# Building my own PC **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 5, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479 "2002-08-05T21:42:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/21 "2002-08-06T18:49:01Z")
**cmosdes** : Don’t listen to Doug. Most people just don’t need what Microsoft thinks is cutting-edge OS technology. WinME is perfectly OK for gaming purposes (what I use it for, when I use it on my dual-boot machine), and Win98 is all you’ll need for business apps. Given the various insults Microsoft has seen fit to place in Windows XP (Product Activation, raw sockets, huge price), it really isn’t worth it when other Microsoft OSes are out there to buy for less. Dual-booting with Linux is exceptionally painless, especially with GRUB. LILO was easy enough until you began to get into customizations, but GRUB is heavensent for those who have to put multiple OSes on one machine. I _guarantee_ the newest release of Mandrake will have GRUB in it. In any case, Linux is good at sharing a computer with even OSes as rude as the ones Microsoft makes. It will even mount Microsoft-formatted disk partitions in read-write mode, if you so choose. Dual-booting is a good way to go if you really want the safety line (ha!) Microsoft provides. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/22 "2002-08-06T19:22:39Z")
I built my own PC about 5 years ago, and trashed it for a new model about 2 years ago. The only parts of the old PC that I would have kept would be: Case / Power supply Floppy drive Keyboard Mouse maybe sound card Not much expensive stuff in there, probably less than $200 total. I would have certainly replaced the CPU, Motherboard, Memory, Hard drive, CD-ROM, Video Card, etc. In other words, the only stuff you save is the cheap stuff, you will be buying the expensive stuff over and over when you upgrade. Doing that upgrade piecemeal would not really have saved me any money. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/23 "2002-08-06T20:33:54Z")
> [@](#): > > …Don’t listen to Doug… - Derleth - - - Um… huh? I agreed basically with what you said: XP is a pain, 98 is becoming technically outdated, and Linux is okay as a dual-boot but not practical as a single OS… what part was he not supposed to listen to? … - I bought Mandrake 7.2 retail for $30 (a while back); it installs easily enough and included four GUI’s and was easy enough to poke around at, but there were no drivers for any of the hardware I had. It had both LILO and GRUB, and I think I even switched it from one to the other boot manager at one point, just to see what the other was like. I ditched Linux when I ran into problems between Win98, the BIOS and the boot managers- and I _needed_ Win98. ```auto ``` ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/24 "2002-08-06T22:30:01Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by cmosdes \* Lorenzo - Where did you get your PC? I looked at Dell, Gateway, HP, Compaq, etc. but couldn’t find anything near that. They had systems that started low, but they were stripped down systems. I got mine from a (regional?) home electronics chain called “Best Buy.” I believe their HQ is in Maine and they may be national, I’m not sure. I got a pentium (IV?) 1.3 GHz, 40 Gb HDD, 256 MB Ram, floppy, CD-RW, off- brand modem, an on-board video card which I upgraded with a cheapie v card, an on-board sound card, a lexmark ink jet printer and a 17" monitor for $450 plus tax, after rebate. I will say that this is not the latest or greatest technology and if you do not know the “lingo” and show them that you know more about their computer than they do, their customer service is not the best. I think what you really get with the Dell is unbeatable service and a rock solid warranty. Everyone else seems cheaper, but the service does not compare in my experience. This was so unethical, but my brother-in-law’s pc which I had given him had died and he’s somewhat addicted to surfing the web so I offered to sell him my old pc with the new printer that came with my new pc, my old monitor, mouse and keyboard for $200. He bought it, reducing the cost of my new pc to $250 plus tax. I have heard that the shape of Dell and other name brand cases are such that it is difficult to find an upgraded motherboard that will fit, whereas the generic cases are more likely to fit a later model upgraded motherboard. However, Cheesesteak raises the excellent point of what are you going to move over to the new motherboard in the old case and how much are you really “saving.” Two points seem to run in the face of assembling or upgrading a pc: the technology changes too fast and a pc manufacturer can buy in such outrageous volume directly from the manufacturer at discounts that the consumer will never approach while buying onesies and twosies from a retailer. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/25 "2002-08-06T22:47:50Z")
I made my own so i could update later, thing is, some of the new stuff won’t fit my old computer case/config. Even when it did, I found out the new OS software didn’t like the old stuff too much either. So I would probably buy a dell or something similar cause they KNOW all the parts work together & the operating system too 🙂 (At least I hope they do) These people recently had a $200 rebate on a Pioneer A04 dvdwriter if you bought a computer. Brought the price of that drive to $150.00 ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/26 "2002-08-07T15:50:18Z")
