Question: Build your Own or Buy Complete?

[Musashi815]

Well, quite a simple question really. My system is a wheezing old hulk now and coming to the end of it's life. I'm considering buying a new one but wonder what sort of savings you think are possible from putting a new system together yourself.
I will be looking for a very high spec system that breezes through any game without breaking a sweat really.
Any advice, tips or hints appreciated. Also tell us what you usually do, and if you like why.

[malasuerte]

Hmmm tough call. It depends in so many factors that you are the only one who can make such a choice

found an article that might help you

http://www.pcworld.com/article/11066...custom_pc.html

edit. another one that can help
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editor...7%2F113397.asp

[safara]

A bit of both really for me - I tend to get a bare bones and build it up from there.

So, the motherboards, PSU, RAM, Chip - are already installed and tested - I just add drives/cards/OS etc

[Blake Seven]

Tempted to build my next one myself as I've always gone the pre-made/bundle route before.

Will probably end up getting a fairly customised one but probably made to order rather than make it myself.

[Mega]

I always like to build my own PC's and have for past 7-8 years now.

Avoids getting an onboard graphic card for example

[Musashi815]

Originally Posted by Mega

I always like to build my own PC's and have for past 7-8 years now.

Avoids getting an onboard graphic card for example

The first one i had made by a small local company and that did me well for a couple of years but tbh, even though it came in a few hundred pounds cheaper than pre-mades from big name companies I certainly didn't get the sort of lasting power that I have had from my current system which is an Alienware (coming on 5 years old .) I have been looking there again, have also looked at Beastcomputers. both these do really impressive systems but they sure as hell don't come cheap.
One of my pals is a "build your own" type of person and his systems perform pretty well, but he also seems to have regular -"bollocks my gfx card has blown up"- or -"balls the power suplly has fried"- moments. THe stability I have had from the Alienware system is probably pushing me towards a system from one of the Gaming system companies, but I'm open to any tales of good long lasting homemmades

[UUUU]

Originally Posted by Blake Seven

Tempted to build my next one myself as I've always gone the pre-made/bundle route before.

Me too because it seems like it would work out much cheaper or get much better for less cost but I heard a rumor there are problems when mixing and matching brand name parts with generics?

[Blake Seven]

Originally Posted by UUUU

Me too because it seems like it would work out much cheaper or get much better for less cost but I heard a rumor there are problems when mixing and matching brand name parts with generics?

For the relatively small fee I was being charged for assembly I was prepared to pay it to rest assured with compatiblity and have a convenient waranty from a single vendor.

As it happened I spent the money I had allocated for the PC on holiday for the family in the Ballearics cos MA were/are dithering over a definitive Cryengine release date.

*Starts saving again*

[Mega]

Originally Posted by Musashi815

One of my pals is a "build your own" type of person and his systems perform pretty well, but he also seems to have regular -"bollocks my gfx card has blown up"- or -"balls the power suplly has fried"- moments. THe stability I have had from the Alienware system is probably pushing me towards a system from one of the Gaming system companies, but I'm open to any tales of good long lasting homemmades

Sounds like he doesnt spend enough on cooling to be honest which can be as simple as having a case with a big fan on the front and a big one on the back.

[Danoclese]

I built my system from scratch. That was 5 years ago and haven't had any performance issues save that I went from fan-cooled to water-cooled about 3 years ago. What was important for me was building a system that was scalable/upgradable. Ofc, at the time, I didn't forsee the advent of multi-core processors entering the market so were I to upgrade to that platform, I'd have to replace the MB and CPU.

I've looked at some of the rigs built by Alienware and were I to buy a "factory made" system, I'd go with them.