Build or bought computer

[Scrubbed user 3,416]

Among the main reasons you save so much for building your own PC is that most pre-built PCs are very under-equipped with their graphics card.

 

Based on my findings, the ones that I would consider "PCMR approved" would have something like an i5 with a GTX 960 or an R9 380 if you're aiming for ~$1000. My rig (tower only) sits at $956 if you were to copy it, but I have a similar CPU, but a GTX 970. The pre-built companies that I know of (Alienware, Digital Storm, iBUYPOWER, etc.) will mention the CPU and GPU, but pretty much never mention the other components.

 

One of the biggest reasons I would stay away from pre-builts is the chance they used a cheap power supply. 99.9% percent of people who build their own system will tell you to NEVER cheap out on the PSU, because if you get a cheap one, and if (and when) it fails, you're whole computer could be taken with it.

[Limeblossom 482]

My current PC (pre-build) has normally no issues with playing games like Tf2, but last time it crashes almost commonly.