Do you build your own PC?

[Vidya_Gaems]

As the title suggests, do you build your own PC? I'm asking for your imputs as most average computer users order their PC through companies like Dell, HP, etc. However, most people use these computers for social networking or for work. Many people (including me) build their own PC to suit their needs. They find their own GPU's, CPU's, Motherboards, among other things, and build the PC themselves. Usually they build it for gaming, video editing, or programming. As this forum revolves around 'intense' computer users, I'm hoping to find more homemade PC's.

Edited July 8, 2012 by Vidya_Gaems

[redinit]

I built my own PC because it's cheap and easy. And I know what's installed on my Desktop.

[Victor Leigh]

Yes, I do.

 

Some people think that it's cheaper to build your own pc but that's not the case every time. Very often when you build your own pc you end up spending more than you would have if you had bought a ready-made pc.

 

Reason? Well, when you build your own pc, you can pick and choose each and every part. So when you are faced with a choice between a cheaper part and one that costs a little bit more but offers a lot more capabilities, you would tend to buy the more expensive part.

 

Let's say, for example, a 500Gb hard drive costs 100usd. Another hard drive with 1Tb capacity cost 150usd, just 50% more in price for 100% more in capacity. So, if you have the budget for it, you will naturally buy the 1Tb hard drive. And your costs goes up by 50usd.

 

A bit here and a bit there and, finally, you end up with a pc that costs more than a ready-made one. Of course, you get a pc that you are satisfied with when you build it yourself.

[Nathan]

I've always built my own, but as of recently when I look at Dell's site it looks like they can actually do it cheaper. In theory they should be able to build them quite a bit cheaper as they get bulk discounts on parts.

[Jessi]

I build my own now. I build it more toward the gaming and power user side so that I can run high end games for the next couple years without a problem, and still won't have any issues with keeping up several browsers with tons of tabs each, photo and video editing softwares, music playing, etc, all at once.

[Vidya_Gaems]

Yes, I do.

 

Some people think that it's cheaper to build your own pc but that's not the case every time. Very often when you build your own pc you end up spending more than you would have if you had bought a ready-made pc.

 

Reason? Well, when you build your own pc, you can pick and choose each and every part. So when you are faced with a choice between a cheaper part and one that costs a little bit more but offers a lot more capabilities, you would tend to buy the more expensive part.

 

Let's say, for example, a 500Gb hard drive costs 100usd. Another hard drive with 1Tb capacity cost 150usd, just 50% more in price for 100% more in capacity. So, if you have the budget for it, you will naturally buy the 1Tb hard drive. And your costs goes up by 50usd.

 

A bit here and a bit there and, finally, you end up with a pc that costs more than a ready-made one. Of course, you get a pc that you are satisfied with when you build it yourself.

 

Yeah, sometimes the prices can go way above your expectations. Building PC's can also be challenging and time-consuming, and many folks just can't build one due to this. However, building a PC allows you to replace parts easily when a new model is shown, and it improves your skills in computer engineering.

Edited July 8, 2012 by Vidya_Gaems

[Rayru18]

I build my own, only once I've bought a pre-made one and ended up changing a lot of pieces and wasting a lot more money than if I would of just build it from the start. It is true that some pieces might end up being a bit on the high end of the price range, but most of the times you won't need to replace it as fast. At least, from experience, I can say that on the long run I end up saving more money building it from scratch.

[Victor Leigh]

Yeah, sometimes the prices can go way above your expectations. Building PC's can also be challenging and time-consuming, and many folks just can't build one due to this. However, building a PC allows you to replace parts easily when a new model is shown, and it improves your skills in computer engineering.

 

Replace parts easily?

 

The ease of replacement depends on a few factors. The first one, of course, is the availability of parts. The next is viability of replacement. By this, I mean whether it's worth replacing the part.

 

Let's say, the motherboard is dead. And that particular model is no longer in production. Not that it's impossible to find a replacement but the cost would be high. It may be cheaper to get a newer model. Which brings up another problem. Some other parts may not work with the new model motherboard. Parts like ram and microprocessor.

 

So, generally speaking, building your own pc doesn't necessarily mean that you can replace the parts any more easily. The only difference is that you replace them yourself and save the cost of labor charges.

[CHiLL]

I've built my own computers for the past, 8 years or so.

 

The main reason I build my own is because I know exactly what I want, which you can never seem to get when buying from a manufacturer, and it is cheaper, in some cases by at least 25%. In some cases it's also easier to upgrade components in a self-built machine for two reasons; 1) You know exactly what's in there and what's compatible. 2) Some manufacturers like Dell only supply budget power supplies of around 300W, not allowing a better graphics card without upgrading the PSU too, or the case is designed against adding larger/better components.

