What is the advantages of building your own system?

[Enkrates]

Hi,

I am quite a newbie in building my own pc. I thinking of building one just get some experience. Beside getting to know computer a little better, what other advantages you get for building new system? You don't save much when building a system. I added all the part I need for my system and I compare it to dell's system with similiar spec, the price is pretty close. So what is it that make you guys want to build your own system? (Maybe becuase you don't get crappy computer parts? hehe)

Price Comparision: (without monitor)
Abit KT7 $140
Enlight 7237 300w $60
AMD thunderbird 800 $175
pioneer 16x DVD $150
Sound Card $100
32mb geforce 2 $300
Hard Drive 30 gig $150
Natural Keyboard $50
Optical mouse $40
128 SDRAM p133 $160

total ---------------> $1325


Similar system at Dell.com (with Pentium 3 800 not AMD though, no monitor, $1388):

http://commerce.us.dell.com/Dellsto...Z800PW19&customer_id=19&keycode=6V930

Thanx guys

 

[Viper GTS]

You mean besides the invaluable experience, a higher performing system with no extra crap installed, & the ability to choose each & every piece in it?

Nothing.

Viper GTS

 

[DesignDawg]

Well, price used to be a good reason, but computers have gotten cheap. The MAIN THING now is just as Viper said, you get to choose every piece in it. You can NOT get a TRULY custom-built computer from a vendor. --ANd when you can come the CLOSEST, it will cost you a good bit more for a lower-performance system that doesn't QUITE have everything you need.

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[Viper GTS]

Another thing I should have mentioned would be standard hardware. No crap like combination soundcard/modem boards, onboard video, no AGP slots, etc.

Everything in my system is standard, & I wouldn't want it any other way.

Proprietary hardware SUCKS!

Viper GTS

 

[KarsinTheHutt]

Advantages - as Viper pointed out, experience and true customization

Disadvantages - No comprehesive waranty covering all you PC's components.

I personally own a Dell since I'm not really into OCing and tweaking. I just add parts when I need them.

 

[KarsinTheHutt]

Personally I have to disagree a little bit with Viper. I certainly agree about the AGP slots and the combination boards.

BUT

Onboard sound/video is not necessarily bad as long as it doesn't restrict upgradability. The i815e chipset, for example, has integrated video and a 4x AGP slot. While this may seem like a waste of money, its a convienient backup in case your GeForce blows out on you. Same thing with the sound.

 

[Viper GTS]

It's a personal preference for me. I'd rather have six PCI slots & an AGP slot than any extra crap on the motherboard. I upgrade often, & I don't want to fvck with it.

Viper GTS

 

[HaVoC]

I think either way is fine. I would personally build my next system, but my current system is a heavily modified Micron Millennia PC. There is nothing wrong with an OEM system as long as:

1. 1. It is from a reputable and high quality OEM like Dell or Micron.
   2. It uses a minimal number of integrated components to allow for future expandibility. A custom built system is always going to be the most expandable.
   3. The OEM DOES NOT saddle down your system with excessive "help me" utilities or stupid resource eating programs.

But, as you found out in your comparison, YOU ARE NOT going to save a lot of money custom building unless you go with crappy components. OEMs buy components in bulk which allows them to price aggressively compared to custom building.

 

[Enkrates]

Thanx guys...been a great help.

I haven't build a pc yet. It sounds fun to, I think might just do it.

 

[Homer]

There is, for me, a great pleasure in building a computer that works well. Most of the components of that pleasure have been enumerated already, but there is still that quality of my creation. Also the complete control, the choice of being absolutely able to choose what's in it, both hardware and software, not having to live with a manufacturer's cost-cutting compromises, even if I have to make my own.

If I were you I'd do it. I'll bet if you do you'll never buy a pre-built again.

 

[toph99]

for me it's the experience.... i have yet to build my own, because i am VERY short on cash, hehe, but, i know because i have 3 dells, i find that expandability is the biggest problem. dell tends to use moderate components, but no cutting edge technology unless you're gonna spend $4000cnd for it. i am building my own system for about $1000, which will most definatly beat my latest dell purchase which came out to $2000. and the problem with getting a low end system from dell i find is that it leaves you with little to no expandability. it came in a micro tower, with only one 5" bay, 2 external 3" bays and one internal, along with 4PCI slots, and an i810E mobo. which means no agp slot. the best feature i find is the UDMA66 7200rpm maxtor 10gb hard drive they shipped with it. as i said, i have 3 dell systems:

L500r(my new one) PIIIE 500Mhz
96mb ram
10gb hard drive
soundblaster 64V PCI
D-Link NIC(i added it)
Voodoo3 2000PCI 143@170 (my own)
56k modem
Zip 250(also my own)
Lite-On 48x cd-rom

PII 233Mhz
440LX
3gb hard drive
onboard sound and video
32x cd-rom
96mb ram

(laptop)
Pentium 233mhz
128mb ram
4gb hard drive
24x cd-rom/floppy drive



so for me, building my own system is much cheaper. though sometimes you can't put a price on dell's customer service...

 

[pg22]

You mean besides the invaluable experience, a higher performing system with no extra crap installed, & the ability to choose each & every piece in it?

w3rd man...w3rd =)

 

[Outlaw]

Nothing More Fun in building your own custom Rig.
Then tweaking it for maximum results.

It is a lot easier to upgrade your own home built than a Dell
or Other OEM unit. Ben there done that. As far as warranty or a system
for business go with an OEM unit for the piece of mind.

Gateway customer services is OK(long wait on phone). Dell is excellent. I had a bad sound card replaced by a technician in less than 24hrs at my home. I was very impressed to say the least.

 

[cpebbles]

You can totally astound anyone who's never considered building one themselves. Tell someone you built your system and they go bug-eyed on you, as if you'd custom-designed your CPU or something...

cpebbles

 

[hans007]

that and you caculated the cost of your system without software, so if you wanna be legal get the dell, for a business or home user, unless you want to do it as a hobby i'd get a prebuilt.

 

[JPT]

And also, you should look around for the best prices for each component: in your list you have the geforce2 for $300 and you can get one for less than $230... Some of the other stuff can be also a lot less than what you have listed...

 

[Shudder]

Don't be afraid to build your own PC. Make sure the MB isn't sitting against the case and other than that, you should be ok

I was going to build my own with the help of a friend. he never came around to help so I actually built it with the only source of my help being online resources.

Also, I would recommend getting a few extra things like multiple boot disks, an extra IDE cable/Floppy cable (I've had more bad than good come with the MB), extra screws, and if you have another computer that has online access, it would be great. I wouldn't have finished my first PC if I couldn't troubleshoot and get the drivers I needed if I dind't have that extra PC around.

After that, I've went on to build about 8 other systems, each without a single problem.

 

[Enkrates]

In reply to torp99:
Actually building your own pc is only slightly cheaper than getting a system at dell now a day. I have checked.

Ok, you guys have convinced me...I am going to build my own system, for experience, for the expandability and no crappy computer components, and most of all, for the fun of it.

Thanks all, good night!

 

[Viper GTS]

YES!

Another convert...



Viper GTS

 

[Linux23]

Do you guys that build multiple systems purchase a new license for all the software you're gonna install on the new pc?

I hope so, unless you are all stealing from Microsoft and the gang...

 

[Viper GTS]

If it's in my own home, no. I install my software on all my systems.

If I'm selling it, or building it for someone, absolutely. They buy their own licenses.

Viper GTS