You could save some money and get a fast i5 instead, also the PSU is on the weak side, especially if you want to install more HD's.
The rest is nice though but maybe not worth $1500,- but you should be able to calculate this by google-ing the individual parts.

That's a given :P

You build the same system cheaper in Europe and we all know the prices are higher here than in the US.

Pre-built is fine. Pre-built has been fine since like 1998 and the Pentuim II. It's true that if you know what you're doing you can get better price for the same system, or better performance for the same price. But like everything, if you don't know what you're doing, you might also end up breaking something and then paying someone to do it for you anyway. If you're uncomfortable with building your own, then don't. Full stop.

You can sort of go halfway, though. Swapping out a video card is probably the easiest thing in a computer. Changing out RAM is probably the next easiest. If you could find a really discounted floor model desktop that had a GPU you didn't love, or not quite enough RAM< you could buy pre-built, and change out some guts. Then you'd see how easy it is. Maybe you'd look at upgrading the PSU and getting a Crossfire/SLI setup. That's not hard, either. Heck, you might even watch a tutorial or two and then pick up a 240mm radiator and a watercooling system and run some tube. Next thing you know, you'll be buying parts as you need them, comfortable with how easily you can build or upgrade your PC.

This is what i did. Got a Barebones system for $125 in 2005, then added like $200 with video card and ram and the like, and it was a really good system. Still runs.

If you don't feel safe building one yourself, ask around folks you know, you'll save a small fortune.

As for Alienware, they are over priced, check others first before thinking of buying from them.

Is there a custom PC builder who I can send a list of Newegg & Amazon parts to be bought, assembled, and tested? I have been foisting the assembly onto a relative of mine, but I would prefer to have a professional handle this sort of thing.

Origin PC will do that.

In general, and in my experience, Origin is as good as it gets when buying pre-builts. Their premium prices are very reasonable (was around +$300 compared to Amazon when I bought from them), hardware completely customizable by talking to a technical person on the phone (or email), and their customer service for shipment issues etc. is excellent. And they do not use cheap custom built parts like Dell et al. do, you can ask them for whatever brands you like. Also, in all my PCs, their cable routing inside the case was a piece of art :)

I build my own rigs whenever I can, but when I don't want to bother (in a rush, buying for my grandma, ordering on work budget etc.) I go with them.

ProTip: Ignore the custom paint jobs and fancy lighting effects to save big bucks!

Yeah, I'll put in a good word for them as well. I've used them for my last several builds, and every time they performed great and lasted until I retired the computer (around 5 years).

You can probably make some sort of deal with your local PC repair shop.

But just do it yourself, if you've ever played with legos that's really all the know how you need to put together the parts.

Looks like temptation won out after all. Now there's... no surprise. Heh. Anyway, I swung by Best Buy earlier today and I picked up one of these. Pretty similar specs to the Aurora I was looking at*, and for whatever reason it rang up for only $1,400 at the register. I'm not complaining, and you bet your ass I kept my mouth shut. Sure, it may not be really upgradeable, but by the time that may be the case for me again I'll probably be looking for an entirely new machine anyway. *shrug* Oh well. Also picked up an Xbox One controller with PC wireless connector while I was there.

Still waiting for it to download some games: SOMA and Crysis for now. I'll report again a bit later.

*What was really odd is that this newest ASUS model, of which they had two wasn't even advertised. They had a little price tag below the display model that was from an older configuration which they didn't even have in stock. Also, the two Alienware Auroras they had weren't advertised anywhere, at all. No display model. No price tag. Nothing. Really fucking weird.

I don't know dude. That amount of money - no SSD, Kung Fu power supply and only 1-year warranty. Hope it will serve you well.

The two-power-adapter thing is confusing me. Is that one power supply for the video card and one for the rest of the system? The GTX 1070 is rated at about 150W, and the i7 lists a TDP of 65W, so the smaller of the two power supplies won'r run everything, and the larger only allows like 15W overhead for everything else. Your USB alone would eat that if it's running USB powered devices.

Man, I've really gotten old. These newfangled computers and their doohickey contraptions confuse me.

Congrats on the new rig! Hope it works out well for you. Enjoy your gaming! :)