New PC...build or buy?

[Rickysa]

I'd like to build one with independent cards rather than it all on the motherboard/bloatwear/etc., but I don't know if I'm asking for a major headache in getting everything to work together.

I've seen a site that gives great info on bits and pieces that are/aren't compatible, which will be a great help.

anyone done this? forums that are helpful?

use won't be gaming (maybe flight sim stuff), just home PC, photo editing/display.

thanx

[VincentVega]

I've put together a few systems from basic boxes found on Pricewatch - where everyday is Black Friday. Established 1995 . Usually only makes sense if you want dirt cheap or have specific hardware requirements. Stick with common parts and compatibility is usually minimal. Depending on what you want you can always put a linux disto on a remotely current box and do away with most bloat.

[masraum]

If you want a very specific PC with very specific parts, then build it. If you just want a PC, then buy one. You may even be able to get a decent PC that you could upgrade with a couple of cards to attain your goals. I think most motherboards these days are going to come with the extra stuff on board, so even if you build, you'll probably have to disable on board or whatever.

I've built a few in the past, but these days, it doesn't seem to buy me much to just buy something ready to go.

The website recommended above, pricewatch, is on that I used probably 15-20 years ago when I built my last home-built PC.

[dad911]

I used to build systems. Not much (if any) savings if you have to buy an OS. Now I watch https://slickdeals.net/ for deals on laptops. I can plug in external monitor and keyboard, and built in battery backup (no more lost work when the power goes out)

Typically pic up a Dell for $3-400, and replace it every 3-4 years.

Only reason I would build a system would be for gaming or if I needed high power video card for CAD, etc.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I build all of mine.

I enjoy shopping for the components and then putting it together. Takes an hour of assembly time then an evening to install software, OS and getting everything humming along. Compatibility is fairly simple to figure out.

If you have a Micro Center near you, I recommend shopping there. Good prices and most of their employees are knowledgeable and helpful.

Every 4-5 years I buy a new board, processor and ram. No reason usually to buy a new box, power supply, fans, drives, video card, keyboard, mouse, screen, etc. So I go big on the 3 main components and put together rigs that keep up with the times.

[scottmandue]

You can build your own but not really necessary unless you enjoy putting thing together.

My problem is I start to geek out and hot rodding i.e. "well, might as well max out the ram... oh and look at the specs on that sound card! For a couple bucks more I could get that cool video card!" etc., By the time I'm done with my wish list I have spent a couple grand, and for a couple grand you buy a pretty badazz gaming computer that is all setup and ready to rock.

If you are going to build and are planing on flight sim and graphics you could just but a basic computer and add a hot rod video card.

Just my two cents.

[GH85Carrera]

I have been building my own since the 80s.

I recently built one for my MIL. 100% standard parts. Assemble, configure with Win 10 and hand it off. I knew I was going to be tech support if she bough a off the shelf computer or if I built it. I figured off the self stuff was cheap and easy.

It is a Window 10 computer and the only issues she has had is software updates that change the way she had been doing things.

I built a mega computer for work and it was fun the build a computer with three video cards, 128 GB of RAM and a 16 core CPU. And no there is not a single game on that computer.

[Vipergrün]

I do something in between. I bought a minimally configured Dell XPS 8700, had the CPU, Power Supply, blueray, and video card I wanted, then I bought memory and maxed it out and replaced the drive with an SSD.

Costco recently had a great deal on a "stripped" Dell and could have turned it into a screamer for not too much more...

[nota]

buy a used system one gen back
that a kid/gamer built with quality parts

when the first iX intel came out
I got a core2quad system for cheap


replaced with a i7 3 gen
when 4gen was released

intel is shipping 7 gen of the iX chips
hint the number 2xxx thru 7xxx is the generation number as in i5-7xxx
so a 6 gen system can be had for less now 5 gen even cheaper
and even the early 3-4 gen chip systems if i5 i7 or the better i3's
are cheap and will do everything you need fast

most gamer/kid built systems have way better quality parts
then the brands like dell or HP who use cheap parts

just add on SSD drive under 100 if the system lacks one

[dennis in se pa]

Buy one at Staples or similar when they are "turning them over". You get them for half price. Unless you need the latest and greatest.......

[sugarwood]

For basic photo editing, the worst PC the is sold in a big box store is more than enough for you.
If you want to build a PC for fun and updating your knowledge, then build it.
But it's totally unnecessary. Just like driving a 911 !

[ledhedsymbols]

I've gone both ways, and I DO like the fact that when you build from scratch you only install the software you want.

The downsides are a tendency to build more than you need (never happen on a forum full of Porsche folks) and there isn't much extra to be gained.

My current solution is to find a solid deal on a good commercially available PC, and then make the changes that I want... For example I'm currently using a 4th Gen Core i5 Hewlett Packard that I picked up about two years ago that has good specs for my uses. It has a 1TB HDD, Stock was 8Gb RAM and Blu-Ray Drive w/ onboard video.

I upgraded the power supply, RAM to 12GB, and added a 250GB SSD drive and a mid-level dedicated graphics card. The box cost be about $400, the upgrades were about $250ish on Amazon. They took me all of a couple hours to install and set up. I've got a great PC for what I want, and it didn't cost me a fortune.

The only thing to be cautious of is that some manufacturers use proprietary hardware. I buy the HP Business Desktops because they are a bit better built.

[JavaBrewer]

Slippery slope. I think the days of building yourself to save money are over. The only way this makes sense is when vendors are not meeting your hardware needs.

[cstreit]

Any more building is no cheaper. Stores like MicroCenter build them from components for you and offer enough configurations/options to suit anyone. They end up being cheaper than DIY.

[Rickysa]

Thanks for the info folks...It's a shame (or maybe I haven't found the right site) that all the interweb sites are all about gaming. $700 graphics card with what seems like good info on other bits and pieces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLfUkjUaSdM

I'm on a Mac here at home and don't know how to left click, so sorry for not being able to embed the vid....but I'm thinking about the goodies discussed in the latter build in the vid...comments?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rickysa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLfUkjUaSdM

I'm on a Mac here at home and don't know how to left click, so sorry for not being able to embed the vid....but I'm thinking about the goodies discussed in the latter build in the vid...comments?

If you've got a touchpad, then click with two fingers.

From the 'net

"One way to right click on a Mac is to press the Ctrl (or Control) key when you tap the mouse button, or the trackpad. Don't confuse the Ctrl key with the Alt (or Option) key. The Ctrl key on a Mac is not the one next to the space bar, it's at the far end of the keyboard, on either the right or left side."



The reason all of the home build guides are for gaming PCs is because gaming has some very specific requirements that many retail boxes don't meet very well. If you aren't gaming, then usually there are 10 or 20 retail options that will cover your needs without the need to home build.

[jcommin]

I built my last 2 computers. I paint in pastels so a high end graphics card is important to me. I match that with a high end display. When I take photos, I want the photo to look my painting. I want to print exactly what is on my monitor.

I'm kinda fussy. I'm not sure what I will do when I need to replace it.