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General discussion (archive)Advice on where to by new PC?(36 posts)(36 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 17, 2014
hi all,

I'm finally ready to buy a new gaming PC, preferably within Australia but not exclusively if the cost of overseas PC plus shipping costs is significantly cheaper.

Preferably I'm looking at sellers who let you build your own system? But typically they end up too expensive compared to equivalent standard systems, especially in Australia!

My budget is $1500 AUD or $1400 USD but i can increase if there is very good reason to do so. But usually the power per dollar efficiency starts to drop off above $1000?
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Posted March 17, 2014
http://pc.ncix.com/pcbuilder/

Not a bad place in Vancouver. At least it will give you a idea on pricing :)
Posted March 17, 2014
My brother but he's in Sacramento and I'm guessing there are good places just a tad closer to Australia than Sacramento. :D
Posted March 17, 2014
If you use a service like https://bongous.com/ you can buy from retailers you normally would be unable to. Not sure what the cost would be exactly, but if you find a good deal it could be worth it. :)
Posted March 17, 2014
Have you considered building your own?.
http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/rmp_sg_whirlpoolpcs

At least you know what goes into your pc instead of trusting the seller
Posted March 17, 2014
I came to make the same suggestion as Niggles. Building it yourself may be a better option.

Pros: It would be your precious, could cost significantly less due to individual hardware sales and absent labor costs, hardware of you choice
Cons: Time spent building it, learning how, and researching hardware; Will take significantly longer to be built
Post edited March 17, 2014 by yarow12
Posted March 17, 2014
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Niggles: Have you considered building your own?.
http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/rmp_sg_whirlpoolpcs

At least you know what goes into your pc instead of trusting the seller
Absolutely would love to build my own, but that has not been a viable option since,,, dunno,, 10 years ago when i built my last system from separately purchased components.

I would love to build (order) my own system from a site that lets you configure your own system.... but for some reason they always end up significantly or sometimes even 'vastly' more expensive than the equivalent complete systems for sale.

The last few times i upgraded my computer, i purchased 'bare bones' systems which worked out to be very competitive verses complete systems.... but as dramatic as the term 'Bare bones' sounds, buy the time i add RAM and graphics, it is arguably a complete system, so, tomato - tomarto

Edit: bare bones systems are far better for people who upgrade more regularly rather than say the five or so years for me!
Post edited March 17, 2014 by mystikmind2000
Posted March 17, 2014
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yarow12: I came to make the same suggestion as Niggles. Building it yourself may be a better option.

Pros: It would be your precious, could cost significantly less due to individual hardware sales and absent labor costs, hardware of you choice
Cons: Time spent building it, learning how, and researching hardware; Will take significantly longer to be built
you would expect less labor cost building it yourself should make it cheaper. I don't know about other countries but in Australia, building the exact same computer (compared to the complete system in the shop) yourself will add at least $300 or more to the price. You have to realize that in Australia, we don't know what the word 'competition' means.... (One day at a coffee shop in the city, i could swear i overheard a group of different bank managers saying the word 'competition' then bursting out laughing and patting each other on the back)
Posted March 17, 2014
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yarow12: I came to make the same suggestion as Niggles. Building it yourself may be a better option.

Pros: It would be your precious, could cost significantly less due to individual hardware sales and absent labor costs, hardware of you choice
Cons: Time spent building it, learning how, and researching hardware; Will take significantly longer to be built
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mystikmind2000: you would expect less labor cost building it yourself should make it cheaper. I don't know about other countries but in Australia, building the exact same computer (compared to the complete system in the shop) yourself will add at least $300 or more to the price. You have to realize that in Australia, we don't know what the word 'competition' means.... (One day at a coffee shop in the city, i could swear i overheard a group of different bank managers saying the word 'competition' then bursting out laughing and patting each other on the back)
Australia sounds a lot like Canada actually.

You could expect a custom, self-built computer to cost less than a pre-built one, if it weren't for economies of scale.

When the exact same computer with the exact same parts is built multiple times, there is probably a lot of cost-savings there.
Posted March 18, 2014
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mystikmind2000: you would expect less labor cost building it yourself should make it cheaper. I don't know about other countries but in Australia, building the exact same computer (compared to the complete system in the shop) yourself will add at least $300 or more to the price. You have to realize that in Australia, we don't know what the word 'competition' means.... (One day at a coffee shop in the city, i could swear i overheard a group of different bank managers saying the word 'competition' then bursting out laughing and patting each other on the back)
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doady: Australia sounds a lot like Canada actually.

You could expect a custom, self-built computer to cost less than a pre-built one, if it weren't for economies of scale.

