Quote:Original post by fyhuangThat's an argument against buying a prebuilt machine - it's just an overpriced machine with a few higher-end parts in a pretty case. They're good for the length of your ePenis, though, if you're into such things. [wink]
(should've got an Alienware, I know [smile])
Programmers: Did you Build Your Computer?
And I see your Scwartz is just as long as mine. I should start selling eViagra, that would make so much money [grin].
Real programmers write their own operating system, build their own computer, and write their own apps.
Quote:Original post by antareus
Real programmers write their own operating system, build their own computer, and write their own apps.
A Real Programmer
The last time I put together a computer I remember being excited about my new 28k ISA modem card and my 2MB DRAM sticks.
I've built my own and I recently built one for my dad. However, both these systems used components (speakers, mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc.) from existing systems (a Dell and an HP-Compaq) so the price did come up less than a comparable system from one of the major manufacturers.
It's fun to build your own system, but there's a lot of research involved and if something doesn't work right, it's up to you to figure out what's wrong and how to correct it. I've never had any serious problems, but I can imagine it would be a pain in the ass, especially if you had to return components that were bought online.
It's fun to build your own system, but there's a lot of research involved and if something doesn't work right, it's up to you to figure out what's wrong and how to correct it. I've never had any serious problems, but I can imagine it would be a pain in the ass, especially if you had to return components that were bought online.
Heck yeah I built my own computer. There was no way I could buy an assembled computer with these components for the price I paid. Seriously I priced them out and no assembled machine could come within $300 of my price (from Newegg of course). Plus the components I put in are probably better than some of the crap Dell or someone will throw in there.
But I think gamers (not necessarily programmers) should build their own computers. If you want a nice game machine, you have to build it yourself to avoid paying way too much.
But I think gamers (not necessarily programmers) should build their own computers. If you want a nice game machine, you have to build it yourself to avoid paying way too much.
Quote:Original post by superdeveloperIt's only cheaper if you just want an email box. Once you upgrade the ram to 2 bits or ask for a mobo with an AGP slot, the price skyrockets out of control. Not to mention they come with flat panels these days.
I found that just buying them according to my spec was always cheaper than building my own. Plus store-build computers will instantly replace any defective parts automatically (at the store-workshop). Then they run them for a while to ensure it's all working.
I can't see any practical reason to build them (its risky, time consuming, headache if something goes wrong). I'll admit it's fun for sure though, but your talking a lot of money here too...
Truly, the cheapest computer you can build is slightly more expensive than the cheapest Dell, but you get twice as much of everything you want and none of what you don't.
I assembled my own PC from parts bought on newegg, andI'm not going back just because the dells still haven't caught up with my once-a-top-of-the-line PC.
For most people, a Dell is probably the best deal, but if you have ANY plans to use your computer above 0.01%, then buying parts is a better deal by far.
These days, it's so simple to build a PC, I'm surprised people are frightened of it. "Company X's expansion card not working with Company Y's motherboard" problems are so uncommon as to be downright quaint; if a plug fits in a jack, it's quite likely to belong there; and we're far beyond the days of monkeying with IRQs to get our sound cards to stop hanging up our modems. Even installing a CPU and cooler, once a hair-raising experience, is pretty much reduced to flipping a few levers.
Price is debatable; pre-built PC retailers get good deals on components, but the components in question tend not to be especially high-quality. It's simply good business sense for them to ship PCs with components that stand a decent chance of failing if they can get them at a deep discount. And there's also the fact that the major retailers simply won't stock top-of-the-line components, even if there's a demand for them; since the same items are sold aftermarket, the profit margins for them are too low.
Price is debatable; pre-built PC retailers get good deals on components, but the components in question tend not to be especially high-quality. It's simply good business sense for them to ship PCs with components that stand a decent chance of failing if they can get them at a deep discount. And there's also the fact that the major retailers simply won't stock top-of-the-line components, even if there's a demand for them; since the same items are sold aftermarket, the profit margins for them are too low.
Built mine, built my server, built my brothers, built my mothers, built my sisters, built her friends, built her friends parents, built two other friends machines, built countless others with whom I have little relation.
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