Where buy customized PC?

  • Thread starter Thread starter -Nisko-
  • Start date Start date
peter said:
Sounds like what I wanted a few years back before I build my own.So here
is what I did.
I researched all of components taking performance and price into
consideration...there are lots of websites that test every single piece of
equipment that goes into a computer.
I then assembled a complete list of parts for the system I wanted.....and
took them to every local computer shop that had a good reputation as well
as some online builders and asked for quotes.......build with warranty.
Since they were all now bidding on the same hardware there was no
comparing Apples to Oranges....one of the biggest drawbacks when buying a
computer..no one ever has the same parts.
Lowest bidder got the job...........and I was very happy with their
service ....never did use the warranty...but I could stop in and describe
a problem and have them give me a solution to try at home.I even stopped
in and watched them build my machine.

peter
Click to expand...

Since I've never done this before, would you mind telling me how you found
those websites that test the components and the online builders (or email me
a list of those sites)?

If you use an online builder, what insurance do you have that they won't
just "steal" the components?

How did you find the online builders?

Also, how do you know if the motherboard you choose will work with the other
components? I've heard that's a major concern.

Also, upgradability?

Thanks in advance...........
 
GreenieLeBrun said:
If the "major manufacturers", such as Dell, HP etc. are the same in the
US as they are in Australia then they will probably not offer all the
options you require. A local PD shop or better still a business that
deals in components and PCs will be able to offer you a much wider
range of options including case, motherboard, video card, HDD etc. etc.
this will allow you to full customize your machine to your
specifications
Click to expand...

There seems to me a conundrum here. If Nisko doesn't know what to ask for -
that is why he is putting this question - how we he know what to ask for
when he goes in to such a shop - while my choice of Dell was treated with
derision by Gordon, I certainly got a lot more choice, like buying groceries
online, than if I had gone in to a chain or a department store.

The beauty with Dell is that the menu shows you what additional requirements
of memory etc are for specific boards etc. That is why for this particular
non-techie it was very good.

I would have thought that there is also the question of after-sales service.
After all, how will Nisko get service on his "classic" computer which is
specific to his requirements (which he is not that familiar with) if he is
not that technical?

Nick
 
If he does not know what to ask for,
maybe he knows *how much* he has to spend.
From state-of-the-art thru medium to nothing,
he has a lot to choose, from majors to local assemblers.
Local assemblers are better, as they build according
to the needs of the bucks one has.
Regards.
 
Both stores are close to me - but I go in there frequently to look at the
computer mags - and don't recall those titles. I'll go again soon and look
more carefully. Thanks........
 
Nick said:
There seems to me a conundrum here. If Nisko doesn't know what to ask
for - that is why he is putting this question - how we he know what
to ask for when he goes in to such a shop - while my choice of Dell
was treated with derision by Gordon, I certainly got a lot more
choice, like buying groceries online, than if I had gone in to a
chain or a department store.
The beauty with Dell is that the menu shows you what additional
requirements of memory etc are for specific boards etc. That is why
for this particular non-techie it was very good.
Click to expand...


I disagree with Gordon. I think Dell is a very good choice for most people.
Their prices are good, and the quality of what they provide is decent.
However, Nisko asked about a customized PC. As I said, if by "customized,"
he means he wanst to select the components and have a builder assemble them,
Dell doesn't do that, and isn't a choice for him

Most people have never even heard of motherboard manufacturers like ASUS,
Abit, Gigabyte, MSI, etc., and neither want to nor know how to choose a
particular motherboard (or brands and models of the other components in the
box). For them, a computer like one that Dell offers is usually a good
choice. But for those who have more specific needs or desires, Dell won't
give you those choices and a custom builder is required, unless you want to
build it yourself. Unless Nisko has misled us when he says "customized PC,"
he falls into that latter category.
 
Greenfruit said:
If he does not know what to ask for,
maybe he knows *how much* he has to spend.
From state-of-the-art thru medium to nothing,
he has a lot to choose, from majors to local assemblers.
Local assemblers are better, as they build according
to the needs of the bucks one has.
Click to expand...


I don't agree that local assemblers are always better. Although I use a
local builder myself, for most people without special requirements, it's
usually much cheaper and just as satisfactory to buy from a major national
manufacturer like Dell.

