For you, or for me, the system you describe is a good deal. You forgot a hard drive, so I mentally added $75 for a good 1TB HD.
Now find the average Win/PC consumer, sit them down, and describe the process to them:
- determining the proper technical specs
- verifying compatibility (e.g. CPU to mobo to memory)
- checking half a dozen vendors to see who has the best prices on ten or so items
- placing orders
- waiting for delivery
- assembly
- checkout/debug
and explain that they can save a few hundred bucks compared to a pre-built system, by doing all those things.
The vast majority will tell youthat a) they can't do it, and b) even if they could, it's not worth the time and hassle.
For you and me, homebrew makes sense.
But my FRiend, we are in the vast minority. The fact that some people can build their own computers (or cars, or houses) does NOT mean it is a useful or viable option for the vast majority of people. For those folks, a pre-built Win/PC or Mac makes much more sense.
Side comment: I used AVG free anti-vir for a couple years, and decided I was tired of the slowing effect on my work. And the free versions of AVG (and Avast, etc.) are not as effective as the paid versions.
Oops, that was supposed to be "tiny minority". Majority can be vast (as later in same sentence).
HDD! Oops, yes, I forgot.
I’d spend $100 and pick up a 2 TB Seagate.
Hard drives and power supplies are two items I’ll spend a bit extra on. Worth it in the long run.
(I also forgot a CD/DVD writer. $20)
The main factor in price is if you need one “now” or if you can wait until a deal comes along.
Just last week I picked up an i3 processor and mobo combo for $99. Added $40 in memory, used an existing case and power supply and my daughter has a huge upgrade at minimum expense.
Granted, that wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t have hundreds of dollars in “parts” around from prior upgrades, but with 6 computers in the house, “homebrew” is the only reasonable option if I want to stay current (and solvent) ;)