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Did you build your main computer by yourself?
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Posted by: Canis Lupus
The poll came kinda late, but better late than ... later!
Since this is a tech site, I assume there are a lot of people here who have assembled their own systems. This poll only concerns your main system (meaning the system you are using to read this post right now).
So, how many built their own? And how many bought theirs pre-built? (or got a Dell ... dude)
Posted by: cloudberry
I built mine. Old parts and new parts. Cheap parts and expensive parts. It's very home-made, but it works!
Posted by: Tweaker
Bought mine pre-built, but then upgraded it. 
Posted by: Null Actor
Using a computer you didn't build yourself, is like wearing someone else's underwear...
Posted by: Spider
Built my main rig myself, but not this one I'm using at the moment.
Posted by: Chako
All my computers since 1996 are home built systems.
Posted by: Outlaw
Built it myself
Posted by: NetRanger
Mine is a gateway. Got prebuilt because thats only way dad could buy it through work. But I plan on taking it out, buying a case and making some mods to it, putting in a 128 geforce 4 instead of the 64 i got, new mobo etc
Posted by: Shalome
Angst and I have two Pentium III (500 and 533mhz) Hewlett-Packards that we've added memory and vid cards to. Both machines were gifts from our respective sets of parents during college. I guess we're pretty vanilla as far as hardware goes.
Posted by: redwench
originally bought it prebuilt, have upgraded with help several times since
Posted by: Bobaroo
Right now I am on a Dell. But the main comp I use is one that all the parts were bought at a computer show but someone their assembled it.
Posted by: justinious
Had some help first from a local comp. shop. They slapped together my rig. Since then a friend has helped me put in my upgrades, and built my router.
Posted by: SKYHN
I have an HP Pavilion xt967 with a mx90 19" monitor.
Only thing I have changed on this system is the video card, TNT2 to a GF4 Ti 4400.
Posted by: Nfested
I got mine prebuilt by Dell, with upgrades being done by me.
Posted by: Storm_Shot
I wish I had the patience or the know-how to build my own, then at least I'd know who to blame when it died I'll probably get someone to teach me soon. Then I can scavenge parts from the crap machine 
Posted by: Gunslinger
2 rigs. Use them equally as much. One built. One bought.
Posted by: Xtren
We bought our PC pre-built. It's lasted us about two years now.
Posted by: taco_fox
I built this computer about a year ago and upgraded and OC'd it last month. This is my first home-built machine.
Posted by: Xtren
I don't think I'd know how to do that anyway.
Posted by: Tecil
All of my PCs have been home build since around 96. My frist computer was a Micron 486. I learned my lesson and have built them myself since.
Posted by: Xtren
I've only had two computers. The first was pretty much crap, and the second is the one I have now, which I got two years ago.
Posted by: Sarc
Home brewed, all the way.
Personally, have been fortunate to of never owned/used (as primary) a pre-built system.
Posted by: Freak
My first computer was a Compaq Presario back in '98....its been so completely upgraded by myself I think the only thing I've left originally is the 1.2 gig hard drive I use for back up
Using a prebuilt Dell right now because I got free shipping thus saving me $100+ dollars. And its been upgraded by myself and will continue to be until I get sick of the Dell case 
Posted by: Xtren
My computers pre-built and I haven't had any problems with it. I haven't upgraded my comp at all either. Except of course with more RAM and a new video card.
Posted by: Bobaroo
I will build my next computer without a doubt. I think I may actually build one in the next few weeks, but it depends how I do in School.
Posted by: Nfested
Gotta get those A's
I may build my own comp as well someday.
Posted by: Xtren
 Quote:
Originally posted by Nfested
Gotta get those A's
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Last week of school next week. I have 99% in Math
Posted by: Bobaroo
I have finals all next week.
If I get straight A's I will get to have my own computer, and my parents may actually give me some money for it.
Posted by: Nfested
Quote:
Originally posted by Xtren
Last week of school next week. I have 99% in Math
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No Final Exams for you? My last week of school is crammed with finals 
Posted by: Xtren
My final exams were this week. Lol, I'm in grade 8, it's a tad different.
Posted by: jrpm
To follow the pole, I have never bought an 'off the shelf' since my first pc, if you want to call it that (NorthStar Horizon, 32K cpu, 1977). All have been custom configured at purchase from a local shop and then modified by me, including this one, but I haven't been a real wirehead (to use a dated term) for a while.
Posted by: Digitalphatman
Built it myself, now that i have seen teh light there will never be another prebuilt system in my house.
Posted by: Xtren
Well it's probably fairly simple to do, just I guess you won't know the difference unless you've tried.
Posted by: PhantomGamer
Nope i bought mine made
Posted by: Xtren
Does it really make a difference whether you buy a PC or make it yourself? It's a lot easier to buy a pre-built PC, and there can't be all that much of a difference in the value or performance of the two machines.
Posted by: Canis Lupus
The difference is when you build your own computer, you usually know how to fix it when something goes wrong. When you buy a pre-built computer, you would sometimes have to call up the support line of the company you bought it from, or open up the computer and try to figure out which component is causing grief.
