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new PC

Build it yourself?

reply to htc rules
I would normally say that it's hard to beat that 599 price for those parts by much, mostly because the CPU, RAM, HD and mobo will run at least $400. Add $100 for legit windows and you're at $500 but still need a case, DVD and PSU (and things like wireless and media reader if you want them).

In your case though you're going to toss the PSU and another thing is that you might want a better case to move enough air around that card. Looks like 80mm fan on the back and probably none on the front, that's sketchy for putting a 560ti in there.

Also the mobo could be lacking. For example I was doing this same thing trying to beat a Dell sale on a desktop. Part of how they save is that the mobo is stripped down, only 4 SATA ports and 2 memory slots. IIRC that was the difference between a $60-70 board and one $20-30 more expensive that would usually be the 'floor' of what I look at. In the end the computer was for my mom so it won't need the extra expandability and I bought the Dell, but for myself that's a deal-breaker.

Point is that the Gateway (or other factory-built i5 system for about 500-600) is a decent deal if you want to plug it in and run it. If you want to upgrade it however, you'd be better off building it yourself and getting something with better cooling and a mobo that isn't bottom of the barrel in features (and possibly quality).

reply to htc rules
Yes. And the thing is, one of the cheapest parts is kinda important here: The case. An off the shelf case will be much better than a factory build case and will allow for better cooling, access, and features.

For instance: Does that factory system have, in the FRONT: 2 USB 3.0 and 2, or 4, USB 2.0? eSATA? Card reader or other bay box OF YOUR CHOICE?

How many HDs will it support?

Do you void your warranty using a non factory SPMS and video card?

Which do you prefer, a factory 1 or 2 year warranty where you send in the complete system, or have someone take over the complete system.

Or

Individual parts warranties, where:

Mainboard might have 3 to 5 years.
HD might have more than 1 year (some drives still have longer warranties, be very careful to look for it).
RAM will have lifetime warranty if you get decent RAM.
CPU will have 3 year warranty (last time I checked).
SMPS will have 3 or 5 year warranty.

Why bother buying a factory system only to rebuild it yourself? Why not just build the thing? It isn't that hard, and the main advantage of a factory system is not hassling with hardware, and yet that is what you are doing, so why not just build.

How much more work is doing your own build:

1 Mounting mainboard standoffs.
2. Mounting mainboard.
3 Mounting CPU.
4 Mounting HS/F.
5 Plugging in RAM.
6. Mounting drives.

Almost everything else you'd have to do with your choice anyways.
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Join Teams Helix and Discovery. Rest in Peace, Leonard David Smith, my best friend, you are missed badly! Rest in peace, Pop, glad our last years were good. Please pray for Colin, he has ependymoma, a brain cancer, donate to a children's Hospital.

That is a good point he may void his gateway warranty with the PSU upgrade while he can shop for 2-3+ year warranties on all parts in a custom build.

reply to htc rules
Aren't there still some drives with 5 year warranties guys?

Personally, a factory system with 1 year, then having to pay for a second year, compared to having 3 years of just sending in the one part and using a replacement in the mean time (or selling the warranty replacement when it comes) thus keeping you running, well, no-brainer.
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Join Teams Helix and Discovery. Rest in Peace, Leonard David Smith, my best friend, you are missed badly! Rest in peace, Pop, glad our last years were good. Please pray for Colin, he has ependymoma, a brain cancer, donate to a children's Hospital.