Building Your Own PC

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://preview.tinyurl.com/akk2p7' target='_blank'>http://preview.tinyurl.com/akk2p7</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"That&rsquo;s one of the most exciting aspects of our hobby. Automobile buffs can tune and customize their factory-built cars and trucks, but computer geeks like us get to build something new and unique almost entirely from whole cloth. And it&rsquo;s so easy that you have to wonder why anyone would buy a preassembled PC in the first place. Thanks to the relatively open architecture that IBM stumbled into oh so many years ago (and has likely regretted ever since), we can rebuild and retune our creations again and again, boosting their performance and postponing their obsolescence. And if you&rsquo;ve never experienced the joy and pride of building your own PC, click through to read our in-depth, hands-on guide."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1234663393.usr10.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>Building PCs is something I used to enjoy doing, but have not done in years.&nbsp; If you've never built one before, I strongly recommend you do it at least once, you'll learn a lot and it really is not that difficult.&nbsp; Check out the full article to get an idea of what you would be getting yourself into.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[alese]

I too have built a lot of PCs over the years, but lately I just don't have the time and will to go through all the trouble. Its much easier to just buy a whole package and not spend few days putting all the components together and then installing everything and especially trying to figure out why something doesn't work as it should...

But on the other hand I still like to tinker with my devices, if something goes wrong I usually spend some time trying to fix it myself and I allways try to "upgrade" and reuse my stuff if at all possible. For instance 5 years ago I got a small barebone from Asus (Pundit) that was then intended for HTPC and I used it like that for some three years, but at the end it is just too loud and now the device is my home server, I have installed RAID controller and 2 500GB disks and some additional RAM and next I'll also install a TV tuner for some recording.

[Neil Enns]

I thought the article was a pretty awful step-by-step guide to building your own computer. It did, however, remind me that I've never bothered to overclock the mobo/ram/CPU combo I specifically bought so I could do that. There were enough links in the article to point me at info on how to do that, so I'll try this afternoon!

Neil

[Sven Johannsen]

I don't know. There was a time when I did this stuff myself too. Built my first PC around 1988. Also changed my own oil back then. There was a time when there was some significant cost saving, especially if you were trying to put together a bit more capable system than you could find, or afford. That might still be the case today, but with darn capable machines all ready to go with monitor, keyboard, mouse, and an OS +, going for well under $500, not sure roll-your-own has much benefit to the general user. It becomes even less inviting when something does go wrong and you have half a dozen vendors pointing at each other for you to fight with. Bad enough you have to fight with the one OEM, or Big-Box store.

I'd certainly recommend anybody learning a bit about the hardware to troubleshoot, do a little upgrade, or replace a component. Just like you ought to know how to change a tire or possibly a lightbulb on your car. (The latter isn't trivial on some models)

[ptyork]

I built my most recent PC last month as I have done with most of my PC's for the past 10+ years. I have now officially sworn it off. You're only option unless you have a good local store for this kind of thing is to go through NewEgg or TigerDirect or something. Then you have a hit/miss ratio for working components of around 2:1. If something is DOA or otherwise not perfect, you have to go through a RMA process that requires that YOU pay return shipping. I bought a $130 MOBO, DOA, return ship for $20 and by the time I got it back the $30 rebate (which is why I bought that particular model) had expired. So, one month later (all the while stuck using my MacBook as a primary PC) and for $150 I got finally got my $100 MOBO. The case is also defective (well, exceedingly flawed), but can't send it back because it would cost $50 just for shipping. Oh, and if you get a case + power supply combo, good luck if just the power supply is defective. It's all or nothing in terms of RMA.

So in the end I got a $700 PC for around,.oh, $700. So I saved myself nothing and bought myself a BIG headache and almost 2 months of dealing with a Mac as a primary PC (which was good and bad). I still like knowing what I have and that I didn't get some crappy components thrown in to increase profit margin, but it is SO not worth the pain.