When you built the computer yourself, you have already gone through the initial troubleshooting steps trying to make it boot up for the first time. Meaning you will often know which exact component is defective or causing problems...
Also, you have complete control over what you put in it - as well as its possible adverse effects.
Posted by: Xtren
I see, but you probably wouldn't usually take apart your PC unless you had indeed a very big problem.
Posted by: Tweaker
What laggy is saying is you have control on what is installed in your PC. Many pre-built PC's have a lot of pre-installed junk software that causes nothing but problems. Also your hardware that is pre-installed is not usually the greatest. By building your own you decide what goes into your machine not the MFG. Long story short, you come out ahead. Wish I would have built my own, just about replaced everything so far except the drive itself. 
Posted by: Xtren
That is true but some of the pre-installed junk that you get with pre-built PCs does come in handy.
Posted by: Canis Lupus
It's not enough reason to justify buying a pre-built computer just for "some handy pre-installed junk" if you can avoid it...
Then again, to each his own
Posted by: Xtren
I'm just saying that it's easier to buy a simple pre-built PC and the performance of the PC won't be bad. I'm sure that if you build your PC yourself you'll get a lot more out of it.
Posted by: Canis Lupus
Hehe, I'm not contesting the ease and simplicity of buying a pre-built system ... I'm just saying it's not better
Posted by: Xtren
That only makes sense, it has to be better... unless of course you screwed something up in the midst of putting the PC together
Posted by: Chako
Once you build your own system and maintain it....there is no looking back.
People who build their own rig tend to upgrade often because they aren't afraid of the technology. It does not control them, you control it to a degree.
When I first got off Amigas in the mid 90s and got my first PC, I did not know a thing about them. I was computer literate..but on a completely different system basis. So my first PC was a store made one. I hated that thing. It was a Pentium 100 with zoltrix junk inside and out. They even had little "warranty void if broken" stickers on the back of the case so you couldn't play in it.
Eventually, I wanted to upgrade my memory. Because I was worried about that darn warranty, and also because I didn't know how to install memory on a PC (was it different then on an Amiga)?, I brought it in to the place that sold it to me. They spent 2 whole minutes...and charged me $30. Whoa!
Then I wanted to upgrade my video card. The tech had reinstalled those darn stickers again...so I brought it in to them..and watched him install a freaking video card...for $30 again.
Then something happened to my Win95 OS, I had to format, but didn't have a clue on how to do it...the win95 manual that came with the OS had jack in it...so I brought it in to the local puter shop and they soaked me for $50.
Then I got smart...hit the books, educated myself on the finer details of PCs and ripped the guts out of that IPC crap machine...changed the motherboard, the CPU, memory, etc...toasted those damn little stickers...and never looked back.
Now, after a full year of paying through the nose for basic computer maintenance...one gets fed up and becomes computer educated..or become a sucker to the local computer store.
This is why building your own machine is probably cheaper in the long run...if you build it..you can fix it, or aren't afraid to upgrade it...doing it yourself..besides the thrill of manual labour and pride in doing it yourself...saves money.
I haven't had to pay a nickel to the local puter techs for well over 6 years now.
Posted by: Xtren
I know how to take apart my comp and put in a Video card or some extra RAM for example, but I suppose it would be pretty hard to put together a whole new PC. I just don't think I'd be able to do it on my own.
Posted by: Bobaroo
I have been told that making your own PC is not hard. I want to try it and see, but it does not seem that hard.
PC's you build yourself are usually cheaper and better quality parts then pre-built systems.
Posted by: Xtren
If someone were to guide me through once I'd be able to do it on my own the next time easily.
Posted by: Bobaroo
There are plenty of guides out there that help.
The "Black Ahtlon Guide" which Laggy did is a good guide.
Posted by: Xtren
Well someday I will build my own PC, but that'll probably be when I move out an when I won't be living with my parents anymore
Posted by: Space Junk
I purchased my first machine from a smallish whitebox retailer with "custom specs" and I really knew SFA about what the insides should look like or even if the components I'd specified were even in there? ......... so I eventually plucked up the courage to open case to take a squiz and was confronted with an atrocious wiring job, leads,looms and cables just pushed inside the case enough to get the cover on............. damn ,I could'nt even see the mobo or cards It took me another coupla months to screw up the courage to actually touch anything in there, but then I got to thinking at the very least I should be able to tidy up the cable clutter.............. so a bit of research on the 'net and away I went, it was just what I needed to imbue me with a little confidence when the machine posted again first attempt after the tidy up At the same time I had taken a really good look at what was actually in the box and realised that the entire machine was only about a dozen or so components including the cables so with just a little trepidation I decided the next 'puter I owned would be entirely my own handiwork....geez it ain't so hard to do and even the minor mistakes are a chance to learn stuff So these days I build 'em all the time for friends and family as well as the usual repairs and upgrades, and the very best thing is you have total control over which components you select which in itself is quite enjoyable.............. for instance you select a graphics card based upon the chip of your choice then go do a bit of research based upon quality/speed/price or even the software bundle that ships with the card..........same for all the other components........mmmmmmmm, happy, happy, joy, joy So I guess the point is just this :- if you wanna give it a whirl and are even a little bit handy with ya hands and brain, then you should have little difficulty accomplishing the task, and it is just like being the proud "father" when ya brand new 'puter first posts
Posted by: seperoth
mine is a gift dont know wher from though
Posted by: bLaCkOuT
For my current computer, my dad helped me build it ... but tomorrow I am going to buy the parts and make myself a new computer again. Only thing that won't be done by me is mounting the chip this time. I don't want to screw that part up
Posted by: kronus5
One I purchased from Dell (Dimension 4100 P3 - 700Mhz) and one I built. ASUS MotherBd TUA266 P3 Processor 1Ghz have upgraded the video several times. I want to upgrade the Dell but not sure if another ASUS Motherboard will replace the old DELL motherboard. Have heard that Dell's Power Pins are different....(sigh). 
