tower Case - Black ** OcUK Exclusive ** £21.98
1 x OcUK 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £17.99
Total : £570.12 (includes shipping : £10.50).

Click to expand...

Probably a great build but I can only really afford £500 :( bit skint to be honest so I'll have to comprimise. Thanks though.
 
This should get you going mate! i3, 7850 2GB, 8GB RAM, 2TB HDD, etc. Fantastic for the money.

I recommend using the free 90 day trial of Windows 8 to save extra £££ for the OS.

Don't worry about the B-Grade mobo, they are spot on. Just had 2 delivered myself for budget rigs; they came with the I/O plates, user manual. They can't sell faulty goods! :p

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7850 OC Windforce 2X 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card w/ FARCRY3, Nexuiz, Sleeping Dogs & Dirt Showdown PC Games £149.99
1 x Intel Core i3-3220 3.30GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £99.95
1 x Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST2000DM001) £66.66
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020046) £36.98
1 x **B Grade** Gigabyte Z68AP-D3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 (MB-364-GI) £35.00
1 x Xigmatek Asgard Pro Gaming Case - Black £32.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £29.99
1 x LG GH24NS90 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £18.98
Total : £470.54 (includes shipping : FREE).



:)
 
Sparx said:
This should get you going mate! i3, 7850 2GB, 8GB RAM, 2TB HDD, etc. Fantastic for the money.

I recommend using the free 90 day trial of Windows 8 to save extra £££ for the OS.

Don't worry about the B-Grade mobo, they are spot on. Just had 2 delivered myself for budget rigs; they came with the I/O plates, user manual. They can't sell faulty goods! :p

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7850 OC Windforce 2X 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card w/ FARCRY3, Nexuiz, Sleeping Dogs & Dirt Showdown PC Games £149.99
1 x Intel Core i3-3220 3.30GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £99.95
1 x Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST2000DM001) £66.66
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020046) £36.98
1 x **B Grade** Gigabyte Z68AP-D3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 (MB-364-GI) £35.00
1 x Xigmatek Asgard Pro Gaming Case - Black £32.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £29.99
1 x LG GH24NS90 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £18.98
Total : £470.54 (includes shipping : FREE).



:)
Click to expand...

Cheers for that ;) is i3 decent then and what would this build be capable of running?
 
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