Buying computer parts is like throwing money in the toilet.

[notfred]

I spent probably $2500 on this machine, most of it less than a year ago. Now what's it worth? about $500. Jesus, the resale on computers is horrible. I know this isn't news, but I'm thinking about upgrading, but if I sell my current parts, it's hardly going to cover shipping on new parts.

I'm running a slot A athlon 950 (not a tbird) with 512megs of PC133, and a Geforce DDR (and some other stuff)....

 

[Viper GTS]

No worse than buying a new car, except that it happens much faster.

Thankfully PC's don't cost $25,000, & don't kill you if you eff up.

Viper GTS

 

[CromNogger]

wtf do you need to upgrade for? To get 999999 fps instead of 999998? Come on, that system is powerful enough to last you another 5 years. Like you said, it's like throwing your money in the toilet! So STOP THROWIN IT IN THE TOILET! haha...

 

[MichaelD]

Oh yes, it's the Mantra of the Hardware Enthusiast! "But I paid $245 for this card just six months ago and now it's $99!" Yessiree, Mr. NotFred (Barney?) welcome to the club.

Your rig, however, would be like the spaceshuttle to someone wanting to upgrade from, say, a K6 or a 486dx or PII250 or something like that. Maybe you could sell it locally? Welcome to the "I Flushed My Money Down The Toilet But Had A Whole Lotta Fun Doing It" Club!

 

[TallBill]

hah, my biggest bummer was spending 1400 bucks for a k6-2 compaq with onboard video instead of sellin it for 3 dollars i plopped some basic old hardware into it for a few bucks and now my sister and mother have internet access and love it.... put yer old machine to use... heck.. yer old machine is still good enough to play games on a LAN... thats kinda fun if a friend comes over

 

[LostHiWay]

upgrade about every 3 months and the only thing you'll lose alot of money on is the cpu. That's what I do

 

[Jzero]

That's why I keep my stuff a few generations old....I'm that guy that paid $99 for your gfx card that you paid $400 for 6 months ago.

 

[Viper GTS]

Welcome to the "I Flushed My Money Down The Toilet But Had A Whole Lotta Fun Doing It" Club!

That right there is the key. Don't expect to make money, don't expect to break even. This hobby costs money, & lots of it. But the key is you're having fun, it's a hobby.

Viper GTS

 

[Doomer]

Always have a vaild reason to upgrade.

NO, "there's something better/faster out there" is not a vaild reason.

Unless, of course, you're rich.

 

[Fraggle]

nah, not a waste... computer parts make me happy, and there aren't many better uses for money than that

 

[rudder]

but if I sell my current parts, it's hardly going to cover shipping on new parts

Well you deserve what you got. here you are complaining, then talking about selling your current machine and upgrading. Why? what won't run on a 900mhz machine with 512megs of ram?

 

[b0mbrman]

Yep. But supposing you get some utility out of using your computer, then you're better off, no? You lost $2000 in resale but you probably spent 2000 hours on your computer in that time (translates to just under 3 hours a day)...Don't you think your computer's been worth a dollar an hour to you over the past couple years?

 

[Amused]

<< Buying computer parts is like throwing money in the toilet. >>



You JUST figured this out???

 

[b0mbrman]

I think throwing money in the toilet is worse because if I threw the thousand dollars it took to put together my computer, my whole downstairs would smell of poopy water

 

[spanky]

well..this process of feeling ripped off is inevitable. i guess if u want to lie to yourself and try to delay the feeling, u can get a mac. hehe..

 

[RedRooster]

Well, you could always take up cocaine, or some other highly addicting drug.
Although, you'll probably die shortly.

It's a hobby, just like model builders buy $1500 models and then crash them(the RC airplanes).

I always justify buying new parts as "Well, I could either buy drugs or computer parts." Guess which wins? hehe

 

[JellyBaby]

notfred, you must be young. After you dump the first $10,000 into computing you become unconcerned that it's a deep money sinkhole.

And, no, if you throw money into the toilet you don't benefit from it (neither does the toilet for that matter). New PC stuff is actually useful if only for a short time.

Trick is to cut through all the hype, upgrade only when you really need to and when you do upgrade be sure you make sound cost/performance purchases.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

<< I always justify buying new parts as "Well, I could either buy drugs or computer parts." Guess which wins? >>

So that's why you're still using an 8088.

 

[gogeeta13]

I just take all my extra's and sell local systems. My trading has really dropped lately though. Newegg and staples have better deals, lol.

I also have a computer business, so it is easy for me..

 

[JackOfHearts]

What is the fun of having that 2500 bux around? So you buy a crapy used car or a hooker... that still loses value with time... You could have saved it.. and made like 100 bux interest... But did you have 100 bux worth of fun on that computer... probably YES! so quit whining... back in the day I spent 250 bux on a 20 GB hard disk... now 20 GB hard disk are like 50 bux... but I got to enjoy top of the line for a while... You pay for the best...

 

[wyvrn]

Yeah after I bought my last computer, laptop, and palm I was kinda disappointed. I mean they are fun for awhile but I like to get out of the house and have some fun. Cheaper on the budget than being a computer geek all the time!

 

[RedRooster]

<<

<< I always justify buying new parts as "Well, I could either buy drugs or computer parts." Guess which wins? >>

So that's why you're still using an 8088. >>



Smodass.
Actually, by the looks of my system, it might be questionable which route I choose.
That's gonna change right away, soon as I find a good AMD combo. hehe

 

[BDawg]

<< well..this process of feeling ripped off is inevitable. i guess if u want to lie to yourself and try to delay the feeling, u can get a mac. hehe..
>>



You joke, but my 7 year old Mac is still being used for web design and photoshop.

 

[HowardStern]

That's why I try to say on the trailing edge of technology...

 

[StageLeft]

I used to sink ungodly amounts of money into my computer. I now spend only when I need to and I never, ever, come near top of the line. Truly the worst way to spend money is buy top of the line. I buy middle and get a great bang for buck then let it sit there for a while. I'm lucky enough that I don't need a spanking fast computer to feel happy with myself now