Posted by: Squonk
I've owned four computers since '96. Three of them were pre-built systems by Acer, Compaq and Dell. Two summers ago, I decided to take the plunge and build my own. It's STILL a work in progress, had some complications that are finally ironing themselves out a bit.
I am in the process of saving some money for a new PC. I am torn between building it myself, or buying a "Built to Order" system from the store I work for (CompUSA). The BTO system is about the only way I'd buy a pre-built system from now on. I'm only considering it because we get to buy at store cost here, and it comes out incredibly cheap to buy a very nice BTO system.
Decisions, decisions...
Posted by: Cinderno4
I got me a barebone system with no harddrive, memory, or video card. I also gave it speakers and a moniter. I have added additional RAM since then. I imagine it would've been quite easy to have done the whole thing from scratch, and I would have, had it not been something akin to 20 dollars less than what I paid for the barebone.
Posted by: EvilCable
All my systems since the mid 90s (and I've had a lot) have been custom built. I find more freedom in building your own PC. Unless your building in mass (ie, for a company), then your best bet is to go prebuilt, mainly for deployment purposes.
My current servers on the other hand, are a different story. Up until recently, I had HP NetServers for my domain, web, and game and 1 ultrasparc II box (sun). I got rid of the netservers due to power issues (they ring up your home power bill pretty quick and are loud!) and moved to small form factor pcs. The only server I still have is an HP NetServer LC3 w/raid for file/web/databases/backups. My sun box (I bought off a dying isp) recently died, power supply failure, which is why my databases are now on the LC3, its gonna be a good while before I can get ahold of a new power supply for it. Sun wants $2,200 for just the power supply (I paid $1,200 for the server) and I can't find the same model on ebay.
I still remember my first big pc, was a 286 with 1MB ram, 9600Baud modem, 60MB RLL HD, Sound Blaster Pro ISA Card, 512K Paradise ISA VGA card running DOS 5.0. I use to troll around the local BBS' and even played around with windows 3.0. I remember saying that I would never fully get into the whole click and drag thing, that the only good way was to go thru dos, now, I'm mabey in the cmd line once a week and usually only for network related reasons. (tho I still use batch files a lot, can never let go ;-)
Posted by: poolking
Yeah, I built mine myself, I used to have 2 rigs running on a network, but eventually I got pissed off with one of the cases, I think it kept shorting on something, so I ripped the guts out of both of them and put my new bits in my old case, so at the moment I'm left with one, until I get a new case to house my old bits.
Hope that made sense.
Posted by: BACONHEDDv6.6.6
Yeah,-built both myself.Been hand-picking parts and puttin' 'em together since about '88 (NO-not *these* 2! All the ones I built! LOL). These are my ..um... 6th and 7th "incarnations" I believe.I sold or gave the others to good,caring homes.
I won't TOUCH a Prebuilt.Asking for frustration... I've had to fix too many of 'em for people. Some *can't* be fixed,-except to throw them in a garbage can.THAT fixes 'em.
Posted by: Bullfrog264
Is there any other way for an aspiring IT Guru to get a computer?!?!?!
Home Built for me!!!!
Posted by: BooRadley
I bought my first two, but then upgrades and such left me with tons of parts. I ended up grabbing two empty cases from work and building extra machines in them. I tossed most of it, and bought a full tower that I've had for a bout three years now, and will likely have for much longer. I just swap out parts when I need to. It's almost not even a computer as much as it is a tower full of parts of other computers. Hell, I think theis floppy drive is out of my old Dell Performa 33sx. I may end up buying another pre-built computer next, though. A lot of my stuff is severly dated. Probably enough to justify buying a new one of everything, and it would probably be just as cheap to buy it pre-built as to buy all the parts. Then I can pull all the parts, stick them in my tower, then put the tower's parts in the new case, shove that in a closet, and use it as a file-server to dump backups to.
Something along those lines, at least.
Posted by: psd#1
Been building PC's for the public for the past 3 years... Built my own, have a clear case with a few blue led fans
-pSd#1
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