I just went to www.dell.com. Prices for desktops start at $299 for a
complete system. For $299 you get a 2.53GHz Celeron with 256MB of RAM, an
80GB HD, a CDRW/DVD drive, a 17" CRT monitor, and Windows XP Home. That's
not a top-of-the-line computer, obviously, but it's a complete system that
will meet many people's needs adequately. All most people will need to add
is a printer, which can be bought for well under $100. There aren't many
local builders that can match a deal like that.
 
http://www4.tomshardware.com/
http://www.sudhian.com/
http://arstechnica.com/index.ars
http://www.aoaforums.com/frontpage/index.php
http://www.xbitlabs.com/
http://www.pcper.com/
http://www.ocworkbench.com/index.stm
http://www.guru3d.com/

http://www.us.ncix.com/index.php
http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/index.htm

here are a few to start with

Google search will come up with specific test sites if you punch in the name
of the device that you are interested in.
Right now Asus makes the better mobo,AMD the better less costly chips.Nvidea
the better chipset and video cards
One must also remember that the technology changes so rapidly that future
proofing is almost impossible.
The best you can achieve is a system that will last you for a couple of
years and is definitely upgradeable.
With the new AM2 socket being out from AMD and its capability to run DDR2
Ram i would be looking at a mobo that supports it.
I would also be looking at SATA2 drives with a Mobo that has external SATA2
connector for outside of the case backup.
Antec makes some nice cases and power supplies...reeasonably priced.
The important first decision is the mobo and then to find the parts that
match that board.

good luck
peter
 
But if he don't know what to ask for, he would be in the hands of the local
dealer - at least go along with a friend. With Dell, and I only speak about
Dell because obviously I bought one, you can play around with the online
system varying what is on offer, bearing in mind what one has to spend.

How you would get what you need, if you don't know what you want to ask for.

The Dell interface allows you to order the computer in the same way as you
order on-line groceries or using a store's wedding list.

There is plenty of time to browse and to match what one has to spend against
what one can get for it.

Obviously one can then go to a local dealer having looked at the Dell or
other system - but I still don't see how one gets after-sale support from
the local independent dealer who has created your own system.

We witness people posting to this and other groups who are clearly in that
situation.

Caveat emptor - let the buyer beware!

Nick
 
Ken Blake said:
I disagree with Gordon. I think Dell is a very good choice for most
people. Their prices are good, and the quality of what they provide is
decent. However, Nisko asked about a customized PC. As I said, if by
"customized," he means he wanst to select the components and have a
builder assemble them, Dell doesn't do that, and isn't a choice for him

Most people have never even heard of motherboard manufacturers like ASUS,
Abit, Gigabyte, MSI, etc., and neither want to nor know how to choose a
particular motherboard (or brands and models of the other components in
the box). For them, a computer like one that Dell offers is usually a good
choice. But for those who have more specific needs or desires, Dell won't
give you those choices and a custom builder is required, unless you want
to build it yourself. Unless Nisko has misled us when he says "customized
PC," he falls into that latter category.
Click to expand...

I accept what you say. Well, in my own terms Dell was "customised". If I had
gone in to a store I would have had the system that was on sale - and there
would have been a very limited selection.

I have found a UK supplier of customised PC's just doing a search on PC and
customised.

In the same way as I chose my Dell components the website allows the buyer
to choose what suits them and it flags up if one component won't go with
another component eg a processor requires a larger case - and giving the
total price for a particular selection.

I just had visions of someone who knew very little being at the mercy of a
very techie shop owner. If there is a website you can easily show others and
ask them what they think of what you are thinking of buying. Is there
possibly a newsgroup that discusses such matters. I would imagine that there
are discussion forums for that.

I would have thought that the starting question with any purchase would be
want do you want to do with it.

Nick
 
Nick said:
I accept what you say. Well, in my own terms Dell was "customised".
Click to expand...


Yes, itsn't clear exactly what *he* means by customized. That's why I said "
if by 'customized,' he means he wanst to select the components and have a
builder assemble them, Dell doesn't do that, and isn't a choice for him " He
may possibly mean "customize " in a completely different sense.

I just had visions of someone who knew very little being at the mercy
of a very techie shop owner.
Click to expand...


That can certainly be a problem, but people who want a customized computer
(using "customized" in *my* sense) are unlikely to be those who know very
little.
 
