Why are complete systems cheaper than building your own?

[Go Tyler]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off Dell
or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

 

[Michael W. Ryder]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off Dell
or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

If you use pricewatch.com you can find some good prices on the different
components you have selected. They include vendor ratings if you have
any concerns. The big difference between building yourself and buying a
prebuilt one is that you don't know what all the components inside are.
Plus some of the necessary upgrades can cost a lot more for a prebuilt
computer than for a computer you built yourself. Some of the prebuilt
computers do not come with a CD for XP, but a partition with a copy that
only works on that computer. Plus if you need a new case or power
supply you may have a hard time finding one that will work with your system.
I have built my own computers since the days of the 286 and much prefer
to build one that works the way I want it the first time rather than
hope that someone else's idea is the same as mine.

 

[Leythos]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off Dell
or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

Complete systems are not cheaper, they only appear to be cheaper. When
you look at the EXACT parts you will find that the $400 computer you get
from DELL is a stripped down hunk of junk, and if you wanted something
with an AGP slot for video, faster than an old socket 4xx CPU, more than
2 slots for RAM, etc... you would be spending about $800.

If you shop around you can get very close the the same cost as the
actual parts, provided you can learn what parts they use.

As an example, I can build a $25,000 Dell Server, using the SAME quality
of parts, and do it for about 1/2 of what Dell sells it for.

 

[Mark A]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off
Dell or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

Because system manufacturers purchase the parts in very large quantities and
get huge discounts compared to what you have pay for the same parts in small
quantities.

If you went to an auto dealer parts department and priced all the parts on
your car, it would cost well over $100,000.

 

[NG User]

It is so because companies like Dell by in HUGE quantities...so, they get
both hardware and software at rediculous prices.

 

[BigJIm]

well I guess if you could buy in quantity you would get cheaper pricing.

 

[Bill]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off Dell
or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

Because your name is not Michael Dell.

Bill

 

[C]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off Dell
or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

I'll add some more to this topic.

You don't get the OS,you get a restore cd and the hard drive has a
hidden partition on it for using this cd.It will not work on another
machine except with same bios and hardware.If your drive goes,time to
buy an OS.
Propriety hardware sometimes includes PSU so you have to purchase from
them.

Bottom line=You get what you pay for!

C.

 

[Venom]

They sell cheaper computers but yer wouldn't want to own one.
Try reading the specs real carefully and you will see what I mean.

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off
Dell or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

Because Pentiums are overpriced and about a year behind anything AMD makes.
Do yourself a favor...look at AMD Athlon64 processors.

Bobby

 

[NightSky 421]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off
Dell or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

Two reasons...

Dell buys components in quantity and therefore can get better pricing.

A lot of pre-built computers come with components of questionable quality.
When you build your own system, at least you know exactly what make of power
supply and memory are going into the system (just two examples), whereas
corporate juggernauts tend to cut corners when making purchasing decisions
for their computers.

Really, you usually get what you pay for.

 

[Bob Willard]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off Dell
or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

Major vendors cut corners to compete on price. PSs are barely adequate for
the as-built configuration, and cooling is marginal. Low-end PCs use
on-board
graphics, which are fine for a lame-game (Solitaire) Office environment.

The cheap business strategy works well, since most naive buyers think that
only CPU frequency and storage (RAM and HD) capacity matter.

 

[name]

Forget about price. There's one very good reason to build your own system,
you learn an incredible amount about how a computer works. I'm a pc tech
and one of the best things I ever did was to build my own system. The
problems you encounter are the best things to happen that's were you learn
not only how to solve the problem, but where to the find solutions.

Stop thinking with your wallet and start thinking with your mind.

john

 

[mo]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off
Dell or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

also Bios support , most OEM use special Bios and some times MB with less
futures . Once I bought an OEM MSI board that came with AMI bios while the
retail one comes with Award Bios , I couldn't use a better more recent CPU
since that OEM bios does not support it .
also if you look at hardware prices you can build a $500.00 system that
works , or a $5000.00 system with all the bells and whistles .

 

[Kimmy]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off Dell
or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

You get what you pay for, when you buy one of those pre-built low end
PCs, this is what you get.... a $2 keyboard with a $2 mouse and $3
speakers, if you are lucky the case and PSU are worth $20 tops, 99% of
the software that is pre-loaded is trial or share ware. They use the
lowest cost parts where ever they can, in the end you got a PC!

Good luck on whatever you decide, I'm building a A8N-E/4200+/6800GS
system right now. I had a few pre-builts, their ok but just not for
me anymore.

Kimmy

 

[DaveW]

The completed computer manufacturers buy parts in the 10's of thousands so
they get very good prices. But they buy lesser quality parts and somewhat
underspec everything also to hold the price down to be competitive. In a
home built system you are generally using all higher grade parts then they
use. So you end up with a sturdier machine in many cases.

 

[Donald Witmer]

Years ago I bought 2 Gateways and tried to upgrade them. I found out they
used the oldest MB with the fastest CPU it would support. Could not upgrade
them. Also had nothing but problems with errors and locking up all the time.
I have built 4 Asus computers and so far they are the best I have over had.
Nice not to hit reset button all the time. (One Gateway did not even have a
reset button) Had to power down to reboot.
I gave some Asus computers away and they are still working good.
Build your own and know what you have. Just research and take your time and
you will have a good computer. This newsgroup really helped me out when I
had a problem.

Joltjocky

 

[DDC]

I just started looking at processors so I could build my own computer. It
seems to me that I would save money by getting a brand new computer off Dell
or Circuit City.

When I looked at the prices of the 3.2 pentium processor I wanted, I could
not believe the price.

Why is this so?

Because they put shit in the box and pray that it will not explode
when powering up thier pcs. Also when you whant to play heavy game you
need to get a descent card like a x800 pro or better and thaat add a
300$ to your pc so...

 

[Go Tyler]

Stop thinking with your wallet and start thinking with your mind.

I don't build computers for a living, and most people don't. And most people
don't have money to throw away. It seems to me I am thinking with my mind.
In fact, I am using my mind to ascertain the cost-benefit ratio of either
building my own computer or buying one online that already has what I want
in it.

 

[name]

Sorry, I wasn't at all trying to be insulting. What I would suggest then is
that you know what you want to use your pc for and what kind of computer you
need, so go to a manufacturer, see what parts they use, then price them out
individually in, for example, "newegg.com". If the prebuilt system is
cheaper then buying the parts individually and building it on your own then
buy the prebuilt.

Essentially, what I'm saying is you have to do a little research. For
instance, if your a gamer, go to, for example, "alienware.com" check out
their gaming rigs, what parts they use, and how much it would cost to build
it yourself. You don't have to build your own pc, you can get a decent
prebuilt pc. It's just that building your own you know exactly what your
getting and you don't have to worry about a manufacturer who has used
cheaper parts to save money.

Again, I apologize for any indiscretion on my part and hope I have helped.

john