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PC's: Do You Buy or Build?

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PC's: Do You Buy or Build?

from JoeUser Forums

Buying a new PC is something that some people dread, and makes some people rejoice.  In today's market there is such a wide variety of choice as far as computers go.  You can literally pickup a brand new computer for just a couple hundred dollars, as well as easily spend several thousand dollars on a high-end system.  However, people taking the time to build their own PC seems to be as popular as ever.

With just a handful of components you can easily put together a very powerful system for much less than buying its equivalent at retail.  With prices of items such as processors and RAM at very low prices, I think it's an option anyone who has some "mechanical" ability should consider. 

The last retail PC I purchased (aside from laptops) was around the time Windows XP was released.  I went and bought a nice new Compaq with a whopping 15" LCD and CD burner.  After a few months it just couldn't handle some of the games I wanted to play, so I picked up a new video card and popped it in the AGP slot, and I think that is where the idea for me to build my computers from now on started.

Since then I have built a couple of PC's, with the latest just being a few months ago after the previous system decided it didn't want to work with me anymore.  Luckily I was able to salvage a few parts such as the DVD burner which saved me a few dollars, and I was able to build a nice Core 2 Duo system for just a few hundred dollars.  The best thing is the old PC still has some working parts, and once I pickup a new motherboard/CPU I will be able to pass that computer on to my kids to replace their aging desktop.

So my question to the community is......do you buy or build your PC's?


105,772 views 65 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
only 5 1/4? and not sure if it works? i feel sorry for you guys on both accounts.
Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Me too...though I know mine still work..


Wonders will never cease....Jafo actually has PC parts that STILL work!
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Reply #54 from JoeUser Forums Top
I got more than you can shake a stick at. I canibalize old systems, so still have a half dozen 5 1/4 and about a dozen 3 1/2. I cant guarantee they work tho.


NERD! (This said as I disavow the rumours that I have a working Apple II+ and a gutted TRS-80 shell for an eventual case mod)!
Reply #55 from JoeUser Forums Top
only 5 1/4? and not sure if it works? i feel sorry for you guys on both accounts.


ROFL...well, it IS a FLOPPY disk, dude...it's not like it's a hard drive or anything!
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it's not like it's a hard drive or anything!


Got plenty of those too! From 1gig to about 10gigs - and they work (for what I dont know).
Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Got plenty of those too! From 1gig to about 10gigs - and they work (for what I dont know).

'smallest' HD I have is a 40 meg .....though it's the size of a CDRom, excluding the driver card.

At least I through out the 20 meg one....that was seriously too small...

Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top

through?

threw ......

Geez it's been a long day..... Spell checker

Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top
through?
threw ......
Geez it's been a long day.....


Sounds the same to me.
Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The last time I built anything, the parts came in a little can and had a picture of a cabin on the front.
Reply #62 from JoeUser Forums Top
I still remember my first home-built computer.

386 SX ( no fancy math co-processor for me! ) 33 mhz, 8 mb ram ( was 4, but I found a amazing deal of 4 of 1 MB sticks for 200 bucks! .

I also owned IBM XT computer then, I got it free from school then, it was fun pulling it apart and together to learn how computer works and what it's made from.

Jeez I'm been using computers more than 60% of my life.
Reply #63 from JoeUser Forums Top

Oh, man...ever since I got the TRS-80, I've got the modding bug! The only thing holding me back now is, no money! So, anyway...I was looking at a thrift store and saw an old wood cabinet record player I want to mod (liquid cooled...I'm guessing a wood case would be MURDER to cool otherwise!) But I hafta get the TRS-80 done first...then the Apple II+ (which I want to mod specifically to PISS OFF Mac fanbois! Then I'll load Linux on it to piss off the Windows fanbois as well!)

Anyway, sorry for the hijack. But you DID ask if we buy or build, and modding is DEFINITELY building!

Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I used to build, but my last one was bought. The simple reasoning being I just couldn't buy the components for less than it cost to have a pc built for me, plus the O/S was thrown in and you have warranty. I've since added some more drives to take me up to 1.5Tb, but that's it.

Must admit I enjoy building though   

Reply #65 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've since added some more drives to take me up to 1.5Tb, but that's it.


Too bad they don't have an emoticon for (droool!)

I agree with your points. The warranty's definitely a plus! But as I said before, I've kind of got the modding bug, so that means I'll be building 'em for awhile!