Is building your own really cheaper?

Usually it won't be that much cheaper if the computer is really low end, sometimes it's even more expensive. But if you want to build a gaming rig, then it is generally cheaper to build, plus it's more fun.
 
diduknowthat said:
Usually it won't be that much cheaper if the computer is really low end, sometimes it's even more expensive. But if you want to build a gaming rig, then it is generally cheaper to build, plus it's more fun.
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I agree with him also it's a lot cheaper to build your self if you just want the computer and not the monitor, speaker, mouse/keyboard, Ect...

So I think that if you want to spend $700+ it's a lot cheaper to build your self:)
 
yeah for low end you cannot beat dell/hp/any of them, but they have low quality parts in them sometimes

also, building it yourself you can have quality parts, and customize it to your needs

but building is generally better for higher end pc's

mine system was $250 last year (in the sig) but no monitor

in january I am building a high end E6700, and cant wait

build it yourself, its fun!
unless you wana a low end rig
 
If you're going super cheap...well, I wouldn't period. Generally, you would be cheaper just purchasing some pre-built pc. However, they would also be very cheap, with very cheap parts.

I built an Athlon 64 3800, 512M RAM, 160G HD, DVD-RW... machine for my room mate and the total ended up being right around $500. Most everything in it was pretty nice, but the case was SO cheap... I honestly thought I left some stand-off's out or something it was flexing so bad!
 
If you want to make a super-cheap computer then manufactured ones are probably cheaper. But if you want to make something..say 600 or 700 $$ or more, building yourself is probably cheaper.

Like mine, I have a $1500 computer. I looked it up to see the same specs and one company had it for about $2200.

Oh, also, when you buy your computer parts, buy them off newegg.com. It's the cheapest that the price will go. Maybe that's why my computer is so cheap.
 
Bare this in mind; Dell use on their E520's 533MHz memory whereas on my machine which doesn't have a monitor the memory is 800MHz. There is quite a price jump there alone. Both machines cost roughly the same, but mine has a Gigabyte motherboard and Dell use some company I've never heard of...
 
usually if your a beginner and dont have all the accessories that you can just pop out from your old computer such as a keyboard, speaker, mouse, monitor, dvd burner, psu, gpu, ram and stuff like that then your better off purchasing something like these...
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlcNEW.asp?CatId=6
But if you have parts you can reuse then its always cheaper with "quality products" that you've researched and put togeather yourself.
 
I'm showing that it is cheaper to build it yourself. If you wanted this pc pre-built it would be way more but when you build it yourself it is cheap. He asked if it was cheaper to build it yourself.
 
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Thanks for all the replys. I will probably buy this system since I can't build it for the same price. My next question is what video card to buy for it. It will be used for some gaming. Thanks in advance.
 
How much do you have to spend on the video card?

If you have lots and lots (I mean seriously lots), go for the nVidia 8800.

If you have a little lot, go for the nVidia 7900.

If you have decent, go for the nVidia 7800.

If you have less than that, you should probably save up because looking at the things coming out in the future, a card less than the 7800 won't be able to handle the future things.

Like me, I have a nVidia 7800 GTX and I'm planning to upgrade my card so I can run Windows Vista without lag when it comes out.
 
GCR said:
Bare this in mind; Dell use on their E520's 533MHz memory whereas on my machine which doesn't have a monitor the memory is 800MHz. There is quite a price jump there alone. Both machines cost roughly the same, but mine has a Gigabyte motherboard and Dell use some company I've never heard of...
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Very good point, I was weighing the differences between building or buying prebuilt for a while. You never know what they put in there for a power supply.:P I prefer knowing what is my computer, both for the sake of reliability and upgrading. I would probably be inclined to go prebuilt though if I was never going to upgrade. Granted... so far all I have done is work on swaping motherboards/etc on older computers... maybe I will be singing a differnet tune after I fry a couple hundred dollars of new equipment.

Sorry to resurect an answered question (in terms of the prebuilt vs. building) I am clueless to video cards so I can't help out there; I'm too much of a noob still.

TherealChessnut
 
Building a computer can be more expensive then a prebuilt system. But yet again it can also be cheaper then a prebuilt system. It really depends on what you parts you buy. Of course if you build a computer you choose what goes inside of it. You can also buy barebone kits which usually are cheaper. Heres an example of an inexpensive barebone kit (mind you I am only using this as an example and the more you spend the better of a kit you can get) http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2719473&CatId=31
This kit cost $249.99 and it comes with

Power Up Doom 2535 Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with a 400 Watt Power Supply
Biostar P4M800 Pro M7 Via Socket 775 MicroATX Motherboard
Intel Pentium D 830 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor
Intel Socket 775 Cooling Fan

now all you have to add is a hard drive, memory, cooling fans, a neon glow stick, optical drive, sound and video cards (if you do not wish to use onboard video and sound). So it can be cheaper to build one.
 
building it yourself saves no money these days really unless you cut corners. Maybe 10 years ago it made a HUGE difference but now with rebates, and manufacturers able to buy in bulk, it is really really really hard to beat a compnay spec for spec. I mean, I am by no means a Dell fan boy, but jesus christ do they have killer specials (once you track down coupons and rebates) that you couldn't even come close to building yourself.
 
Thats true companies like dell give you these huge rebates to purchase from them that its like they are giving them away for free
 
^ yeah, but really, do you like to have all that crap in your computer when you buy it from dell or whatever. and first turn it on.

well, theres one point i just realized, you'd have to buy an operating system disc, or maybe you can borrow one from your friend, but you still need, Microsoft office, burning software,and you need to install drivers, things you can only do if you know what you're doing

but if you have a friend that might owe you a favor, you can have them help you, but also, in some discount computer stores where the chinese ppl work, you can probably, (i'm not so sure) buy all the parts and pay a labor fee of no more than 40 or 50 bucks, and they build it for you, they install all your drivers and software, and offer repairs for pretty cheap.


(edit: of course, you need to have some time on your hands)
 
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