ProtogenWolF
Member
im curious if anyone is more comfortable on either buying pre builts or building your own ? i got more comfortable of building my own on my 4th pc not so long ago and was wondering if anyone here are the same way xD
do you build your own pc or buy them?
- Thread starter ProtogenWolF
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Deleted member 106754
Guest
Wouldn't be surprised if a good amount of people on here throw together their own systems. Personally I am at the crossroads where I'd like to try out building a hardline water-cooled PC but I cannot quite justify the cost for tools, material and time when air or aio's are so easy.
As far as full new builds for myself I'm on my 5th system but if we just speak about building or re-assembly of any desktop PC I'm not sure anymore.
As far as full new builds for myself I'm on my 5th system but if we just speak about building or re-assembly of any desktop PC I'm not sure anymore.
Marius Merganser
The Duke of Birds
Back in college (mid 90s) we used to spend a day going to a computer show and buying each and every individual part separately from various vendors and then putting it all together back at the dorm, praying to Bill Gates that it would work.
These days I just pick a prebuilt from the manufacturer's website.
These days I just pick a prebuilt from the manufacturer's website.
The_biscuits_532
Eternally Confused Feline
I've build two now, one of myself, one for my stepdad. The latter was fiddlier but they both turned out p good.
Hound-of-chulainn
Well-Known Member
It's fun putting them together yourself, but right now, certain parts like GPUs are really hard to get a hold of, so it's even more convenient to get them prebuilt in the meanwhile.
I used to put them together in highschool for classes, but I started off with a prebuilt and slowly upgraded piece by piece. but I've put together 2 from scratch so far, and I really like being able to make something that your heart desires, my wallet definitely isn't as happy about that though. xD
I used to put them together in highschool for classes, but I started off with a prebuilt and slowly upgraded piece by piece. but I've put together 2 from scratch so far, and I really like being able to make something that your heart desires, my wallet definitely isn't as happy about that though. xD
aralsheart
New Member
I have no interest nor knowledge in handling tech, so I buy it. I look at the config and go with what works with my needs.
edit: typo
edit: typo
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Rimna
Well-known Monkey
The two PCs me and my brother bought a decade ago - we built them ourselves.
Nowadays, with the prices of certain components reaching ridiculous heights, I'd rather just buy a laptop instead. Or a pre-built rig. It's not that I can't put a pc together but the money it costs has become way out of reach.
Nowadays, with the prices of certain components reaching ridiculous heights, I'd rather just buy a laptop instead. Or a pre-built rig. It's not that I can't put a pc together but the money it costs has become way out of reach.
Pomorek
Antelope-Addicted Hyena
That's similar to what I've been doing. I'd get the parts, but have someone more experienced assemble them for me. I'm kind of chickening out, being afraid that I'll damage these expensive components.
But since a couple of years I'm forced to perform upgrades on my own accord, so I learned a thing or two. I think that the only assembly stage I did not attempt was plugging the CPU into the motherboard and installing the cooling. So my next PC may well be assembled entirely by me.
Paws the Opinicus
*Not technically* a Gryphon!
I am absolutely terrified that if I assembled something that cost me so much that when I'd turn it on only some very expensive Red Smoke would be produced.
Had a friend that was an owner of a Radio Shack and until about 2015 I'd order parts and he'd assemble the machines for me, but then he retired and when me last machine he'd helped me assemble started to die in 2018, I finally went to get a new machine in 2019. Sadly, because I wasn't in the mood to repeat the potential red smoke nightmare, I ended up getting an Acer Nitro 50.
Basically I went from a machine that was throttled by a lousy CPU but has a nice graphics card (GTX970 at the time) to a computer that had a nice CPU but a crap video card.... and then also discovered that due to the case interior's unusual design, I can't upgrade said card because (1) the PSU is proprietary and can't handle anything bigger, and is also not removable without cutting it out) and (2) All the good cards would have to physically stick out of the teensy case to fit into it.
Also until recently the prices for any video cards was oppressively bad. Waiting for that ceiling to come down before trying to order a replacement.
Had a friend that was an owner of a Radio Shack and until about 2015 I'd order parts and he'd assemble the machines for me, but then he retired and when me last machine he'd helped me assemble started to die in 2018, I finally went to get a new machine in 2019. Sadly, because I wasn't in the mood to repeat the potential red smoke nightmare, I ended up getting an Acer Nitro 50.
Basically I went from a machine that was throttled by a lousy CPU but has a nice graphics card (GTX970 at the time) to a computer that had a nice CPU but a crap video card.... and then also discovered that due to the case interior's unusual design, I can't upgrade said card because (1) the PSU is proprietary and can't handle anything bigger, and is also not removable without cutting it out) and (2) All the good cards would have to physically stick out of the teensy case to fit into it.
Also until recently the prices for any video cards was oppressively bad. Waiting for that ceiling to come down before trying to order a replacement.