When the exact same computer with the exact same parts is built multiple times, there is probably a lot of cost-savings there.
Also when you buy parts separately, there will be *allot* more of a profit margin on each individual item than if those items were inside a complete system - And you would likely pay allot more GST in total on individual parts than those same parts inside a complete system.

Edit: come to think about it.... I wonder if the steep increase in separate components happened around the same time the GST was introduced??
Post edited March 18, 2014 by mystikmind2000
Posted March 18, 2014
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mystikmind2000: you would expect less labor cost building it yourself should make it cheaper. I don't know about other countries but in Australia, building the exact same computer (compared to the complete system in the shop) yourself will add at least $300 or more to the price. You have to realize that in Australia, we don't know what the word 'competition' means.... (One day at a coffee shop in the city, i could swear i overheard a group of different bank managers saying the word 'competition' then bursting out laughing and patting each other on the back)
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doady: Australia sounds a lot like Canada actually.

You could expect a custom, self-built computer to cost less than a pre-built one, if it weren't for economies of scale.

When the exact same computer with the exact same parts is built multiple times, there is probably a lot of cost-savings there.
They also can strip out parts that aren't absolutely necessary. I never buy the consumer computers any more, I buy the small business ones when I don't feel like or can't build my own.
Posted March 18, 2014
I don't know what shipping to Australia would add, but it probably be so much as to make this not worth it, but for $600 this IMO is a really good combo (If you're worried about LEPA PSU, I've had one for two years, zero problems, and when I researched it, LEPA had a pretty good rep on some self build sites).

No graphics card, and only 8GB memory, but a really good CPU, hard drive, and the motherboard looks good, and as I said the PSU IMO is good. If you wanted to get 8 more GB of RAM and a good solid graphics card, you're still probably going to be under $1000 USD and then with shipping????? I dunno. (Also doesn't count OS though)

Probably not a valid option but I'll put it here just in case and for any others that might be interested. I think next time I do a self build I'm going to start with a bundle like this. Every now and again you can find a decent one at a really good price. I think this one is pretty darn good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1585073&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL031814&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL031814-_-EMC-031814-Index-_-Combo-_-Combo1585073-LM3A
Posted March 18, 2014
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hedwards: I never buy the consumer computers any more, I buy the small business ones when I don't feel like or can't build my own.
Ditto. I build my towers, and buy business laptops. Though it seems consumer machines have started to be labelled with business brands (HP ProBook, for example, and earlier with IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad), so you have to look at specific models or series to figure which ones are decent quality.
Posted March 18, 2014
It usually costs more than buying a Dell/HP/Other big manufacturers cheap shitty computer. The only time you may save money is if you can salvage parts from a previous build. Although, you linux guys may save $100 on an OS.

The only true PROs are you know what goes in your system: which gives you better quality system and system specs that you actually need/want.

The CONs: Warranty for each individual part, as opposed to one warranty on the whole system: which if it is an insignificant part could be a PRO, as with the Dell you would have to send the whole computer back.

That being said, I'd rather build my own any day, than get a cheaply made OEM computer. But I have started sending all my "cheap" customers to Dell, HP, etc. If you are just looking for an internet/email/facebook computer then go to the big guys. Gaming computer I can probably build it cheaper and have a better quality product...unless you want one of those tacky Alienware cases.
Post edited March 18, 2014 by jjsimp
Posted March 18, 2014
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jjsimp: It usually costs more than buying a Dell/HP/Other big manufacturers cheap shitty computer. The only time you may save money is if you can salvage parts from a previous build. Although, you linux guys may save $100 on an OS.

The only true PROs are you know what goes in your system: which gives you better quality system and system specs that you actually need/want.

The CONs: Warranty for each individual part, as opposed to one warranty on the whole system: which if it is an insignificant part could be a PRO, as with the Dell you would have to send the whole computer back.

That being said, I'd rather build my own any day, than get a cheaply made OEM computer. But I have started sending all my "cheap" customers to Dell, HP, etc. If you are just looking for an internet/email/facebook computer then go to the big guys. Gaming computer I can probably build it cheaper and have a better quality product...unless you want one of those tacky Alienware cases.
Never in my life have i purchased a 'brand name' desktop, doubt i ever will (Usually i buy on Ebay from an Ebay store). I did purchase a Toshiba laptop, (Qosmio), it has been an exceptional machine so i convinced my boss at work to switch to Toshiba from Dell and they are just so much better. I used to assume Dell must be better because of the advantage they gain from skipping the middle man, but i have come to learn that they are not passing on any of that advantage to their customers at all, never were.

Edit: Do Toshiba make desktops? i would trust that machine!
Post edited March 18, 2014 by mystikmind2000
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General discussion (archive)Advice on where to by new PC?(36 posts)(36 posts)
(36 posts)