Edited July 9, 2012 by CHiLL

[Hardison]

I used to build my own desktops years ago. I started building when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was so easy and cheap to get everything I needed. My schedule is so full now, but it would be nice to build a super fast and powerful machine to my own specifications.

[Victor Leigh]

I used to build my own desktops years ago. I started building when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was so easy and cheap to get everything I needed. My schedule is so full now, but it would be nice to build a super fast and powerful machine to my own specifications.

 

You don't sound like you have a problem. Chances are if your schedule is full, your pocket is likely to be full, too. So just throw a bunch of money in a reliable computer shop and walk home with a dream machine in your arms.

[Marc]

I always build my own PC. I simply couldnt get the componants that I want from a prebuild, not even if I paid a ridiculous amount of money for one

[GregH]

I have built my own pc's for several years now. I find it best suits my needs to compile my own specs on the hardware of the pc. If you buy one from a shop it tends to be missing one or several of the specs you want the pc for, which then defeats the object of me getting it.

 

I haven't built a new one for around 2 years now. I may just upgrade my current one when I get the chance and some spare cash. But even as it is a few years old, it still suits most of my needs without any issues. It's currently a 4Gb ram, i3, I can't remember the exact specs. I'll try to dig up the old list I have of it! Although I have a graphics card that keeps breaking on me. Since I've had it I've had to send it back 3 times now.

[ridwan sameer]

Im Building my own PC This January.
IM Aborad currently and bought my processor, VGA And Motherboard. Ill be using it for gaming and designing mostly

[dagscot]

I used to build my own PC, years back. I'd go to local computer fairs at weekends and pick up the parts. It was fun. Today, computers, in general, have gotten a lot cheaper from your local electronics store but you should still consider building your own just to get exactly the specs that you want.

[ridwan sameer]

I used to build my own PC, years back. I'd go to local computer fairs at weekends and pick up the parts. It was fun. Today, computers, in general, have gotten a lot cheaper from your local electronics store but you should still consider building your own just to get exactly the specs that you want.

Nowdays you can go to the shop, tell them exactly what parts you want and theyll build and give it to you.. But I still like building my own

[ENO1986]

Yea I build my own one gaming PC and one Hackentosh its way cheaper than buying retail that’s for sure.

[kingpost]

Nah, I didn't, Beacuse i'm not so good at hardware

[lstryhrn]

I love to build my own pcs. They are so much better than going to the store and buying s pic. You can build a pc that is worth retail vaule of $3000 for half of that price. You also get a 5 years warranty on all the important parts of the pc such as the system board and the proccesor.

[mikelouis]

I always buy a PC then later on try to tweak it to make sure it fits what I need to work on my several projects. This will include upgrading the memory, HDD, processor if necessary among other thing. I am a gamer so you can predict how much power and memory I need to enjoy my gaming experience. 

[OhioTom76]

If they started selling all in one systems that I could build my own computer with I would consider it. Perhaps they already do sell something like that but I just haven't seen it yet. I would be looking for something like a monitor with a streamlined case in the back that I could insert the rest of the computers parts. I don't think I would ever go back to the old tower systems that take up so much space and have all sorts of wires sticking out all over the place.

[Profit5500]

I could remember putting together my first PC was the computer I have right now. Pentium 4 2.4ghz (Now I have a 3.4ghz processor) I upgraded my Radeon 9250 128mb to a Radeon X1300 256mb. My ram right now for my computer is 2.5gb DDR Kingston. I always liked the idea of building a computer which you have more freedom with. Just being able to put in your own parts is part of the fun.   

[retraction]

Building your PC can save you over $300. These pre-made builds cost much, much more than their original costs because of the assembly price. And the assembly price is always overpriced. 

 

My build is:

Intel i5 3570k Quad Core CPU @ 3.4 Ghz

AMD 7870 XT 2GB Dedicated Graphics

2x4 GB Corsair 1600 Mhz RAM

Asrock Z77 Pro3 Motherboard

XFX 550w Gold-Rated PSU

[Profit5500]

Building your PC can save you over $300. These pre-made builds cost much, much more than their original costs because of the assembly price. And the assembly price is always overpriced. 

 

My build is:

Intel i5 3570k Quad Core CPU @ 3.4 Ghz

AMD 7870 XT 2GB Dedicated Graphics

2x4 GB Corsair 1600 Mhz RAM

Asrock Z77 Pro3 Motherboard

XFX 550w Gold-Rated PSU

That is a pretty handy build you have there retraction. How long did it take for you to build that computer? 

[Soulwatcher]

I usually build my own computers and I have built my own servers in the past as well. All and all I have built 16 computers for myself and friends and family. Currently I am buying computer parts to make another server. I would buy all the parts at once but I am saving to move next year.

 

Greg