Incidentally, I don't know WHY NewEgg is so loved by its customers. I have no choice but to use them for components, but honestly they suck. The RMA process was horrible and LONG, and I have to suffer for their poor quality (sure they are the middle man in this, but isn't that part of the deal with being a middle man that you assume responsibility for the quality of your merchandise?). They also stick you in the rear with random $5 shipping charges for things like thermal paste, presumably to make up for the occasional free shipping offer. I use them as infrequently as possible now. The actually make Best Buy seem a pleasurable consumer experience. Any Egg lovers out there want to explain the source of the love? Or are they still living off of the goodwill left over from 5+ years ago when they didn't suck?

[Stinger]

The last pre-built system I bought was a Dell PIII-500. :)

I can certainly see the attraction of pre-built systems. However, my machine is pretty high end (Phenom II quad core, 4GB RAM, 4870 1GB graphics card, 4 RAIDed HDDs, etc) and at the high end, it's definitely cheaper to build your own.

It's pretty easy - until something goes wrong! I've had a few brown pants moments but thankfully nothing that's cost me a lot of money.

[Cybrid]

Build the Perfect PC! Step-by-Step Illustrated How-To Guide | Maximum PC (http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/build_perfect_pc_stepbystep_illustrated_howto_guide) "page not found error. Personally I blame Murphy." * when I tested the link contained in my post it worked. Strange...

Anyway having built 3 from scratch, I've found that taking a decent $500 "Clearance" PC and then adding some better components is sometimes much cheaper. The one I'm currently thinking of building for Dad would cost just as much with a Vista licence that a reasonably similar spec'ed "open box" at Best Buy would.

As an example: I purchased this Aspire 8920-69xx (http://www.acer.ca/acer/product.do?link=oln23g.redirect&changedAlts=&kcond5e.c2att92=474&CRC=617316481) for $600 at Best Buy. I sold it to my sister in law later but just show how sometimes there's serious deals to be had.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

... and at the high end, it's definitely cheaper to build your own.


That's exactly why I expect I'd continue to do so. For some strange reason GPUs increase a system's costs by many-fold. And try finding something past the mid-range on a decent price. You can't. At least, not where I am.

[Rob Alexander]

I used to build my own as well. At the time, it was the only way to get quality components at a reasonable price. But technology has continued to improve to the point that I can buy everything I need at a better price by having someone else build it for me. Plus, building computers used to be something of a hobby, but now I just want to get my work done. The idea of spending all that time researching the latest components, ordering (and returning), assembling and troubleshooting things that go wrong is no longer fun for me. Just getting old, I guess. But I can still see why others would enjoying pushing the limits of overclocking, playing with some of the cool new cases, learning about high-end cooling systems and such.

[Joel Crane]

Ah, Maximum PC! The magazine that sparked my interest in computers and all sorts of electronic gadgetry.

I have never owned a completely OEM PC, every one I end up with may have been OEM at one point, but I usually swap parts around. My primary desktop is 100 percent homebuilt.

Building PCs is pretty easy, back in the day I just plugged in all the connectors that looked the same, and usually it just worked.

[Sven Johannsen]

Just a hint for those that might want a better deal, or something to upgrade. I've found some good deals on Dell Outlet in the past. It takes a bit of time to dig through the offerings, and you definately need to check the current system price to see if the deal really is one.

[Bob12]

I bought my first PC in early 1993, prior to which, I was using an Atari Mega ST4 with a "massive" 65 megabyte hard drive :). I don't recall the brand name of the first PC but it was a chain store housebrand and neither is in business any longer. It had 1mb of RAM, an Intel DX-something running at 33MHz, a 120MB hard drive, 5.25 and 3.5 floppy drives, no optical drive, USB, sound card, or modem. For the next five years, I upgraded and rebuilt the computer until the only original parts were the cables from the PC to the monitor and printer. Everything else had been replaced, along with the "missing" peripherals being added and, in some cases, replaced. It finally got to the point that it was cheaper to by a complete new system rather than upgrading everything I wanted to change. It was interesting and enlightening, though.

[ptyork]

I bought my first PC in early 1993, prior to which, I was using an Atari Mega ST4 with a "massive" 65 megabyte hard drive :).

