I'm going to purchase a gaming PC....

[Headsprouter]

....one to play minecraft, Skyrim, Team fortress, general things. Obviously also some web-surfing. Budget is £600-£750, including hardware, monitor etc.

Now my main questions are, should I buy a complete one or build it by buying individual parts? How hard would the latter be?
What specs should I go for?
How much money would building one save me? If any?
Anything else I should think about?

Additional details: My dad and friends can help with assembly, they've all put computers together (my dad was a technician).

 

[DasDestroyer]

It is always preferable to buy the parts and build it yourself, because if you buy it built you'll be charged a hefty extra, considering how easy it actually is, especially to people who do it for a living, and putting a PC together is always a good thing to know how to do. The hardest part of putting together your own PC is making sure that the components are actually compatible, i.e. all the slots fit etc. Of course if you order a the components of a build as store is offering, just not yet assembled, that shouldn't be a problem. As for putting it together, all you need is a brain, 2 hands, a couple of screwdrivers and your dad and/or friend for you to consult with if you have no idea where to start or what to attach next.
As for the specs, I'd go for something along the lines of an Intel i5, an Intel motherboard based on how many usb, RAM etc. slots you need that fits the socket of your processor, an Nvidia 400-500 GTX series, 8-ish GB RAM, a decent cooling system, 800-ish Watt PSU, a large HDD (1-2 TB) and if it still fits into your budget, a 100-ish GB SSD. I'm afraid I can't really help you in terms of picking a monitor, but that should be pretty easy, just find the highest-resolution/Hz monitor within your price range. Cheap keyboards and mice are just that - cheap, so that shouldn't be a problem, and to be honest, they usually suffice.

 

[Headsprouter]

It is always preferable to buy the parts and build it yourself, because if you buy it built you'll be charged a hefty extra, considering how easy it actually is, especially to people who do it for a living, and putting a PC together is always a good thing to know how to do. The hardest part of putting together your own PC is making sure that the components are actually compatible, i.e. all the slots fit etc. Of course if you order a the components of a build as store is offering, just not yet assembled, that shouldn't be a problem. As for putting it together, all you need is a brain, 2 hands, a couple of screwdrivers and your dad and/or friend for you to consult with if you have no idea where to start or what to attach next.
As for the specs, I'd go for something along the lines of an Intel i5, an Intel motherboard based on how many usb, RAM etc. slots you need that fits the socket of your processor, an Nvidia 400-500 GTX series, 8-ish GB RAM, a decent cooling system, 800-ish Watt PSU, a large HDD (1-2 TB) and if it still fits into your budget, a 100-ish GB SSD. I'm afraid I can't really help you in terms of picking a monitor, but that should be pretty easy, just find the highest-resolution/Hz monitor within your price range. Cheap keyboards and mice are just that - cheap, so that shouldn't be a problem, and to be honest, they usually suffice.

Yup, that covers just about everything. Thanks!

 

[mikey7339]

If you do go this route just make sure that you read up on the little nuances that could go wrong when you build one. Actually take a look at the newegg videos on building a new PC, they go through most everything step by step.

 

[Headsprouter]

If you do go this route just make sure that you read up on the little nuances that could go wrong when you build one. Actually take a look at the newegg videos on building a new PC, they go through most everything step by step.

Thanks, I like tutorials. I used to screw up a lot, now I just take so many precautions it irritates people. I guarantee you I'll check over these directions 3 times before connecting anything to anything else.

 

[Headsprouter]

Double post

 

[Qitz]

If you do go this route just make sure that you read up on the little nuances that could go wrong when you build one. Actually take a look at the newegg videos on building a new PC, they go through most everything step by step.

Damn, already posted the videos.

But yeah, just follow a lot of the instructions in that video, make sure all your products are matched up (Don't buy a AMD processor and a Mother Board that has an Intel slot) and build your own.

Not only can you customize it to your liking but you'll avoid all the damn bloat ware that comes on store bought computers.

Although NewEgg sells computer packages so you can give their website a look and see if anything piques your interest.