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Poll Part 1: Your latest computer - Did you buy prebuilt or build it yourself? For research paper

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Things have changed greatly since the days of 386, 486, and P5 class computers, when it was almost always less expensive to build/assemble your own. Today, it really depends on your price range.

If you're in the market for a budget computer, it is VERY hard to do better in price than pre-builts like eMachines and others. I continue to be stunned by how much computer you can get for $500 - $600 these days. 256MB DDR RAM, DVD, CDRW, 60GB HDDs, etc. I have referred to OEMs like eMachines dozens of people who were looking for a custom built computer on a budget, because I simply couldn't match the price feature for feature, plus give them free technical support, etc.

If you're in the market for a mid-range computer, it can go either way.

Only if you're in the market for a high-end computer does it become reliably less expensive to build/assemble your own.
 
Dell Dimension 4550 before you scoff at me look at the price

P4 2.4 (533 bus)
512MB DDR
GF Ti4200 64MB DDR
40GB 7200 RPM
40x CD-RW
16x DVD
Intel 10/100 NIC
Legal software
Legal XP Home
6 USB 2.0 ports
Nice tool less case design with plenty of room for expansion.

After I sold the 15" LCD it came with, the 2% eBates, free shipping came out to about $450 shipped.
 
Originally posted by: tm37
any one else notice that RossMAN just had to out what he paid😉
Click to expand...

If I didn't do that, you'd know that it was an imposter who hacked into my AT account 🙂
 
Seeing as how my newest system is an Inspiron, I bought it pre-built. However, In the 2.5 months that I've had it, memory and video card have been upgraded.
 
I can't believe you recommended an peeMachine to somebody. Their power supplies are the crappiest I have ever worked with!!!
 
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Dell Dimension 4550 before you scoff at me look at the price

P4 2.4 (533 bus)
512MB DDR
GF Ti4200 64MB DDR
40GB 7200 RPM
40x CD-RW
16x DVD
Intel 10/100 NIC
Legal software
Legal XP Home
6 USB 2.0 ports
Nice tool less case design with plenty of room for expansion.

After I sold the 15" LCD it came with, the 2% eBates, free shipping came out to about $450 shipped.
Click to expand...

As usual, I will concur with the RossMAN.

Also, building your own PC is kinda like baseball. When its down, its on the DL for 15 days between RMA's. Getting replacement parts shipped out and back can be tedious at times, and nobody likes downtime.

Personally, I've had Dell RMA the following with overnight or 2 day services:

2 Geforce 1 vid cards
1 GF2 card (the GF1 went obsolete)
1 stick of questionable ram
1 19" trinitron monitor (85 pounds)
19 MS intellemice
1 SB live card

All went well and my system was down for less than 72 hours if it was an operation critical part.

-PAB
 
Built entirely. I have not bought a whole computer since '99 ( if you do not count a laptop )
 
Had mine custom built by a local shop. I didn't know enough about computers to build my own then. The next one I get, I will build myself, though.
 
hmmm my powerbook laptop is prebuilt ...
my other 4 systems were of course DIY jobs
I think every system i have ever owned since the days of the 486 have been DIY

prebuilt = evil (OEM prebuilts anyway)
 
Is this valid information for a paper? And how do we "borrow" your paper for umm . . . our own use?

1YP
 
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