# Building my own PC

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479>\
**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:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/41 "2002-08-13T23:20:08Z")

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I should stress not to skimp on your case and power supply. Get a case that’s roomy and easy to work inside, with adequate cooling (more-than-adequate cooling; you never knew when you’ll have a heat wave).

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**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2002, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-pc/122479/42 "2002-08-14T06:29:03Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Derleth \*  
> \*\*As a final note, Windows XP is _hostile_ to incremental hardware upgrades. [Product Activation means that whenever you change more than six devices at a time, or the network card with more than three other devices, you have to get a new Activation ID from Microsoft.](http://www.cnet.com/software/0-6688749-8-7004399-11.html?tag=st.sw.6688749-8-7004399-7.subdir.6688749-8-7004399-11) You have to wait until Microsoft processes your request, hope they believe you, and hope they don’t forget about you. _You have to rebuy XP for each PC you plan to use it on._ That’s $200+ _per machine_. It ain’t worth it. Buy a copy of Win95 or WinME. \*\*

We obviously have different definitions of incremental. I just added a new HD and in January I am planning on purchasing whatever the hottest graphics card is and adding it in. If I was changing 6 or more devices, I would consider that a complete makeover. I don’t have XP and don’t know when or if I will switch to it, but I am not really surprised that it wants reactivated after 6 devices are changed.

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