Consider purchasing a ready-made version or creating it yourself?
Consider purchasing a ready-made version or creating it yourself?
The short:
So I need to upgrade to Windows 11 soon.
Will a pre-built system on Newegg be a good buy? Or should I just build one myself?
The long:
So I get the Windows 10 / 11 nag screen. I run the compatibility check to see if I can just do a simple upgrade. Can I make an easy upgrade to my current system? Or would it be easier/cheaper to do a new system?
PC Health Check results:
[X] PC must support Secure Boot.
[X] TPN 2.0 must be supported and enabled on this PC. ----- (TPM Not detected)
[X] The processor isn't currently supported for Windows 11. ----- (Intel i5-6600K 3.50GHz)
[OK] There is at least 4GB of system memory (RAM). ----- (16GB)
[OK] The system disk is 64GB or larger. ----- (500GB)
[OK] The processor has two or more cores. ----- (4 Cores)
My current system:
OS: Windows 10 Home
MOBO: ASRock Z170 Pro4S
CPU: Intel i5-6600K 3.50GHz
RAM: DDR4 16GB
PS: ****
GPU: MSI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
SSD: 500GB, 2TB
KB/M: Standard PS/2 (USB)
Monitor: Samsung S23B550
Mid-Tower ATX
This system works for my needs I just want to be able to install Windows 11. I do like to game a little, but not excessive. Would a pre-built system from Newegg work for me? Or would something else be better? My monitor, KB/M work fine for me. I'd prefer to keep them, unless they aren't compatible with the newer MOBOs. It's been a few years since I built my current system. So I'm
out of the loop on the current specs.
It doesn't matter if the system is Intel or AMD. Which ever is more reliable. If I need everything for the new system than my
max budget is $2000.
It would be great to get all parts from Newegg.
The custom option will be more expensive. Pre-built models often come with unnecessary features. It’s wise to verify if the components are original. Brands like Dell are examples. Avoid those. Custom builds aren’t cheap either. Your investment matters—use it wisely. If you have funds available, go for a custom build!
I own a 6600K and it isn't suitable for Windows 11 unless I take unusual steps. I'm not. You might be able to. Deciding whether to make it yourself or purchase a ready-made unit from Newegg is up to you. Many people handle pre-built options without issues. Most would likely suggest building it yourself since you can select components and possibly cut costs unless your budget is tight. Newegg offers reliable parts. Success depends more on compatibility than brand. Your monitor, keyboard, and mouse should work fine with a new PC. What games do you enjoy and how do you configure them?
I think your setup can handle secure boot when configured correctly in the BIOS, though TPM might need a specific module for the board. This could be challenging, but I managed it using an older MSI and Gigabyte X99 board without it being very expensive. This leaves only the CPU as "incompatible," which Microsoft offers a solution for—allowing you to upgrade to Windows 11. They mention some limitations, but I’m not too worried about that.
If it will be a pita to get my 6600K to work, I'm okay with getting or creating a new setup. Prebuilt or custom options aren't really important to me. I was curious if any ready-made systems on Newegg were worth the investment. Or perhaps a solid system would be better if I build it myself. If not, what components should I focus on? My maximum budget is $2000 for anything pre-built or custom.
Newegg costs more than Amazon. Amazon’s return rules are simpler to handle. I don’t usually shop at Newegg. Perhaps Best Buy occasionally comes to mind. But only when there’s no better option.
The value of the investment is quite individual, so I won’t share my thoughts. Also, "prebuilt" isn’t clear enough. Any response would clearly rely on specifics like component details, cost, warranty, etc., which aren’t available at the moment.
Balancing costs on the components is essential. For example, should you choose an 800 dollar video card or a 200 dollar one? The first option would give you 1200 left for other uses, while the second would leave you with 1800. That’s a significant difference.
You likely wouldn’t install a 500 dollar CPU on a 100 dollar motherboard—or vice versa. Your priorities might vary: perhaps gaming is only moderately important, or maybe not at all.
To make a better decision, we need more information about your plans for the machine. What games will you play? What settings will you use? Any special needs or preferences?
We might consider needing around 500 dollars worth of hard drives, 12 USB ports, or perhaps a preference for liquid cooling or flashing lights and fans. We don’t know yet—please be as detailed as possible.
I'm saving up for my CCs and thought about using the Newegg store card. I've never had any issues with Newegg before. If I can find similar or better systems, I'd think about Amazon.
My goal is to spend no more than $2000 on a new system. I want a casual to mid-level gaming setup. A good mid-tower case with 4 to 8 fans (either single or multi-colored lights) and a side window would be ideal. Front ports should include USB, audio, and phone connectors. I also need an internal Blu-ray drive.
I'm aiming for a balanced setup. I can stretch the budget to $1600 if we exclude operating system and case costs. What do these options look like?
For AMD:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (8 cores, 16 threads, 5.4 GHz boost)
- MOBO: MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI (AM5, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6)
or
For Intel:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-13700K (8 Performance cores, 8 Efficient cores, 24 threads, up to 5.4 GHz)
- MOBO: ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 (LGA 1700, DDR4, PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6)
Other parts:
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5 6000 MHz
- SSD: Sabrent Rocket Q 4TB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3, M.2 2280)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- PSU: Corsair RM850x 850W 80+ Gold Modular PSU
- Cooling: Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black Air Cooler + 6 ARGB fans
- Case: Phanteks Eclipse P400A Mid Tower ATX (Black) with side window and ARGB fans
- Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Internal DVD Burner (optional)
- OS: Windows 11 Home 64-bit
All these fit under $2000. Any adjustments I should consider? Whether AMD or Intel?
I’ll stick with what works from my current setup if possible.