Did you build the computer you use?

[autopilot]

I always build entertainment/gaming PC's. I just love being able to build exactly the system i want and save money but not having extra's i wont use. It's much easier to know whats happening when things go wrong too.

But you can beat the like's of Dell if you want a quick cheap home office job. People have asked me to build really cheap PC's but i just send them to Dell.

[Rys]

My first PC was a 368 SX25 hand-me-down. Took it to bits, put it back together, never had a pre-built system of my own since. Reviewed them for this place yes, owned one no.

Will I consider pre-built for my next brand new machine? Absolutely.

[monkeyville]

Always built my own. Must be on about my 11th in 2 years as i tend to build them for other people for a tidy profit. Nowadays though i tend to send them to dell as its often cheaper and comes with a large budget should things go wrong.

[javalord]

I would love to, but it always turn into phone calls every hour. For example at the moment I am put in charge of finding a good ISP for one cousin and buying a good webcam and microphone for another....

(As usual, there's the reminder calls.)

Thats because you let them. If I get a "which digicam" question, I send them over to Dpreview's questionnaire that filters out cameras of their critieria. If they want a new webcam, ask them how much and just point to somewhere.

Nothing wrong with being kind and helpful, but your learning that people will always take the easy route and keep nagging you until you say no. People need to get into a habbit of helping themselves as soon as they feel comfortable to.

[lewis88]

yes... in answer to the original question

[vincent]

Yes i built me own.... cos i was fedup of me mum hogging the pc LOL

i started saving up for mine on the Dole [Job Seekers Allowance]

The Original first build spec was.....

Amd Athlon 64 3000+ Newcastle Skt 754
Gigabyte K8NS Pro
160GB Maxtor Diamond+ 9
Ati Radeon 9800 Pro
1Gb Geil value DDR400
onboard sound
1x DVD-ROM,1xCD-RW,1X DVD-RW
Bubble case
Hiper 525W Triple Fan PSU

Full spec Now.....
Amd Athlon 64 3000+ [did overclock it to 2240.0 on nTune]
1.5GB Geil DDR400 [3x512MB] added another 512MB stick
250GB Maxtor Diamond+ 10 [upgraded due to RMA]
Gigabyte G8NE PCI-E
Scan XFX Gf 7800GT 256MB
Aspire Xplorer case
Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1 24-Bit PCI
Thermaltake Hardcano

The only other upgrades i can do now is from IDE to SATA and a new Skt 939 CPU

[tim_n]

I've built many computers over the years.

Then I got sick and tired of constant issues with them. I started using only laptops and then eventually bought a value base unit off ebuyer to act as a SVN server. Then I added a raid card, extra ram, three HDs and a DVDRW. Then I added a 17" TFT (it didn't use one) and added a wireless keyboard and mouse.

So technically it's almost rebuilt, but tbh I class it as bought with mods.

[kalniel]

If I can lever the discount that companies get on components I will, which is why my previous computer was a Dell (the base spec was very close to what I wanted). But as soon as there is significant difference then I'll build my own. This time around I knew I was over-specing on core components (dual core, 2gig ram) which really pushed up the price from system builders, so I built my own.

There is usally some overhead on components building your own, but as you only get the spec you want you can sometimes save money.

[Konan555]

I have to. There isn't a company in existance that builds them properly for Audio work.

[dfowles]

Always built my own. I just like to know exactly what components im getting and none of the prebuilt systems are quite configurable enough for me.

[smtkr]

I've built all three desktops I owned. I didn't build my laptop. I built a friend's computer. I built my father's computer.

I don't build computers for other people anymore. I tell them to get a mac. Now, I don't have to listen to people complain about getting loaded with spyware. If they screw something up, I tell them I don't know anything about MacOSX and they should call support. I'm trying my hardest to make my life simple.

[Funkstar]

So first you tell them to get a mac, then you really annoy them when you tell them that in fact you have no idea about them and just teld them to get it to giv eyou an easy life. How to make friends and influence people

[dfowles]

Thats a great idea though Nothing worse than friends and family pc support

[Oakleyb]

Never bought a computer in my life! I figured out how my dads computer worked by taking it to bits (which he still doesn't know about ). My first computer was built on a shoestring at a fraction of the cost of a new one when I was a student.

I've canibalised and recanibalised every component I've got in the last ten years, although I have now replaced every component. Actually, I still use my original floppy drive (although since USB came along I haven't actually used it in ages).

[EvilWeevil]

My lappy's a Toshiba, but the one I'm on right now I built a few weeks ago.

[Mehul2004]

And when you build pcs for mates . . . . . guess who they call when it goes wrong . . . .