The $$$ you save from building your own computer.

[MrCoyote]

I just looked online at some of the sites selling high-end "gaming" computers. Have you ever stopped and realized how much you can save? (I never did.) I'm building my 3rd computer, and have been doing it as sort of a hobby over the years. My gosh, I just added up all my components(thinking I was going over budget) and even with a $350 GeForce3, my system is costing me $500-600 less than if I bought a comparable retail system. And the "comparable" system doesn't even have as much memory, or as good of monitor,video card, hard drive space, etc....

 

[Mountain]

Plus, you know how. Some people dont want to suffer the learning curve. that's what we call a personal problem. for them the 500 bucks is what they pay to "save time" . mount

 

[mackstann]

yes....they are all idiots....

 

[tkim]

some people just have to much money and dont give a rats a$$! they will pay whatever.

 

[yellowperil]

Well, building your own computer requires a fair amount of research if you're new to it (I'm going through the process right now). Not only do you have to know how to configure each piece, but you have to keep up with the current trends and prices. As an analogy, you could make your own clothes if you wanted to, but most of us don't possess the tailoring skills or the desire to learn.

 

[Sluggo]

Great job, NOW think of it this way:

Figure in all the time you spent researching what you wanted to buy, tracking down best price on-line, ordering the parts and assembling and configuring the machine. Now figure in an average hourly wage for yourself, and decide how much you saved.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but for some people saving that money isnt worth it. Say you make about $40 an hour when you break down your wages. It takes me about 2 hours to do a nice job mowing my yard, it is more productive for me to let someone else mow it for $25, than to spend my time doing it. I make $80 bucks in that time and only pay out $25

But it is a great feeling to build your own box and hear it POST for the first time

 

[The Stigenator]

yeah it comes in cheaper.. but figure in the price of the OS and other software.. then it will be more expensive (unless you buy OEM or acad soft).

 

[Cooltech2k]

haha I haven't owned an OEM System since my brand spanking new 25mhz packard bell....

MrCoyote I Believe the people who do pay more for less of a system are suffering from more money than brains...

 

[Medea]

And don't forget to factor in how much you save in fixing it if you run into a problem. Having built it, you literally know every single component in the computer.

 

<< As an analogy, you could make your own clothes if you wanted to, but most of us don't possess the tailoring skills or the desire to learn. >>


Ah, so true. Im too busy with my box and router.

On the same note, same thing goes with cars, you can pretty much work on any car if you take the time to learn. But most people pay someone $45/hour to do that learning and work for them.

 

[GoldenBear]

yes....they are all idiots....

Yes, and we are all better than them and will take over the world simply because we know how to install a motherboard into a case.

 

[Whisper]

Exactly...everyone can't know everything about everything, and so some people just feel intimidated by computers (much like I do when confronted with automotive problems, other than needing to change the oil or refill the power steering fluid). Not everyone has the time and/or motivation to learn about building their own computer, so they let someone else do it for them. Besides, at least pre-built systems come with legal software, heh. And if something breaks, you don't even have to worry about fixing it...just send it back to where you bought it and let them deal with it.

Then again, my machismo is too great to let me buy a pre-built. I think it's a testosterone thing.

 

[OS]

You save money, but man you spend a freaking lot of time researching compatibility, price hunting, assembling, installing. How much is your time worth? If it's worth nothing, then always build your own. But the more money you make, the less sense it makes to build your own system.

Now, before you all come out and flame me, the last 4 or 5 systems in my family I've built. I used to be very gung ho about building my own system, &quot;yeah everything else sucks except self builts!&quot; But now I don't think it's really worth it anymore. The time and effort I've put into half of my personal systems pretty much nullified any money I really saved building them myself. The next system I get for myself I may just order from a local mom and pop store.

Now obviously if it's your hobby and you enjoy doing it, that's another story. But if a computer is just another tool, which it is to most people, then see above.

 

[hans007]

my dad works in the industry, and well the best values are in refurbished units. you can saveto a ton over what it costs to build one yourself

 

[BarbeQueGuy]

Cost savings was never an issue with me, I have always built/upgraded my own systems so that I could specify the grade of components in the system. I didn't always go for &quot;the latest and greatest&quot;, instead I would choose &quot;most bang for the buck&quot; and known reliability.

 

[RossMAN]

my dad works in the industry, and well the best values are in refurbished units. you can saveto a ton over what it costs to build one yourself

I agree, for instance you can buy a loaded factory refurbished Dell Dimension 4100 at a great price:

$940
Dimension 4100
P3-933
128MB RAM
40GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
CD-RW &amp; DVD
32MB GeForce 2 GTS
56k modem
64 sound card

 

[junthin]

It's not necessarily about the money you save...

It's all about the oppurtunity costs.

 

[pen^2]

rossman, that deal seems kinda cold to me, fair at best. even then i dont like the dell mobo or gts anyway...

 

[beat mania]

My sister needs a new computer and I'm not even thinking about building one for her even though I build all mine. I would rather spend my few hours of free time by actually doing something relaxing than trying to plug boards into a case and sit and wait for the computer to reboot over and over again.

 

[hans007]

they have been selling off refurbished units in mass quantities for very cheap actually. Personally a mix of p3-850-900s and 1ghz-1.2 ghz athlons to p4-1.4-.5 ghz with 256mb ram, 40 gig drives , dvd, 8x cdrw, and geforce 2 costs around $500 each if you buy a mixed lot. thats how much they sell to the liquidators.

 

[pen^2]

now THAT sounds real sweet

 

[OS]

<< I would rather spend my few hours of free time by actually doing something relaxing than trying to plug boards into a case and sit and wait for the computer to reboot over and over again. >>



Damn straight!

 

[Xayd]

<< my dad works in the industry, and well the best values are in refurbished units. you can saveto a ton over what it costs to build one yourself

I agree, for instance you can buy a loaded factory refurbished Dell Dimension 4100 at a great price:

$940
Dimension 4100
P3-933
128MB RAM
40GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
CD-RW &amp; DVD
32MB GeForce 2 GTS
56k modem
64 sound card >>



Asus CUSL2-C......107 dollars
P3 933................182 dollars
128M Crucial.........32 dollars
40G IBM 75GXP.....126 dollars
Plex 12/10/32A.....150 dollars
Pioneer 16x DVD.....60 dollars
Leadtek 64M GF2...173 dollars
SB Live Value.........40 dollars
ATX case locally.....40 dollars
-------------------------------

Grand Total.......910 dollars

Prices per newegg.com, at which you can get free shipping for ordering over a certain amount of merchandise unless I'm mistaken.

Bring your own crappo Winmodem from Best Buy, they're all pretty much eqally worthless . This machine for the same price is in every way infinitely superior to that Dell.

It's impossible to buy a machine for the same price that you can build it. Either you pay a ridiculous price for the same components, or you pay the same price for lesser components.

Xayd

 

[OS]

No legit software on that system you qouted.

 

[pen^2]

legit software like bs adaptec burning programs? i would rather not have that mutilated bs version of windows either...