Shopping around

Hi eljae....  Here's the closest I can come trying to match what you listed.

Config # 1219896        Cost $ 1518

Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Cooler Master K380
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i5 4590 3.30 GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS Z87-C (Intel Z87 Chipset) (No SLI Support)
System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair CX750M
Expansion Bay: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Optical Drive: Blu-Ray & DVD Writer/Reader (Burn + Play Blu-Ray & DVDs) (12x BD-R)
Storage Set 1: 1x Storage (1TB Western Digital - Black Edition)
Storage Set 2: 1x Storage (1TB Seagate)
Storage Set 3: - No Thanks
RAID Config: - No Thanks
RAID Card: - No Thanks
Internet Access: Wireless USB 802.11n (Supports 802.11n/g/b)
Graphics Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB (Includes PhysX)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
HPC Processor: - No Thanks
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: High-Performance Copper Heat Pipe Cooler
H20 Tube Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a custom HydroLux liquid cooling system selected
Chassis Fans: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Airflow Control: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
LaserMark: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Standard Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Automatic Overclocking
Boost Graphics Card(s): - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Boost OS: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows CD)
Virus Protection: FREE: McAfee AntiVirus Plus (1 Year Service Activation Card) (Not Pre-installed) ($35 Value)
Office: - No Thanks
Game: - No Thanks
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
Portable Gaming: - No Thanks
Branded Gear: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 10-15 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: Life-time Expert Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty (3 Year Labor & 1 Year Part Replacement)

It's impossible to match a build here with what you have.   The cpu isn't offered here and we don't know what motherboard or power supply you'd be getting elsewhere.   This 4590 cpu doesn't have hyperthreading which might help with your apps. 

 If its who I think, then the motherboard and psu are propriety , meaning built just for them and have restrictions when it comes to upgrading or changing.  Plus the warranty is up when the companies warranty is up, unlike these that have a seperate warranty beyond DS.   Here you have a name brand psu and mobo and know exactly what you're getting.   Little things like the number of sata ports, fan headers, etc are listed. 

The graphics card also isn't offered here, but the gtx 960 is superior in every way except the vram.  And the added vram with the 745 won't make up for its other shortfalls.  The amount of vram is only as good as the card.

Hard drives here are also name brands.  Not sure of the ones listed.  The Western Digital Black has a manufacturers 5 year warranty and is known for reliability.  Your might be up when the system's warranty is up. 

Do you need the bluray and card reader.  If so then keep them in this build.  If its just there as a package then you can delete them and save more $$.

32GB ram is excessive for most.  16GB is more of a standard and is all most will ever need. 

Your build looks like more for the money, but at DS you do know exactly what you're getting and can more easily compare with every component.  Plus, with DS, you have excellent support within the US. 

If you click on More Info under each part you can see exactly what you're getting to more easily compare with the other company. 

Hope this helps and good luck.







Edited by bprat22 - 05 Jun 2015 at 12:11pm

Thanks so much for the advice!
yes, definitely want BluRay and Card readers.

Edited by eljae - 05 Jun 2015 at 1:50pm