Programmers: Did you Build Your Computer?

fyhuang · 2005-06-16T19:15:01

Quote:If people that complain about "too much crap" are really as smart as they claim they are, then they should know how to delete, turn off, and configure the default factory setting and applications to their liking. Configuring a ready-made system is much less painful than assembling the hardware.Example 1 - I got a Windows XP CD with the Dell stuff pre-installed. AFAICT there is no uninstall entry for them (at least that I can remember - I've been using a clean Linux for a while now). I'm not going to waste my time digging into the C:\Windows directory just as you're not going to waste time researching.Example 2 - my Dell computer comes with a crappy BIOS. It makes it almost impossible to dual-boot effectively. If I want to change that, I need a new motherboard. Then I need to do the research for compatibility anyways.Example 3 - most retailers ship OEM components. From my experience OEM components don't perform as well/are buggier than their retail counterparts. You can't tell Dell, for example, to give you a retail Audigy 2 rather than an OEM Audigy 2 (which is what I have, which can't load large SoundFonts).It is true, however, that although previously building your own was cheaper nowadays the mass volume discounts retailers get can beat your personal stuffs. OEMs are also cheaper than retail components but like I said, might not work as well.Quote:Configuring a ready-made system is much less painful than assembling the hardware.Actually, I've screwed in hard drives and plugged in cards and stuff, the only thing I would predict could be painful is the processor. Everything else is just a bunch of research and being careful not to break anything (with ESD or physical abuse).Also, building your own allows you to know exactly what you have in your computer. Like, I didn't know that Dell computers included a rescue partition until I tried to install Linux. I'd also rather not have to read my entire computer manual to figure out that information. I have better things to spend my time on. It is definitely advantageous, IMHO to know what you have in your computer, it can come in handy later on when you're doing upgrades or just for general troubleshooting stuff.Just my .02. Cheers!

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Started by Max_Payne June 16, 2005 01:00 PM

81 comments, last by lethalhamster 18 years, 10 months ago

mattnewport

1,039

June 16, 2005 03:17 PM

Quote:Original post by Ainokea
It's cheaper to build your own (if you already have a monitor) and you get all the parts you want. I don't see why anyone wouldn't.

It's tough to beat the price of a pre-configured system from someone like Dell if you build your own. The only reason I build my own now is so I can get exactly the parts I want, not to save money. In fact I'm not even sure I'll bother doing that for my next PC - companies like NCIX will let you select all the components you want and then for an extra $50 CAD or so will assemble it for you, install the operating system and check it all works. Given the time I would spend doing it myself that's probably worth paying.

Game Programming Blog: www.mattnewport.com/blog

Kwizatz

1,394

June 16, 2005 03:48 PM

Build most of mine (except the very first which my dad bought for me, a POS pentium 60mhz), and my brother's too (his training complete will be when his own computer he builds hmm).

Imagining stupid so called techs installing a $300 CPU into a $300 mobo scares the shit out of me, so I do it instead.

I find the amount of excuses for not building your own computer here rather disturbing. [lol]

extralongpants

704

June 16, 2005 04:00 PM

For all of you bent on interpereting "build" as "soldering, molding plastic parts, constructing motors, mining for ore, etc.":

Quote:
build
v. built, (blt) build·ing, builds
v. tr.

1. To form by combining materials or parts; construct.
-dictionary.com

The OP's use of the word "build" is completely accurate. I recommend that you not be so extremist. :P

Anyway, I built mine.

JSoftware

318

June 16, 2005 04:07 PM

yes i have Assembled all my computers myself(except for the laptop..). i've assembled alot for my friends and family. i would never pay 80$ for letting some 15-year old kid assemble it for me: "Power on! w00t, the led is blinking: It works! Now i'll ship it on". i've experienced this a number of times where the computers that some of my friends had ordered was in a very unworking state because screws were short circuiting or cables missing.

138

June 16, 2005 04:13 PM

I built my computer. I live in New Zealand where the choice of pre-built machines wasn't that great a couple of years ago. I really wanted an all black PC, so i decided to build my own. It cost me about NZ$3,000 but its never given me any problems apart from one bad memory stick.

I'll probably build another one next year when the dual-ATI card moetherboards come down in price. :)

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Xtremehobo

820

June 16, 2005 04:14 PM

I've built all mine (except for my laptop) as well. Sometime i'd like to wire up an i386 and see if I can build my own mini-pc :)

pixelwrench.com | [email="matt[nospam]@pixelwrench[nospam]com"]email[/email] lethalhamster: gamedev keeps taking my money, but im too lazy to not let them

Colin Jeanne

1,115

June 16, 2005 04:52 PM

I bought my most powerful one 5 years ago. I have since doubled its RAM, replaced its harddrive, and gave it a DVD burner. I also gave it a new mouse. Keyboard is still the same though.

My favorite computer was given to me as a gift something like a year or so ago - it's an eTower 566i2. It's RAM has been replaced and I gave it the CD-RW from the above computer. I also gave it Win2000. It's just so quiet and small that I dont care that it only has 566MHz or 7.5GB. I also dont care that it's power supply isnt capable of powering the CD-RW and its original CD-ROM so I have to keep the CD-ROM unplugged. It's just so much better than any of your machines.

OrangyTang

1,298

June 16, 2005 05:27 PM

Quote:Original post by Max_Payne
In my (perhaps biased) opinion, a true programmer should build his own computer, Just like the jedi build their own lightsabers [wink]

Surely the equivilent would be building your own compiler?

[size="1"][[size="1"]TriangularPixels.com[size="1"]] [[size="1"]Rescue Squad[size="1"]] [[size="1"]Snowman Village[size="1"]] [[size="1"]Growth Spurt[size="1"]]

Witchcraven

564

June 16, 2005 05:33 PM

Built my own from newegg. Was very cheap and I got exactly what I wanted and a streamlined copy of windows XP. Have you ever seen a dell default OS? There are about 43 threads running on first boot. Mine has like 15, all essential.

PnP Bios

494

June 16, 2005 05:44 PM

No, I bought the cheapest one that had what I wanted, and started from there.

Current system:
19 inch Trinitron, 15 inch POS emachine monitor.
768MB Ram
PNY Verto 128MB Fx5500 AGP
Semperon 3000+

It was a Compaq. I never even turned it on. I inserted the XP CD before I even saw what was on the hard drive. I made my own rescue CD. Works awsome.

HxRender | Cornerstone SDL TutorialsCurrently picking on: Hedos, Programmer One

Programmers: Did you Build Your Computer?

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