Places to buy a premade gaming PC

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Ultimate Geek

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#2758162 10-Aug-2021 19:30

Dairyxox:

Dell have some good specials on gaming PC's (couple of hundred cheaper then PBTech), however I feel that if you want to go that route, then you need to be prepared to do some tweaks/fixes to get it right.

I second this - given the extreme price and low availability of good gpus at the moment, going with an OEM (especially a few months ago) was the best way of getting a gpu for only slightly mad prices. Dell relatively regularly have one or more models at 25%-40% off, so wait until that happens.

I almost pulled the trigger on a deal they had a few months ago but decided I didn't need to upgrade just yet - looking at the cheapies archive, it was an Alienware R10 Desktop Ryzen 7 5800 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD + 2TB HDD, RTX 3070 8GB for $2,840.55, which is relatively good when an RTX 3070 alone goes for $1400+.

Looks like the GPUs are in stock a bit more now than they were though, so this may not be as important, and as Dairyxox mentioned, they do have drawbacks - you have to make sure you go with the version that has an AIO liquid cooling option rather than air-cooled, and for some reason although they do dual-channel memory with their Intel models, they don't with the AMD ones etc.

Qazzy03

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Ultimate Geek

#2758258 10-Aug-2021 23:17

Tieke:

it was an Alienware R10 Desktop Ryzen 7 5800 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD + 2TB HDD, RTX 3070 8GB for $2,840.55, - you have to make sure you go with the version that has an AIO liquid cooling option rather than air-cooled

I remember watching the tear down review of that model.on the air cooled model, dell stuck an Intel CPU cooler on the amd cpu. However the was a height difference between the cooler and and cpu so dell put a white hockey puck looking thing between them to transfer the heat.

The reveiw didn't exactly say what it was but it's nuts for how much you are paying. Worth a watch if you interested.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8ulhFi5N2hc

Handle9

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#2758260 10-Aug-2021 23:32

Dairyxox:

Dell have some good specials on gaming PC's (couple of hundred cheaper then PBTech), however I feel that if you want to go that route, then you need to be prepared to do some tweaks/fixes to get it right.

For example Dell often sells desktops specifying 'dual channel' memory configurations, and when you open the box there is only one stick.

Also know there is proprietary stuff, so don't count on upgrading much (or do your research). For example the heatsink mounts are welded to the case tray. The power supply uses dell connectors not ATX standards.

Take a look at Gamers Nexus reviews of Alienware or Dell prebuilt before buying.

Caveat emptor.

Batman

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#2758282 11-Aug-2021 06:37

i've had many many dells. dell gaming is an oxymoron. though ymmv.

SunTiger

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#2758488 11-Aug-2021 11:10

gbwelly:

SunTiger:

My current desktop was purchased from a shop in Melbourne in 2018 when I was living there, it's a good one and only cost about $2,000 but it looks like prices have gone up a bit since then lol. So what are everyone's thoughts?

As others have said they are all ok. A friend bought one from PB Tech, but they just subbed the build out to PP as it turned out.

What are you wanting to play? Perhaps you only need a new GPU?

Does this mean your friend purchased the parts from PB Tech and then paid PP to put everything together? Or are PB tech subcontracting PP to build their custom desktops?

Also I'll be moving the current desktop into the garage so it will be a work desktop, and the new desktop will be in my room

SunTiger

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#2758491 11-Aug-2021 11:12

Lias:

Paradigm is a drop shipper, so you'd be buying a premade PC they are just on selling. Ascent is also much in the same boat. They are both good reliable companies generally, but neither is what I'd consider a Gaming PC company.

PB Tech are generally decent but are less of a specialist gaming PC company and RMA support continues to be very hit and miss.

Computer Lounge have historically been considered the best Gaming PC company in NZ (but they too can be hit and miss on RMA's these days).

You've also missed CL's main competition, Playtech, who I won't personally ever recommend because I think the owners a #^%*&*W (and can also be hit and miss on RMA's.. seeing a trend here), but it would be remiss to not mention them.

My 2 cents would be CL is your best bet, as noted thou now is a terrible time to buy and GPU prices are insane.

What is RMA support? I did a search for this term and it says Resource Management Act

Qazzy03

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Ultimate Geek

#2758543 11-Aug-2021 11:52

RMA is return merchandise authorization.
In the States they don't have CGA,
So for repairs and warranty they go to the
Manufacturer.

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gbwelly

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#2758551 11-Aug-2021 12:08

SunTiger:

Does this mean your friend purchased the parts from PB Tech and then paid PP to put everything together? Or are PB tech subcontracting PP to build their custom desktops?

Also I'll be moving the current desktop into the garage so it will be a work desktop, and the new desktop will be in my room

Well this may seem contradictory to what others have said regarding PP being only a drop shipper now, but I can only report what happened.

The custom PC (mATX gaming system) was purchased from PB Tech in 2019. When it developed a PSU fault, PB directed him to send it to PP for repair under warranty, leading us to believe PB had subbed out the job to PP in the first place.

