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walbournI think the time has come to get a new computer. The one I have is showing it's age in that the most recent PC title releases would bring it to it's knees. So the question is do I buy a pre-built machine again or build my own?
Pre-built machines have the advantage of being fairly trouble-free and under warranty. If it has issues, I can get it fixed. Someone has taken the time to test all the components together and resolve whatever weirdness might arise.
A build-your-own machine tends to be cheaper and/or more powerful, but you have to cope with the strange mixes of motherboard choice, chips, memory, etc, etc etc. I've built a number of systems in the past, and they've always had one thing wrong or another that had to be dealt with.
In the past one of the main reasons for getting a pre-built was to get all the latest software for cheap as part of the deal, and perhaps a nice monitor along with it. The LCD I have works great and now that I work for the "Evil Empire" I can get all the bundle software I care about cheap already.
So all-in-all I think the build-your-own approach sounds a bit more appealing this time aroudn and would make a good project for a long weekend with no firm plans.
My questions are then who I should go to for the parts locally and who I should avoid? Computer Stop? Funkey Computers? I think that Fry's is likely to be over-priced for most of their components, as is Best Buy and CompUSA.
Update: Parts acquired... now to the assembly.
Update 2: Wrong case form-factor for my motherboard, and the store I bought my case from is closed for the holiday weekend. So, it's off to Fry's for a last-minute purchase of a suitable case before they close as well...
Pre-built machines have the advantage of being fairly trouble-free and under warranty. If it has issues, I can get it fixed. Someone has taken the time to test all the components together and resolve whatever weirdness might arise.
A build-your-own machine tends to be cheaper and/or more powerful, but you have to cope with the strange mixes of motherboard choice, chips, memory, etc, etc etc. I've built a number of systems in the past, and they've always had one thing wrong or another that had to be dealt with.
In the past one of the main reasons for getting a pre-built was to get all the latest software for cheap as part of the deal, and perhaps a nice monitor along with it. The LCD I have works great and now that I work for the "Evil Empire" I can get all the bundle software I care about cheap already.
So all-in-all I think the build-your-own approach sounds a bit more appealing this time aroudn and would make a good project for a long weekend with no firm plans.
My questions are then who I should go to for the parts locally and who I should avoid? Computer Stop? Funkey Computers? I think that Fry's is likely to be over-priced for most of their components, as is Best Buy and CompUSA.
Update: Parts acquired... now to the assembly.
Update 2: Wrong case form-factor for my motherboard, and the store I bought my case from is closed for the holiday weekend. So, it's off to Fry's for a last-minute purchase of a suitable case before they close as well...
