Should I buy or build????

  • Thread starter Thread starter steve long
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steve long

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or comments.

I am thinking of building a PC or buying one of the prebuilts from our local
pc store and was wondering about a couple things.

What are the advantages and disadvantages over building rather than buying?

Is it as easy as it looks? (I have purchased a couple books and mags on the
subject and I still have doubts.)

How much research is there into matching components or is there a website
that makes it easy?

What unexpected things pop up commonly when building a pc?

What special equipment or hardware might be needed in building that is
left out or taking for granted in building a pc?

I guess one of the main things is, can I person who has never done this
sort
of thing accomplish this realistically? What are my chances this pc build
will go off without a hitch?

No comment will be looked over. Thank You
Steve
 
If you haven't built one successfully before, and no one has walked you thru
the process at least once, I'd think twice about it. If you install
everything perfectly and you don't have any bad or incompatible components
it's doable. But if an error arises, how do you know how to troubleshoot
it. It is NOT straightforward.
 
Go for it. Best way to learn is to do. But if you don't want to try it,
you're on the right track about buying a prebuilt system from a mom and pop
shop. Buying from a mom and pop is the best way to buy a PC. If a part
fries on your PC, you don't have to ship it to wherever Dell or HP or
Gateway requires you to ship it to, just take it to your local shop for
warranty repair.
 
Justin said:
Go for it. Best way to learn is to do. But if you don't want to try
it, you're on the right track about buying a prebuilt system from a
mom and pop shop. Buying from a mom and pop is the best way to buy a
PC. If a part fries on your PC, you don't have to ship it to
wherever Dell or HP or Gateway requires you to ship it to, just take
it to your local shop for warranty repair.
Click to expand...

Despite doing PC support for a living I tend to buy critical machines from a
local shop, if I buy bits and do it myself the warranty issues are more
complicated and I need my PC/parts fixed or replaced quickly.

I build smaller machines for odd jobs from bits and it's much more
satisfying.
 
steve said:
Thanks in advance for any suggestions or comments.

I am thinking of building a PC or buying one of the prebuilts from our
local pc store and was wondering about a couple things.
Click to expand...
What unexpected things pop up commonly when building a pc?
Click to expand...

Hardware/driver conflicts. Some chipsets are known to be "problematic" and
in my experience Via chipsets are the hardest to get working right or at
least the most likely to end up with some weird problem.

I guess one of the main things is, can I person who has never done this
sort
of thing accomplish this realistically?
Sure.

What are my chances this pc build
will go off without a hitch?
Click to expand...

Not likely. There almost always is a "hitch" like needing to move a card to
a different slot or finding different drivers etc. That said, I know I've
ended up with what I want.
 
do you cut the ground terminal off an extension cord so it will work? Then don't do it. Do you get frustrated quickly and tend to
use a hammer to make things fit? Then don't do it. Do you tend to put square things into round holes(then the hammer thing)? Then
don't do it. Other than that its pretty much plug em in and turn it on. Have Us for whatever may come up. Have a bud close by that
knows basic stuff. It will be fun, but don't do it to try and build something cheaper than others, cause its really not about that
anymore, although it can be done, but you'll have to skimp and when you do that, you might as well buy one.
 
steve long said:
What are the advantages and disadvantages over building rather than
Click to expand...
buying?

Fun. Learning a lot. You get exactly what you want, which basically isn't
possible when buying a pre-made system.
Is it as easy as it looks? (I have purchased a couple books and mags on the
subject and I still have doubts.)
Click to expand...

Pretty easy, but...
How much research is there into matching components or is there a website
that makes it easy?
Click to expand...

I'd get a recent copy of a magazine like PC Gamer or Computer Gaming World -
they recommend components that work together. Or do web searches.
What unexpected things pop up commonly when building a pc?
Click to expand...

Well if I could tell you, they wouldn't be unexpected, would they. This is
the risky part about it being "easy". It's easy if it works right, but
troubleshooting if need be can be tough.
What special equipment or hardware might be needed in building that is
left out or taking for granted in building a pc?
Click to expand...

Nothing other than a screwdriver, really.
I guess one of the main things is, can I person who has never done this
sort
of thing accomplish this realistically?
Click to expand...

Well I think that's pretty obvious. Everyone who's done it has done it for
the first time.
 
steve long wrote:

....
How much research is there into matching components or is there a website
that makes it easy?
Click to expand...

