A computer components & hardware forum. HardwareBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » HardwareBanter forum » General Hardware & Peripherals » Homebuilt PC's
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

build or buy?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old January 28th 04, 05:00 AM
x
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default build or buy?

Am transferred out of USA and want to take a reliable comp to download and
watch movies, game, and email with a bit of work on the side using word and
excel.

So, do I buy a Dell/Gateway/ etc or, following the advice I culled from
weeks of lurking, buy stuff from newegg and assemble at home, thereby saving
tons of scarce cash.

I am not an experienced builder, but have been swapping out parts for years.

Your thoughts please?


  #2  
Old January 28th 04, 05:17 AM
D. Rogers
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Buy a barebones system and finish it off to suit your needs. You mainly
buy a Dell, Gateway, Compaq for the support, but since you are being
transferred out then the support won't do you any good. Might as well build
one.

"x" wrote in message
...
Am transferred out of USA and want to take a reliable comp to download and
watch movies, game, and email with a bit of work on the side using word

and
excel.

So, do I buy a Dell/Gateway/ etc or, following the advice I culled from
weeks of lurking, buy stuff from newegg and assemble at home, thereby

saving
tons of scarce cash.

I am not an experienced builder, but have been swapping out parts for

years.

Your thoughts please?




  #3  
Old January 28th 04, 06:18 AM
JAD
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

where are you going?...if your into DVD then you'll need a regional DVD ROM or some 'crack' that will allow you to watch certain
disks. Building to .....save....... is not as easy as it used to be...building to suit your needs for the present and as far as the
budget will allow for the future. My Motto, works for me. Good luck where ever your journey takes you....

"x" wrote in message ...
Am transferred out of USA and want to take a reliable comp to download and
watch movies, game, and email with a bit of work on the side using word and
excel.

So, do I buy a Dell/Gateway/ etc or, following the advice I culled from
weeks of lurking, buy stuff from newegg and assemble at home, thereby saving
tons of scarce cash.

I am not an experienced builder, but have been swapping out parts for years.

Your thoughts please?




  #4  
Old January 28th 04, 07:06 PM
jeffc
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"x" wrote in message
...
Am transferred out of USA and want to take a reliable comp to download and
watch movies, game, and email with a bit of work on the side using word

and
excel.

So, do I buy a Dell/Gateway/ etc or, following the advice I culled from
weeks of lurking, buy stuff from newegg and assemble at home, thereby

saving
tons of scarce cash.

I am not an experienced builder, but have been swapping out parts for

years.

You will NOT be saving "tons of scarce cash". If you really want to save
money, buy a used computer with last year's technology. There are tons of
these around for bargain basement prices that will do everything the vast
majority of people want to do. Next option is to buy an eMachine, or Dell,
or Gateway - lower end model. Wait for free upgrade offers, free shipping,
or rebates as they appear every few weeks. Next option is to buy a cheap
machine from a local computer store with some eggheads working there. Last
and least is to build your own. Large cost savings (*any* cost savings) is
not the reason to build your own.


  #5  
Old January 28th 04, 09:38 PM
EWhite
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

If he builds a system with last years Tech he CAN save a lot of money but it
will cost him some effort in research.
WWW.pricewatch.com
WWW.resellerratings.com
www.newegg.com
www.mwave.com

check out these sites first though
~Eric


"jeffc" wrote in message
...

"x" wrote in message
...
Am transferred out of USA and want to take a reliable comp to download

and
watch movies, game, and email with a bit of work on the side using word

and
excel.

So, do I buy a Dell/Gateway/ etc or, following the advice I culled from
weeks of lurking, buy stuff from newegg and assemble at home, thereby

saving
tons of scarce cash.

I am not an experienced builder, but have been swapping out parts for

years.

You will NOT be saving "tons of scarce cash". If you really want to save
money, buy a used computer with last year's technology. There are tons of
these around for bargain basement prices that will do everything the vast
majority of people want to do. Next option is to buy an eMachine, or

Dell,
or Gateway - lower end model. Wait for free upgrade offers, free

shipping,
or rebates as they appear every few weeks. Next option is to buy a cheap
machine from a local computer store with some eggheads working there.

Last
and least is to build your own. Large cost savings (*any* cost savings)

is
not the reason to build your own.




  #6  
Old January 29th 04, 12:26 AM
jeffc
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"EWhite" wrote in message
news:O4VRb.45729$U%5.240036@attbi_s03...
If he builds a system with last years Tech he CAN save a lot of money but

it
will cost him some effort in research.
WWW.pricewatch.com
WWW.resellerratings.com
www.newegg.com
www.mwave.com


I'd like to see a system total price that betters what you can buy in the
store for equal quality parts. Don't forget the cost of the operating
system. You can buy a brand new computer these days for $400, including
display and printer. I just don't see doing that buying after putting the
pieces together. The operating system alone is going to set you back $100.
You're going to be out at least $150 for a 17" CRT and printer. That
doesn't leave a whole lot for the computer itself - only $150.


