How Would You Build?

[Raptor9]

If you were looking to build a new computer, and time wasn't necessarily a concern, would you periodically order the parts you wanted when you saw great deals on them, or would you save up your money and buy them all at once? In other words, if I wanted a new computer by the end of this summer, do you think I'd be better off simply waiting until the end of the summer and buying it all at once because of general price decreases, or would it be cheaper to browse around the Hot Deals section and other sale sources picking up various components cheaply until I had everything I needed by the end of the summer?

If the parts themselves effect your decision, please consider the following components I'd like to purchase:

--AMD64 processor(probably 3000)
--nf4 board (Non-SLI, likely DFI or Asus)
--1gb PC3200 RAM
--6600gt video card
--PSU (Fortron, OCZ, Enermax, or any other quality make)
--Any case
--Any DVD-R/CD-R combo drive
--80gb+SATA hard drive

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I think I probably wouldn't have the patience to order parts one at a time

But if I did, and I already had a decent comptuer and wasn't dying for the new one right away, buying as hot deals come along would be a good idea to get the best bang for the buck. I think you'd do better buying on hot deals than waiting for whatever price decreases are going to happen on their own in a few months.

Right now I'd be worried about ram. A gig of pc3200 is incredibly cheap right now. It might even be more at the end of the summer depending on how things go. (I have no knowledge as to what ram prices are going to do but my point is that some things might go up in price by the end of the summer).

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I agree. Take the plunge and get it mostly over with. Thats a good list to start with. I'm considering the 6600GT from MSI for $215, otherwise they're mostly $200.
Check this out: 200GB for $125 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-033&depa=1

 

[DanDaMan315]

Buying them spaced out won't give you the feeling of having a NEW computer. IMO I would buy them all at once, save time and effort, and it gives you that having new stuff feeling.

 

[veggz]

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Buying them spaced out won't give you the feeling of having a NEW computer. IMO I would buy them all at once, save time and effort, and it gives you that having new stuff feeling.

I agree, but it wouldn't hurt to hold out on non-essential components (such as second optical/HD) until a good deal comes around. Otherwise I would get all the core components together.

 

[ChineseDemocracyGNR]

I wouldn't buy anything that you can't start using right away.

For the processor for example you might want to wait for a new revision (Venice core) to come out. A better video card may show up at that price range (like a X800 128MB). When it comes to computers things get obsolete pretty quickly, and you might get caught by it before you even start using what you bought.

 

[sterling]

Raptor

You would be wise to shop on Anandtech and Fatwallet.com for hot deals. Thats exactly what i did. Got my hard drives, modem, floppy, video card practically free. I also got my copy of windows xp pro for 40 bucks as I can remember. I got all my motherboard and processor through STaples. I forgot the name of their subsidiary that pricematched motherboard and processor and even gave me 110% of the difference. It doesnt pay to build your own machine these days unless u get some very good deal on parts.

 

[n yusef]

If you have until the end of the summer I wouldn't buy things right now. New processors and graphics cards will be out by then and your stuff will already be obselete. New technology is always coming out, so what may be good now will be old in a few months. If you do however see a great deal, take it.

 

[Raptor9]

Thanks for the advice--I think I'll hold off with components that change quickly (motherboards, processors, graphics cards) unless I find a truly amazing deal, and just pick and choose other things when I find them on sale (hard drives, DVD/CD drives, PSUs).

 

[imported_ceefka]

I am in a similar situation plus I am a new to building my own. I have used the in between time to read tons of reviews and sort out specs. I have considered buying stuff when there's a good deal, but I did not. Just when I thought I had it all saved up I wrecked my car and got a lot of expenses on other fields of interest. In way that was a blessing, because so much better stuff has come out since then and a lot of prices have lowered as I have gotten wiser. I would have ended up with the wrong stuff, man!

Now I am more towards the "all in one go" scenario and not involving too many different vendors because of these reasons:
Shipping costs per order
Updates on products that occur before buying
Reviews on products that you read before buying
Prices of the most important ingredients won't be getting any higher (CPU/Mainboard/HDD) the only real challenge is RAM.

What I didn't realize is the importance of your PSU. If you have not reached a verdict on componentes like CPU/MOBO/VGA/number of HDD etc. you can't really decide on what PSU to buy.

 

[imported_X]

Good call...as a general rule, time is on your side when it comes to buying components. You can often get things cheaper or of higher quality simply by virtue of waiting. I would wait and buy them all at once, especially the cpu, motherboard, and video card.

 

[piasabird]

Sometimes in local sales you can get hard drives on sale or they may have cash-back coupons. Many people that do this can find some hard drives or optical drives at reduced rates at places like Best Buy or Office-Max or some other local store.

What I recommond watching is the price on a really good computer case. Sometimes someone pushes a case at a reduced price or with free shipping. When I purchased my last case, I waited for a sale and I purchased it separately.

Intel and AMD may be coming out with Dual Processors on a single core and that may push the price down on the CPU's just a little. This doesnt affect lower end processors as much as the high-end processors. A higher end processor may drop $100.00 when the next processor comes out, while the low end may only change in price about $1.00 to $5.00.

You may see the computer shops moving products before the Apr 15th deadline to avoid taxation.

 

[imported_Mitchell]

I ordered the parts as I found deals on them.

I got my FX55 for 800$ when they first came out. Now they are going for $1000+.

 

[crimson117]

The major exception is RAM... RAM prices do not always follow the "gets cheaper if you wait" rule. If you see a good deal on the RAM you want, buy it now.

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

I generally buy over about a month to month and a half period for myself. If I'm building one for someone else (like the one I just built for my father) I generally get it over with in about a week or so.

 

[boomerang]

Over the time frame you're talking about, it's not really a concern but don't forget about warranty issues.

I've got several Hard Drives in the closet I picked up because they were a great deal and you guessed it, the warranty has run out. Brand new, unused drives with no warranty.

Of course it doesn't help that most, if not all drive makers start the warranty from date of manufacture.