Pc help choosing

[Sonoma931]

I’m new to building but learning still. 
A friend and I were on pc parts builder and I was building everything specs to our liking.

 

 

CPU: Ryzen 7 3700X

Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 Tomohawk

Storage: 970 EVO plus 1TB m.2 SSD

Power supply: Corsair RM750 gold

Ram: G.skill ripjaw 16gb (2x8gb) DDR4

GPU: don’t have yet but buddy has a GTX 1070ti 8gb for $350

But I can’t find a GPU worth any of these scalper prices. 
 

My Build $1644.62 after taxes and shipping

I found a ROG STRIX Prebuilt (in the photo)

CPU: Ryzen 5 5600X 

Motherboard: Asus B550

Storage: 1TB m.2 SSD & 1TB HDD

RAM: 32gb (2x16gb)

GPU: RTX 3060

Power supply: 

 

The prebuilt is the same price as my build. Should I get the prebuilt or just build my own? 
I’m leaning towards the prebuilt then build my own when everything is cheaper. I like everything specified and it’s already got windows 10 pro installed. 

 

[jaslion]

The prebuilt is better but that asus isn't a great prebuilt. Try looking at lenovo they should give you the option to even get a 3070.

[Sonoma931]

49 minutes ago, jaslion said:

The prebuilt is better but that asus isn't a great prebuilt. Try looking at lenovo they should give you the option to even get a 3070.

HP pavilion 

i7-11700
RTX 3060

16gb Ram 

My friend has one with lower specs and he said he loves it compared to his previous builds

[Dr0idGh0sT]

6 minutes ago, Sonoma931 said:

HP pavilion 

i7-11700
RTX 3060

16gb Ram 

My friend has one with lower specs and he said he loves it compared to his previous builds

HP prebuilts are one of the worst, Alongside with Dell, Asus and some like those. Research on youtube.

[KaTaLy5t-87]

The prebuilt looks decent but you need to dig into the exact specification of each part and the same goes for any prebuilt. 

 

System Integrators tend to cheap out on things such as the PSU and you'll get a bronze rated PSU that is less efficient. They may give you slower RAM (I would like 3600MHz for a Ryzen build but 3200 is OK), cheap SSDs and they usually cheap out on the motherboard by putting an mATX board with less expansion options which is cheaper for them so more margin.

 

You just need to be careful with what you're getting for the money. The biggest thing at the moment is that they (SIs) can get their hands on GPUs at reasonable(ish) prices. 

 

To be 100% sure, I would use PCPartapicker to build a system with the exact same specs as the pre-built and see what the price difference is like. If the difference is reasonable enough and you're happy to pay it, go for the prebuilt.

 

Edit: One of the main things I see SIs falling down on in reviews is proprietary parts such as PSUs and motherboards that make upgrading either a pain or almost impossible down the road and, most importantly, cooling. They go for cool looking cases with some rgb and tempered glass that have little to no airflow which results in high temperatures and lower performance due to thermal throttling.

 

Like @Dr0idGh0sTsuggested, look for reviews on YouTube and Google, watch/read them and then make your decision.

[jaslion]

4 hours ago, KaTaLy5t-87 said:

The prebuilt looks decent but you need to dig into the exact specification of each part and the same goes for any prebuilt. 

 

System Integrators tend to cheap out on things such as the PSU and you'll get a bronze rated PSU that is less efficient. They may give you slower RAM (I would like 3600MHz for a Ryzen build but 3200 is OK), cheap SSDs and they usually cheap out on the motherboard by putting an mATX board with less expansion options which is cheaper for them so more margin.

 

You just need to be careful with what you're getting for the money. The biggest thing at the moment is that they (SIs) can get their hands on GPUs at reasonable(ish) prices. 

 

To be 100% sure, I would use PCPartapicker to build a system with the exact same specs as the pre-built and see what the price difference is like. If the difference is reasonable enough and you're happy to pay it, go for the prebuilt.

