How much do you save by building?

Verve

Verve

New Member
As I learn more about computers, particularly the building aspect, I've started to wonder. (Generally) how much money would you save by buillding vs. buying a prebuilt system? I really would like to build my own light gaming rig, but for a relative newbie, would it be worth the trouble? I could always get a prebuilt and install a good video card, or a stick of ram and not go through the hassle.

Thanks guys.
 
If you're building a gaming computer, you save a ton.

If you're building a normal business/general use pc, you really just save a few hundred for 'labor'

take a gander at the prebuilt gaming machines on tiger direct, tho. the prices are ludicrous. $3k for a c2d 6600 with a 7950, etc.

Like i said, when you're talking about a gaming machine, you can literally save THOUSANDS by building your own computer, not to mention you can use some of your old parts (sound card, optical drives, etc.) to save a few bucks, plus you don't have to pay for the o/s, either. I can get xp professional from school for $30.
 
but i'd say, over cost, the #1 advantage to building your own computer is......

NO BUNDLED SOFTWARE!

Seriously, everytime i 'restore' my hp, it takes me an hour or more just to go through the list and uninstall/delete all the bundled software that comes on it!

500mb 'preloaded drivers?'
400mb microsoft office TRIAL? No thanks
microsoft works? Get out of here
Antivirus trial? Get off my computer!
Tons of miscellaneous shareware games/trial apps/adware/online services, etc.?

And i gaurantee there's still traces of some of that crap on my computer at this very moment.

A lot can be said about installing your own operating system, exactly how you want it, and knowing EXACTLY what software is on your computer.

Not to mention, whether you know it or not, you're PAYING for all of that crap software to be on there, too. Whether you want it or not.
 
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if you have 1600 posts on the forum, it will be a breeze. i built one last week with 3 months on this forum and it was soo easy and awesome. a great beginner's layout is in my sig, but maybe switch out the CPU for an e6300 and the mobo for a ds3 and you are flying
 
I was just browsing through Dell's site the other day, asking myself the same question, and just be rough calculation you save at the very least 75% on $1000+ machines. And I was being very generous with the costs to build, calculating in my head and rounding way up. You still save at least a hundred or more on the budget machines.
 
thanks for the info guys. Basically, I'm asking because I don't have the money to build my own rig yet, but I would like to put the newest family one together. Convincing my parents that they're saving money and that I'm competent enough is the real issue. Thanks again.
 
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