PSX5Central

Non Gaming Discussions => Off-Topic => Topic started by: videoholic on November 15, 2004, 04:52:04 PM

Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: videoholic on November 15, 2004, 04:52:04 PM
I think I will soon be upgrading.  Probably in December if it will help with my taxes. Otherwise I will wait until January.

Anyway, I was wondering if it\'s better building your own now or it\'s just nice because you know exactly what you put into it?

I\'ve never built one, but I\'m not intimidated by it.  I\'m just not up on the mother boards and ram speeds now.

Should I just read every page at anandtech or is there an easy way to do this.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: Mr. Kennedy on November 15, 2004, 05:09:23 PM
Me and my friend are building our next computers together.  I have another friend who was 17 when he built his, so I can\'t be that hard.

You\'ll save a lot of money, plus you won\'t have to worry about all the preloaded crap that manufacturers put on your compy.

Of course if you have no clue what your doing, its safe to say you should buy one pre built.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: mm on November 15, 2004, 05:09:33 PM
build
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: videoholic on November 15, 2004, 05:16:26 PM
It just seems like the prices are so damn low.  I figured the extra crap on the computer they put on their is what gets the price down.  I would just reformat the thing anyway and start fresh.

I do think I want to build my next one though.  Once you start adding the extras you would want on a pre-built computer they always get up to 2 grand fast.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: JBean on November 15, 2004, 05:17:30 PM
definately build... i\'m in the towards the end of getting mine together and it\'s been fun getting these packages all the time.  And you definately get more bang for your buck building it yourself.

Do you want a good gaming machine?  If so AMD is the way to go.  If business apps and video / audio encoding is your thing then a P4 is probably your best bet.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: Luke on November 15, 2004, 05:17:58 PM
Build for sure.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: theomen on November 15, 2004, 05:26:08 PM
if $ is the biggest issue, and you don\'t need to have a custom built PC to impress the tech nerds on here with, than buy prebuilt with one of those huge sales these places have.  But that\'s the only way it\'ll be cheaper than building it yourself.  If you decide to build it yourself, I\'m sure we\'ll help with any info you need, you can always PM me at the very least.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: Living-In-Clip on November 15, 2004, 05:50:09 PM
Pre builds are gay.
I will never buy another pre built desktop.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: theomen on November 15, 2004, 06:02:20 PM
You mean they\'re clean and have good fashion sense?
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: THX on November 15, 2004, 07:50:22 PM
^IIRC the homepage set to premade systems directs you here (http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/christopherlowell/christopherlowell.html).

From a semi- non-biased POV, if you\'re gonna go premade just make sure you get a good deal and the motherboard will let you upgrade parts just like a regular one.

If you think you\'ve found a good one post it here and let us disect it.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: Ryu on November 15, 2004, 07:59:24 PM
It really depends.  Having a good warranty can save you a lot of headaches down the road for sure with a pre-built system, but it should be known that to drive costs down on those, they cut corners in lots of areas.  Having a homemade system is great in that you can build with the intention of upgrading eventually, but if any part breaks or overheats, any replacing you do comes out of your own pocket.  It also really depends on what you want the system for.  Most people who make their own systems have the intention of doing some serious PC gaming and if you don\'t do that, buying a cheapass rock bottom Dell sure goes a long way towards just doing the bare minimum, especially for the complete system package after a simple format.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on November 15, 2004, 08:12:52 PM
Build it yourself, you still keep warrenty on parts. If you don\'t know how to install a OS, just get a store to do it.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: Living-In-Clip on November 15, 2004, 09:20:32 PM
If you don\'t know how to install an OS, then you don\'t need to build a PC.
It\'s that simple.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on November 15, 2004, 11:07:05 PM
^ how do u figure?   Thats a pretty retarded thing to say, i know plenty of people that can put together a pc, but can\'t install operating systems.   If you know how to build a pc, do it and get a store to install the OS. Its still cheaper in the long run.  
its that simple.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: mm on November 16, 2004, 04:49:44 AM
any moron can install windows XP
you only have to click "next" like 5 times, and set the time zone

:rolleyes:
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on November 16, 2004, 04:53:44 AM
i guess these people aren\'t morons then.. since any moron can after all.

Most people i\'ve taught how to install Operating systems haven\'t had trouble with the GUI sides, its the formating with fdisk and old ass programs like that, that normally give them trouble.  Not everyone is on XP..
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: videoholic on November 16, 2004, 05:26:14 AM
I am planning on building a system for video.  Dual monitor and a firewire or usb2.0 disc array.

I don\'t game much and I\'m sure any game I play would be just fine on a system for video.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on November 16, 2004, 05:31:01 AM
depends on the games...

what game do u plan to play?
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: mm on November 16, 2004, 05:34:32 AM
Quote
formating with fdisk



lol, fdisk
:laughing:
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on November 16, 2004, 05:47:22 AM
yea ummm ok  :rolleyes:
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: videoholic on November 16, 2004, 08:38:30 AM
http://dealsofamerica.com/
Dell:
Intel® Pentium 4 w/ HT 3GHz, 800 FSB Microsoft® Windows® XP Home FREE UPGRADE 512MB SDRAM SAVE $150! 17 in E173FP Flat Panel Display Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 40GB Hard Drive Integrated 10/100 Ethernet Single Drive: 48x CD-RW Drive


589 bucks with free shipping.

How in the heck can I buy all of that for under 600 bucks?

Or is the point that it\'s not good shit?
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: §ôµÏG®ïñD on November 16, 2004, 08:48:41 AM
package deal, arghh.. feel pain....


only good thing outta that package is the cpu and maybe the monitor.. but if its all you need for whatever you\'re doing.. Go for it, but most of it (pretty much all but the cpu) will be generic crap.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: videoholic on November 16, 2004, 09:28:10 AM
My thoughts are that I don\'t need a monster sound card and I don\'t need a DVD burner (Already have one).

Only thing it\'s lacking that I would want is a nice video card.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: JBean on November 16, 2004, 11:50:54 AM
Small HD and on-board video are why that is so cheap.  But if you just want a snappy computer for internet and listening to mp3s it\'ll be ok I guess
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: videoholic on November 16, 2004, 12:37:17 PM
The hard drives are fine because I have 2 125 gigs right now.  I can swap them.  Video card is another issue.  I\'ll need a second anyway I guess for dual monitor support.  I dunno.  I probably won\'t till the first of the year anyway.
Title: Build or buy pre-built
Post by: theomen on November 16, 2004, 12:52:52 PM
I say buy the prebuilt, and throw in your own Card, as you\'ll have to buy a video card either way.  If you\'re pricing components, head over to Newegg, great site.