  #7  
Old January 29th 04, 06:14 AM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 04:00:13 GMT, "x" wrote:

Am transferred out of USA and want to take a reliable comp to download and
watch movies, game, and email with a bit of work on the side using word and
excel.

So, do I buy a Dell/Gateway/ etc or, following the advice I culled from
weeks of lurking, buy stuff from newegg and assemble at home, thereby saving
tons of scarce cash.


Easy! Of course you build it! It's lots of fun, and you get exactly
the components you wan't. And you get support for your individual
components, regardless if you happen to upgrade something or change
OS.

I am not an experienced builder, but have been swapping out parts for years.


Then you've already tried all the hard parts. At least if you've
reinstalled OSes a couple of times, and messed with the bios, as well.

Only tricky thing left, is mounting the heatsink. But it's just a
matter of taking it real easy. And figure everything out in great
detail, before doing it.

Your thoughts please?


Build it!
Protect your stuff against against static electric charge.
Read the manuals. Read the manufacturers webpages.
Mount cpu, heatsink and ram on the mobo before installing it.
Install mobo first. Have a flashlight at hand when working in the
case.
Only install videocard, HD and CD (and floppy) before installing OS.
If you belong to MS, make use of 'Windows Update".
Add other hardware later.

Oh, and never ever buy a Celeron! They're so horribly slow, - it's
outright fraud.

If you're interested in "saving tons of scarce cash" then lowend
components like Duron, AthlonXP2000-2400, VIA KT400A and KT600 mobos,
will still get you a quite decent system, at very low cost. (Twice as
fast as Dell's Celerons)

Ancra


  #8  
Old January 29th 04, 07:28 AM
jamotto
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"jeffc" wrote in message ...
"EWhite" wrote in message
news:O4VRb.45729$U%5.240036@attbi_s03...
If he builds a system with last years Tech he CAN save a lot of money but

it
will cost him some effort in research.
WWW.pricewatch.com
WWW.resellerratings.com
www.newegg.com
www.mwave.com


I'd like to see a system total price that betters what you can buy in the
store for equal quality parts. Don't forget the cost of the operating
system. You can buy a brand new computer these days for $400, including
display and printer. I just don't see doing that buying after putting the
pieces together. The operating system alone is going to set you back $100.
You're going to be out at least $150 for a 17" CRT and printer. That
doesn't leave a whole lot for the computer itself - only $150.

If he want's to play games then a $400 computer is not going to do
that. They are built with too slow intergrated graphics card. Well,
unless 6 FPS feels speedy to him. To get a computer that would play
games well brings up the cost to around $700-$800 and a computer could
be built to match that price range.
  #9  
Old January 29th 04, 09:06 AM
tweak
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On 28 Jan 2004 22:28:21 -0800, (jamotto) wrote:

"jeffc" wrote in message ...
"EWhite" wrote in message
news:O4VRb.45729$U%5.240036@attbi_s03...
If he builds a system with last years Tech he CAN save a lot of money but

it
will cost him some effort in research.
WWW.pricewatch.com
WWW.resellerratings.com
www.newegg.com
www.mwave.com


I'd like to see a system total price that betters what you can buy in the
store for equal quality parts. Don't forget the cost of the operating
system. You can buy a brand new computer these days for $400, including
display and printer. I just don't see doing that buying after putting the
pieces together. The operating system alone is going to set you back $100.
You're going to be out at least $150 for a 17" CRT and printer. That
doesn't leave a whole lot for the computer itself - only $150.

If he want's to play games then a $400 computer is not going to do
that. They are built with too slow intergrated graphics card. Well,
unless 6 FPS feels speedy to him. To get a computer that would play
games well brings up the cost to around $700-$800 and a computer could
be built to match that price range.



Where are you getting these prices for components?
I get good 17 inch monitors for around 100 bucks.
Mobo's for around 50-70 bucks(MSI socket A's or P3/P4)
My current system cost me about 400 bucks total.
Compaq 7110 cpu(socket a with 1.2 gig cpu and 1gig ram.)
80 gig ata 133 HD with controller.
cd burner and dvd player.
Monitor- sony 17 inch vio with built in stereo and sub channel- 50
bucks clearance price.
I just added a dvd burner for 110 bucks.(Liteon 411S at a clearance
price.)