Thanks again to all the responses. Beyond the debate about Linux/M$, it seems really clear that buildling your own is done strictly for the experience. I did go check [bestbuy.com](http://bestbuy.com), and they do have some really low priced PCs. I might take mine back and see if I can upgrade, but for now I’ll stick with what I have. The place where I bought mine has a policy of refunding any purchase, any time. I can take this PC back in a year and get all my money back. No, I won’t do that. But it is nice to know I have that option. Everyone keeps quoting Dell as the computer to buy, but to be honest, they just didn’t have any really good deals on their website. Maybe I’m missing something. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/27 "2002-08-07T21:06:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cmosdes \* > \*\*Thanks again to all the responses. Beyond the debate about Linux/M$, it seems really clear that buildling your own is done strictly for the experience. \*\* It’s also done for putting together a computer that is/can be vastly superior to anything available from Dell, Gateway, or similar companies. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/28 "2002-08-08T01:16:38Z")
I’m a little late getting here, but I just built my own PC for the first time, so I can offer some advice. –I agree that you won’t necessarily save any money. I’ve spent about $800 so far, and I’m still using the monitor, video card, and speakers from my old machine. (I’m planning to upgrade those.) Here’s how it broke down, to the best of my recollection: –Motherboard (MSI): about $130. I could have gotten it cheaper on the 'net, but I bought this locally (see below). Don’t buy a cheap one–it’s the foundation. –Athlon 1800+: about $100 –Memory: about $115 total; I got 256 MB of DDR for about $70, and then 256 more when the price dropped. –Win XP Pro/Office XP (see below): about $100 –Case and power supply: about $70. The case was $35 and came with a weak, non-approved PS, so I spent $35 on a better one. (The case itself, from [newegg.com](http://newegg.com), was a steal–can’t recall the brand, though. I’ll look if anyone is interested.) –Hard drive: about $100 (80 MB Maxtor, CompUSA branded) –CD drive: about $30. (I’m using the CD-R from the old machine for now.) –Sound card, Turtle Beach Santa Cruz: about $70 –Cordless optical mouse (not necessary, but cool): $50 The rest is fans, cables, power strip, and all that. –If there is any way possible to do so, buy locally. You can save a lot of money if you poke around the internet, but it may be more hassle than it’s worth. For instance, I bought a motherboard combo from a company out in CA that had a steal on it, and it worked for about six hours before the mobo died. By the time I got it shipped back, they wouldn’t give me a refund; they merely shipped me a new one. This took nearly a month, so in the meantime, I bought another one. (BTW, if anyone needs to buy a motherboard…) The big box retailers stock dick all when it comes to individual components, and the prices are often bad; the little mom-and-pop places usually have good stuff at horrible markups. In some cases, though, it might be worth it. –All that said, [newegg.com](http://newegg.com) was fantastic. I also got my memory straight from Crucial Technology, and had a great experience with them. –If you’re a student, or otherwise affiliated with a college, check with their campus Computer Store; you may be eligible for a site license for your OS at a deep discount. I called on a lark, and ended up getting Win XP Pro for about $50 and Office XP Pro for about another $50. (If you aren’t affiliated with such a college, perhaps you know someone who is, not that I would recommend such a thing.) Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/29 "2002-08-08T04:03:19Z")
When you build your own computer, you don’t necessarily save money. And you don’t necessarily make it easier to upgrade (few motherboards seem to be designed to take components that are faster than the fastest currently available). But you sure as heck get better quality parts. The big computer stores sell computers from the big computer makers. The big computer makers put in sexy parts with name recognition (P4, big numbers on the HD size, the cd speed, the memory size, and every once in a while throwing a bone to the gamers by throwing in an Nvidia card) and cheap out on the parts that the customers don’t know about. They put in a power supply that costs them $5, they custom-make a motherboard that barely makes tolerences with the cheapest chipset that fits the rest of the components, forget the fact that your GeForce4 and your P4 2.2 Ghz aren’t going to do squat if they can’t talk to each other quickly. Your $400 P4 PC almost has to have PC133 RAM. It was that cheap because your $150 P4 chip performs 10% slower with SDRAM than with real memory. And then there’s the hard drives that will crash if you look at them funny, and then, to top it all off, they sell you service contracts! For things that wouldn’t break if they had put in quality components in the first place! What you get with building your own, in addition to experience, is the knowledge that with a little research, you can get every dollar’s worth of performance out of every component you pay for. Instead on depending on the vendor’s QA practices, you can order individual high-quality parts that each have a low failure rate, and put them together into a computer that will last you for years. That said, Amp’s computer sounds like a good template for building your own. I may even use it for my next one. -lv ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/30 "2002-08-08T09:53:17Z")
