After recently getting a new job selling computers at Best Buy, it's come to my attention that OEM computers are now getting to be very inexpensive (note that I didn't say cheap). Case in point - my mom's 6 year old HP just took a crap and she needed a new desktop. Of course I could have built her one but after thinking about it a bit, it seemed like a pretty bad idea. I told her about a deal we had going on a new Gateway and it was the obvious choice. Here are the specs.
--Note: My mom is a Spanish teacher who uses computers primarily for Word/Powerpoint and checking her email. Very basic use, though she does like speed.
Gateway GT5692
AMD Phenom X3 8450 (2.1GHz) with a Coolermaster heatsink
4GB PC5300 (2x2GB, expandable to 8GB)
500GB Western Digital SATA HDD
DVD+/-RW drive with Labelflash
ATI Radeon 3200 with HDMI-out (256MB shared memory)
Random motherboard with AMD 780G chipset
15-in-1 card reader
Vista Home Premium 64-bit
As you can see, a fairly decent computer. With a free PCI-E slot, it wouldn't be bad at all for games, with a free PCI slot you could throw a TV-tuner in there and have a pretty nice media center, and for $550 you really can't go wrong. Vista Experience Rating gives it a 3.9 on graphics which is understandable, but everything else is at 5.2 or higher (scored two 5.9's). Turns out the 780G is actually a fairly decent overclocker as well, with 90-100% overclocks on the IGP (graphics core).
Here's what I'm getting at though; do you think I could have built something comparable (or better as the case used to be) for the same price? Vista by itself is a pretty good chunk of that, and since I don't currently own it it would need to be added to the bill. To make it fair, speakers/mouse/keyboard would need to be added as well, since I got them in the box.
So, can anyone do it (show me a parts list that's better or cheaper at equal performance)? Has building gone back to an enthusiast-only market? Is it now time to buy OEMs and swap out what you need for a little more performance boost? I'll have to pull the side off one more time to see if I can get a model number on the motherboard, but in the mean time, discuss! Being a system builder and OEM salesman, I'm quite torn on the issue. I love the feeling of pulling out a brand new motherboard, but if it's a waste of money I'm not being a smart consumer.