Buy or build? Where is your next PC coming from?

[vi edit]

I only build/upgrade out of cheapness and conservation. I don't need to spend $500-$1000 on a new machine when $150-$200 will yield a nice overhaul.

 

[Spamela]

i'm going to buy a barebones Athlon64 system, then cannibalize the mothership.

 

[LinuxIdiot]

I put buy due to I am sick of screwing with the initial builds which for me always run into problems and also I plan on getting a laptop

 

[oniq]

Just picked up a Shuttle SB61G2 case/mobo from Newegg for $260. Its nice having a whole PC in 1/10th the size of my last case . Lots less noise in my room too, and its so cuuuuute I need another 512mb ram though, I think. Currently running a P4 2.4ghz 533mhz FSB, 512mb PC2700, Sony DVD+/-RW, Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb, and an ATI TV Tuner which I haven't used yet

 

[jjones]

I built my last two and unless I buy a laptop, which is not likely to happen, I'll build my next one. I just like having exactly what I want in my box and, unless you really want to pay out the ass, down here in Mexico it's much better to build your own than buy prebuilt and upgrade. The prebuilts like Compaq, Dell, HP are not really cheap and if you want to upgrade, it gets really expensive.

 

[kenshorin]

Originally posted by: se7enty7
I might end up sticking with laptops only.

I use my dell laptop while my built p4 literally is used only as a bittorrent server

p4 3.2
1.5gb memory
200gb wd hdd
40gb maxtor
lian li pc60

....collecting dust

Well since you aren't using it anyways, why don't you send that my way

 

[dquan97]

always have built my own...

 

[Vette73]

Next desktop system will be Hand built with a Athlon64

BUT ever since the emachine laptop with a Radeon 9600 and a Athlon64 that cost less then $1499, I might get a laptop now.

 

[LeStEr]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
I don't know if I'd ever go back to buying prebuilt systems, even cost issues aside. I prefer to know exactly what's in the case.

 

[oLLie]

Originally posted by: Spamela
i'm going to buy a barebones Athlon64 system, then cannibalize the mothership.

That sir, is some impressive weight lifting in your signature.

Originally posted by: LuNoTiCK
I would buy the prebuilt from wherever is cheapest and than I would add what I need. Basically I would do it the cheapest way possible.

Exactly.

 

[Electric Amish]

I will always build my own unless something drastic happens.

 

[Kelemvor]

Prices are so cheap these days that unless you have very specific needs for certain hardware in a PC< it makes no sense to build your own. Look at the Dell 2400 or whatever it was that's a P4 2.6 or so for like $400.

Back in the day you could build your own PC and pay half what you'd pay at the store but those days are no longer here.

But if you need specific hardware so that you'd be stripping a pre-built PC anyway, then building your own makes sense.

 

[Supermercado]

More than likely build it myself. I just got my P4 desktop this past summer, though, so it will be at least two more years before I start thinking about a new machine (that and I just got a laptop in January). Unless it becomes cheaper to buy what I want pre-built in the next two years, I'll more than likely build it myself again.

 

[nan0bug]

I'll build my own, but barely. Unless I have a need for more space, I'm never going back from SFF again. SFFs aren't quite the same as building a computer though, since they come with everything but drives, ram, cpu, and (sometimes) video.

 

[TheNinja]

Dude, I'm gettin a Dell

 

[Spamela]

Originally posted by: oLLie

Originally posted by: Spamela
i'm going to buy a barebones Athlon64 system, then cannibalize the mothership.

That sir, is some impressive weight lifting in your signature.

Originally posted by: LuNoTiCK
I would buy the prebuilt from wherever is cheapest and than I would add what I need. Basically I would do it the cheapest way possible.

Exactly.

umm, thanks, but you don't need to call me "sir."

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I don't care about "knowing exactly what's inside" my computer. I built my computer this past January simply because it was fun, even though it may have cost me a couple hundred bucks more.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate
I recently purchased a new Athlon XP 2600+ box for my office with a 17" LCD for around $550 AR from Compaq.

There is no way that I could have ever built something comparable for that little.

I hope to have the $$$ to buy a new box for home later this year, and I began wondering if I would ever build my own PC again, given how cheap boxes drom Dell, Compaq, HP, and even Gateway have become.

I was kinda curious, so I thought I'd try a poll...

Does it have an AGP slot? I'm sure your LCD is analog also.

Cheap computers are just that...cheap. I wouldn't expect much from it other than decent web surfing and e-mail capabilities.

 

[richardycc]

I am building a htpc with an athlon64 3000+, along with a 17" wide LCD screen for about $1600. $550 AR sounds excellent!

 

[Ranger X]

Build it. That way you won't be stuck with cheap RAM, cheap Mobo, or some cheap video card.

 

[novon]

May last few computers have been Dells - Great Price, Good Customer Service, Super Quiet, Great Accessibility, and super stable. I may loose a few FPS, but I find it much better then when I built my system. Just get a barebones Dell and add all the performance parts you want.

 

[Armitage]

Just ordered the bits for a cheap 2800 system for my dad.

AMD 2800+
SOYO MB w/integrated video
256MB DDR

$144 - $50 MIR

40GB Seagate HD
$30 AR

Codegen Case
$25

Floppy
$3.90

CD ... I've got an extra laying around somewhere ... maybe even a burner!

Shipping
$25

So about $178 for a system that'll be a nice upgrade from his current P200 box

 

[bleeb]

There are way too many geeks and nerds here to be buying crappy machines from those manufacturers. Since so many of them have no social life, that frees up the time to research, buy, build, and install software on their homemade machines. =)

 

[PoPPeR]

I remember in the olden days when you could build the latest model for what the big comapnies were selling their low end models for. It was ridiculous. I agree that those times have changed. If I can get a great deal on a solid computer and save money, then I'll do it. However there are some great deals at Fry's too if you're looking to build your own computer that even Dell can't beat.

 

[Uppsala9496]

I prefer to build my own, but where you get jobbed is the software.
Buying a cheapy from Dell or whomever has the advantage of getting full versions of the software basically thrown in for free (xp, office, etc.).
That's the only advantage I see to buying instead of building.