Homebuilt Maybe One More Time

[RC]

My current system is getting long in tooth. I built it 4 years ago and
it has done very well. I'm ready to get a new system and I'm not sure
if I should go with a Dell or build another. The Dell's are very low
cost, reliable, and quiet these days.

I'm looking for a _quiet_ machine with ports on the front (1394, USB,
card reader, maybe sound) and back. I've been an AMD guy for a while
at home and use Intel at work.

This machine will be used for serious video editing (not high def yet)
and photoshopping. I'll use it also for the usual internet and home
productivity apps (maybe).

Any obvious recommendations? I see the Sonata II can come with a front
access panel for 1394, etc. How does this work? Do all modern mobos
have connectors for front ports?

I'll probably stick with XP for a while. My W2k machine has done well
although lately there's more and more flake outs.

For video card I don't need anything special. I'm not a big gamer.
Just something that is compatible with Premiere, or Vegas.

-RC

 

[Chris Hill]

My current system is getting long in tooth. I built it 4 years ago and
it has done very well. I'm ready to get a new system and I'm not sure
if I should go with a Dell or build another. The Dell's are very low
cost, reliable, and quiet these days.

I'm looking for a _quiet_ machine with ports on the front (1394, USB,
card reader, maybe sound) and back. I've been an AMD guy for a while
at home and use Intel at work.

This machine will be used for serious video editing (not high def yet)
and photoshopping. I'll use it also for the usual internet and home
productivity apps (maybe).

Any obvious recommendations? I see the Sonata II can come with a front
access panel for 1394, etc. How does this work? Do all modern mobos
have connectors for front ports?

I'll probably stick with XP for a while. My W2k machine has done well
although lately there's more and more flake outs.

For video card I don't need anything special. I'm not a big gamer.
Just something that is compatible with Premiere, or Vegas.

Yes, all boards come with connectors for front ports. The build vs
buy decision for a moddest non-gaming system is simple; buying is
cheaper.

 

[Clint]

Buying may also be less hassle to get support. If you build, you're the
integrator, and responsible for making sure all the parts are playing nicely
together. If you buy, the manufacturer is responsible for that. And if one
thing isn't playing nicely with another, you can just phone them.

If you have a good local computer store, this may not be so much of a
hassle. But on my last build, I had an issue where I knew that either the
processor or MB wasn't working, but I didn't have a spare for either one, so
I had no way to troubleshoot. But because I bought most of the components
from a local store, I was able to haul those pieces in to them and have them
test them.

Of course, the quality of support you get from a vendor like Dell may not be
what it used to be. But at least it may be better than dealing with 6 or 7
different companies, each one blaming the other.

Clint

 

[RC]

Buying may also be less hassle to get support.

I've never had much need for much support. Most of my parts have
failed after the warranty period (mobo, hard drive, network adapter,
etc.)

I'm looking at ~$1700 for a Dell

XPS400
2.8GHz Pentium D
2GB mem
2 hard drives
built in media card reader
floppy drive
2 DVD burners
NVidia 6800 256MB
1394, USB ports on front.
Audigy


It will take less time to uninstall the crapware than to install a new
OS and drivers so there's that benefit. I haven't been to NewEgg or
MWave to price components. Probably not much savings for homebuilt,
huh?

-RC

 

[BobN]

I've never had much need for much support. Most of my parts have
failed after the warranty period (mobo, hard drive, network adapter,
etc.)

I'm looking at ~$1700 for a Dell

XPS400
2.8GHz Pentium D
2GB mem
2 hard drives
built in media card reader
floppy drive
2 DVD burners
NVidia 6800 256MB
1394, USB ports on front.
Audigy


It will take less time to uninstall the crapware than to install a new
OS and drivers so there's that benefit. I haven't been to NewEgg or
MWave to price components. Probably not much savings for homebuilt,
huh?

-RC

If you are determined to buy, I vote for a local builder. Dell support is
pretty poor right now. In my town, the builders install the retail version
of XP. An OEM version is a loser if there are any problems or you want to
upgrade components.

 

[Chris Hill]

If you are determined to buy, I vote for a local builder. Dell support is
pretty poor right now. In my town, the builders install the retail version
of XP. An OEM version is a loser if there are any problems or you want to
upgrade components.

Not a problem, generally, unless you need to replace a mainboard. I
only built last time because I was hoping to save reinstalling
everything. When I figured up one last week with similar components,
the comparable hp cost about $70 more and included a 17-inch
flatscreen for free.