What are the specs on your existing gaming rig? 2018 systems aren't that slow, especially with a new graphics card. Also you state that you don't need peripherals, are you sure you wouldn't want to spend some of that money on a new 1440p gaming monitor?

duckDecoy

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Ultimate Geek

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#2758580 11-Aug-2021 13:14

I personally wouldn't buy from PBTech after some shocking behaviour around items I returned under warranty, and I know of others who had similar experiences. I'd stick to low value items from them.

The last couple (I stopped buying from them after this):

- brand new gopro camera battery would last around 1 minute and then turn off. Returned it, they kept it overnight and said they could find no issue and it works perfectly. I went back to the store and turned it on, it lasted a couple minutes then turned off. They claimed the battery just needed to be charged and wouldn't accept it back. Took it home and charged it and, of course, it was still bung. Returned it again, they kept it overnight and said they replaced the battery with a new one. This battery lasted maybe 30mins tops. Returned it and they said I must have misused it or something and busted the battery somehow. Wouldn't take it back.

- bought HP laptop and under a year it stopped working. Returned and they tested and said the motherboard or gpu (cannot remember) had broken and they would replace it. After I got it back I went to play some games and it just couldn't handle it whatsoever. Did a system check and found they had replaced it with a considerably inferior setup. Took it back and they claimed that they had sent it out to HP for repair and it was not their fault. I contacted HP who said this was a bunch of rubbish. PBTech did replace the broken parts with the correct ones in the end.

- was in the store and I heard the floor shop staff members discussing who was going to pretend to be the manager for a particular caller who had rung to complain, and who they would pass the phone to while 'escalating the call'

I'd never trust them again.

Lias

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#2758746 11-Aug-2021 19:46

SunTiger:

What is RMA support? I did a search for this term and it says Resource Management Act

As someone else mentioned the acronym stands for Return Merchandise Authorization, but I was using it in the broader sense of "If I need after sales support, how good will it be"

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networkn

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#2758757 11-Aug-2021 20:09

SunTiger:

From looking around online there are a number of NZ sellers of pre-built gaming PCs:

PB Tech

Paradigm PCs

Computer Lounge

Ascent Technology

So the only issue is which one does everyone recommend based on personal experience? I've purchased smaller items from PB Tech before such as powerboards and a keyboard, but am having trouble finding online reviews for all these stores. Previous threads on this forum seem to indicate that AMD is better value for money overall compared to Intel and I'm looking to spend anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 on the computer only, no accessories needed.

My current desktop was purchased from a shop in Melbourne in 2018 when I was living there, it's a good one and only cost about $2,000 but it looks like prices have gone up a bit since then lol. So what are everyone's thoughts?

DTC Technology has built my last 3 computers. They probably lack a little of the polish of someone like Computer Lounge, but are still very good. Very reasonable and after sales support when required has been pretty decent.

SunTiger

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#2758967 12-Aug-2021 11:08

networkn:

DTC Technology has built my last 3 computers. They probably lack a little of the polish of someone like Computer Lounge, but are still very good. Very reasonable and after sales support when required has been pretty decent.

This one seems to meet my needs, are the parts good quality considering the overall price of the desktop?

https://www.dtconline.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=124&product_id=4947

I don't know too much about some of these brands such as Team Group, Antec or Inwin so what does everyone think about the different parts in this build?

Lias

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#2759122 12-Aug-2021 17:06

SunTiger:

I don't know too much about some of these brands such as Team Group, Antec or Inwin so what does everyone think about the different parts in this build?

Much like Gigabyte, not brands I'd personally buy or premium brands, but as far as I know they aren't "brands to avoid" or anything.

SunTiger

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#2759495 13-Aug-2021 09:14

Lias:

SunTiger:

I don't know too much about some of these brands such as Team Group, Antec or Inwin so what does everyone think about the different parts in this build?

Much like Gigabyte, not brands I'd personally buy or premium brands, but as far as I know they aren't "brands to avoid" or anything.

Fair enough, so what brands would you recommend for those parts of the build?

Lias

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#2760176 15-Aug-2021 12:39

SunTiger:

Fair enough, so what brands would you recommend for those parts of the build?

These are my preferences / opinions of quality built up over the last <large number> of years of both being a gamer and working in IT

Motherboard: 1st: Asus ROG 2nd: Asrock Gaming 3rd: MSI

GPU: 1st: Asus ROG 2nd: MSI 3rd: Anything else

RAM: 1st: Corsair 2nd: Kingston 3rd: G-Skill

SSD: 1st: Samsung 2nd: Intel 3rd: Anything else

PSU: 1st: Seasonic 2nd: Corsair 3rd: Silverstone (Avoid anything not 80+ certified and the higher the better (e.g. Gold/Titanium/Platinum)

Fans: Noctua (prepare thyself with lubrication for the pricing)

Heatsink: I'm a sucker for Coolermaster 212s, yes there are other better coolers, but bang for buck it's always been hard to go past this series.

Case: More subjective as long as you get something decent, I prefer NZXT or Corsair but don't go past Fractal or Lian Li either.

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