If any of you are setting out to build your own computer for the first time and want some advise about selecting compatible components, the best price/performance pieces and similar things then just post in here and I'll give you a hand. I highly recommend building your own PC's as you can save up to 50% off in store built desktop computers such as the ones advertised by Dell. It's insane and downright ridiculous what some of these companies charge for a PC. Building your own computer does not void any warranties by the way so you really have nothing to lose. So ask away and I'll gladly help.
Building your own computer is fun, but if all you're looking for are monetary savings, it may not be the best direction to go. Dell is an extremely expensive brand by comparison, and you shouldn't judge how much you are saving based on Dell's specs and prices. If you look at other brands, you'll see that you're not really saving much money by building your computer.
Actually, if you can find components on sale (it happens pretty often), building your own computer becomes tremendously more cost efficient.
Build it, and they will come. http://www.ecplaza.net/tradeleads/selle ... shell.html Since they sells shells for laptops, I would guess so can build one. The only problem would be making things fit.
You can "make" your own laptop by adding components to a "barebone laptop" - also known as whitebox laptops Unfortunately, it's rather hard to find quality barebones at cheap prices
@ Zer0. Corporations who build PC boxes and then sell them for retail are NEVER (I would bet my soul on it) cheaper then if you buy all the same components yourself and build it. I said up to 50% but in most cases it's closer to 20%-25%. If the computer you're building is going to cost you around $1000 then that is a saving of $200 or more. Well worth it IMO. @ Lazy, like Aiore was saying it is possible but it is very difficult to find a reputable seller of mobile parts. If you've ever taken a laptop apart you'll know just how crammed together everything is and how delicately placed each piece is. You're better off buying a prebuilt laptop just to save your sanity IMO lol. PS, anyone just give me a budget and the reason you need the computer (Gaming, Video Editing etc.) and I'll build you a virtual one from parts at newegg.com
You also have to look at the fact that when you buy a computer at a big-box store (Hypothetically, you buy an HP desktop at Best Buy), you don't know what components go into it. Your power supply will probably last a year at most, depending on the load you're putting on it. Corsair PSUs get 5 year warranty. OCZ ones get 3 year. The RAM you're getting in a pre-made computer probably isn't nearly as high quality as what you can buy on your own. Not to mention, most RAM now comes with nice heatsinks to make them last longer. Stuff that's in your prebuilt crap isn't like that. Hard drives? Come on. You don't get to pick! What's the fun in that? I wouldn't go with anything but a Caviar Black in the machines I build. 5 year warranty, amazing speeds, so quiet. It's 10 dollars more than the HDD in your bundled system. Well worth it for the upgrade. Don't even get me started on the case/motherboard config. My mom's got an HP system. The motherboard is configured in the mirror image to regular mobos. Thus, the case layout is also backwards. Try replacing the motherboard ever. Good luck. Replace the case and get a nicer one? Not a chance. Point being, you're building a far more customizable system when you build it yourself. You can save money on an operating system, if you know someone with a CD (or burn one yourself)
I've found (and don't laugh) the most economical and best value retailer of prebuilt PC's is ALDI. That's right, the grocery supermarket chain. They stock "medion" computers which are the best value for money I've ever seen for a prebuilt PC.
Doesn't really have anything to do with building a computer, but is it hard to set up your own wireless network? We're getting 2 more PC's, so my dad wants me to install it
Setting up wireless networks are really easy. I'm a bit lazy so rather then writing my own guide you should check out: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredon ... setup.mspx Do you already have a wireless router btw?
Would it still be cheaper if a buy all the parts and find someone to make it for me, like at best buy or geek squad(ps zer0 can i get your autograph there)?
Hmm Smirnoff, I might actually ask you for some opinions for a PC I'll probably build. I am looking for a PC with awesome performance, but I don't want to spend thousands on it. I was thinking about getting an nVidia-SLI-enabled motherboard with an LGA775 socket for an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 processor... But one of the best ones I could find was the Zotac NF790I-A-E 790i-Supreme Motherboard. So, the CPU costs ~€200, so does this motherboard, so we're at ~€400 at the moment. No need for an audio card as it's integrated in the motherboard, but I need a good graphics card to buy in bulk (2 or 3 for 2/3-way nVidia SLI; or 2 for a 4-way SLI if the card has 2 GPUs). What would you recommend? And also, I know nothing about RAMs and what interferes with their speed... could you help me on this topic as well? Thank you, your help is very much appreciated
I know I'm not Smirnoff, but... ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard @ Newegg = ~$120. Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor @ Newegg = ~$230 Which would be... a lot cheaper than €400. If you're spending that much money on CPU+Mobo, you might want to look at i7 instead of Core 2. Don't get 2 Video Cards if you're on a budget. Upgrade to the best single card you can. It's much more cost effective; it also runs cooler. EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit DDR3 @ Newegg = ~$325 EDIT: typos. lol
So basically if you're building a PC you need the following components: CPU; RAM HDD MOBO PSU CASE OS Whilst the parts I source are from Newegg you would need to find a similar retailer around where you live. Fortunently Europe has great prices when it comes to PC components (unlike Australia) so you could even possibly get cheaper prices where you live (I have no idea of any European online retailers or instore retailers though) Pretty much before I design it; Intel or AMD. I know you've already said you want the Q9550 but I just want to double check. I'm a bit of a fan of AMD and AMD processors tend to give a bigger bang for buck in low cost systems.
Could you just advise me on a computer to buy? I got £500 ish to spend and that just needs to cover the tower/cpu whatever (like not the screen). Looking for a fast pc i could play some basic games on. Not like hardcore gaming where i will buy every new game that ever comes out just some fun gaming without too much lag Thanks, Chris
Also, what are your options for places to buy? You're in italy. Newegg ships to the US and Canada (Is there Newegg italy?). NCIX is US and Canada too. You guys have to keep his location in mind when recommending parts. Sometimes stuff's more expensive in different parts of the world.
I can but at local stores or from online stores (online are preferred as there are more possibilities of cheap prices). And yeah Smirnoff, I'm sure I want an Intel processor on my PC I've never had an AMD computer and I don't plan to... yet.