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Pro vs DIY

W

waldoh

Member
What do the professional computer assemblers do that (most) DIYers do not?


I have been wondering if it is worth it to go the boutique way for the next build and pay for a (hopeful) no hassle experience. I have been building my own computers for years but always have multiple issues/bugs/kinks/etc... that are frustrating.


Is there some giant godlike guide to building and setting up a computer like a pro?
 
I dunno that I'd qualify as a professional builder, but I worked in a small local retail shop and built something to the tune of 1000s of computers.

As far as what we did that most DIYers likely wouldn't:

1) Cable management (Zip ties are your friend) (You could opt for velcro, but zip ties were quicker)
2) Update the BIOS before loading the OS. (Pretty much every time)
3) Use up to date drivers every time.
4) Use separate cables where possible (not an issue these days with everything being SATA, but IDE drives often times home builders would put the CD and HDD on the same cable, which forced them to put the drive in a funny spot.)

Aside from lining up the standoffs with the board and mounting the CPU fan correctly, that was pretty much it, but that should be self explanatory.
 
To each is own.

However, each time that I build a Computer there is No question in my mind that it is better than any comparable "professional".

Doing the things that are described above in mvbighead post is Not a matter of being Professional.

I do them in my Builds. If one does not do them it means that he/she is a "Slob", Not the difference between Professional and DIY.



😎
 
I was referring to boutique pc builders like origin, maingear, etc... less about Dell (and other assembly line builders).

I definitely need to spend more time with cable management. I also have never fully updated bios before a clean install (although I do update it after).

My current computer is having short circuit issues. I have had to flash the bios because it became corrupt. The last build I believe I ran into an issue with bad windows installs that seemed totally random. The PSU died half way into its life). The build before that I had to swap the video card at least once.

I always buy well reviewed hardware and don't skimp too much.

Chances are I will keep dealing with these issues as they come up because saving $1000+ depending on my system spec is very nice.
 
JackMDS said:
To each is own.

However, each time that I build a Computer there is No question in my mind that it is better than any comparable "professional".

Doing the things that are described above in mvbighead post is Not a matter of being Professional.

I do them in my Builds. If one does not do them it means that he/she is a "Slob", Not the difference between Professional and DIY.



😎
Click to expand...

Is there a difference between a computer and a Computer, a professional and a Professional, and a build vs a Build? Just curious
 
If you consider the building process a hassle and do not mind the add-on pay. Sure go ahead and pay.

You can eat at Home, or and you can eat in a Restaurant, nothing wrong with one or the other, it is just a matter of personal preferences.



😎
 
JackMDS said:
To each is own.

However, each time that I build a Computer there is No question in my mind that it is better than any comparable "professional".

Doing the things that are described above in mvbighead post is Not a matter of being Professional.

I do them in my Builds. If one does not do them it means that he/she is a "Slob", Not the difference between Professional and DIY.



😎
Click to expand...

i don't zip tie :colbert: cable management is overrated.
 
ElFenix said:
i don't zip tie :colbert: cable management is overrated.
Click to expand...

I do not use Zips either :$, but I use few short twisted ties especialy for the cables near the PSU. Most Mobos have the memory sticks position there and I want to make sure that they get some sort of ventilation. Otherwise, I might few more ties inother spots depending on the location of Fans and cables. :biggrin:


😎
 
JackMDS said:
If you consider the building process a hassle and do not mind the add-on pay. Sure go ahead and pay.

You can eat at Home, or and you can eat in a Restaurant, nothing wrong with one or the other, it is just a matter of personal preferences.
Click to expand...

Pretty much this. If you don't mind paying somebody a little (ok, a lot) extra to take care of any potential hassles, then by all means go with a boutique.
 
Knowledge is power... and it's fun sometimes.

I change my own oil, reload my own ammunition, grow my own herbs (for cooking, ) and now... build my own computers. It's fun, it's a challenge (especially the software and driver part... ) but I'd rather do it than buy a prebuilt or pay someone to Professionally build it.

