Features - QOTW: Do you self-build or buy built?

[jnutt]

Always self build right back from the days of the 386. Mine is like the old road sweepers brush joke. Had the same one for years just had several different cases several different video cards etc etc.

[logie84]

Best to do a self build, you get what you want. You know whats in it and you'll know how to sort it when it goes wrong, I get a bit of satisfaction knowing that I built something myself.

[aidanjt]

Self-built for a decade.

[tickleonthetum]

My first PC was a pre-built from Reeves(?) of Northampton in 1992. It was an 80486-33MHz, 8Mb RAM, 20Mb HDD and ran Windows 3.1. However, I slowly added and replaced individual parts until the PC I have now evolved! There is no longer any part left from that original PC yet in my mind it is still the same one?! Now it is an i7-920 OC to 4GHz, 6Gb RAM, 2 x 1TB HDD and runs Windows 7.

If I was to buy completely new I would go for a self built one as there is no better way to learn how a PC works and build your own confidence at the same time. The cost is usually the same in the end except you get the makes and models of parts you want!

[b0redom]

Used to self build. 1st one was (from memory) a 486SX25. Last self build will probably be my last. I prefer using the tech now to building it. I have customers who want that - very specific hardware for very specific tasks.

I've bought into the Apple ecosystem as it all works nicely together. I have no doubt I'll be flamed to death, but it does what _I_ want it to better than Windows (although I do use Bootcamp for games) or Linux. In fact pretty much everyone I know at my level (senior *ix architect/consultant) is going the same way.

That being said, my VMware ESX server and FreeNAS boxes are HP Microservers.

[Slystuff]

Have pretty much always self built, even building for family members. As others have said, I like knowing that it's exactly the way I want it to be.

[Fraz]

Always self-built for me also, except my very first PC which was from Evesham Micros.

Might consider buying a pre-built if and when I have kids, as I'm sure I'll have better things to do. Water-cooling is also a lot more faff and effort, so maybe I'll just do air-cooled builds when time is more scarce.

[csgohan4]

Self built is the only and best option:

1- Teaches you to read manuals.. properly
2- Challenges you to overcome the unknown and forces you to build it
3- Ability to pick and choose the components you actually want down to the noise cancelling gromits, rather than ready made systems which typically skimp on parts to make profit, such as cheap PSU's and Motherboards
4- More bang for buck
5- Allows you to troubleshoot the PC yourself as opening the PC Case you no longer drench in sweat and fear
6- The rewards when you switch your computer for the first time and booting up windows

Cons:
1-The hours you spend reinstalling windows and programs- but negated by cloning and image programs now
2-You now become IT customer service for your relatives and friends
3- You now build your relatives and Friends Builds and provide after sales service

[Jonatron]

Always self build, have always done. It's all about the bang for buck.

[jimbouk]

Always self-built for me also, except my very first PC which was from Evesham Micros.

My last (family) pre-built came from them I remember being blown away playing the Half-Life demo in there Leeds branch. From then on (last 14 years then!) it's been self-build. Really helps on a budget - pick the right motherboard then you can upgrade and keep a PC going for many a year. I still haven't made the jump a DDR3, just bought a second hand CPU as an upgrade and will be slotting in a new GPU in the next 6 months.

[Valinor]

All 3 of my PCs have been self builds, starting with an Athlon X2/8800GTX system. Also built systems for a couple of friends. I still go onto pre-built sites just to see how expensive I can make their systems .

[Tattysnuc]

Always self build.

[pinkpound]

As above ..

Had to buy a laptop while back and loathed the pre-built ...unless I wanted to pay silly prices

[bbo320]

My first computer was used & had 2 floppy drives. I couldn't figure out why it would not run when I put the program floppy in it. LOL, I had to put the DOS 3.3 disk in the other floppy. I have learned a lot since then by building my own.

[theone]

On self buid.
except for my first PCs ZX-Spectrum and Intel 8088 the rest where self built:

80486SX --> 80496DX --> 80486DX2
Pentium 3 Katmai 450MHz
Pentium 4 Willamette 1.5MHz Socket 478
Intel E8400 (current main PC)
ATOM 510 (current unraid)

[crossy]

Apart from laptops, netbooks and tablets, (and even the laptops get minor upgrades - RAM, disks), I've not bought a desktop PC since 486DX days.

For me I like the flexibility of a selfbuild, plus it at least allows some degree of saving by reusing some of the better components. Problem I have with pre-built systems is that there's always some piece of hardware spec'd that makes you think "why they heck have they done THAT!", plus invariably the pre-built PC comes with lots of "free" software that you then have to spend a night getting rid of - cough, cough Norton AntiVirus.

I also figure that if you build it yourself, then you'll understand it better, plus that makes upgrades easier to spec and do.