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About LinkBacksThe last time I purchased a pre-built PC was in June of '96 (HP Pavilion 5040). I've been building my own boxes since August of '97.
The last time I purchased a pre-built PC was in June of '96 (HP Pavilion 5040). I've been building my own boxes since August of '97.
I wouldn't disagree with that for the large integrators, like Dell/HP, though there are exceptions even then. In my opinion, you will get a basically functional device but the ones I've seen have been built to be highly price-competitive and that has often mant trimming spec here, there and everywhere.Originally Posted by Korrorra
But you have to realise that some, indeed probably most, PC users regard a PC like they do a TV, kitchen blender or washing machine - it is bought to do a specific job and as long as it does it satisfactorly, most of those trimmed corners don't much matter. For instance, my wife uses a PC for credit control for her employer. It runs their (custom) accounts software, lets her write letters, send/receive emails and browse news sites at lunchtime. Oh, and n these lockdown days, use MS Teams (or whatever) for team meetings. Beyond that, she has about as much interest in PCs as I do in automated knitting machines. It's a tool, and provided it works, she has zero further interest.
Most users of a forum like this, however, go quite a way beyond that .... or are here to learn how to go beyond that. There is an interest, absent in my wife, in how PCs work, and what to tweak/tune/replace to get them to work better. For instance, is PSU 1 better than PSU 2, and if so, is it worth the extra price? Or, what spec of HD/SSD should I get? What's the difference in WD drives between Red, Blue, Black, Gold, Purple, Green or the plain silver HC class enterprise drives, and when are you best advised to use one versus the other. What about PMR/CMR/SMR? And so on.
So users here probably benefit, most of the time, from building machines because, yes, it's a learning process and yes, once you have the knowledge, you can fine-tune the spec to include your optimised choice of components.
BUT .... even for users of a forum like this, there is a case to be made for pre-built machines. Some posters have already referred to several of them.like selfishtoaster (great name, by the way) a few posts up (#30).
In my case, I've built machines for several decades. I'm out of date on the intricacies of certain components now, but tat's why I'd talk to some of the people here before finalising my desired spec for my intended uses, which would include photo editing and some video transcoding, but would not include gaming as a priority.
Then, I can go to a custom integrator. Not to the likes of Dell or HP, but to those much smaller integrators who, atleast to some extent and in Scan's case, to a pretty wide extent, will let you spec a machine to your needs. I can choose case, mobo, CPU, PSE, memory amount, type, speed and up to a point, brand and then add or not add various levels of storage, pick my GPU and so on. It then gets built, tested and shipped to me ready to configure the OS and install my applications. What I don't have to do is spend several hours bolting it all together, then sorting out what is wrong is something doesn't work, and possibly arguing with one of several suppliers about component replacement. That's all sorted by Scan before I get the machine.
In other words, you pay usually a modest premium for the convenience of not doing the grunt work. And by not doing it, I save that time. Why do things for myself that are best done by someone else, leaving my time free for me to use in the optimum way?
If price is your ultimate priority, sure, try to minimise it by building yourself. But I don't need the learning curve from the experience. I just want a PC that works, and works well. I'll pay someone with the experience to build it and the parts availability to troubleshoot it, just as I'll pay my solicitor £220/hr to vet contracts rather than do it myself. He's better at it than me, and I don't have to stick my face in the nitty gritty of contract verbiage. There is a lot to be sad for selectively outsourcing tasks better done by someone else, and entirely depending on an individual's circumstances, buying a pre-built machine might be one of them.
I'd certainly advise building for some people I know, but I'd strongly advise against it for others.
A lesson learned from PeterB about dignity in adversity, so Peter, In Memorium, "Onwards and Upwards".
CAT-THE-FIFTH (12-06-2021)
I highly doubt you'll get a better warranty period on a prebuilt PC compared to individual components, individual components tend to at least match prebuilt system warranties, or in many cases exceed those offered (such as 10 years on a PSU or 5 years on an NVMe drive etc). Cable management isn't hard and doesn't take long to do properly.
As for the point about driver issues / compatibility issues? I haven't seen those for a decade (literally, pre Sandy Bridge was the last time I saw those problems).
Also sending off an entire system seems particularly cumbersome, especially when you can get advanced replacements on most parts (had a replacement monitor dealt with this way). I'm not sure I've ever seen an option to have an entire prebuilt system offer an advanced replacement service? However if you think £100 extra is worth those additional hassles, feel free to spend it.
Never ever will. What made up my mind years ago when I almost did was when they said pay a bit extra for the warranty but with the likes of corsair they have long warranty periods but the most important thing for me is it's taking the enjoyment away of building a PC and putting in the components that you particularly want in the case.
Nope, I've always built my own. The first one was a 386 with a maths co-processor. Ah happy days!
Yeah great soundcard in that era - and talking of the CDROM add-on... installing CorelDraw from 1 CDROM was a revelation back then. Way nicer than the alternative - from memory, something like 12 or 14 floppies for a minimum install.
The CDROM version was also packed with example artwork, fonts, clipart, etc. whereas the floppy version was pretty barebones.
