Topic Building Vs Buying

impilcature

I am currently in Iraq with the US Marine Corps so i don't have the ability to go to tech stores and get the latest word on new hardware from my friends and aquaintances back home. With the new quad core processors, new RAM and not to mention the graphics card technology progressing i don't know if i will be up to par enough to build my own rig when i get back to the states. I really am between a rock and a hard place. I am open to any suggestions and would like to hear your pros and cons on the matter!

mmarsh

I am a IT professional, and have been building systems for over a decade. Its ALWAYS better to build, unless you want a laptop.

The only advantage of buying pre-built is convience. Pre-Built is neither cheaper nor better a preformer.

Even with the quality gamer Pc's like Alienware, voodoo, falcon northwest etc you are generally going to pay more then you would if you did it yourself. They are decent PCs, but you can do better penny-wise.

If you are short on time its easy, use the internet. There are lots of good Internet dealers, (Newegg for example) that offer reasonable prices and quick shipping.

I can give you a recommended shopping list of parts and technical info if you need help, please provide to me the following:

When you plan to buy (now, 3-6 months, etc)
$$$$$ Your Budget $$$$$.
The use of the PC (games, graphics, MS Office, etc).
Any accessories you need (monitor, printer, USB toaster etc).

Hoggie

I know that it is cheaper and better to make your own computer, but I have no clue how to do it, so I but all my computer pre-built. Maybe some day I will learn how to build my own.

mmarsh

You could try a constructor. You pick the parts and they build it for you. Otherwise their are lots of books and guides to do it. I learned by trial and error. It takes a little technical knowledge but its not advanced physics.

anthomeyer

Agree that building is often if not always better than those pre-assmebled. In addition, it is cheaper too!

Here at my hometown, there is a shop which would build a PC after customer select all the hardwares they want. With a rather cheap service charge.

impilcature

Well,
I have been thinking about switching over to Linux on my PC at home but i would build a new PC for my wife and she is not a power user by any stretch of the imagination and i don't think she would want to kill M$ Winders at all. I could build her a computer no problem because she wouldn't have to have a lot of bells and whistles. Thanks for the help M i will def look you up when i get back in the rear and start my build.

Is there any extra consideration when doing a build for linux if i decide to build me a new linux machine?

mmarsh

No, Given that its a much better programmed OS, Linux runs well on older tech without all the bloatware windows has to slow it down. As long as you don't plan on doing games (you shouldn't use Linux anyway for games) on it. Standard hardware will suffice. I am running mine a a AMD 3500+ with 1GIG RAM and a 120 GIG HD. Use it for training and file sharing. Works fine.

The Other Guy

Building your own takes generally forever.

AzraelValley

It's cheaper to build your own pc, but if you don’t have any technical knowledge about PC, then I suggest that you should buy one instead. Let the expert build there own pc.

franchise59

One other thing to consider is warranty. Often, if you buy a pre-built PC, then you only receive a 1 year warranty on all the parts. All you have to do is search Newegg or a manufacturer site to see that a lot of parts have a longer warranty by themselves.

So, If you build your own PC, then all your parts have an individual warranty. You can grab a hard drive with a 3 or 5 year warranty. Find a mobo with a longer warranty. Also, there are some video cards out there with a limited lifetime warranty.