- - - Another bunch of parts to avoid is the ones that aren’t real: for example, instead of using the XTasy GeForce4 videocard, they will have a videocard that’s “_ **based** _ on the same processor as the XTasy GeForce4”. -Anything described like this is almost certain to be sub-standard to the product they’re comparing it to: if they had used the good card in the first place, they wouldn’t be afraid to say so. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Marcus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Marcus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/31 "2002-08-08T10:49:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* > \*\*Does anybody know of anyone who makes a case that looks more like a piece of AV equipment (e.g., a DVD player) than a PC? \*\* Yep, check out [this review](http://www.dansdata.com/atc600.htm) of just such a case. The sidebar contains a Lian Li case which may also do the job. They both look great! ---
**Author:** ![Marcus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Marcus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/32 "2002-08-08T11:02:42Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by DougC \* > \*\* > 7. Linux is not a substitute for Windows. Linux is geting better, but it still lacks device drivers for most computer peripherals out there. Running it as a dual-boot is fine, but any hardware you have that Windows needs a driver for may very well not be useable with Linux at all, except in a generic capacity (my own experience: CD-RW drives only read CD’s, DVD drives only read CD’s, videocards and soundcards can’t use hardware accelleration)._\* and > [@](#): > > **There’s lots of Linuxes out there, but if none of them will run your hardware (modem, printer, scanner, videocard, soundcard, NIC, USB stuff) they’re just not good for much.** If this were true, it would indeed make Linux just about worthless. Fortunately it is not true. I have installed Linux on many machines (more than 30, I think), including Dells, Compaqs, home-made put-it-together yourself machines, 2 and 4 way rack-mountable servers, and laptops. The only hardware I have ever had trouble with is winmodems (which offload processing to MS Windows, instead of doing it in hardware), and I even got that working after some time. I read somewhere that when Adaptec released the Ultra160 SCSI standard, a Linux driver was released 3 hours later. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/33 "2002-08-08T12:54:40Z")
Thanks, **Marcus**! ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/34 "2002-08-11T11:20:17Z")
> [@](#): > > …If this were true, it would indeed make Linux just about worthless. Fortunately it is not true… - - - So you’re saying, that now there are Linux drivers for all hardware except Winmodems? So now, one can go to Wal-Mart and pull any peripheral off the shelf, and it will work 100% correct in any brand of Linux? …Wow!..-I better check this out-! So… I am looking at the first site that Google turned up for “linux hardware compatibility”: [http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO/](http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO/) -note the last update: 2002-3-28. … My videocard and USB Zip drive are supported. I have a hardware modem now, so that’s no longer a problem. My soundcard, scanner, motherboard, printer and cable modem aren’t. –Linux is popular for servers, and SCSI cards are popular for servers, so SCSI cards were one of the first pieces of hardware to get support but that doesn’t help home users much- most ordinary folks don’t run SCSI cards. Home users need the junk from Wal-Mart to work, and most of it still doesn’t. I put my current PC together about two years ago, haven’t updated anything major since then, and still-- most of the supported hardware on that list is _significantly older_ than what I’m running. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/35 "2002-08-12T00:43:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Debaser \* > \*\*Or, install any old version of windows, then install the Windows XP Upgrade, which I believe costs less than $100. > \*\* I believe the upgrade version will only work with the next previous version of Windows, either ME or 2k. I bet there is a hack to get around this, but I also bet it would be against the board rules to discuss it. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/36 "2002-08-12T11:52:41Z")