I have been able to overcome all difficulties building my own machines
by means of a computer which is permanently connected to the
internet/usenet (DSL flat rate) so that I could check my probs
consulting Dr Google and reading in the newsgroups.
But: This needs time, a lot of time!
What unexpected things pop up commonly when building a pc?
Click to expand...
Well... they are unexpected... but they certainly happen!
Cables which are not long enough, coolers which are too loud, PCI
cards which hate each other (IRQ conflicts) leading to BSOD et cetera...

Roy
 
I started buy upgrading my old PC with a new Hard Disk.
Later I added some memory.
Then I bought a new case.
After that I put in a new CPU and Heatsink.

Finally I bought a full set of hardware and built my own PC from
scratch.


Now I have built quite a few PCs and I love doing it. I have found
that starting off by upgrading a few bits educated me as to how the PC
was put together and how easy it all really was.

Later on I got brave and added the memory and a new CPU. Again, it was
quite easy really.

Then I built my first PC from scratch. I took my time and thought
about each stage I needed to go through and what I needed to buy.

Case
Power Supply - May come with Case
Floppy Drive - May come with Case
CPU
Heatsink
Case fan(s)
Hard Disk
CD RW
Memory
Motherboard
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Printer
Scanner
Beer

Then I set about building

Take Motherboard
Add Memory
Add CPU
Add Heatsink and plug Heatsink Fan into Motherbaord
Fit Power Supply to Case
Fit Motherboard into case
Fit HardDisk to Case
Fit CD RW to Case
Fit Floppy Drive to Case
Connect power cable from Power supply to Motherboard
Connect Hard Disk and CD RW to Motherboard
Connect Hard Disk and CD RW to Power Supply
Connect Floppy drive to Motherboard
Connect Floppy drive to Power Supply
Fit Fans to Case
Connect Fans to Power Supply
Get Windows CD
Swtich on and boot up.
Insert CD and reboot.
Install windows.
DONE

I have probably missed a few points here and there. Guys here will
help out if you need it.

Good luck

Harry
 
Thanks in advance for any suggestions or comments.

I am thinking of building a PC or buying one of the prebuilts from our local
pc store and was wondering about a couple things.

What are the advantages and disadvantages over building rather than buying?
Click to expand...

Pretty well component choice, and the knowlege of how it goes
together.
Is it as easy as it looks? (I have purchased a couple books and mags on the
subject and I still have doubts.)
Click to expand...

Either that or I am lucky (first athlon system, no shim, still works).
How much research is there into matching components or is there a website
that makes it easy?
Click to expand...

There is a bit, but rarely have a erred buying components I cannot use
due to incompatibilities..
What unexpected things pop up commonly when building a pc?
Click to expand...

Out of the box missing or failed components.
What special equipment or hardware might be needed in building that is
left out or taking for granted in building a pc?
Click to expand...

Antistatic equipment. Perhaps an electric screwdriver.
I guess one of the main things is, can I person who has never done this
sort
of thing accomplish this realistically? What are my chances this pc build
will go off without a hitch?
Click to expand...

Chances are good.


To start from scratch,I'd recommend a P4 system, or a barebones system
(either AMD or Intel).
 
do you cut the ground terminal off an extension cord
so it will work? Then don't do it. Do you get frustrated quickly and tend to
use a hammer to make things fit? Then don't do it. Do you tend to put
square things into round holes(then the hammer thing)? Then
don't do it. Other than that its pretty much plug em in and turn it on.
Have Us for whatever may come up. Have a bud close by that
knows basic stuff. It will be fun, but don't do it to try and build
something cheaper than others, cause its really not about that
anymore, although it can be done, but you'll have to skimp and when
you do that, you might as well buy one.
Click to expand...

_________________________________________________________

Excellent advice above, and I might add: Don't be pressured by time
constraints. If you have to have it done by a certain date or time, buy
ready-made. If time is not an issue, do it yourself and have fun.

When you finally power up your homebrewed job and it works just like it
should, don't hurt your face by smiling too hard. :-)
 
Now I have built quite a few PCs and I love doing it.
Click to expand...

_________________________________________________________

It's more fun than working on cars, plus your hands stay clean.
 
And, if you've remembered correctly to buy enough beer, you've gotten a
damned good buzz by the time you've inserted the windows CD...

