Looking at getting a new desktop for around1k (tower only) anyone have some good ideas?

I'd rather not build it myself, kinda looking at a dell XPS but wanted to see what you guys thought.

Thanks

I wouldn't go with a major brand. Typical traits include crap you don't need, no disc for Windows so you can't reinstall it if your hard drive goes and generally just being overpriced.

Probably your best bet would be a reputable system builder on eBay.

Before you write that off, just think about how low a company like Dell's feedback would be if they traded through eBay. They wouldn't last five minutes.

There are also companies that will build a rig customised for what you want. They charge over the odds but you know exactly whats in it blah blah

http://www.newegg.com/Store/Computer.aspx?name=Computer-Hardware
Newegg is a very reliable website for buying PC parts and this link has a video that'll show you how to build your own computer. It's fun building your own computer :)

Or if you really rather not, a good but pricey company that sells computers is alienware. Their computers are aimed at gamers
http://www.alienware.com/
I've never bought anything from them, too pricey, but I hear good things about them

Got my latest one here - You decide what you want they build it and burn it in and send it on its way.

I usually get a barebones kit from Tigerdirect and fill it out with the parts I need. Usually it's not too much trouble and I've yet to have any of the kits go bad.

^This is a good plan.

Unless you are already good at selecting components, or can rely on the advice of someone who is, getting a kit like this is a great way to get started with build-your-own.

Be careful in this: TigerDirect's kits are compatible sets. Newegg sells combos that look like kits but are frequently mismatched or incomplete.

Go with TigerDirect unless you are sure of what you are doing. Even then, go with TigerDirect unless Newegg has the better deal.

Seriously mate, with that kind of cash you gotta build your own... that would make one sweet ride.

Prebuilts just aren't worth the price.

CyberPower builds reasonably priced custom gaming towers with off-the-shelf standard parts as opposed to Dell's proprietary hardware.

Alrighty.... gonna build one... and now comes the hard part....

I'll post the build after doing some looking around unless someone has a pretty good build they could link me to around my price range.

Patience is a virtue I'll have have to learn deal with. (shipping to Alaska is almost as bad as shipping to Iraq was :p )

I can help, start with:
Intel i7 2600k Sandy Bridge CPU (get the Coolermaster 212 Plus fan for it)
and
ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3

From there you can just pick out parts, easy. That mobo does not come with a Crossfire cable, so be warned that you'll need to order one separately if you go Crossfire (which you probably shouldn't, just get a single, fast AMD card). Also, make sure to get the low profile RAM (that tall shit may not actually fit under the CPU fan).

The i5s often get called better bang for the buck, but honestly there's no point in shaving off that few dollars in the price range you're talking about.

So 325 for the quad core,
The Fan/cooler at about 35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard for 270

As far as video cards, would this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908 be good enough? Or should I go up abit?

and Power supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

Still looking at cases....


One thing, there are some DIY combos I've been looking at... http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.797155

I know it's a bit over what I was looking at spending but what are your thoughts?

Newegg "combos" are not DIY kits. They are not selected for compatibility, and Newegg does not stand behind them as systems. Buy them ONLY IF YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Anyway, I don't favor the AMD CPU, and the power supply is a godawful POS and a fire hazard. (Cougar = HEC = aye crrrap!) The 7970 GPU is the only interesting part of that kit.

With Ivy Bridge due next month, I am not sure I would get a top-of-the-line Sandy Bridge now. I'd even be tempted to get a Core i3 2120, so I won't feel too bad when the Ivy Bridge 3570 and 3770 come out at prices about the same as the current Sandy Bridges.

The Sapphire 6850 is about the low end of recommendable GPUs. I would sacrifice the high-priced CPU or motherboard to get a better GPU for the same total. Try to get at least a 6950, or an nVidia 560Ti.

That's an excellent power supply. Seasonic M12II and Antec Truepower New are the same thing as the Corsair (Truepower New is an improved design and would be the best of the three). Those are all made by Seasonic, even if they say Corsair or Antec.