Computers

[hocckey77 0]

After I start working I plan on building a computer.

Has anyone done this before?

How much would this run me? I want to get a fast cpu and like 512mb or 1gb of ram.

Will it be possible to put a new cpu in after I built it? (like when a faster one comes out?)

[Chadd 916]

I've built dozens of them and fixed thousands more. It's what I did for a living for a long time.

You can get most of the hardware from websites like tigerdirect.com, look there for prices. As long as the new CPU you buy later fits the same socket type as the motherboard you use, replacement shouldn't be a problem.

[vivaotravez12 0]

By building a computer, you mean part by part specifically, or putting together different major components? I had a cousin try to build a few "Eye-Openers" and try to sell them..but the time it took him to complete and the amount of new technology released made him look elsewhere for work.

[Chadd 916]

By building a computer, you mean part by part specifically, or putting together different major components? I had a cousin try to build a few "Eye-Openers" and try to sell them..but the time it took him to complete and the amount of new technology released made him look elsewhere for work.

I never built a case or made my own motherboard, I can buy the parts cheaper than my time is worth. Right now I have three machines I built in my home office. All are 5 years old or older and work just fine.

[vivaotravez12 0]

His product worked fine, it was just a matter of supply and demand I guess. He would have to take orders in advance, and people just realized that by the time he is finished, there is going to be a newer and better machine for the same price, and people always need the biggest, newest, bestest thing out there.

[whbd18 0]

my brother knows everything about computers he built one in like 2 weeks.I dont mean he built the motherboard or anything,he just put together a case with everything he wanted.

[hocckey77 0]

I just meant buy the stuff and put it together. No way in hell would i I make my own motherboard. Hell I don't even know how.

Chadd since you know what things are, what does " bus speed" mean?

[2048 0]

Is this a gaming comp or a music/movie/web comp?

[hocckey77 0]

Is this a gaming comp or a music/movie/web comp?

Well, it's probably gonna be like a mix of all kinds becuase I don't play too many games( not of my computers are ridiculously fast).

I'll want to play games and not get mad when it freezes or slows down. I'll download music and maybe a movie and use it for the internet.

My main concern is that I don't spend more money than I have to and that what I make is more expensive than it should be.

[all-star 0]

where do you live?

if your up in canada, www.ncix.com is proboaly one of the best sites to build a computer on. ive used it 4 different times for new computers. not a single problem.

there located in BC, with 2 locations.

[awall 0]

After I start working I plan on building a computer.

Has anyone done this before?

How much would this run me? I want to get a fast cpu and like 512mb or 1gb of ram.

Will it be possible to put a new cpu in after I built it? (like when a faster one comes out?)

I normally build my own computers because in the past it was cheaper, not now. The best thing about building your own is that you know what's in there and you can get quality parts instead of el'cheapo. The dark side to building your own is that if you have problems you don't have a tech support you can call to fix it and if you keep calling your friends you may quickly run out of numbers to call.

All that being said I have built the last 3 of 4 systems I have and a few others for family. I got lazy on the last one and acutally bought a Dell. I felt so dirty for weeks after it arrived, but have since gotten over it.

The big thing for building your own system is to do your research. Some motherboards run better than others. Check out sites like www.tomshardware.com , and look over the motherboards and chipsets since those are the foundation your system is gonna be grown from. You can scrimp a little on the processor if you buy a board that will support something faster and then you can buy somthing that will work until the faster processor comes down in price, but in my experience that 2nd processsor purchase never really happens. I'm biased and will tell you to by Intel, but there are others who will swear by AMD but at least I told you I was biased up front. I do remember a while back Tom's hardware had a test where they would see what happoned when a system went into thermal overload, they removed the heat sink while the system was in operation. The Pentium slowed down and shut down. The Athlon caught fire and cooked the chip and the motherboard. I'm sure they fixed that problem by now, at least I hope they did.

I used Pricewatch to find good prices on various components http://www.pricewatch.com/ . Just be aware of sales tax, I found a good deal on a video card, but didn't notice the dealer was in my same state, after sales tax it wasn't such a good deal after all.

[Chadd 916]

I'm one of those AMD guys and probably just as biased.

The biggest difference to me is the computer you buy from a manufacturer comes with software on it. To go buy a copy of Windows, Office and a couple other programs will end up costing you more than you save on the harware.

[freq019 0]

I'm one of those AMD guys and probably just as biased.

The biggest difference to me is the computer you buy from a manufacturer comes with software on it. To go buy a copy of Windows, Office and a couple other programs will end up costing you more than you save on the harware.

that's true. I bought my current pc from sysbuilders.com and once you factor windows and office in there you are near the price of a dell with all the stuff included.

[Jbone 0]

I've built dozens of them and fixed thousands more. It's what I did for a living for a long time.

You can get most of the hardware from websites like tigerdirect.com, look there for prices. As long as the new CPU you buy later fits the same socket type as the motherboard you use, replacement shouldn't be a problem.

My cousin does that and it takes him like half-an-hour.

[hocckey77 0]

where do you live?

if your up in canada, www.ncix.com is proboaly one of the best sites to build a computer on. ive used it 4 different times for new computers. not a single problem.

there located in BC, with 2 locations.

I live in, well near Chicago. I already checked tigerdirect.

[MNdgame 0]

where do you live?

if your up in canada, www.ncix.com is proboaly one of the best sites to build a computer on. ive used it 4 different times for new computers. not a single problem.

there located in BC, with 2 locations.

I live in, well near Chicago. I already checked tigerdirect.

Check out newegg.com too... My brother built one off of there. Its a lot cheaper if you wait for deals on certain parts. Also if you're going to play games make sure you get a decent graphics card not just a fast CPU and lots of RAM...