Building a PC-- easy? time involved? Recommendations?

orlandoiam

New Member
Hello,

My ACER laptop 5742 seems to be already getting ready for its final days. I came to this forum hoping to find legit recommendations for a desktop PC that would last more than several years.

I'm a single mama who doesn't make much cash, so I'm looking for something under $500 and that will last for awhile. I only need a computer for internet/movies/photos/online courses/and my ppts. and course files. I don't use it for games or anything else.

I could buy a ready made as that would probably involve less work-- so any recommendations for that would be good. Or.. depending upon the amount of skill and time involved, I'd be willing to build my own (considering how many of you state we can save a lot of money that way).

How long does it take to build your own computer (once all the pieces are with you)? And is a screwdriver or something like that all it takes? :o

Thank you. :)
 
Building a pc and installing windows, programs and all windows updates don't take that long. I can build a pc usually in less then 30 minutes, its not hard.

Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128659 $70

cpu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113335 $53

Power supply - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G28N5477 $30

Memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231427 $33


Hard drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339 $53

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811553006 $40

Operating system - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416776 $100

dvd drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 $20


Right around 400 bucks. You could get a quad core processor and more ram and still be within your budget.
 
That's a good response. Be wary of the case logic though when finalizing the "computer." A lot of manufacturers keep this in mind and have seemed to have built the computer for you even though it all comes apart (including the software).
 
Thank you for the below recommendations!

Building a pc and installing windows, programs and all windows updates don't take that long. I can build a pc usually in less then 30 minutes, its not hard.

Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128659 $70

cpu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113335 $53

Power supply - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G28N5477 $30

Memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231427 $33


Hard drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339 $53

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811553006 $40

Operating system - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416776 $100

dvd drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 $20


Right around 400 bucks. You could get a quad core processor and more ram and still be within your budget.
 
Building a PC is pretty easy, it's hard when you don't have the correct parts or know what to buy though (that's why we're here :D)

John's list should give you a decently usable unit. Building isn't too difficult, it's usually a matter of just connecting all of the parts and installing Windows. Most of the time you can use a single phillips screwdriver to complete the entire build.

For a lower end build though, a lot of the time you can get a bit cheaper unit with a prebuilt as most of the OS cost itself is absorbed into the rest of the price. The advantage with building yourself at the same price point would be that you do get much higher quality parts. There's also a tax advantage from buying from most online retailers that lowers your 'effective cost' when building your own.

What's case logic? :confused:

He's just a forum troll, no worries.
 
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