# Is it cheaper to build a PC yourself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358 "2002-11-23T17:28:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/1 "2002-11-23T17:28:05Z")
From a BBQ pit thread: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\* > Besides, you can save a couple hundred bucks if you Do It Yourself…_\* Is this true anymore? I knew it was once, but I had heard and believed that the PC manufacturers now get the parts so much cheaper in volume and price their machines at such razor-thin margins that it more than makes up for the cost of manufacturing, and it was actually a little more expensive to make a PC yourself with the same quality components these days. Has anyone done a comparison lately to confirm or deny this? ---
**Author:** ![Church\_Key\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Church\_Key\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Church_Key_Kid)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/2 "2002-11-23T17:30:23Z")
Somewhat. You can build an absolute top of the line system, not counting monitor, for about $1200. I’m talking about installing the fastest processor out there, most powerful video card, maybe a gig of ram. The reason computers from companies like Dell are so cheap is not only their profit margin, but because the components are not top of the line. ---
**Author:** ![deathawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@deathawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deathawk)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/3 "2002-11-23T17:53:31Z")
The exact figure is going to depend on exactly what components you require I built my own in July of this year for around $2000. However, this included a full tower dragon case, 550 Watt power supply, way too many hard drives, a mobo with onboard EIDE RAID, etc. Given where PC prices are right now, I would say only build your own if you are looking at high end components, or if you have out of the main stream spec requirements. Also, IMHO, this is only worth doing if you are basing around and AMD. Intel is just not worth doing on your own right now. If you must have Intel, buy a basic machine and add your custom components. The other consideration, of course, is support. You can get excellent support from most of the major PC manufacturors for 100-200 bucks, and their machines are frankly good enough for most uses. Oh - and while the major manufacturors do not use top end stuff, for the most part, that doesn’t mean they use junk either. At least the known name brand ones… ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/4 "2002-11-23T17:59:06Z")
Don’t forget the software you get included with the computer if you buy a Dell or what ever. Depending on what you want to do this can be anywhere from nothing to hundreds of dollars more. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/5 "2002-11-23T18:03:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fatdave \* > \*\*Somewhat. > > You can build an absolute top of the line system, not counting monitor, for about $1200. I’m talking about installing the fastest processor out there, most powerful video card, maybe a gig of ram. > > The reason computers from companies like Dell are so cheap is not only their profit margin, but because the components are not top of the line. \*\* ??? Where are YOU buying your hardware? I priced out a top of the line system very much like you describe not too long ago. Ti4600 video card, 2.53 Ghz processor, a Gig of memory, etc. etc. It came to around $3K. The difference between building it myself and buying it from Dell was minor enough for me to just buy the thing from Dell. Ten years ago it used to be that you could build a computer much more inexpensively than you could buy one. Nowadays that doesn’t seem to be true. That is, unless you tell me where you’re getting all that stuff for $1200! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/6 "2002-11-23T18:27:14Z")
Software is something people tend to forget. In fact, that was what made me decide to go through Dell instead. Now, I could’ve installed the family’s copies of Win98 SE, Office 95, and so on, and many people would say I would be completely justified. I thought, however, that I’d be stretching fair use too far. No, I don’t mean to turn this into a Great Debate, so suffice it to say I decided that I would buy my own copies. Plus, since I’d be far, far away from home, anything that went wrong I couldn’t easily fix without the source discs. Now assuming home version, single-user licenses for Win XP and Office XP (which is what you’ll get from Gateway or Dell), you’re looking at $300 for the OS ($200 if you upgrade) and $479 for Office ($279 if you upgrade). You can probably find better deals (I got these numbers from MS), but 800 dollars is enough to buy all sorts of additional hardware through Dell or Gateway. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/7 "2002-11-23T18:44:59Z")