Dreammaker33
Cute cow that likes computer hardware
I always chose to build my new computer systems as a prebuild computer is not always able to meet my high level of needed requirements. Always make sure if you do buy a prebuilt computer, that you have the option to upgrade or change the internal hardware components.
Mambi
Fun loving kitty cat
Whenever possible, I build. Much more control over exactly what you got, and you can isolate the bottlenecks individually in the system to really get the best performance. Also cheaper too when you know what you're doing of course.
...and yes, mine's a total custom build, liquid cooled 4-drive SSD raid10 ultra-quiet powerhouse. (my college training is electronics engineering. <smiles modestly>)
...and yes, mine's a total custom build, liquid cooled 4-drive SSD raid10 ultra-quiet powerhouse. (my college training is electronics engineering. <smiles modestly>)
GroovySpaceFox
Well-Known Member
I generally prefer to build my own computers. However, a lot of the systems that I do build are from the parts of old pre-builts and other assorted parts that I happen to find for cheap or free.
Heckraising
New Member
Building my own computer makes it feel a lot more personal to me. And I saved money...saved. As much as I would love to preach the cost effectiveness, pre-builts are a lot cheaper half the time nowadays because the silicon shortage.
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O.D.D.
Guest
Build. It's not particularly difficult. Mind things like QVLs to avoid compatibility issues between components. There are a number of guides/builders online that can help you avoid issues and price components.
MaliceDaBear
Bear pun aficionado
When I first got into computers I went to a local shop and they built me my first system. However, after some time had pass (and I felt braver) I slowly started to change out the parts on my own and now I pretty confidently tinker around inside it without much worry and have changed out very part at this point as well as a few case swaps 
I'll definitely just build them now but as others have said due to the current shortages of everything it's cheaper to just buy prebuilt for the time being.
I'll definitely just build them now but as others have said due to the current shortages of everything it's cheaper to just buy prebuilt for the time being.
Firuthi Dragovic
World Serpent, overly defensive
Last time I did it, I bought parts and built my own.
Next time (hopefully that'll be at least a couple of years), I plan to do the same UNLESS I develop some severe tremor that makes aligning things right impossible. Yes, even with graphics cards as crazy as they are now. I'll buy high-end stuff at that point and it should last me a while.
Pretty much all of my past computers for the last couple decades or so have been built from parts, NOT pre-made. I've learned from experiences with other people that pre-made is a BAD idea settings-wise. Or at least it is with the home-use computers - dunno about Alienware and the like.
Next time (hopefully that'll be at least a couple of years), I plan to do the same UNLESS I develop some severe tremor that makes aligning things right impossible. Yes, even with graphics cards as crazy as they are now. I'll buy high-end stuff at that point and it should last me a while.
Pretty much all of my past computers for the last couple decades or so have been built from parts, NOT pre-made. I've learned from experiences with other people that pre-made is a BAD idea settings-wise. Or at least it is with the home-use computers - dunno about Alienware and the like.
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O.D.D.
Guest
Back in 200...8 or so I think my brother bought an Alienware. Very expensive. Not worth it. Don't know if that's changed.
Ratt Carry
Well-Known Member
I built my first two PC's. Third time, I went through iBuyPower and I do not regret it at *all*.
That shit? Thoroughly recommend. There are some natural, expected cons in that you won't know exactly how your PC was put together. So when it comes time for that first clean or upgrade, if you're an inexperienced builder with no one you know in person that is, cable management and case navigation might be a bit of a stumbling block.
(and fuck that dumb branding they put on the case that can't be removed).
But if you aren't worried about that sort of thing, it's an amazing service. Similar reputable ones are too. All the benefits of a custom built rig minus the stress and hassle of doing it yourself and the knowledge a paid professional put it together in a suitable environment and tested it themselves to ensure it's in working order when it arrives.
I'm definitely doing this from now on.
That shit? Thoroughly recommend. There are some natural, expected cons in that you won't know exactly how your PC was put together. So when it comes time for that first clean or upgrade, if you're an inexperienced builder with no one you know in person that is, cable management and case navigation might be a bit of a stumbling block.
(and fuck that dumb branding they put on the case that can't be removed).
But if you aren't worried about that sort of thing, it's an amazing service. Similar reputable ones are too. All the benefits of a custom built rig minus the stress and hassle of doing it yourself and the knowledge a paid professional put it together in a suitable environment and tested it themselves to ensure it's in working order when it arrives.
I'm definitely doing this from now on.
Rayd
profound asshole
buying prebuilts is unreliable as most places will sell nice computers with high end specs for the majority of the build but go cheap on vital components to make a profit. my brother bought from ibuypower once and the motherboard melted in a little over a month.
i built my own for a couple grand and have not had a problem yet. have had it for several years and have not yet encountered a game i couldn't run on full graphics smoothly yet, and have not had any internal issues.
i built my own for a couple grand and have not had a problem yet. have had it for several years and have not yet encountered a game i couldn't run on full graphics smoothly yet, and have not had any internal issues.
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O.D.D.
Guest
I think I ended up spending less than 700 dollars total for mine but it was considered modest in 2019.