Bought or built whats better?
- Thread starter chrislo
- Start date
Built is always the best choice.
1. You get better parts for less money than you can with a pre-built system.
2. You learn how the system works and how to trouble shoot it.
3.See #1
Cons
1. Way to expensive for what you get.
2. Built cheaply, and parts are mixed and matched. 2 builds of the same system can have different parts. It depends on what batch of parts they got cheaper that week.
3. Tech support really sucks for most of those companys.
4. They just plain suck!
1. You get better parts for less money than you can with a pre-built system.
2. You learn how the system works and how to trouble shoot it.
3.See #1
Cons
1. Way to expensive for what you get.
2. Built cheaply, and parts are mixed and matched. 2 builds of the same system can have different parts. It depends on what batch of parts they got cheaper that week.
3. Tech support really sucks for most of those companys.
4. They just plain suck!
Last edited:
spanky
New Member
Building yourself is the only way to go unless you want a laptop. Pro's of building: you get exactly what you want, you get the satisfaction that you built it, you didn't overpay for it, your customer support is us. Cons: it is kind of scary the first time you put one together, hoping you didn't break it, but the satisfaction what outrules this con.
Pre-build... Pro's: none Cons: Customer support, overpriced, proprietary system aka very expensive and difficult upgrades, the cases look like crap, no overclocking, the list just keeps going.
Pre-build... Pro's: none Cons: Customer support, overpriced, proprietary system aka very expensive and difficult upgrades, the cases look like crap, no overclocking, the list just keeps going.
Build one yourself. Don't make the same mistake I did and buy from Dell, and then 6 months later regretting it. I could have build a computer for (almost) 2x cheaper than one I got from Dell.
If you have any problems/questions about building/your first build, just ask here.
If you have any problems/questions about building/your first build, just ask here.
Kornowski
VIP Member
Yeah, building your own is the way to go!
Like many people have said, it can be scary the first time, but once you've done it, it's fine
Pros: You know exactly what you're getting, you save a load of money, you build it around your needs and you gain experience from it.
Cons: A little scary the first time.
Like many people have said, it can be scary the first time, but once you've done it, it's fine
Pros: You know exactly what you're getting, you save a load of money, you build it around your needs and you gain experience from it.
Cons: A little scary the first time.
hermeslyre
VIP Member
I agree with all the above.
chrislo
New Member
I got to do it, I love my Dell lasted me a long time with few problems but man it was expensive. Thats the con. I guess like you said if I had a problem I could come here. Now, is it worth buying parts online from Newegg or in store? I worry that if I buy it online it might be different than I expected and I will be stuck.
tlarkin
VIP Member
This is subjective and depends on the situation. If you want something to just work out of the box then go buy a prebuilt computer. If you want to build it yourself spec for spec build it.
If you are buying multiple computers for a business, buy them from a company. Custom built computers in enterprise environments are a support nightmare. Never ever do it.
Building a computer for personal use is great. You can to pick and choose your parts and tailor it to fit your needs. The warranty on custom builds kind of sucks because you may have to go through several other companies (unless you bought all your parts from the same company) and sometimes if they can prove it is user error they void your warranty. Where as a manufactured computer comes with a full on 1 year warranty for all parts and you only have to deal with the warranty shop that repairs in. Then those techs at that shop get to deal with the companies order your parts and replace them.
It all depends on what you want to accomplish. I will always build my own personal PC, but I will also buy a manufactured one if I want it to do a specific task, it is built for it, and I get a good deal on it. Things like file servers, don't need to be powerful computers. If I see a HP/Compaq on sale for $300.00 and then I can toss several large hard drives in it to make a file server, I would do it. Now, when it comes to my audio/video machines I use my Mac or my custom built PC. Video games, custom built. Anything else I would use a computer for I tend to just get the best deal for the dollar. You really can't build computers for all that much cheaper these days for the most part. 10 years ago, it was literally about half price for the same system spec for spec to be built over buying it brand new. Once that trend got popular PC companies started lowering their prices.
