Build or Buy?

[Jam]

I know there are other forums dedicated to these things but you guys are always helpful.

Anyways, I'm looking to build a decent gaming/media rig, I am fine with building one as I feel I have a good enough understanding of everything, and I have around £500-£600 to spend. Of course for that money I'm not expecting anything brilliant, but I currently have a dual core 2.1GHz VAIO and that isn't capable of playing Dawn of War II or GTA IV and such without being on low to medium graphics with noticable lag.

So any suggestions of decent computers to buy or any parts that you would consider good for money.

Thanks.

PS. 2500th Post.

[Kieran]

Definitely build, you get much more for your money and also the satisfaction of having done it yourself. For £500-600 you can get some pretty decent parts. With that money would you be needing a monitor or is it just the tower you're after?

[Jam]

I've got a spare 19" monitor and there's always my TV so I'm not worried about a monitor.

[N!ck]

Build.

You can probably get a reasonable i5 machine for that money.

[Markeh]

Build.

You can probably get a reasonable i5 machine for that money.

or alternatively, a decent Phenom machine too.

Definately build if you feel confident enough to do it.

[Jam]

Do they bother making high quality cases that don't have the windows or LED's in them? All the 'plain' cases seem to be significantly cheaper and the reviews always say they're crap.

[Recursion]

Look at the Antec 300 case, the only LEDs are in the front fans and they aren't that noticable.

[xxMATTGxx]

Look at the Antec 300 case, the only LEDs are in the front fans and they aren't that noticable.

The front fans don't come with it though? They didn't come with mine and I bought the LED ones anyway.

[Kieran]

Do they bother making high quality cases that don't have the windows or LED's in them? All the 'plain' cases seem to be significantly cheaper and the reviews always say they're crap.

There's quite a few nice cases out there that just require you to take the coloured fans out if you don't want them.

[Stephen!]

Do they bother making high quality cases that don't have the windows or LED's in them? All the 'plain' cases seem to be significantly cheaper and the reviews always say they're crap.

If that's what you want, Lian-Li is definitely the way to go.