It was also the time for Microsoft Encarta to carve out a niche on CD-ROM - offering a new way to satisfy your enquiring mind in the pre-Google epoch.
Which involves the technological knowledge of:
1.)Knowing what parts to buy in the first place.
2.)Being able to assemble the PC with a degree of competence.
3.)Understanding how to install an OS,etc.
4.)Having time to go through the build,and having time to troubleshoot any issues.
5.)Being able to read reviews in detail. Its one thing knowing a Ryzen 5/Core i5 is a good gaming CPU,or a RX5700XT will give you 60FPS in your favourite games,but what about all the other aspects?? Knowing what types of RAM to get,what motherboards,what parts will work properly with X and Y.
Then if there is a problem:
1.)Being able to identify what has actually stopped working. The system stops booting - is it the PSU,the motherboard,the GPU,etc?
2.)Have spare parts to test other parts to enable the first point. Knowing how to test for issues.
3.)Then contacting the retailer/company to return such part, usually at your own cost and time. A number of RMA locations are in foreign countries. You might not get that postage cost back. Plus some companies and retailers have a history of dragging out RMA requests.
4.)If the retailer/company tries to fob you off,having enough knowledge to be able to escalate the issue.
5.)Due to the new import regulations,many companies have fallen foul of the new rules,so RMAs are being charged VAT,handling charges,etc as the companies have not understood what they should be doing.
How many of us have acted as tech support for people we know?? What if they didn't know anyone who could help. Also during the pandemic people haven't been able to travel as easily too,a company just collecting the whole PC at the doorstep certainly is more viable.
Or they could go to a PC shop/retailer/builder. Then ask for advice from the sales staff who might point them in the right direction. They can then buy the PC then and there,or buy a more customised one from a retailer like Scan or CCL Computers,who offer onsite warranties,collection from home,and telephone/e-mail support. IIRC,even retailers like Scan and OcUK will build a custom PC with parts you specify if you contact them directly.
Its far more convenient especially for someone who just wants a PC. It's also a reason why consoles and phones are popular for gaming - there is no real technological knowledge to run a game on it. If it does not work return the whole shebang to the retailer,etc.
The issue is a lot of people look at PC as like a TV or washing machine - its a device which does a job. Most PC owners have no interest in keeping up to date with hardware,because it bores them to tears. They have very little interest in mucking about with it. Just like some people like modding cars,many will just go down to the dealership and buy an updated version of the previous car they owned.
We are the car modders in that regard. We like knowing about computer technology as a hobby and we like mucking about with hardware,as that is part of the reward of owning a PC.
Even in the current climate,even if you know how to build a PC,there is bigger set of problems - cost and availability. Its cheaper and easier to buy a prebuilt gaming PC or gaming laptop then a self built one. It involves far less faffing around waiting on alerts to get a GPU at a reasonable price. The other alternative is to buy a GPU like an RTX3060 at nearly £600. You can literally get a laptop with an RTX3060 for as low as £850~£900. You are lucky if you can even get an RTX2060 for under £450.
Last edited by CAT-THE-FIFTH; 12-06-2021 at 02:06 PM.
Does a NUC count?
If not, then no.
just my first box more years ago than I can really remember. Every one since has been built by me.
Yes, not embarrassed to say I have as I had to learn my skills some how. An Escom DX2-66 then a Mesh Pentium II based PC. Both at the time gradually upgraded with memory, sound cards, graphics cards and CD/DVD-Rom burners. That was 20 years ago and since then I’ve built from scratch, upgraded & repaired many PCs.
I've always built my own since the first machine I put together in the mid nineties. The frequency has reduced considerably, and I'm now still on a i5 4670K / 980 I put together in 2015 or so, would love to build a new machine but have been a solo indie Dev for a while and yet to earn, and the market now is absolutely dreadful for the likes of us now ☹️
First computer was a pentium 2 machine from Tiny computers, in my defence I was still at school and had no idea.
With that machine over time I learnt, I added voodoo3 graphics, more ram, a second hard drive, a cd-burner, eventually I even swapped out the motherboard.
As that I did later buy a use HP pentium 4 PC with the intention of adding a graphics card (ati x1950 pro).
After that its been self built, the first being an intel e4300 overclocked pc, and a constant evolution from there. I don't think any part of that PC remains in my current setup but there has never been a 100% new rebuild and on that from that this case may be my forever case as I cant find a single suitable replacement.
The last time I bought a pre-built system was when the only way you could get a computer was to buy pre-built. I've been building my own since.
Only ever one was my 1st PC, it was a Dell. Ever since I've made my own, many reasons for this :
Choice of parts
Price
Warranty
My first ever PC was a pre-built 12Mhz Turbo XT with 640K ram and Hercules graphics. My most recent desktop was a pre-built 16core Ryzen just over a year ago. All the others (maybe 90-100) were self-built. I usually have to self-build because nobody makes a good computer case any more.
All valid points, and if time or lack of knowledge are sticking points then yes, certainly, a prebuilt is the best solution (custom prebuilt, I'd never recommend a Dell etc). Also very guilty of being one of those who doesn't mod a car, but just updates it for a newer model. That's actually quite a good analogy to use.
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