Island Dog Island Dog

PC's: Do You Buy or Build?

▼

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?


105,926 views 65 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I own 5 comps ...built 2 of them myself. Two others were fairly basic, so I upgraded most of the parts myself. They're not the latest & greatest by todays standards ...but they serve their purposes

My Vista Ultimate machine I had built for me, to my specifications. I did'nt want to screw anything up on that one, as it's the primary machine I use the most. With my specs, after the build, my Vista rating came out as 5.3 ...another couple of gigs of quality ram and that rating would go pretty close to maximum.

Oddly enough, the two XP machines I built myself are the most stable of the 3 XP ones I have ...

I've dedicated one to moderation purposes for Wincustomize. It dual-boots with Ubuntu. One is for documents/office type stuff, one has Windows Homeserver on it, another is my music/games rig ...then of course there's my baby [Vista machine] ...nothing gets on that one till I've thoroughly tested it & read all documentation.

I still have yet another half-built computer in my closet ...I'll get around to finishing that one sometime soon, and give it to my neice.

I think I'll call it quits for a while when thats done ...I think I may have an addiction.   

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

(IRQ problems as I remember)

That dates you! Most dont even know what they are, or ever need to learn either!

"This device is working properly"

No it @#$%^& ain't, you worthless piece of $%^&*!!!

"No conflicts"

Pig's %^&*() arse there isn't.

Gah.....the fun with old systems....

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top
I build. And cannibalize. I haven't bought a computer outright in three years. And my computer, while hardly state of the art, is more than adequate for what I need (P4 1.8 ghz, 1gb RAM, 40gb HD, 256mb video card). I have right about $150 total invested in the machine ($30 PSU, $60 RAM, $50 video card), and it has served me well. And many of the components will carry over to my next build. I currently have three computers that I could have in service in about 3 hours time if this machine bites the dust (actually four...but the fourth one is committed once I get off my sorry ass and put it together for Nash). And I could probably build one or two more out of parts. ANd I have less than $500 invested in my entire inventory.

Part of my job, of course, is also PC Repair. So I know what I'm doing (A+ certified, a Network Administration certificate, 13 credits short of an Associates). But I don't think it would be too hard for someone without a high level of expertise, either.
Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top
That dates you! Most dont even know what they are, or ever need to learn either!


I spent WAAAAYYY to much time studying IRQ for my A+ exam...in the end, I got ONE stinking question on it! And it was the easiest question there was (about channels 2/9)! I was SOOO not happy for all that wasted time...lol!
Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What is with about those two? I mean, would those not cause a never-ending-loop?
Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Irq problems of old days always pissed me off. Games then REQUIRED sound cards. Yes, the evil Irq-conflicting cards. My "wetware" doesn't process sound, so the sound cards on my computer system were useless. That made Irq problems even worse since I could have avoided it if games didn't so anal on sound card requirements.
Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have a guy here in town that builds computers. I usually call him and tell him what I want and he gets it all in, puts it together and gets it up and running. He let's me prescribe what I want in it and unless he has a really good option or suggests something better that's what he goes with. It works out pretty slick really. Rad
Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"This device is working properly"
No it @#$%^& ain't, you worthless piece of $%^&*!!!
"No conflicts"
Pig's %^&*() arse there isn't.
Gah.....the fun with old systems....


Yea, those were the fun days! The tech that knew his IRQs was worth his weight in gold!   
Reply #34 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I buy off the rack for render farm machines, etc., but my main machine is always a custom build. I then move the old #1 to #2, etc.
Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top
To be honest, I don't worry too much about the warranties when choosing to build or buy retail.
Reply #36 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I remember having to tweak all sorts of DOS config files (himem.sys?) to get the system to let games use all the RAM I had.  Man, the hoops I jumped through to get TIE Fighter running on my old HP Pavilion.
Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I remember having to tweak all sorts of DOS config files (himem.sys?)


