Just curious I am not big on building PCs I know little about the hands on technical aspect of them, where is the best place to buy a top of the line gaming rig and the price this is just a general question I want to get one before the end of the year.

If you don't want to build one, best to see if any shop nearby will assemble one for you with the parts you choose, as then you'll save considerably money over a pre-built and be able to pick good parts. Beyond that there are a couple of sites online that assemble PCs for you like buyxg, cyberpowerpc, and probably a few others (at least one other whose name escaped me). No idea which of these are the best.

I'd recommend giving building one a shot, though. It's really simple, not much more difficult than making something out of legos, as the pieces just snap together.

STAY AWAY FROM ALIENWARE

I recommend building one. Im in the process of assembling the parts myself.

reason why i think building one is best, because its not hard and you learn which part goes where and when time comes to upgrade, you can do it part by part.

Yeah like I said I am not a real technical person when it comes to hands on with a PC. So the best place is certain web sites or somebody that can build one that lives close to me is that the best bet?

Is there clear cut instructions on how to build one out there, o would most certainly need that, I would not want to damage my parts or have ny PC blow up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CStOC0hET8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3buj5cIh2Bs&feature=related

It'll be more or less the same for any build. Differences due to different parts are negligible, and various members on this forum are more than willing to help you both pick the parts and answer any questions/help you get it set up.

ibuypower?

Thanks for the links I know that the community is very helpful here on the technical aspects of things I will most certainly ask when I go buy one or get parts for one, do you have to order the parts or can you buy them retail?

I'm confused: Newegg is a retailer. If you have a local frys or Microcenter (and other places depending on country and local area) you can also get parts there.

I live in the USA in a small town, if that helps I meant do you buy parts online or at a retail store like say Walmart or Best Buy, something like that.

Not sure about wal mart but do not buy from Best Buy, they overprice parts

Best Buy will have a sparse handful of parts (mostly crappy), Walmart might have something but I doubt it.

Major US computer part chains:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/retailstores/compusaStores/

http://www.frys.com/ac/storelocator/index.jsp

http://www.microcenter.com/at_the_stores/

Beyond that, searching locally for computer parts on Google Maps may return some other retailers. Otherwise the best selection (and often the best prices) are online

Thanks tgl above.

I thought they would have crap parts.

So the best bet is online then I will try Google search and see with what I come up with and I have been thinking about learning a little more about building a PC. Now if I go to upgrade something, it will not effect my save games right, that is the whole point of me looking into a PC I want a gaming monster for Elder Scrolls and mods and things like the Sims and Warcraft and Starcraft. Will my saves be safe if I upgrade.

upgrading your visuals will not make you lose your saves, they will be on you hard drive. upgrading your harddrive without transfer will lose your saves as it would on an xbox.

I live in alaska, and the shipping prices combined with the cost of my parts on newegg.com still was cheaper than buying them from a brick and mortar store.

You want to learn more about PC building, there are plenty of links near the bottom of the first post in this thread:
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1348566-the-community-tech-thread-no-112/

If you're shopping online, no need to google anything. Top sites:
http://www.newegg.com/
http://www.amazon.com/ (make sure product is from Amazon or a trusted 3rd party vendor that is using amazon)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/
http://www.superbiiz.com/


Fry's Electronics and Microcenter have great prices on components, but are not common stores to be found across the US. If Best Buy is all you've got at best for a Brick&Mortar store, shop online for sure.

How do you transfer your saves, will it transfer mods as well?

Thanks for the links Tigs O Bitties.

Building a PC is seriously easy. It's like lego. If you find a good guide online, just follow it and it's as easy as screwing the motherboard into the case and slotting things in where they should go.

Is there any chance that you can get your hands on an older unused, but still functional desktop PC? That would be a great way to familiarize yourself with installing & uninstalling parts. That's how my brother taught his son to build, upgrade, troubleshoot and maintain a PC. It's low risk, hopefully free, and can teach you a great deal.

There's a feel to, for instance, installing a graphics card. If it's not lined up right with the slot for it, or you use too much pressure, you can damage the card and/or motherboard. Too little pressure and it won't be properly connected/snapped-in. Nothing like real life hands on experience for training our tactile senses. And its not just about familiarizing yourself with the parts themselves, but also about what comes after you complete a build or upgrade. Like managing the software and settings, making changes in BIOS, fixing a driver error, or installing and checking an OS.