-
Harry stood up at show-n-tell, in
(e-mail address removed), and said:
 
I have been building and buying computers for myself since 1978.

Have also helped many dozens, perhaps hundreds, of friends and
relatives buy or build computers.

From this experience I learned one thing.

Anyone who asks the question should buy a computer.

When you are ready to build one you will know it, and
will just build it instead of asking :-)

--

... Hank

Hank: http://horedson.home.att.net
W0RLI: http://w0rli.home.att.net
 
steve long said:
Thanks in advance for any suggestions or comments.

I am thinking of building a PC or buying one of the prebuilts from our local
pc store and was wondering about a couple things.

What are the advantages and disadvantages over building rather than buying?
Click to expand...

You can try to build your machine with cheaper parts or build it with
specific parts you want based on good reviews + it gives you a false sense
of competance which is good for the ego.
Is it as easy as it looks? (I have purchased a couple books and mags on the
subject and I still have doubts.)
Click to expand...

Yes when it works first time No when it doesn`t.
How much research is there into matching components or is there a website
that makes it easy?
Click to expand...

Standards make it easier modern standards in some cases aren`t compatible
with older standards and vice versa.
What unexpected things pop up commonly when building a pc?
Click to expand...

If I could tell you then they wouldn`t be unexpected. Is it possible to
expect the unexpected ? The false sense of security it won`t happen to me is
prevalent to novices.
What special equipment or hardware might be needed in building that is
left out or taking for granted in building a pc?
Click to expand...

Competance
Screwdriver with correct bits
Common sense
I guess one of the main things is, can I person who has never done this
sort
of thing accomplish this realistically? What are my chances this pc build
will go off without a hitch?
Click to expand...

I didn`t attempt my first motherboard install untill I reached what I
thought was a certain level of competance and looking back I wasn`t at all
competent but I did it I had unexpected problems but thats part of it.
 
Or as a first step, use a supplier like Multiwave. You can select all of
the parts you want and have Multiwave assemble it and test it. They will
be sure of compatibility before they assemble.

Regards, jimbo
 
I have been building and buying computers for myself since 1978.

Have also helped many dozens, perhaps hundreds, of friends and
relatives buy or build computers.

From this experience I learned one thing.

Anyone who asks the question should buy a computer.

When you are ready to build one you will know it, and
will just build it instead of asking :-)
Click to expand...

I'll second that. I started with upgrading and replacing parts like
drives, memory, cards, etc., and installing OS's. I also do networking.
As I read more and more about compatibility problems when building your
own, especially on this newsgroup, I realized that I'd never build my own
unless it was for fun. And then, I'd have to read for weeks, and probably
still be unsure of what goes with what.

For me, tinkering around, maintenance and upgrading is enough.

A man's got to know his limitations.

Sincerely,
Bruce
 
| |
| > I have been building and buying computers for myself since 1978.
| >
| > Have also helped many dozens, perhaps hundreds, of friends and
| > relatives buy or build computers.
| >
| > From this experience I learned one thing.
| >
| > Anyone who asks the question should buy a computer.
| >
| > When you are ready to build one you will know it, and
| > will just build it instead of asking :-)
| >
|
| I'll second that. I started with upgrading and replacing parts like
| drives, memory, cards, etc., and installing OS's. I also do networking.
| As I read more and more about compatibility problems when building your
| own, especially on this newsgroup, I realized that I'd never build my own
| unless it was for fun. And then, I'd have to read for weeks, and probably
| still be unsure of what goes with what.
|
| For me, tinkering around, maintenance and upgrading is enough.
|
| A man's got to know his limitations.

I've built all my desktop computers since the first one, a piece of junk from
Zenith. I decided that anything I could put together had to be better than
that! Of course, I was fortunate to get a lot of advice and help from the
neighborhood computer shop where I bought most of my parts for the first three
or four builds. I've since built systems for myself and for family, friends and
several small businesses.

The only complete computer I've bought since the Zenith was a laptop. And it's
still a sore point with me that components aren't readily available for building
those! ;-)

Larc



§§§ - Please raise temperature of mail to reply by e-mail - §§§
 
The only complete computer I've bought since the Zenith was a laptop. And it's
still a sore point with me that components aren't readily available for building
those! ;-)
Click to expand...

Unfortunatly, "progress" might go in the opposite direction. So we
better well enjoy our computerbuilding while it lasts.


ancra
 
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