Building your own computer can be astonishingly cheap, but a lot of that comes from the fact that people that build their own computers tend to already be immersed in computer culture, and arn’t starting from scratch. For example, chances are that most people who build their own computers already have things like CD-R drives around. They have hard drives from old computers and ram that they can just pop in and it ups the specs of their machine a bit. You can save a signifigant amount of money by using the bits and pieces laying around. Same goes with software. The reality is that a lot of software is pirate, and after hanging out with computer people and working with computer people, one developes ready- if illegal- access to all the software they need. I have never met anyone who bought an operating system that wasn’t bundleds with a package- but I know a lot of people who have operating systems who certainly didn’t buy a dell. Even if they don’t pirate, chances are they have old software that they can put on this new machine. Not figureing in software lowers the price a lot. Finally, they do some research and take some risks. Computer shows are excellent ways to find cheap hardware. But then again, the stuff you buy at computer stores can a little sketchy and it’s hard to return it if something goes wrong. When you buy from a show, you run the risk that your new componant might not work, and there might not be anything you can do about. Keeping a close eye on the Fry’s ads (or whatever electronic superstore they have where you live) can also pay off. There can be some amazeing sales. But then again, if you don’t know whats good and whats bad you could end up with a product that is cheap for a good reason. There are alson some things that are pretty safe to buy used in an online auction, and some things that arn’t really good ideas to get used. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/8 "2002-11-23T18:53:36Z")
If your software is getting a little old a new PC can update it for cheap compaired to you buying it on your own. If you plan to reuse your software they you could shave something off the price by building it yourself but then again any new machine will have windows XP (with limited, mainly Linux, exceptions) and some modern version of office or works (again w/ limited excpetions). On the lowest end ther are perfectly good machines that you can buy preassembled but that you would never build from scratch becasue the price increase per component is very small to get to the next level. When you run the small price increases you will see that the home build comes out about the same or more expensive but is more powerful. i.e. 300 mhz jump might be about $20 - $30 - you would be a fool not to if you are building it yourself while that same speedbump would cost you about $100 in the prebuilt due to other addons… ---
**Author:** ![Cooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@Cooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cooper)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/9 "2002-11-23T18:57:55Z")
I bought an OS that wasn’t bundled - MS ran a promotion where “Certified Partners” could buy XP Pro for only $40. As others have said I also had some hardware etc. that I could reuse. I ended up with a really nice computer capable of playing all the latest games etc. for less than $500. I had another PC I tricked out with lower-end stuff, most of which I already had laying around. I had a license for Win95 I could have used but I chose to put Redhat 7.3 on it instead. It makes a good second workstation for surfing the web or editing office documents ([www.openoffice.org](http://www.openoffice.org)). All I bought was the 1.2 mhz Duran and MB, which was a total of about $105. You could buy it all new for about $225-$250 which is still quite a bit less than the lower-end equivalents from Dell or eMachines but if you add on the cost of Windows XP Home ($200) then its no longer cheaper. I think the deals Dell etc. get have way more to do with the Software than with the hardware. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/10 "2002-11-23T20:52:17Z")
- - - No. Buying one off-the-shelf is usually cheaper. And even further, such computers left unmodified often work more reliably. Off-the-shelf systems tend to use proprietary/substandard parts, but the assembler normally tests the computers well and gets rid of as many problems as they can, usually at the expense of technical sandards (component compatibility). - The possible reason for consumers not to buy an off-the-shelf computer is that the proprietary (substandard) motherboards that most big-name PC companies use often don’t accept newer internal slot components very well. The simple stuff will work–you can add more RAM or another HD to any computer, -but don’t be surprised if you buy an off-the-shelf PC and then try to add a different videocard, soundcard and SCSI card, and it doesn’t work right. These motherboards are technically substandard, so they create new device drivers to accomodate that fact. That’s why many newer computers have a brand & model-specific drivers for what would otherwise be a regular retail part. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t tying WinXP to the mobo in new and interesting ways either–I have an Acer/Win98 PC that won’t allow installing other OS’s, and whose “recovery CD” won’t install Win98 onto other computers. … -By the by, be careful at computer shows: unless the price is trivial, I will only buy name-brand parts that appear in perfect condition and that have all the proper packaging included–even if it’s an OEM-grade part, the brown cardboard box will probably have the manufacturer’s name printed directly on it somewhere, with a contents label. There’s _lots_ of junk for sale at those shows. ~ ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/11 "2002-11-23T22:24:29Z")
