do you buy or build your gaming PC

Post by **Iccy** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:44 pm

build

Post by **SOAPboy** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:46 pm

Don Carlos wrote:Build - You always get the stuff you want it and it usually costs alot less

Post by **scared?** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:34 pm

Post by **xer0s** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:42 pm

You asked this question in the wrong place. All these fucking dorks built their own. But the average person just buys one already built.

Post by **SOAPboy** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:44 am

xer0s wrote:You asked this question in the wrong place. All these fucking dorks built their own. But the average person just buys one already built.

And gets ripped off.

EVERYONE knows someone who can and will build one for the person. The only excuse is if they happen to be a billion times cheaper. Which depending on the user is more often than not..

Not like i care. Im buying a fucking mac.

Post by **R00k** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:17 am

It really is cheaper to buy a fast pc than to build one.

But if you know hardware and know what you want, then you aren't going to get any of that with a retail pc. You're going to get OEM peripherals plugged in to budget boards and cases with a just-good-enough power supply, and whatever drive manufacturer gave them the best deal that year.

Sure it will work fine, probably be pretty fast, and you'll (usually) get an easy to call-in warranty for whatever goes wrong on it.

But you'll likely be limited to drivers from the manufacturer, you'll have to remove a ton of unnecessary shit (and hope you got it all), and will probably never be able to upgrade the CPU, motherboard, and memory in it. (although some Dells do follow industry standards so you could change out the system board if you don't mind voiding your warranty).

On the other hand, if you build your PC, you have to troubleshoot the problems yourself and load your OS and software yourself. But I consider those good things, personally.

Also, when I have had a problem with hardware that I've bought (memory sticks or whatever), I've had MUCH better customer service in getting them changed out, because they expect you to have at least a half-assed idea of what you're doing. Whereas with Dell, even if you know exactly what the problem is, you have to jerk off while you listen to some Indian goober read through an entire script of troubleshooting steps that you've already done yourself (or that don't even apply to the problem), before finally arriving at the same conclusion you already explained to him.

Post by **R00k** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:26 am

You're welcome for the segue.

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:08 am

I've built my last 4, but I'm really tempted to buy my next when it comes time. I've been lucky with hardware working (not getting DOA mobos, bad ram, etc.) but I'm just not following the hardware changes closely enough to know what I should get, and don't feel like doing the research that goes into it. And I tend to over analyze to the point of insanity when it comes to finally deciding on which hardware configuration to build. But my last build has been incredibly stable, I don't think this thing has crashed once in the 3 years I've been running it.

Of course, all this assumes I'll need another gaming PC sometime soon.

Post by **Silicone_Milk** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:55 am

dzjepp wrote:The next question is - how many of you have a nerd box (a shoebox or the like crammed with extra computer hardware bits that you just don't have use for and chuck in there for possible future use)

And what do the ladies say when they see your nerd box

my underwear and sock drawers as well as every available surface in my room are dedicated to spare parts. I keep finding sticks of ram in the oddest places and I have a desk with nothing but videocards on it. I take horrible care of my spare parts

Post by **Denz** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:03 am

You guys say that building your own computer is cheaper.

Start up a company and get "jobber" prices, then you can build a computer for really really cheap!

I guess the trick is to find jobber prices. I have a company here in SLC that sells wholesale to the public but if you have a business licence then you can get jobber prices which means big savings. This way you can build a pretty decent computer and still make a profit.

Post by **ajerara** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:59 am

Ha, my nerd box is in drawers, crammed to the top with components, cables, tools, cable ties. Comes in handy sometimes, though, since my job is only 10 min from home, I can use it for a parts shop for work.

Post by **obsidian** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:25 am

I've been sorting though my spare parts boxes. For some reason I have 2 TNT2's and a bunch of PCI soundcards and 1 ISA soundcard. Also, I have a 4 port parallel port switch box. I need to toss some of this stuff, but keep getting that feeling that it'll all somehow still come in handy.

Post by **SOAPboy** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:45 am

obsidian wrote:I've been sorting though my spare parts boxes. For some reason I have 2 TNT2's and a bunch of PCI soundcards and 1 ISA soundcard. Also, I have a 4 port parallel port switch box. I need to toss some of this stuff, but keep getting that feeling that it'll all somehow still come in handy.

I ran into some old ISA cards in boxes i had.

Laughed pretty hard. Cant beleive i still have some of that crap

Post by **Tormentius** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:34 pm

dzjepp wrote:The next question is - how many of you have a nerd box (a shoebox or the like crammed with extra computer hardware bits that you just don't have use for and chuck in there for possible future use)

And what do the ladies say when they see your nerd box

Build.

I keep a box of cables and old crap up in the closet since I'd rather not have junk lying all over the place. When the box starts to overflow stuff gets thrown out.

Post by **menkent** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:05 pm

you don't have to troubleshoot for yourself. you call your mobo manufacturer and say "wtf mate. the mobo is beeping, take a listen." and a very nice man in taiwan will tell you your vid card just shit itserf but if you get a new one the compluter will work fine.

oh, and only newbs have ram without platinum (colored) heat spreaders.

Post by **Foo** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:08 pm

menkent wrote:oh, and only newbs have ram without platinum (colored) heat spreaders.

I always figured those things were more valuable in terms of making RAM-swaps less risky, than actually being needed for heat reasons. My RAM never seems to get hot.

Post by **menkent** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:12 pm

yea, can't say i've ever pressed my cock against my ram after a couple hours of gaming, but i'd generally agree. they looks sweet though and are easier to dust :icon14:

Post by **Foo** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:16 pm

I'm pretty satisfied with my computers at the moment, to the point where I've kinda stopped thinking about changing anything about them and am concentrating on something else now (my bike) which I'm not yet happy with.

My desktop's sweet - The old CMStacker case, dual-screen 1 TFT 1 CRT (for 120Hz goodness), mx518 on steelpad and enough grunt to run Supreme Commander acceptably. I'll upgrade internals soon but that's the easy decisions.

Laptop is great as I managed to swag an HP dock and fresh battery.

My bike, on the other hand... I'm gonna have to sell and have been meaning to get around to it for about 2 years already. I want a hardtail freeride machine with some 2.3 tyres and dual front disks.

THREAD DERAILED WITH SELF-ABSORBED WISHLISTING AND BRAGS. Carry on.