a personal computing unit: build or buy?

[Jeansi]

I'd say build, although you can't go terribly wrong with an off the shelf product either nowdays.

Why? Ready products save on some features that they think consumers aren't smart enough to look for. This includes a shitty motherboard and a lousy power supply., and inadequate cooling (noisy sonsabitch computers).

I don't even think it will take any more time to do it yourself than it takes to reformat a bought pc to get rid of all that junk they pre-install.

Plus, you'll learn a bit about your computer, making it easier to find out what's wrong in the future.

If you have a macbook, don't get an imac as well, that's just a waste of money. Then just get a proper screen and keyboard to dock it to.

:fear:

[Sufficient]

Lol ... izor trying to sell bootleg movies ...

[Facetious]

i dont know anything about computers but i will take your copy of kung fu panda

not really

[Galleleo]

I got a blu-ray player and burner with my laptop.

[Money]

No, it's not.

yea it is, i can build a better one for 800 thx

[404 Not Found]

It's so easy to build a computer today and for a relatively lower price that gets you more bang for the buck when you consider the likes of Dell and HP.

Depends on what your going to use it for as well?

My last system was under $1000 and if I would have purchased this with the same specs by a retailer, I would have payed close to if not over $2,000.00

Keep in mind that your better off making sure the system will be scalable to updating and possibly adding to it.

If your not in a hurry, you can pick up parts quite cheap. I got a re-furbed Zalman Fatal1ty case for $100 with a 2 year warranty. Not bad for the mega bucks case. I liked it specifically for easy access to the internals.

evga nForce 790I MB's are real nice btw and is set for use with DDR3 be it memory of graphic cards utilizing the DDR3; it also has an eSata hookup I use on an outboard Seagate eSata drive.

Memory/RAM is always on sale someplace or another. I got a good deal on 2 - OCZ nVidia SLi-Ready Edition 2GB (2X 1GB) OCZ3N2000SR2GK PC3
16000 DDR3 2000MHZ DUAL CHANNEL KIT EPP 2.0
CL 9-9-9-28 EPP 2.0
240-Pin PC Memory RAM
with XTC Heatspreader

Video cards are another story, as the new DDR3 1GB cards are pricey, but the 8600 and 8800 GT cards with 256 or 512 memory on them in SLI mode run real nice too...again it depends on what your doing with the system.

As for power, I really do not see why you would need anything over 610 Watts...but one never knows.

I have seen Intel Core 2 Quad chips Q9400's LGA 775 sell for under $140. Not bad there either.

If you have the time and your current system is not about to drop dead in the next few months, I would piece out the parts you need and gradually assemble a new system.

[Xog]

yea it is, i can build a better one for 800 thx

No, it's not. And good for you. My computer doesn't suck thx.

[Pearl Jam]

Puppet Master, Bioture, 404, Nockm and pretty much everyone but Izor and Summa: Thank you.

I guess I should've mentioned that I don't really play many computer games on my current PC (nor do I plan to...I pretty much just do the xbox 360 thing to satisfy my gaming needs nowadays).

[Money]

No, it's not. And good for you. My computer doesn't suck thx.

oh thats yours? i have add i skip boring parts of threads sorry i thought u build that on site for him or something

[Summa]

No, it's not. And good for you. My computer doesn't suck thx.

not saying its terrible, but if you paid $1100 for it then you wasted your money. if i don't need to buy a new monitor, then i could build a top of the line tower for probably about 1200-1500....so unless that compy is just below top of the line (which its not) then yes....you did waste your money...and yes....it kinda sucks...

[Material Girl]

I, of the not knowing how to build computers camp, recommend that you save a lot of headaches and buy a Sony Vaio laptop. They've got ones now with blu-ray and everything. Pick out the nicest one. Just don't make the mistake I made by spilling red wine all over it. It would have cost almost double the original price to have it fixed. Sooo.... I had to just order a new one. Works like a charm.

[Izor]

what did i do that wasnt helpful to you

sony vaios loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool @ overpriced

thats ALMOST as bad as a mac

[PaulOakenfold]

seeing as my pc is getting older and has been ravaged by gigabytes upon gigabytes of DVDA eskimo porn, ted nugent discographies and continuum, i'm considering building a pc but have absolutely zero experience building one.

i need expert spaceship pilot opinions concerning building vs. buying a pc. i know i can save money building one and i'm leaning towards that, but it requires a time investment as well and i'm a busy guy. lots of babies to kiss and bitches to catch. lots of porsches to do donuts in while i'm sippin on cognac gettin' brain from my main bitch. you all understand, i'm sure.

so can anyone either 1) post links or 2) help me

as for budget, lets say from 1k-1.5k (american dolla-dolla bills, ya'll). maybe more than that

conc, if you're reading this: please just build me another computer and i'll pay you in dry cherry wine and shots of jack.

all i have to offer in return is friendship. and cognac. oh and that kung fu panda game they give you when you buy a new xbox 360 (shit SUCKS)

Build
Newegg.com
Zipzoomfly.com

If you want to get really fiscal, buy one of those cheap Dells and take the RAM, Hardrive, DVD player, and XP/Vista from it and scrap the rest and add it to your new build. If you aren't great at building computers, buy a barebones from newegg or zipzoomfly and build off of that.

[Galleleo]

Vaio's are expensive yes, but the screen quality of a Sony Vaio is more than excellent and better than most laptops out there.

[404 Not Found]

If you take the time and build one, there are some good sources out there for cases, such as:

http://www.xoxide.com/

or even eBay has some good deals on cases.

As for Motherboards, it depends. I actually got a better deal on my evga nForce 790i direct from evga. Newegg has some good deals though as well.

Micro Center http://www.microcenter.com/ has some good sales every week...they had the Intel core 2 quad 9400 chip pretty cheap.

Like I mentioned before, if your not in a rush for a new system, just buy ot gradually and make it to your specifications.

I just recently purchased an Asus 23.9" LCD from newegg for $189.00 and free shipping.

BTW...I have no games on my system either that I recently built.