I still build my systems, and do so for economic reasons. But I am also a extremely happy with the low end stuff. I am not a gamer or a video editor so sub-gigahertz is plenty. Take the system I am building now to replace my home network server: Case: $3 bit old tower from a thrift store. AT style but I fixed that. PS: $7 ATX. Motherboard: $5. Nice brand name Super-7, never used. CPU: AMD K6-II 533 $15. Memory: 2 64Meg SDRAMs free after rebates. Hard Drive: an old 2.5Gig drive I have but I buy similar ones for \<$4. CD-drive: $2 32x Floppy, keyboard and mouse: each about $2. (I really splurged to get the mouse I want.) NIC: $2 10BaseT. Will use existing on board sound and video. Also use existing monitor but if I need to I get 15" monitors for $5. So all less than $50. And it’ll be better in most ways than my #1 system that I am using now except for HD size, etc. As for software, I taught Comp Sci until recently and got OSs and major apps legit for free. I also go to trade shows and get a lot of free software that way. But most stuff I use is freeware anyway. (Browser, mail, news, a lot of Unix-ish stuff via Cygwin, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/12 "2002-11-23T23:01:33Z")
I gave up & got a Dell, the software & hardware would cost me more. The Ultrasharp dvi LCD 15" monitor came with it for only $70 more. I just couldn’t do better than that. Plus, I didn’t have to spend hours putting software on, it came with that stuff. (XP, Word, MS Works, a year of free Internet, etc) ftg, On [ebay.com](http://ebay.com) here is a old computer unsold for $14.99: [http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2072680902](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2072680902) Add parts to it: “(If you want a HardDrive 1.2 GIG add $14.00 Or add $23.00 for a 2 GIG …OR INQUIRE ON WHAT OTHER DRIVES I HAVE AVAILABLE UP TO 10 GIG … ADD $9.00 FOR A 32X CDROM …NEED MORE MEMORY ADD $8.00 PER EACH 32 MEGS OR $15.00 FOR 128 MB TOTAL…(ALSO 15” MONITORS $20.00 PLUS SHIPPING) ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/13 "2002-11-24T01:00:50Z")
Building your own computer is ALWAYS cheaper than an OEM box, for what you get. The reason is that with an OEM box, the prices for assembly, stuff you don’t want, and software you’ll never use as well as a service contract dwarf the minor savings due to buying hardware 1000 pieces at a time. You also get to tailor a computer to your needs, without having to compromise on some components. If you see an OEM computer that seems to be a good deal, they’re cheating you somewhere, you just have to find it. Hint: A “Pentium 4 Celeron 1.8Ghz” is not a Pentium 4, nor is it anywhere near as fast. Another hint: There’s no reason for you to be paying more than $150 for Windows XP Professional. That’s almost as little as Dell pays for it. As another plus, the computer you end up with will be significantly more upgradeable, expandable, and have significantly fewer problems than one you buy from a store. All components should have at least one year warranties, ranging up to lifetime for others. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/14 "2002-11-24T02:38:55Z")
I am the manager of a PC store. It depends where you get the hardware. The net, ebay, etc is a good place. You should also try any computer shows in the area, these usually have the best prices. About a year ago I bought a killer system: an IWILL motherboard w/onboard IDE RAID, a T-Bird 1.4 ghz processor, and close to 1 GB of RAM. All for $300. I got them to throw in a Radeon 2 for another $100. All the parts were brand new. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/15 "2002-11-24T02:54:27Z")
My computer was built for me by a friend for a VERY low price (less than six hundred dollars, all in all). What makes it cheaper than most, I would say, is that the casing is all beat up and it doesn’t look like much. Could that be where I saved? (I don’t mean it’s bad casing, just not very new or good looking. It looks like a piece of crap casing) ---
**Author:** ![Barney111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Barney111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barney111)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/16 "2002-11-24T04:37:19Z")
Absolutely it’s cheaper to build your own - and you don’t get any of the proprietary crap that Dell and the Big Box guys use to cut corners. I always build my own, and I believe anyone with a little patience and a modicum of dexterity should try it. I built a box just last week for backups at my office. Here are the specs: - Mid size tower case w/ 4 fans and 350W power supply - AMD Athlon 2000+ CPU/fan (Boxed Retail) - 512 G PC2700 DDR SDRAM - (4) Western Digital 80G Hard Drives w/ 8Meg Buffers - ASUS AV733 Motherboard w/ RAID and onboard sound - ATI Radeon 8500 64 Meg Video Card - (2) removable hard drive bays - Samsung 40x CD-RW - floppy drive - Logitech Keyboard and optical wheelmouse - cheap 17" Hansol monitor Total cost: $1580 + 2 hours of my time to build. Dell couldn’t touch that (even if they could understand the configuration I was going for.) ---