Thanks VERY much!!!


peter said:
http://www4.tomshardware.com/
http://www.sudhian.com/
http://arstechnica.com/index.ars
http://www.aoaforums.com/frontpage/index.php
http://www.xbitlabs.com/
http://www.pcper.com/
http://www.ocworkbench.com/index.stm
http://www.guru3d.com/

http://www.us.ncix.com/index.php
http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/index.htm

here are a few to start with

Google search will come up with specific test sites if you punch in the
name of the device that you are interested in.
Right now Asus makes the better mobo,AMD the better less costly
chips.Nvidea the better chipset and video cards
One must also remember that the technology changes so rapidly that future
proofing is almost impossible.
The best you can achieve is a system that will last you for a couple of
years and is definitely upgradeable.
With the new AM2 socket being out from AMD and its capability to run DDR2
Ram i would be looking at a mobo that supports it.
I would also be looking at SATA2 drives with a Mobo that has external
SATA2 connector for outside of the case backup.
Antec makes some nice cases and power supplies...reeasonably priced.
The important first decision is the mobo and then to find the parts that
match that board.

good luck
peter
Click to expand...
 
Thanks again, Ken. But my specs will be very specific and extensive -
including a Raid 1 array. I need someone who really knows what they're
doing.
 
-Nisko- said:
Thanks again, Ken.
Click to expand...


You're welcome.

But my specs will be very specific and extensive -
Click to expand...


Yes, as I thought from your original message.

including a Raid 1 array.
Click to expand...


May I ask why you want/need RAID 1? It's normally not appropriate except for
large businesses which can't tolerate any downtime at all.

I need someone who really knows what
they're doing.
Click to expand...


Then almost certainly you want a good local builder. If you tell us where
you live, perhaps someone here can recommend one.
 
Oh - when did Dell get hold of Alienware - a couple of days ago all rumours
were denied
Antioch
 
Ken Blake said:
You're welcome.




Yes, as I thought from your original message.




May I ask why you want/need RAID 1? It's normally not appropriate except
for large businesses which can't tolerate any downtime at all.
Click to expand...

I have over 140 apps (I know, too many). If I crash, it will take months to
recreate my system. Also, I've been burned before and it cost (my old
Company) over $5,000 to get my data back. I can't stand downtime. In
addition to the Raid 1, I plan to have a clone drive which I will reclone
about once a week and keep off the premises. I had a flood once and it
ruined all my equipment.
Then almost certainly you want a good local builder. If you tell us where
you live, perhaps someone here can recommend one.
Click to expand...

I live in Rhode Island.
 
-Nisko- said:
I have over 140 apps (I know, too many). If I crash, it will take
months to recreate my system. Also, I've been burned before and it
cost (my old Company) over $5,000 to get my data back. I can't stand
downtime. In addition to the Raid 1, I plan to have a clone drive
which I will reclone about once a week and keep off the premises. I
had a flood once and it ruined all my equipment.
Click to expand...


Then you clearly need a good backup solution, as does almost everybody. The
reason I asked is that RAID 1 is not really a good backup solution. The
purpose of RAID 1 isn't backup, but to to provide seamless uninterrupted
service if one of the drives in the array fails.

Although some people thing of RAID 1 as a backup technique, that is *not*
what it is, since it's subject to simultaneous loss of the original and the
mirror to many of the most common dangers threatening your data--severe
power glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus attackes, theft of the
computer, etc.Most companies that use RAID 1
also have a strong external backup plan in place.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept in
the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the life of
your business depends on your data) you should have multiple generations of
backup, and at least one of those generations should be stored off-site.

My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup scheme uses two
identical removable hard drives, I alternate between the two, and use
Acronis True Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.
 
So, in effect, you have a backup system similar to what I want - except that
I have so many apps that I also want a RAID 1 array so that I never go down.
I might want two cloned drives instead of one - and one of them would either
be on the premises or actually in my PC. That way, if my mirrored array
goes down, I can reconstruct it with the latest clone. Sound like a plan???
 
-Nisko- said:
So, in effect, you have a backup system similar to what I want -
except that I have so many apps that I also want a RAID 1 array so
that I never go down. I might want two cloned drives instead of one -
and one of them would either be on the premises or actually in my PC.
That way, if my mirrored array goes down, I can reconstruct it with
the latest clone. Sound like a plan???
Click to expand...


Sure. If you have external backup in addition to the RAID array, you should
be safe. Again, the only reason I brought this up is that many people think
that RAID 1 is a backup solution, and that's all they rely on.
 
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