New PC: Build it or Buy it?

[Ryan]

I am debating with a friend who is pondering on whether to buy a HP at
CompUsa as opposed to me helping him build it.

Of course, I was telling him that HP like Dell, is notorious for using
proprietary parts that can not be upgraded and so forth.

Anyone have any good arguments for building it as opposed to buying it?

I am trying to convince him that he will be better off with a built PC in
the long run for future upgrades.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

The major proprietary parts are: motherboard and power supply. If you buy
quality memory (RAM) from Kingston, Corsair and so on, it should always work
on HP/Dell's motherboard.


How comfortable is your friend with "playing" with the internal PC
components?? Some people are "afraid" of screwing up their PC and like to
have a phone number to call for help.

 

[Newtechie]

Hi Ryan,

You are absolutely right! I just finished building my first PC last week
and it was amazing. I say that your friend should build his own with your
assistance. You definitely have more flexibility to get what you want
opposed to something that's already assembled. It cost me a little over
$500 for EVERYTHING I needed and that includes a new case.

Good luck,
Newtechie

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Advantages of buying a system.. cheap and the software bundle
Disadvantage of buying a system.. limitations of the hardware/software
package..

I would build one every time.. it is not difficult to do, and you get what
you want rather than what you are given..

 

[Kevin]

While building your own computer can be a lot of fun and a good learning
experience, there is one major drawback. You have no technical support for
the operating system as you are the OEM. You will have to deal with
multiple vendors for support in regards to system components like the hard
drive, optical drives, motherboard and so on.

I would not suggest buying a system from HP, Compaq, Gateway, Dell (although
they are, in my opinion, the best of the major pre-built companies), or
Sony. Check out the systems from www.buyabs.com or Alienware. Falcon
Northwest also makes good, solid systems. With these smaller system
builders you get good support, a good warranty and an upgradeable box for
later expansion.

 

[Tom]

I am debating with a friend who is pondering on whether to buy a HP at
CompUsa as opposed to me helping him build it.

Of course, I was telling him that HP like Dell, is notorious for using
proprietary parts that can not be upgraded and so forth.

Anyone have any good arguments for building it as opposed to buying it?

I am trying to convince him that he will be better off with a built PC in
the long run for future upgrades.

Well, I can tell you from experience that Dell will use brand name hardware, with great warranties for their products, so they have never done me worng in the 6 years I have pruchased PCs from them (3 to date). I cannot comment on HPs if only the ones I use at work, but they're OK. Dell will give you the actual Windows install disk, whereas HP doesn't. But more importantly, if you're considering buying a PC from CompUSA (or worse yet, Best Buy) , then how you get your sentiments about Dell is interesting.

Building can be better, but the warranty of the parts are referred back to the OEM, whereas Dell takes care of it all. You get good parts either way, but you may want to weigh the savings overall, building may be cheaper (depending on what kind of system you one in total) by up to $600. But the money you save is based on having to deal with each of the parts warranty with the manufacturer.

 

[GTS]

These days it's hard to build a machine for what you can buy one for.
Building is mainly for the fun of it for hobbyists or for performance freaks
and gamers who want highly customized hardware. You overstate the case re.
proprietary parts. Dell was using a proprietary power supply for a few
years (very annoying) but is generally standard these days. HP's have not
been all that proprietary but Compaq's definitely are and it's not always
clear what you're really buying, Also if your friend is a novice there
might be advantages to having vendor support (poor as it often is)
available.

I've built my share, but I suspect you're looking for an opportunity to
build one more for your own interest then the best interest of your friend.
Have you added up the real cost of EVERY item of hardware and included the
OS and bundled software?

 

[Tom]

Buyabs looks great, and the hardware they offer is exceptional even when configured into a total unit for the money. I may look there for my next purchase.

 

[Opinicus]

These days it's hard to build a machine for what you can
buy one for.

This may be true in the US, UK, EU, and other similarly and
happily developed parts of the world. But it is not true for
the rest of humanity.

 

[Ryan]

He's not too comfortable with going inside the PC.

 

[Leythos]

You are absolutely right! I just finished building my first PC last week
and it was amazing. I say that your friend should build his own with your
assistance. You definitely have more flexibility to get what you want
opposed to something that's already assembled. It cost me a little over
$500 for EVERYTHING I needed and that includes a new case.

But here is where you run into problems - you bought everything for the
computer, and I design my own too, but you didn't get the OS or the
applications or the support contract. A DELL PC for $500 comes with the
OS, MS Works, a CD-RW drive and burner software, and even support...

Even using OEM software from a local vendor you can't come close to what
the big guys sell for, but you can come close enough that if you don't
need support that it won't matter.

 

[Ryan]

The thing that gets me with Dell is that their entry level set up comes with
Intel Extreme Graphics video integration.