**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/17 "2002-11-24T06:23:25Z")
What **ftg** said. If you’re buying top-of-the-line, you’re an idiot anyway. In six months, you can buy top-of-the-line at half-price, almost. So why bother, unless you’re bankrolled by Daddy or the boss? If you buy something when it _first_ comes out, it’s expensive as shit. You wait six months, it’s reasonable. You wait twelve months, it’s a bargain. This is not a new concept; technology has always been this way. So ask yourself: Do I want a new top-of-the-line PC that will make the neighbors jealous for four months? If so, dude, you’re getting a Dell. If not, save some money and build it yourself. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/18 "2002-11-24T16:07:40Z")
“and you don’t get any of the proprietary crap that Dell and the Big Box guys use to cut corners.” I opened my Dell, but didn’t see any of that proprietary crap you are talking about. Let’s see what did I get: 2.4ghz Pentium 512Meg ram 40 gig HD 15" DVI LCD Monitor, Ultra Sharp 5104FP 64Mb graphics card (Forgot which one) 6 USB ports 40x CDROM, keyboard, mouse, etc. Free Shipping. MS HOME, Word, MS Works, Graphics programs, free year of Internet access. Two years of in home service. Cost $690 (A little more for the memory) Brought to me fully assembled. I put in a Sony DRU500a dvd writer for $253.00 from Dell 🙂 I couldn’t do it cheaper myself. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/19 "2002-11-24T17:20:12Z")
Absolutely. I have just read the case of somebody building his own computer on US$600. The article is a bit long and somewhat disorganised, but it contains good information. > [@](#): > > I had 800$ to spend > > I used [newegg.com](http://newegg.com), [Monarchcomputers.com](http://Monarchcomputers.com), Ebay, Bestbuy, and a trash can. I had enough money after building my system, to take my Girlfriend out to dinner. And then to the movies, and then on a shopping spree. > > Here is how I saved so much > old system (Crappy dell) > 128 Ram > 3gb HD > VooDoo 5 > Pentium 550mhz > Reason for building my system:::: Civ 3 Which did not run. So i decided I was gonna type something up and put it here so if any body else out there is in the same problem I am. It actually started as a simple paper for a class. So here goes. I will just cut and paste everything for you all. I know some of you out there are in the same situation as I was. So this could be of some help to the community. > > When assembling a computer. One must think of many things. So many choices and so many confusing terms. Its not that confusing. What it really comes down to is pretty darn simple. Im not going into any detail about it, there are tons of resources out on the net. I will only present you with my system. How much I saved and how well my system performed. > > First i must look at the motherboards > The choices are so many. So confusing… AGP, PCI, etc… whats that crap? Well thats easy. They look confusing, but there simple slots. Now I must make the decison. Go with AMD or Intel? ? The eternal struggle. While AMD processers are indeed cheeper, the FSB is lacking. With only 2 x 133 FSB at best, 2x166 overclocked. Not even close to a Pentium 4 533fsb with a Williamite Core. And since we are talking motherboards here and the base of my System. I decided I wanted to go with the ALBATRON AMD KT333 Chipset ATX Motherboard Model KX400+ PRO. This is, indeed an AMD set. I had decided that budget is what counts, and AMD is adequate enough. Though if I had the extra cheese for pentium Ide shell it out and not think twice. Since the board in question has 4 184 pin DDR slots and Atholon XP+ support. It can easily be upgraded to a max 2GB system RAM and Albatron USA’s are great overclockers. > > Price:$75.00 > Processer > > When looking at AMD types I wanted badly to go with a midrange XP version. I did my best to resist it. I knew I would push it over my budget. So I did some research. According to very well known hardware sites, AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1.33GHz outperforms the XP 1600- 1.67 ghz. Excellent, this was confirmed by multiple hardware reviewers. The two cards matched and the Thunderbird is an extremely good overclocker. Oddly enough it was also 40.00$ cheaper Excellent speed for the price I paid for it. > > $53.00 > > Video Card. > > I got sick of cheap companies like HP and Dell trying to sell off there flashy “Integrated Intel Graphics” crap. They cover it in fluff and suger. Im a freakin gamer. Give me something I can use in my gaming life, Not hype that says “64MB” on the box yet doesnt deliver even half. Dont insult my intellegence with this comparitvely 16mb throwback to the mid 90’s. I wont buy it. But what i will buy is a good card. I know one when I see one. And the Albatron GF 64mb Ti4200 is one. And at 122$ at my local best buy, I bought it. I was told that the 128mb version was better. But I know better, the 64mb version surpasses its supposedly faster cousin in every benchmark test ever done. Which is very strange to