Buying or Building a Computer, Could Use Some Advice

I want to buy a new computer for video games. I'm not super knowledgeable about computers, but as a kid, I did build my own computers from parts in the 90s, so I have a basic understanding of case, power supply, mother board, graphics card, rams, drives both hard and floppy, etc. I don't know anything about new components, and I'm definitely leaning more towards the finished tower option, as opposed to the parts off New Egg. But I'm open to ideas.

I was considering this Dell XPS, since that's the kind I use at work:

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-desktop-computers/xps-tower-with-intel-optane-memory/spd/xps-8920-desktop/fdcwvmxopt411s

Is there anything out there that would be a dramatically better machine? Am I missing anything, like maybe the graphics card isn't that great?

I'm going to play games with it, so I'm hoping for something that can at least handle all the current games. I'm hoping it will be able to run L4D3 when that comes out, but I know that's a lot to ask.

Any thoughts or comments?

Thanks

Edited by Chris Cosgrove, 05 November 2017 - 06:50 PM.
Moved from Computer Gaming to 'Advice on buying a computer'

Along with external media to store your backups, consider the best video and sound card you can afford.  A high-quality hard-drive and lots of RAM is also a good thing.  I know nothing about towers or minitowers, so I cannot advise you about the URL-posted desktop.

Edited by RolandJS, 25 October 2017 - 08:16 PM.

Well...if gaming is going to be your primary interest...I would suggest building, rather than buying, because you have more options and greater versatility for the future and disasters with a self-built system.

Louis

I too would suggest building over buying.  The main reason is upgrading.  My current machine was built in August 2012.  Installing a SSD and updating the video card every couple of years makes it viable for current gaming.  Purchasing a manufactured machine limits your upgrade options, sometimes minimally, other times completely.

If you're looking for a gaming machine a Solid State Drive (SSD) is a must.  I haven't worked with a hybrid drive, so I don't know what the performance would be for the included drive.  For the machine you listed I'd add a SSD boot drive and upgrade the video card as much as your comfortable with affording.  At a minimum I'd go with 8GB model with the 1060 card and then upgrade the RAM to 16GB for $50 more than what you posted.  If you're comfortable installing the RAM yourself you might save $20 or so.

Get a motherboard that includes PS/2 for keyboard and mouse -- such are faster than even old serials, USBs.