I just purchased an IBM computer with a 650 mghz Celeron cpu 384 mgs
of ddr ram. Full package of modem, ehernet card and a fairly good 64
mgbyte video(Nvidia) card.
Cost: 20 bucks clearance.(Distributor that I buy parts from gets large
lots of office computers that he refurbishes and sells. sometimes many
units are new in the box. Offices and corporations dump perfectly good
computers anually in upgrade swaps.)
Just gotta know where to look.
I've even found 1 year old systems in dumpters, in perfect working
order.
Just gotta troll the back of office buildings and computer repair
shops.
Lately everyone's dumping 17 inch monitors in favor of larger flat
screen displays. You can find perfectly good monitors on the curbs.
I just picked up a brand new 17 inch HP monitor with speakers off the
street corner. It manufacture date was NOV 2003.
They'd put less than a 100 hours on it, just switched over to LCD's to
avoid employees using eye fatigue as an excuse to claim medical on hte
job.
People in this country are nuts when it comes to technology,
everybody's gotta have the latest, read yesterdays, electronics.
If it gets more than 6 months old "dump it"!
If they want to be that crazy, fine by me.
I haven't paid big bucks for a system since 94, when I got screwed
paying nearly 2 grand for the "latest" 486 system.
People seem to loose perspective when it comes to computers.
It's just electronics, just like TVs or stereos.
Once you look past the hype and BS you can see that there really isn't
much under the hood hardware wise these days.
  #10  
Old January 29th 04, 03:55 PM
jeffc
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"tweak" wrote in message
...
On 28 Jan 2004 22:28:21 -0800, (jamotto) wrote:

"jeffc" wrote in message

...
"EWhite" wrote in message
news:O4VRb.45729$U%5.240036@attbi_s03...
If he builds a system with last years Tech he CAN save a lot of money

but
it
will cost him some effort in research.
WWW.pricewatch.com
WWW.resellerratings.com
www.newegg.com
www.mwave.com

I'd like to see a system total price that betters what you can buy in

the
store for equal quality parts. Don't forget the cost of the operating
system. You can buy a brand new computer these days for $400,

including
display and printer. I just don't see doing that buying after putting

the
pieces together. The operating system alone is going to set you back

$100.
You're going to be out at least $150 for a 17" CRT and printer. That
doesn't leave a whole lot for the computer itself - only $150.

If he want's to play games then a $400 computer is not going to do
that. They are built with too slow intergrated graphics card. Well,
unless 6 FPS feels speedy to him. To get a computer that would play
games well brings up the cost to around $700-$800 and a computer could
be built to match that price range.


Where are you getting these prices for components?
I get good 17 inch monitors for around 100 bucks.


I said 17 inch monitor PLUS printer for $150. How is that so different?

Mobo's for around 50-70 bucks(MSI socket A's or P3/P4)
My current system cost me about 400 bucks total.
Compaq 7110 cpu(socket a with 1.2 gig cpu and 1gig ram.)
80 gig ata 133 HD with controller.
cd burner and dvd player.
Monitor- sony 17 inch vio with built in stereo and sub channel- 50
bucks clearance price.
I just added a dvd burner for 110 bucks.(Liteon 411S at a clearance
price.)


And I see there's no operating system there, as I already mentioned.

I just purchased an IBM computer with a 650 mghz Celeron cpu 384 mgs
of ddr ram. Full package of modem, ehernet card and a fairly good 64
mgbyte video(Nvidia) card.
Cost: 20 bucks clearance.(Distributor that I buy parts from gets large
lots of office computers that he refurbishes and sells. sometimes many
units are new in the box. Offices and corporations dump perfectly good
computers anually in upgrade swaps.)


Hardly what we're talking about, is it?

Just gotta know where to look.
I've even found 1 year old systems in dumpters, in perfect working
order.
Just gotta troll the back of office buildings and computer repair
shops.
Lately everyone's dumping 17 inch monitors in favor of larger flat
screen displays. You can find perfectly good monitors on the curbs.


As I already said, his first choice if cost was a major factor was buying
used. Buying new and assembling is NOT the way to go if cost is your number
one priority.


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New Computer Build, OS question Azaran2003 General 18 September 2nd 04 12:15 PM
Reasons to build own computer? Gus Mahler Homebuilt PC's 30 November 21st 03 06:54 PM
first build Kaz Homebuilt PC's 2 November 16th 03 12:06 AM
Helpful purchase advice needed on a PC build project Davek Homebuilt PC's 11 August 17th 03 02:57 AM
review of budget first build please andy gardner Homebuilt PC's 1 August 14th 03 07:15 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:50 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 HardwareBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.