$500 4 bulding PC, pre-built pc, or gaming console?

Hi, would you rather choose gaming console, or PC?

me, I definitly go with $500. i get better parts, and unlike with gaming console, i can always upgrade it!

built it with the $500

computeruler said:

built it with the $500

Click to expand...

way 2 rock

PC... I'd self build... unless of course if I could find a Mac Mini on eBay for $500 I'd get that.

I personally prefer buying a prebuilt pc and then save money and add stuff as I need them. Thats what im doing right now. If I had a large ammount of money then I would build.

I'd build my own because I don't like console gaming very much.

depends too. if you're after console exclusvie games more, i'd get a console. if that isn't much a worry, go for a pc.

who's the only one who voted for prebuilt?

honestly g25... come on, self-builds are more fun and theyre faster

well i guess they call the computer forum for a reason

I voted for $500 for custom PC

Even if you don't get a decent gaming machine, the fun of building it makes up for it!

Here is what I found for $500

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811234009 - Case + PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113 - 250GB HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814186036 - 8600GTS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827101131 - DVD+ROM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131288 - ASUS Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037 - E8400 CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098 - 2GB DDR2 PC6400


So you can do a lot more with building than buying prebuilt, and/or a console.

haha, its like i thought, most ppl go for self builds. its easy, and fun. i mean now, you can even get an 8800gt with 500 bucks, and if i stick one of those in my pc, im doing pretty good!

For games, you will get much better graphics with a ~$350 gaming console over a $500 gaming PC.

If you go to build, I would definately go the AMD route, as it will save you money. Aim for a lower-end cpu and a better video card, rather than the build list in this thread with the E8400. Video games are much more gpu bound than cpu bound. I know you can come up with a complete tower minus the video card for about $300 if you settle for an Athlon x2 4600+ or so. Even less if you don't spend $50 on a case. For a psu, check out the Hec Orion 585W dual-rail.

A budget gaming system for $500 is easily doable.

Here's a quick list of a budget system, of course it would need tweaking, but you could no doubt get an 8800GT for a video card and keep or upgrade the cpu even more:

Processor Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6Ghz $87
Mobo Biostar A770 $70
Memory G.Skill 2GB CL5 $43
Hard Drive Western Digital 160GB Sata $45
Optical1 Samsung Dvd Burner $27
Case Coolermaster Centurion $50
Power Supply Decent One $50
Video Card Asus GF 9600GT 512MB $150

Total w/ 9600GT $522

The above list was just something I found saved on my HDD. It is relatively close to what I would do...but needs changes in a few areas. It is more to show you just how much you can get for $500.

Both builds on this page lack an OS and a good monitor, if they were required to fit in the build price, I'd have to go with console. If like many cases you have a OS and monitor handy, so as to dedicate budget to the machine, the build option would be shiny.

yeah its fun building and you get the exact pc you want. plus they always better than pre built. pre built have loads of crap put on em.

Get a wii and build a linux pc for the other $250

It just depends on what you like, i personally like PC gaming. But some prefer consoles.

$500 should get a decent gaming computer. But $500 will also get a nice PS3

eh ps3's are so-so the great games are on Xbox 360.

Why console gaming when PC experience is much better?