reliable computer

[anksmashpunk]

i wanted to build my own computer instead of buying. My dad changed his midn on letting me get a computer because he things that a homebuilt one wouldnt be reliable enough during the school year because a crash could really mess me up. What would you guys say. would a homebuilt computer be as reliable as, say, a dell pc?

 

[Tu13erhead]

It all depends on how well you can choose parts, assemble them, maintain the computer, and troubleshoot possible problems.

 

[mountcarlmore]

if you know your stuff, than any computer can be stable, it just matters how you configure it. a bad decision on memory, motherboard or power supply can give you an eternal headache. an example of a stable comp would be a decen mobo manufacturer like abit, asus, msi, and so on; memory that is on the list of that motherbaord manufacturer's guaranteed to work modules and a quality power supply like antec, enermax, fortron, etc... just buy quality and youll have the same stability as any dell with the satisfaction of building your own.

 

[sivart]

do you want to do your own support on your PC? If the hard drive fails, do you have time to go get a new drive and "setup" your computer again? With a bought machine, you can get service to get the drive to you with no money out of pocket and sometimes the next day. Doing your own support you would have to buy a new drive or wait several weeks for a "warranty" drive. (Same with any other part).

How much will you be moving the machine? My homebuilt machines are relialbe, but I'm not transporting them 3-5 times a year in a car. They are built and don't move until they are upgraded.

 

[mechBgon]

I maintain a business fleet of about 85 systems, and three dozen of them are variants of this one that I built. A self-built computer can be as reliable as an HP/Gateway/Dell/EMachine, yes. My 2¢ worth:

1) don't buy cheap stuff. No cut-rate RAM, no freebie power supplies that came with a cheap ricer case, no el-cheapo motherboards.

2) get an APC uninterruptible power supply with automatic voltage regulation and auto-shutdown software. This stuff all runs on electricity, so... yeah

3) equip the system with a spare hard drive and schedule Microsoft Backup to back up your important stuff (heck, and your schoolwork too! ) to the second drive every day while you're at class, or another time when the computer will be on. You can "go back in time" to recover a file you blank-saved or deleted, or if you just went the wrong direction with a school assignment and want to go back to a previous version.

4) Secure the system as well as you possibly can. It would be smart to always have a router between your computer and all other computers, if you ask me, and the other obvious stuff like patching and properly-configured, current-generation antivirus software. more security ideas here and on the following pages. Set Windows up so the only account a visitor/roommate could possibly log onto is a Limited-class account, or else none at all. Have the Admin accounts password-protected.

5) Get WinXP Professional so you can use Microsoft Backup and join domains and stuff. Don't get WinXP Home.


I would lean towards having your self-built system on the basis that if you know how to build it, then you know how to rebuild it. Ask a soldier in the field if he calls his rifle manufacturer for help when his rifle won't fire Uhhhh... NO. If your dad overrides you, then still set your Happy Meal? computer up tight, protect it with a router, and plan a backup/recovery strategy with an external drive or a second drive.

 

[corpseofworms]

My dad wanted me to buy a system, I wanted to build. The trick is to show them prebuilt=/=reliability. I bought an A64 system, and errrr, assassinated it. Heatsink comes off, boot, and reattach heatsink. Make sure you don't get an intel system though. Those throttle very well. Send it back and build your own.