say the least, considering the 128mb was alot more expensive. Wierd huh? > > Sound Card- The Motherboard came with an Integrated sound and LAN feature. I can live with both of these, as niether need alot of bells and whistles. They just need to work. Integrated Graphics chipsets are a whole nother deal. Graphics need bells and whistles. So I can mark off the sound card feature entirely. > > RAM > > I bought 1 stick of 512 DDR-184 pin RAM. The fastest. Dont let some slimbag talk you into buying Rambus or SD. Future Mobo’s are dropping Rambus slots altogether and SDRAM is a huge bottleneck on your system. > > Price: 110$ (sale) > > HD- 20 gigabytes 7200 is good and all the memory Civ3, AvP, EU, OPF, and Half life will ever need. > > Price- 39.99$$ not bad for 20 gigs > Modem. I do not need one, as I am a cable user and have no intention of using dial up. But I recommend the US robotics with Gamer optimization for mplayer performance. > > 3.5 floppy was salvaged from a trash bin. Thats right folks, call me a cheap basterd…Call me a moron. Or a cheap ass. Or whatever. But It works and it was just sitting there lieing on the side of the road. Amazing, I see broken comps laying around everywhere. At my College, in my city, I shudder to think that people are throwing away good hardware. you know I asked my librarian what they do with those towers? She said they throw them away. Wow…Im thinking I need to rummage through the Campus trash bin more often. I also found a keyboard, mouse and a some of those earphones for the hearing impaired. Not to mention the hypodermic needle suprise jabbed stuck into a soda can. Most of it is infact, still good and can be used. I wonder if the people who throw it away know this? I could make a business out of selling old floppy drives…na I couldnt. But you know what? I saved 35 bucks. The 3.5 diskette drive works great. > CD/RW-Rom > I bought a Generic. Only because a CD-Rom is a CD-Rom is a CD-Rom. You know? I saved big time money here. It came out to be only 29.99!. I know I got my moneys worth. The company who made this in Finland had great technical support and talked me through a rather confusing switch on the back that I had never seen before. It was on the back inside the tower, it manually switched between Write, DVD player, and 52x Rom. But he said it was redundant and that actually everything could be done via the OS. Wether Linux or Windows. Great! > > Case- This was very simple. I was able to pick up a 49.99$ ATX 400 Tower from Ebay. Very Spacey, I saved tons. Power and 2 fans included, worked great. > > Im done! Ive got all my compnents. Now what? Well assembly. I wont go into detail here. The manuals are pretty straightforward, its hard to go wrong. Now its time for the embarrassing part. The price comparison! > > My system when assembled exceeded my expectations. Again lets review > > Proccesser-AMD 1.33 ghz. 266 fsb. > 512mb DDR Crucial RAM > 20 gb hD 7200 RPM > 52x CD-rom\RW > 64MB Ti-4200 > CABLE connection > > How much do you think my system costs? All that rummaging through the trash and research helped me big time. > > When all was said and done my system came out to > 498$ and a pocket of change. Thats right folks. Good stuff huh? I put my system price-wise against the hottest PC makers out there. I then bought a refurbished 17 inch moniter from dell for 60$. Nice… So it came out to 550. I use Linux, so I did not need MS. BIOS setting was a breeze and I had NO trouble whatsover during the initial assembly. > > HP wanted 978$ for the processer, no outboard video, and no Moniter > Compaq wanted 1100$ For an XP1600 but with TnT2 Video card. Which is horribly obselete. Both HP and compaq systems were using Slower, 164-pin SDRAM. > Gateway wasnt even close. > Dell came close. The Dimesion 2300 desktop with an extra stick of 256 Ram is a really nice system. Unfortunately, the watered down P4-Processer they sell on the Dell is a huge bottleneck on there systems. Dells are not for gamers. > > Overall I had great fun building the system. It saved me tons. My FPS average on HL and Quake were wayyyy beyond my expectations. And Civ3 was a breeze to install and play (finally!). Im overall, very happy. I put this here for one reason. Just to show you how much money you can save by tightnight your belt and just doing it yourself. Its alot of fun and its very simple. You dont have to go to extremes like I did. This is just my story, its unique sort of. If you don’t know, _Civ 3_ is a computer game. Now, as it has been pointed out before, you don’t build state-of-the-art computer. Like the P4 3.06GHz - you have to be absolutely crazy to buy it at $900. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358/20 "2002-11-24T17:24:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > I opened my Dell, but didn’t see any of that proprietary crap you are talking about. Let’s see what did I get: > 2.4ghz Pentium > 512Meg ram > 40 gig HD > 15" DVI LCD Monitor, Ultra Sharp 5104FP > 64Mb graphics card (Forgot which one) > 6 USB ports > 40x CDROM, keyboard, mouse, etc. What mobo does it use? What about the BIOS? The LCD is probably OEM, so you have no idea who made it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-cheaper-to-build-a-pc-yourself/138358.md?page=2)