Wow, I didn't even know that existed. I remember longing for a 1040ST way back in the day (knew someone that had one and I was still stuck with an old 800 at the time), but I don't remember anything beyond that. Certainly nothing "mega." Fun to remember how basic computers were back then and the "real" battle was between Commodore and Atari. Ahh...

After the Atari, I actually had a Toshiba T5200 (386), a PS/2 (486), an Aptiva (PII), and a Power Mac (G3) before starting to build PC's in earnest. I look forward to returning to the world of off-the-shelf PC's...I just wish they held the joy and wonder that they did for me back then. I was chittering with excitement WEEKS each time I got one of the above home. Now they're just tools. :(

[tregnier]

Hi,

Interesting to read comments re "my first computer". Mine was an Osborne Model One.

My question: I've never built a computer and I'm not really an electronics person, but after skimming the article re building one, it strikes me as being a project that might be fun. Does it require soldering skills or something like that (I have no skills)? Is it just a matter of combining the various parts, plugging them in/screwing them down? Can a neophyte do it?

Thanks!

[Sven Johannsen]

Is it just a matter of combining the various parts, plugging them in/screwing them down? Can a neophyte do it?

Thanks!

I would say so. Everyone was a neophyte once. If you can use a screw driver, you should be fine. Only tricky part I have ever encountered is the processor/heatsink/fan mounting. Making sure you have everything clipped down solid is occaisionally a challange. There are some bizzare mechanical methods out there.

The bigger issue would be troubleshoting a DOA (Dead On Arrival) problem. You really can't test anything untill you have it all put together, and then something silly like a dead SIMM can be a real pain. Generally tere are startup beap codes or motherboard lights to help, but it is still aggravating sisnce you likely don't have backup parts to swap in and out to isolate components.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Only tool you should need is a screwdriver. If you deal with more exotic parts you might need an allen key or a torx screwdriver, but that's usually reserved for weird overclocking parts.

Soldering should not be needed.

Nowadays it's really easy. Just follow the instructions and plug the parts together. Think of it as advanced LEGO. :P

[Jason Dunn]

Lots of great responses here - it's nice to see that topics like this will get people talking. :)

It's been a while since I've done an apple-to-apples price comparison, but I've typically found that there's virtually no cost savings to be had when building my own system. Usually, it costs more. What makes it worthwhile for me in some cases though is that I get exactly what I want in terms of parts. I used to build ALL my machines, but lately it's been a mixture - especially with small(er) form factor computers like the HP Slimline machines, it's tough to get a nice machine that small, for that cheap.

I'm waiting for Shuttle to release their Core i7-based system...then I'll try to build another monster media computer. :D

Oh, and Sven, you wouldn't believe how much trouble I had replacing the headlights in my Mazda Protégé 5 - it's amazing how hard they made it for me! :mad:

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

I'm curious Jason; like I said, normally when any decent video card is needed as part of the computer, the price goes up by quite a bit. I wonder if it's the same over at your side?

Slimline PCs are easy to build where I am; there are frequent bulk orders organised by members of the hardware community, along with specialist shops that bring in mini-ITX motherboards and casings.

[Jason Dunn]

I'm curious Jason; like I said, normally when any decent video card is needed as part of the computer, the price goes up by quite a bit. I wonder if it's the same over at your side?

Well, let's see here, Dell.ca offers me this for $999:

Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit
Intel® Core™i7-920 Processor(8MB L2 Cache, 2.66GHz)
1 Yr Limited Warranty with 1 Yr NBD Onsite Service and 1 Yr Tech Support
3GB DDR3 Tri-Channel SDRAM at 1066MHz - 3 DIMMs
500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB
Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

Dell wants $150 for the video card upgrade to an ATI Radeon HD 4670 512MB. The cheapest 4670 card, a Sapphire, is $109 locally here. Things get more expensive if you go for a ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB...Dell wants $350 for that, when locally I can get one for $199. So that's quite the overcharge indeed!

I might as well do the work and see what the prices from my local store would come out to be...watch the front page. :D