I DO use zipties... but none of my builds are going to wind up on the cover of PC magazine, that's for sure.

Is there some giant godlike guide to building and setting up a computer like a pro?
Click to expand...

Yes, it's called 'experience.'
 
Building desktop computers yourself from parts was so 15 years ago.

Today almost everything is integrated into the motherboard, and the extra accessories are unused - even the optical drive is almost obsolete. There isn't much to "DIY".

Unless you're building a high-end machine, just buy from a major manufacturer on the cheap. Systems today are far superior to the Packard Bell's of old.
 
Puget Systems will, for a very large premium, offer you cherry-picked parts that are at the quiet end of any variation.

You buy 1 fan, you take what you get unless it's defective. They buy 1,000 fans, and use the 100 most quiet in their low-noise PCs while using the other 900 for general system building.

If money is really no object and you don't mind paying an extra 25% -100%, you can possibly end up with a better low-noise system than building it yourself because of this.

But that's a special case. In general you just get someone who won't make newbie mistakes in assembly and to save yourself a little time.

Every time I go to build a new gaming system I think maybe this time I'll pay someone, but I always end up building it myself because I want a certain mix of parts and I don't want to pay a huge markup to get them.
 
lehtv said:
Is there a difference between a computer and a Computer, a professional and a Professional, and a build vs a Build? Just curious
Click to expand...

When I first built a computer, I think some of the ideas going through my head were this: Windows install without all kinds of ads, a build with all 120mm fans would be more silent, an adequately powerful, reliable and silent power supply, enough RAM etc., then once I learn how to build one, I can change one or a few things by myself instead of buying a completely new machine.

I got into a period though where I would lap the heatsinks, get fan controllers... My last build (not completed yet) isn't going to have a fan controller and I likely won't bother using sandpaper on the CPU heatsink. I intend to use the stock heatsink on the video card. The odd thing is, after deciding this I read a message about a fan failure on a video card. Now I'm thinking it may have been better to buy a video card with heatpipes on it just in case of a fan failure. I find it weird though companies like Thermaltake don't have a complete list anymore of video cards that are compatible with their video card heatsinks. They just have a warning that it's the responsibility of the buyer to ensure the compatibility of the card with the heatsink.

I still have computers with a Geforce GT 6600 and 8800 GS with off-the-shelf heatpipe heatsinks with quality fans on them. I may keep them in the future to try Linux etc.

I prefer flashing my BIOS and also verifying the BIOS settings on the Internet. Sometimes RAM and CPU settings are auto-detected incorrectly by the motherboard.
 
Well if you build it yourself there should be no doubt in your mind about the quality of the components used. Big box builders won't give you the same quality components as you could get for yourself at most price points. Don't believe that then go to dell and build a system and then go to newegg and price it out and see the difference. I prefer to put the money into the components instead of lining someone else's pockets.
 
JackMDS said:
To each is own.

However, each time that I build a Computer there is No question in my mind that it is better than any comparable "professional".

Doing the things that are described above in mvbighead post is Not a matter of being Professional.

I do them in my Builds. If one does not do them it means that he/she is a "Slob", Not the difference between Professional and DIY.



😎
Click to expand...

True enough. I am just referring to our customers who brought stuff in because it didn't work. Looking at their builds, you have a DVD drive sitting at the bottom of 4 bays (looked tacky as ever) and hard drives held in with one or two screws. Then you had either the case's default standoff placement or no standoffs at all. We had some real gems for customers. When stuff didn't work, it was our "crappy" parts fault. The simple matter was a grounded out MB, a socket A CPU with a backwards fan and chipped die on the processor, memory forced into the slot backwards. etc. etc.

Long story short, a "professional" builds it neat and clean, like some home builders do. Everything is put in a specific place for a reason, not just because it fits. And cables were managed to allow for proper airflow.
 
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