So the topic is really subjective and it comes down to the simple fact of your particular needs and usage of the computer.
If you are buying multiple computers for a business, buy them from a company. Custom built computers in enterprise environments are a support nightmare. Never ever do it.
Building a computer for personal use is great. You can to pick and choose your parts and tailor it to fit your needs. The warranty on custom builds kind of sucks because you may have to go through several other companies (unless you bought all your parts from the same company) and sometimes if they can prove it is user error they void your warranty. Where as a manufactured computer comes with a full on 1 year warranty for all parts and you only have to deal with the warranty shop that repairs in. Then those techs at that shop get to deal with the companies order your parts and replace them.
It all depends on what you want to accomplish. I will always build my own personal PC, but I will also buy a manufactured one if I want it to do a specific task, it is built for it, and I get a good deal on it. Things like file servers, don't need to be powerful computers. If I see a HP/Compaq on sale for $300.00 and then I can toss several large hard drives in it to make a file server, I would do it. Now, when it comes to my audio/video machines I use my Mac or my custom built PC. Video games, custom built. Anything else I would use a computer for I tend to just get the best deal for the dollar. You really can't build computers for all that much cheaper these days for the most part. 10 years ago, it was literally about half price for the same system spec for spec to be built over buying it brand new. Once that trend got popular PC companies started lowering their prices.
So the topic is really subjective and it comes down to the simple fact of your particular needs and usage of the computer.
INTELCRAZY
banned
It's like this, I have set up a few offices, networking, workstations, etc. I will usually do something like this Acer Power AP1000, for a small office. Just something where ppl can use scheduling apps, make financial reports, or word process. Most of the time, the case is Quickbooks. I am really not worried about repairing it, b/c most of the time it's either motherboard, power supply, or hard drive. Motherboard: scrap it and get a new PC, power supply: call Acer to send a new one, or hard drive: Just install a WD. This is the case where prebuilt would be better, rapid deployment, and helps add to that new office smell.
I would rather build something for high performance, like a gaming or graphics workstation. You can't always trust Dell or any other manufacturer like you can your own mind and hands. When building something high performance, you need to watch out for bottlenecks and make sure you have stable hardware. And it's good, in this case, to know every little piece of hardware.
I would rather build something for high performance, like a gaming or graphics workstation. You can't always trust Dell or any other manufacturer like you can your own mind and hands. When building something high performance, you need to watch out for bottlenecks and make sure you have stable hardware. And it's good, in this case, to know every little piece of hardware.
INTELCRAZY
banned
Just post up what you want to build here.. Like your parts and stuff, we can help you out with it... After you do it your first time, it's a cinch from then on out..
hermeslyre
VIP Member
Yeah! It's done all the time, we build your computer.. well you build it, we pick the best parts. 
chrislo
New Member
I am going to wait, I am just trying to gage if it is worth it. I could build it now but I rather wait until I get a job so I can afford better hardware. Right now I want to do some research. When the time comes and I am ready to do it I will tell you guys what I would like to build.
Kill Bill
Active Member
I vote Pre-build. (only if you go with Komplett though)
Pro: With Komplett you can: Choose customs specs (So you can choose like Foxcann Graphics, Asus mobos and Twinx ram etc.)
You get 3 year full warrenty.
Cons: you have to persurade them to get a dhl van to pick it up (they want you to post it) They take to long to fix things.
Build yourself: Also if you get parts off Komplett it will work out the same price so you might as well make them build it and you wont get electric shock if theres static
Edit can someone change my vote to build. i pressed the wrong button
Pro: With Komplett you can: Choose customs specs (So you can choose like Foxcann Graphics, Asus mobos and Twinx ram etc.)
You get 3 year full warrenty.
Cons: you have to persurade them to get a dhl van to pick it up (they want you to post it) They take to long to fix things.
Build yourself: Also if you get parts off Komplett it will work out the same price so you might as well make them build it and you wont get electric shock if theres static
Edit can someone change my vote to build. i pressed the wrong button