Home Built PC Vs. Store Bought? Looking for examples.

[Coldkilla]

I dont know much about anything, but I do know how to build computers and my friend wants to buy a new one. I was wondering if someone could find the price on two PC's and compare them for me (same specs). One built from a company, and one built from home.

I want my friend to get a 'gaming system' but his parents don't want to spend the extra money. Therefore, I suggest to him for his parents to give me a budget. They suggest 1,400. Now they could go out and by a 1,400 dell or have me build it for 1,400. I want to simply show my friend that he could get a built gaming system from me for the same price and his parents 'wouldn't know' I guess.

Could someone make good comparison between the two systems (price/part wise)?

Monitor/Mouse/Keyboard not required.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Bad idea if there's ever a problem. You'll be to blame for hardware failures, vrius infections, data loss, etc. for the life of the machine.

Building for yourself is often a good idea, building for anyone else is usually a mistake unless you have unlimited patience and free time.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
I dont know much about anything, but I do know how to build computers and my friend wants to buy a new one. I was wondering if someone could find the price on two PC's and compare them for me (same specs). One built from a company, and one built from home.

I want my friend to get a 'gaming system' but his parents don't want to spend the extra money. Therefore, I suggest to him for his parents to give me a budget. They suggest 1,400. Now they could go out and by a 1,400 dell or have me build it for 1,400. I want to simply show my friend that he could get a built gaming system from me for the same price and his parents 'wouldn't know' I guess.
Could someone make good comparison between the two systems (price/part wise)?

Monitor/Mouse/Keyboard not required.

trust me his parents would know very well th first time anything went wrong....

All your doing is screwing your friend because everytime something goes wrong your friend will have to come to you and there by probably have to lie to his parents....

I would question if you are much of a friend to your friend???

 

[benplaut]

Give suggestions on parts, and give the kid a guide on how to build it on his own. Best of both worlds, and he learns quite a bit

 

[dangman4ever]

Does your friend want a gaming PC or is it just you that want a gaming PC?

 

[lilming]

i helped a friend once and anytime something goes slightly wrong he would come to me. Quite annoying actually.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: lilming
i helped a friend once and anytime something goes slightly wrong he would come to me. Quite annoying actually.

If Search worked you could find many, many similar stories like this. We've had several warning threads in the past where we cynical old-timers informed you hopeful youngsters of the true cost of being too helpful.

 

[Lonyo]

The rule is: Build your own, recommend Dell or a similar pre-built to anyone you know.

 

[Evilhomer99]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
The rule is: Build your own, recommend Dell or a similar pre-built to anyone you know.

Agreed.....

Not only will you become 24/7 Tech support, you may end up on the peoples court with your friend paying the difference!

 

[bob4432]

not trying to be rude, but if you can't even spec out like for like machines then how are you going to build this setup? off of what we suggest? again, you are not doing anything, nor learnling anything.

trust me, it has taken a couple years for me to not be the "go to" guy when friends/family have issues. an excellent feeling after being taken advantage of because i was too nice for years. now i work on my rigs and at most 1-2 friends, but that is it, and now anybody who asks what they should get i refer them to dell, plain and simple.

 

[Leros]

Let your friends deal with their own machines. I've helped friends in the past and I regret the follow up work it required.

 

[stogez]

Echoing what everyone has already said, its not usually a good idea to build something for friends. Its far better to configure a system for them on Dell, HP, Gateway or whatever. Just show them what parts are good and would give them the best performance for their money.
As for your friend, how much does he game? Does he need cutting edge graphics? What resolution does he usually game in? $1400 is a VERY decent budget for a machine. Comparing is easy, open a window at Dell.com and one at Newegg.com and price out a similarly configured system.

 

[ZzZGuy]

well, it depends on weather he wants raw power or reliability.

A friend picked the parts for my computer, but i assembled it and only ask for his help on things like "can you stick your GPU in my computer to see if it's the video card that's fryed", i don't ask him about driver problems or why my computer is slowing down and he got a MoBo obove what he could afford off of me in return.

If he isn't the type to learn fast or just not want to learn, i'd advise against you building it becuase of things mentioned above.

I'd have a look at dell, gateway, alienware, nicx + other online stores and see what you can build within budget. Actual "walk in" stors very rarely have good prices.


Here is the pro's and cons of what your looking at

1- You/he Builds it from scratch.
Pro's
- Best bang for your buck.
- You pick what You want.
- For me anyway, it's fun to work on your own system without being paranoid about voiding some system warranty.

Con's
-Unless you've already built it, it's not tested. It's up to you to make sure everythings compatable and will perform as you expect.
-Increased risk of damaging parts and voiding the warranty so you have to buy a new one (lost a $250 MoBo because of a screw driver mishap).
-You encounter more problems generaly. I dont' mind fixing them but some people do.
-You have to fix it. (people like me don't mind)


2- Buying a pre-built system (2/3 year warranty is a must)
Pro's
- It's tested, it works when you flip the switch the first time and you just need to install games and hook up the internet.
- If you pick a good company, you'll have online and phone support.

Con's
-Generaly it costs more, but sometimes it's a pritty small difference.
-Harder to overclock without voiding some warranty.
-It's usually inferior to what you can do (even when taking a profet margen out of your budget to work with), if you know what your doing.



So basicly, see just how much more buying pre-built is then you making it, and then you have mentioned problems above with the possiblity of you being his tech support (unless you know otherwise).

 

[Markbnj]

- Best bang for your buck.

I'm not 100 percent sure this is true anymore. One thing you definitely get from building is handpicked components, and long-term upgradeability. Dell machines, imo, get used like toasters until they are obsolete and then are passed on. But I am less certain that, considering O/S and other included software, that you will get more for your dollar building your own.

 

[GMY]

I agree. The big difference in what Dell pays for WinXP and what I pay, puts me at a disadvantage. If I could pick up a WinXP at college book store or such, the difference wouldn't be so much

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Markbnj

- Best bang for your buck.

I'm not 100 percent sure this is true anymore. One thing you definitely get from building is handpicked components, and long-term upgradeability. Dell machines, imo, get used like toasters until they are obsolete and then are passed on. But I am less certain that, considering O/S and other included software, that you will get more for your dollar building your own.

i too would agree with Markbnj on this point.

some dells are hard to beat $$$ wise unless he will be building more machines in the future. if he plans on continuing the pc stuff then building will give him better bang for the buck over years - like using the same case 5yrs later or the same hdd 3yrs later with 1-2builds per year (or should i say 1-2 m/b / cpu / gpu upgrades per year)

if he plans on keeping the same rig for 2-3yrs than buying a dell will probaby be cheaper

 

[bob4432]

congrats to ZzZGuy being the exception to the rule wish more people were like you in the computer dept and being noob at it - taking on the challenges, triumphs and to learn the knowledge others would just rather have their friend do for them