Pre-Built Computer Suggestion

[Axsuul]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Web browsing, office

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$500 with tax and shipping included

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Washington D.C.

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Have a 24"

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
ASAP

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.
Video card needs to be upgrade-able

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, Win7 x64 Ultimate

TL;DR, Need a pre-built computer from Dell, HP, etc that handles everyday tasks and has a potential to be a decent gaming machine (video card can be upgraded). Thanks!

 

[Scheibler1]

Any specific reason you are going pre-built? I'de look for whatever computer you can find with the best CPU. However you are really diggin yourself a hole going pre-built. Whatever PSU comes with the pre-built will 99% most likely not be abe to power a nice graphics card needed to run 1920x1080p

Since you already have a OS you could build you own for way under $500 or build something way faster and upgradeable then store bought

 

[Dangman]

TL;DR, Need a pre-built computer from Dell, HP, etc that handles everyday tasks and has a potential to be a decent gaming machine (video card can be upgraded). Thanks!

Are you ready to take apart that prebuilt PC to install another PSU, additional cooling and a GPU? Because virtually anytime you upgrade a prebuilt PC to a semi-decent gaming PC, you're gonna need to add a significantly better PSU. And are you willing to void the warranty as well? Some OEMs will void your warranty if you replace the PSU.

 

[jhokie]

Some people may trash this, but a few years ago when I didn't really didn't feel like building my own computer I ordered a Core 2 duo system from cyberpowerpc. You can customize and hand pick what components you want, and it worked out pretty well for me. They charge very little for labor. I would just make sure to choose a nice power supply and case. If you choose the stock power supply be warned, a friend who bought from there had his stock power supply fail very soon (I had warned him to get a better PS but he didn't listen).

Though when all is said and done, I feel like it is a far superior situation to build your own pc. But personally I would place ordering from Cyberpower above dell or something like that, because at least you have more specific control over what goes into your system. The downside is that support may be a little flaky... when I dealt with Cyberpower all the workers were clearly foreign and spoke poor english (I believe they were located in california).

A note, when my friend's power supply blew out their only option was to replace it with the same one, and of course it was the same horrible quality power supply. Of course he's the one who selected that power supply which was basically something like a 20$ model... I had him put a corsair in that rig and it ran solidly since.

 

[Dangman]

The downside is that support may be a little flaky... when I dealt with Cyberpower all the workers were clearly foreign and spoke poor english (I believe they were located in california).

They are indeed located in California. In fact, their company is less than 15 minute drive from where I live. Hence why I don't recommend Cyberpower so I'm aware of the company's practices and the people that work there.

 

[jhokie]

Really to get a quality gaming PC at that price I think the best bet is to build your own.
Check this setup:

Asrock H61M 55$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7627 600093976 4026&IsNodeId=1&name=$50 - $75

Haf 912 case 60$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

Antec BP550W modular PS 65$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

i5-2400 190$ (You will use the intregrated intel 2000 graphic card until upgrade)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICED&PageSize=20

4 GB ram ~25$, or 8GB ~45$
Check motherboard compatability list

Cooler Master Hyper 212 cpu fan 30$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Liteon Dvd drive 18$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...yMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

Seagate 500GB ST500Dm002 40$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...yMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

Total is only 483$ with 4GB... once you throw in a graphics card down the road that will be a very solid gaming machine. Don't think you can get quality like that elsewhere for that price. If you need any extra cables or anything you even have a few bucks left in the budget.

I imagine that this is for someone else so I've probably wasted my time in listing this, but nonetheless I had some time to waste

 

[E4g1e]

Antec BP550W modular PS 65$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

The problem with that PSU is that it's seriously overpriced for its quality and performance. Once you eliminate the modular cabling capability and replace it with fixed cables, the BP550+ is really worth only about $40. That's because the BP550+ has only 37A (444W) on the +12V rail - which is on the low side for a 550W PSU. Most 550W PSUs have 42A to 45A (504W to 540W) on the +12V rail.