Cost of a new build

[novicegeek]

Hey all, I'm a noob, but I'm up for the challenge. I'd like to build my own computer. But here's the deal, I gotta sell my wife on the idea (at least, it would make things a lot easier). So I need to know how much I would be able to save building my own vs. buying one at, say, Walmart. If I were to build a computer with the equivalent motherboard, memory, storage, drives, ports, etc., how much would I save - 50%, 30%, 10%?

I'm just looking for a ballpark figure or percentage. Can ya help a brother out?

Thanks.

P.S. By the way, I'm wanting at least 4GB of RAM and 1TB of storage - if that'll help.

 

[johnb35]

The deal is...going to walmart and buying a system is basically inferior parts and a crappy waranty. When you custom build a system most parts have 2, 3, 5, lifetime warranty. You may not be able to save any money by building yourself. OEMs get a huge pricebreak on the OS itself. The power supplies they use might cost them 15 bucks. You are getting a better quality build when building it yourself. Now say compared to buying an alienware system and building one yourself, you can save a lot of money. It all depends on the system.

 

[spynoodle]

The deal is...going to walmart and buying a system is basically inferior parts and a crappy waranty. When you custom build a system most parts have 2, 3, 5, lifetime warranty. You may not be able to save any money by building yourself. OEMs get a huge pricebreak on the OS itself. The power supplies they use might cost them 15 bucks. You are getting a better quality build when building it yourself. Now say compared to buying an alienware system and building one yourself, you can save a lot of money. It all depends on the system.

^Exactly this. If you want a computer that you know for sure will last, you basically have to build it yourself. Tell your wife that crappy power supplies are more likely to go up in smoke, which is actually true. That will convince her.

 

[novicegeek]

Thanks folks. Feeling a little stupid about my question (that's why I'm a novice), I'm now a little more the wiser. I appreciate all of your input and your part in helping shake my novice status.