 

[RC]

Not a problem, generally, unless you need to replace a mainboard. I
only built last time because I was hoping to save reinstalling
everything. When I figured up one last week with similar components,
the comparable hp cost about $70 more and included a 17-inch
flatscreen for free.

I failed to mention the Dell quote included a 19" LCD. I forgot to
include that because I'll be giving it to my kids. So for a proper
comparison I should knock down the Dell price about $200.

-RC

 

[BobN]

Not a problem, generally, unless you need to replace a mainboard. I
only built last time because I was hoping to save reinstalling
everything. When I figured up one last week with similar components,
the comparable hp cost about $70 more and included a 17-inch
flatscreen for free.

Of course, Dell does not use standard components. Replacements must be
bought from Dell. Replacing a motherboard or CPU on an OEM computer will
require purchase of the retail OS, complete reinstall and reactivation. If
you do not have any problems and have no need to upgrade/reinstall
components, I guess Dell is OK. You are better off with HP, because they
use standard components.

 

[Chris Hill]

Of course, Dell does not use standard components. Replacements must be
bought from Dell. Replacing a motherboard or CPU on an OEM computer will
require purchase of the retail OS, complete reinstall and reactivation. If
you do not have any problems and have no need to upgrade/reinstall
components, I guess Dell is OK. You are better off with HP, because they
use standard components.

I like HP because I can buy it locally and haul it right back if it
doesn't work. I had a friend that tried to get a damaged dell
mainboard replaced; it was a nightmare. Much easier to haul it back
to Sam's club in the first six months if it breaks, they'll just give
you a new one.

 

[hdrdtd]

Other than the motherboard and 'maybe' the power
supply and maybe the floppy drive on the low-end Dells, name the items that
Dell currently uses that are 'non-standard'....

 

[Mike T.]

Other than the motherboard and 'maybe' the power
supply and maybe the floppy drive on the low-end Dells, name the items
that Dell currently uses that are 'non-standard'....

You mean THAT'S NOT ENOUGH? That's like saying that a car is standard
because it's got a proprietary engine and proprietary transmission, but the
rest of it is pretty standard. -Dave

 

[Mike T.]

You are better off with HP, because they
use standard components.

Well, yes and no. A friend of mine bought a brand new HP media center
computer at Sam's just a few months ago. He's already had to replace the
power supply. Was it standard? Yup. So why did he have to replace it?
Because his PCI-Express computer had a power supply that was equipped by the
factory with a NON-PCI-Express power supply. That's right, his power supply
didn't support PCI-Express graphics cards, although his mainboard DID.

So HP is just as bad as dell. At least HP uses standard components, but too
bad they use the WRONG standard components!!! -Dave

 

[Chris Hill]

Well, yes and no. A friend of mine bought a brand new HP media center
computer at Sam's just a few months ago. He's already had to replace the
power supply. Was it standard? Yup. So why did he have to replace it?
Because his PCI-Express computer had a power supply that was equipped by the
factory with a NON-PCI-Express power supply. That's right, his power supply
didn't support PCI-Express graphics cards, although his mainboard DID.

So HP is just as bad as dell. At least HP uses standard components, but too
bad they use the WRONG standard components!!! -Dave

At least he was able to replace it. Frankly, though, 99.5% of the
people buying computers will never buy a video card that needs the
connector. Fact is, only some vid cards need the extra connector to
begin with.

 

[hdrdtd]

You mean THAT'S NOT ENOUGH? That's like saying that a car is standard
because it's got a proprietary engine and proprietary transmission, but
the rest of it is pretty standard. -Dave

The newer Dells use standard power supplies.

Granted that the MB's are non-standard as is the MB to case connections, the
vast majority of the parts the normal consumer would upgrade/replace over
the life of the system are indeed standard.

Memory, CPU's, video cards, sound cards, optical drives, hard drives, etc,
all standard.

 

[Clint]

As Chris says, most people won't be upgrading to video cards that require
the plugs. It's just the high end cards. And AFAIK, you can get an adapter
that lets you convert/use 2 "normal" 4 pin plugs for providing power to the
cards. A $6 adapter would have prevented the purchase of a new power
supply.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=12-154-001&depa=0

Clint

 

[Mike T.]

As Chris says, most people won't be upgrading to video cards that require
the plugs. It's just the high end cards. And AFAIK, you can get an
adapter that lets you convert/use 2 "normal" 4 pin plugs for providing
power to the cards. A $6 adapter would have prevented the purchase of a
new power supply.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=12-154-001&depa=0

No. The power supply was also under-sized. (300W generic cheapie, or in
other words, ~200W max), and had one spare molex connector. So he needed a
new power supply anyway. -Dave