Build your own! I re-used my monitor, keyboard and mouse and my system came to around $400. I do want to upgrade to a better case and more memory later, but right now it’s fine. The great things about building your own are: -you don’t pay for stuff you already have -you know exactly what went into your system and how -it’s easier to troubleshoot if you’re the one who built it -you learn a lot -it is indeed easier to upgrade You can get WinXP for $99 if you buy OEM with a piece of hardware. htttp://www.pcmech.com has a great step-by-step build your own guide, and helpful, knowledgeable people in their forums to help you out. I’ll just warn you: like tattoos, it gets addictive. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/37 "2002-08-12T11:54:54Z")
Damn, that should be [http://www.pcmech.com](http://www.pcmech.com) . Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/38 "2002-08-12T13:48:33Z")
**CheeseSteak** > [@](#): > > ## quote: > > ## Originally posted by cmosdes \*\*One reason I want to build my own is the ease of upgrading later. With Dell, HP, Gateway their stuff is usually pretty proprietary and upgrading can be tough. \*\* > > This is a new one to me, I have always thought that PC components were pretty much interchangable. Granted, you need the right type (speed and such) of memory and parts that fit the available spots in your case and MB, but other than that, your options are open. I have an IBM Aptiva and added new cards and features, no problem whatsoever. > > What sort of upgrading are you thinking of that you can’t do on a Dell? Well surprise surprise. Dell has been putting non-standard motherboards since the late '90s. They rearranged components, and dropped the voltage to certain processor connections. This required a custom power supply, but it has the same pinout as the standard PS. Therefore, if you try to upgrade the MB, and do not get a new power supply from Dell, you will fry one or both the MB/power supply. Cute, huh? **Handy** My displeasure with pre-built machines lies in the propensity to add all the peripherals to the MB. Most of the attractively-priced machines have the modem, sound, even the network card on the MB. In some cases (notably HP), if for instance, the sound “card” goes, you may or may not be able to add a PCI card to replace it. If you build a machine and keep the MB free of this stuff, you will be able to upgrade one thing or the other. So building your own is not strictly “for the experience”. You know what you’ve got and you know what can be done to it. Go to:[http://www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com/articles/upgrade3\_01\_01.asp](http://www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com/articles/upgrade3_01_01.asp) Check out paragraphs 3, 6 and 7. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/39 "2002-08-12T16:18:41Z")
I shouldn’t hijack, but god, I just read **DoctorJ** ’s post, and are parts ever cheaper in the US!!! We always upgrade our computer ourselves, and I’ve recently purchased most of the items he mentioned. I spent twice the amount on almost everything (except for the case and power supply - $70). _sigh_ You may now go back to your regularly scheduled thread. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/40 "2002-08-13T20:20:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheesesteak \* > **This is a new one to me, I have always thought that PC components were pretty much interchangable. Granted, you need the right type (speed and such) of memory and parts that fit the available spots in your case and MB, but other than that, your options are open. I have an IBM Aptiva and added new cards and features, no problem whatsoever.** I guess you’ve never looked inside the case of an old (386 or 486) Compaq. They did some rather odd things inside that case. As with Dell, there’s no way to put a non-Compaq motherboard in there. For one thing, the power supply is completely different; all power goes to the MB before going to the drives. Even more recent Compaqs have some weird setups. Someone gave me a Presario a while back and I had planned on adding another hard drive to it but I dread taking out the drive bays to put it in. Until the Athlon XP 1800 that I bought via eBay, I’ve essentially been upgrading on a Compaq 386 that my brother gave me. Everything started from there when I put in a new hard drive. Then I shorted out the MB so I bought a new case, MB, and a 486 CPU and transferred the drives from the 386. I just kept getting new cases, motherboards, CPUs, video cards, and drives as needed. The last incarnation of that PC is a P3-450 with a Voodoo 3 card, two 20Gig HDs, a 36X CD-rom, a Philips CD-RW, and (of course) a 3.5 floppy. I had taken that system just about as far as it can go so now I have the Athlon to mess with. 🙂 Yeah, I now have three PCs and I’m not about to get rid of any of 'em. I still use the 450 the most unless I want to play Neverwinter Nights or Civ 3. In case you’re wondering where I got all the parts for these upgrades, nearly every single one of them came from my brother. He’s been in the computer hardware retail business for about 15 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479.md?page=3)