 

Edit: One of the main things I see SIs falling down on in reviews is proprietary parts such as PSUs and motherboards that make upgrading either a pain or almost impossible down the road and, most importantly, cooling. They go for cool looking cases with some rgb and tempered glass that have little to no airflow which results in high temperatures and lower performance due to thermal throttling.

 

Like @Dr0idGh0sTsuggested, look for reviews on YouTube and Google, watch/read them and then make your decision.

The asus one has a good fsp or seasonic based psu in it. The issue with that one is that it only has one fan for airflow which sucks.

 

This is a better version of the asus for less

 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-gaming-desktop-intel-core-i7-11700f-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3070-1tb-hdd-512gb-ssd/6455823.p?skuId=6455823

 

This would be my second pick if that asus isn't an option it's better than either of your systems but same price

 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-omen-gaming-desktop-amd-ryzen-7-5800x-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3060-ti-1tb-ssd-jet-black/6454567.p?skuId=6454567

 

 

[KaTaLy5t-87]

11 minutes ago, jaslion said:

The asus one has a good fsp or seasonic based psu in it. The issue with that one is that it only has one fan for airflow which sucks.

 

This is a better version of the asus for less

 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-gaming-desktop-intel-core-i7-11700f-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3070-1tb-hdd-512gb-ssd/6455823.p?skuId=6455823

 

This would be my second pick if that asus isn't an option it's better than either of your systems but same price

 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-omen-gaming-desktop-amd-ryzen-7-5800x-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3060-ti-1tb-ssd-jet-black/6454567.p?skuId=6454567

 

 

I'd look up some reviews about the two systems. I had a look at the Q&A on the Asus PC and lots of people are saying you need a AIO to keep the CPU cool because airflow is not good in that case.

 

I don't know much about the HP system.

[jaslion]

26 minutes ago, KaTaLy5t-87 said:

I'd look up some reviews about the two systems. I had a look at the Q&A on the Asus PC and lots of people are saying you need a AIO to keep the CPU cool because airflow is not good in that case.

 

I don't know much about the HP system.

Aio thing is bs basically what is recommended is just a decent cooler. The one on there by default is fine BUT the lack of airflow hurts. Lots of people put a fan in the front and that fixes everything.

 

The omen is fine AS LONG AS IT IS A 30L. It has surprisingly ok aiflow due to the stupid thick front panel.

[Coastqr]

14 hours ago, Sonoma931 said:

I’m new to building but learning still. 
A friend and I were on pc parts builder and I was building everything specs to our liking.

 

 

CPU: Ryzen 7 3700X

Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 Tomohawk

Storage: 970 EVO plus 1TB m.2 SSD

Power supply: Corsair RM750 gold

Ram: G.skill ripjaw 16gb (2x8gb) DDR4

GPU: don’t have yet but buddy has a GTX 1070ti 8gb for $350

But I can’t find a GPU worth any of these scalper prices. 
 

My Build $1644.62 after taxes and shipping

I found a ROG STRIX Prebuilt (in the photo)

CPU: Ryzen 5 5600X 

Motherboard: Asus B550

Storage: 1TB m.2 SSD & 1TB HDD

RAM: 32gb (2x16gb)

GPU: RTX 3060

Power supply: 

 

The prebuilt is the same price as my build. Should I get the prebuilt or just build my own? 
I’m leaning towards the prebuilt then build my own when everything is cheaper. I like everything specified and it’s already got windows 10 pro installed. 

 

if you care about getting a good gpu, get a prebuilt, but custom pcs are generally much better on the motherboard and psu quality.

 

good prebuilt brands:

 

Digital Storm

 

OriginPC

 

Xidax

 

Maingear

 

Corsair (their new vengeance a7200 is good but expensive)

 

edit: Falcon Northwest is good but stupidly expensive, $4000 for 3070 ti and 5800x

 

 

 

Edited September 14, 2021 by Coastqr
I forgot to add something