Shoot, we use to compete to see who could get the most memory below the 640k limit freed up with memory managers. I think the record was 622. And sometimes we cheated on the video and got over 700k! Those were the fun days! (NOT).
Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top
TIE Fighter

The X-Wing series was the best series ever.  Ever.
Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I always like to build --- !!!!
Reply #40 from JoeUser Forums Top
I built my first computer last summer, or rather, I bought all the parts and had my friend assemble it since he's done it before. I liked being able to pick out all my own parts, and I haven't had any problems apart from the computer overheating last summer when it was really hot even in the basement where the computer lives. I'll probably build my next one in another 4-5 years too; I have more problems with my dell laptop, although the majority of the problems are probably caused by the stupid software they pre-installed, and I've just been too lazy to do a re-install.
Reply #41 from JoeUser Forums Top
I used to build my own because way back then it was definitely cheaper, no question, so much so that even accounting for the indefinable "value" of my own labour, it was still cheaper. It was also Huge Fun, and the personal satisfaction was immense on completion, even fried the odd motherboard, but then it didn’t matter, still cheaper to get another. Today you have to be less than first grade to fry one, so anyone thinking of building your own, go for it, its huge fun and modern components rarely let you into the situation where hardware gets burned so mistakes are usually recoverable without additional financial pain - just huge frustration when doing the first one having to recover from your numerous mistakes as the project proceeds.

Now I buy off the shelf, not the mass market end, I will choose a Niche supplier that I believe meets my specific needs - I guess I have got to the stage where my interest lay more in using one than building one. However the fact I have built them means my understanding of applications and networks makes more sense to me. Is it cheaper now? Frankly no - maybe in absolute terms (just), but component cost is so low now that the difference between off the shelf and self build does not really justify self build on its own.

However Fun & Satisfaction very definitely does, at least for the first couple - so if your thinking about it - go for it, you will learn a lot, and there are many many sources on the Web of people who will help you when you get stuck - we all started sometime, and in "geekland" (contrary to Media beliefs) people will help others build for the satisfaction of helping a build. Don’t be afraid you will start something you cant finish - "geekland" will help. You will learn a huge amount and have Fun doing it, and they are rare commodities these days.
Reply #42 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The X-Wing series was the best series ever. Ever.


I agree. Had the first one. I destroyed the Death Star so many times..............
Reply #43 from JoeUser Forums Top
Frankly no - maybe in absolute terms (just), but component cost is so low now that the difference between off the shelf and self build does not really justify self build on its own.


except to us cannibals...and even I've toyed with the idea of grabbing a barebones off of Tiger Direct and adding my own cannibalized components...heck, a good case alone can set you back almost a Benjamin, makes more sense to get a case, PSU, heat sink, motherboard, and RAM for one low price and insert your own video card, optical drive and hard drive (dude, if you even still HAVE floppy disks, I want your number so i can call you up randomly and laugh at you...lol!)
Reply #44 from JoeUser Forums Top
Laugh away if it floats your boat - the number is 0044 1428 717880

There is no doubt that you can build a PC cheaply (cheaper) on self build as such, often the gap is far wider than actual cost of self build when comparing the standards of componants in the two versions. Its the old story, depends what your after, as to the route you'll follow.

And hands off my Floppy Drive, he's in honorable retirement in a corner of my case - gets a stroke or two every now and then to keep him happy, poor soul .....
Reply #45 from JoeUser Forums Top
And hands off my Floppy Drive, he's in honorable retirement in a corner of my case - gets a stroke or two every now and then to keep him happy, poor soul .....


Next you'll tell me you're still running 5 1/4.

Or, better still, 8 inch!
Reply #46 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Next you'll tell me you're still running 5 1/4

I still fire up my Apple ][c and use the 5 1/4 floppies [proof].

I have to wait until my father passes to get the cassettes with Olympic Decathalon though.
Reply #47 from JoeUser Forums Top
Next you'll tell me you're still running 5 1/4.
Or, better still, 8 inch!


Sush - they'll all find out .....   
Reply #48 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I remember having to tweak all sorts of DOS config files (himem.sys?)


The first thing I installed after DOS was Quarterdeck.
Reply #49 from JoeUser Forums Top

(dude, if you even still HAVE floppy disks, I want your number so i can call you up randomly and laugh at you...lol!)

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.

Reply #50 from WinCustomize 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.

Me too...though I know mine still work...