But if look into it further, the mobo they use does not have an AGP or PCI
Express set up for future upgrades, which if you want to play games you will
have wasted $400.00.

My theory is this with the big guys (HP & Dell), you get a really good deal
now, but in the long run it becomes an annoyance for future upgrading.

They literally tie your hands behind your back.

 

[Jerry]

I'll add my 2 cents by saying I would never recommend to anyone that they
buy a store bought system. I did that for my first one, back in the days of
286 cpu's, but since then, I researched what I wanted and built mine, my
spouses, and friends systems. Doing it yourself is a much better
proposition.

 

[Guest]

The significant advantage of building your own PC is that it will be exactly
as you need for the purposes you expect to use it.

e.g.
1. Dell [and other manufacturers] rarely have high performance Video Cards
available as base configuration or Optional Upgrades.
2. Manufactured PC generally come with only 'restore' CD sets making
'repair' installations impossible in the future.
3. Most OEM PCs are designed for price points, commercial success depends on
volume sales business, thus have many compromises in hardware configuration,
but throw in sweetners such as Printers etc at low prices. I'd be happier
with the PC 'I want' rather than a bargain printer.

 

[Tom]

Then I'd say you're not familiar with configuring your PC from a manufacturer at all. Dell does offer the highest end video, and sound card, along with the external components that go along with them, at your order. They configure them very well, I know because i have a high XPS, that, with what came with it at the time, would have saved me just over $300 had I built it myself. The warranty and support makes the difference, since they have to take of it all 9and that is for four years).

But, I am very impressed with buyabs.com, and what they offer for configurations and their prices.

The significant advantage of building your own PC is that it will be exactly
as you need for the purposes you expect to use it.

e.g.
1. Dell [and other manufacturers] rarely have high performance Video Cards
available as base configuration or Optional Upgrades.
2. Manufactured PC generally come with only 'restore' CD sets making
'repair' installations impossible in the future.
3. Most OEM PCs are designed for price points, commercial success depends on
volume sales business, thus have many compromises in hardware configuration,
but throw in sweetners such as Printers etc at low prices. I'd be happier
with the PC 'I want' rather than a bargain printer.

This may be true in the US, UK, EU, and other similarly and
happily developed parts of the world. But it is not true for
the rest of humanity.

 

[Leythos]

The thing that gets me with Dell is that their entry level set up comes with
Intel Extreme Graphics video integration.

But if look into it further, the mobo they use does not have an AGP or PCI
Express set up for future upgrades, which if you want to play games you will
have wasted $400.00.

You don't buy a $500 PC if you want to play games that need AGP or PCIx!

My theory is this with the big guys (HP & Dell), you get a really good deal
now, but in the long run it becomes an annoyance for future upgrading.

No, they give you a good deal on a PC and Software and lame support in
order to get you INTO the ownership market. No one buys a $500 PC and
expects it to act like a Server or a Workstation for editing video, they
buy cheap to get a PC where they would not have been able to get one
otherwise.

They literally tie your hands behind your back.

I have some GOOD OEM's that I buy from, and when I wanted a Dual Xeon
Server with 500GB of space, 2GB of RAM, and Dual 2.8Ghz Xeons, Server case
and Dual 550W psu's, I managed to get it for $1800, but I spec'd
everything and already owned the OS and also do my own support. The same
thing from Dell was over $5,000.

My oldest son wants to build a machine, and we will, but he also knows
enough to ask Dad about spec's and use/loads, and he's not going to be
able to come close to what he wants for $500, more like about $950 without
any apps/OS.....

Dell and the others get people into PC's so they can start accessing them
and to get them to learn more...

 

[Rube]

No offense, but you can't really comment on OEM's if you haven't used one in
10+ years. . .

 

[Paul Woodsford]

If your friend is contemplating spending 500$ on a PC and wants authentic
software, ie: OS and a simple Word processing package then it would be
impossible to build an OEM system for that amount of money including the
purchasing of the OS and software. It would be better to search out a
supplier who sells PC's using generic parts, who supply the OS and software
as part of the deal, which can be upgraded if necessary. eg: a MB with
onboard sound and graphics but with sufficient pci slots and an agp slot so
that an upgraded generic video card or sound card can be added later. 2 eide
slots so that a 2nd HD can be added etc:. Dell may do this, but I bought my
machine from a small outfit that built their own and supported their own
machines. Generic parts of good quality and fully upgradeable.

 

[Admiral Q]

My 2 cents - Dell/HP low end PC's are very proprietary, the high end PC,
workstations and servers, very upgradeable and non-proprietary.

--
Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service!
"Google is your Friend!"
www.google.com

***********************************************

 

[Ryan]

Is this system proprietary? Pavilion a820n Minitower is the one he is
looking at getting.