Computers

[Nightshade]

i was going to put this in my blog, but then thought No actually Ill put it in a thread so here we go.
My laptop is dying its been resuscitated a few times over the last year but its really going Im hoping when I get back to get a second job so Im able to afford a new computer come the January sales, or at least that was my original plan, but over the past year so I keep looking at the guides and plans onbuilding your own computer and I kind of want to try it. Problem is of course I dont actually know that much about computers really. (which is actually an advantage to building my own because then hopfully Ill learn as I go along.)
But I was wondering has anyone here ever built one? Or if not, and you were in my postion what would you choose, build or buy? and does anyone know of a book or other resource that will interpret all the gobbldygook computer technical language and tell me whats good and whats not without trying to sell me a particular product?

:D

[Niamh]

both my brother, my ex boyfriend, and a friend of his built their own computers. But they studied computers and computer programming in college.
If i was in your shoes i'd just by one. That way if something does happen to it, you have more of a chance of getting it looked at.

[Scheherazade]

Buy, buy, buy!

Once built one using the dead computers at home (also added some new parts) but not worth the effort unless you are really into such things.

[PeterL]

There are a number of online forums, etc. that have information about building computers; it isn't difficult. The About.com forum on PC Support is one such place: http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?listmode=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-pcsupport
and you might get some help at:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/MacWinDOS/start

Before you even buy anything, you should figure out about how fast and powerful it will be. Then decide what processor you will use, the next step will be to decide which motherboard that will support that processor will do best for you. Then it will be a matter of buying RAM, hard drive, DVD burner, case, power supply, and all of the miscellaneous pieces. Assembly is simple for anyone who knows which end of a screwdriver does what.
If you build your own, you will be able to get a high end computer for a midgrade price. A good place to look for and compre parts is newegg.com. That site will allow you o compare features and prices of components, even if you buy elsewhere.

[papayahed]

Buy, buy, buy!



I agree.

[Dori]

My brother built his own computer. It's freakin' awesome!

Building your own computer will give you what you want and it will most likely be cheaper.

[Nightshade]

Thank you everyone Ill bare all that in mind when the time rolls around....
:D

Scher wouldnt you still say it was a good experience anyway?

[Scheherazade]

If it is experience you are after, try dissolving sugar/salt/corn flour in water (or you can even collect the rain water to measure the rainfall :p) but, otherwise, I think it is an expensive experience if you don't know enough about hardware. So many things can go wrong (and, believe you me, they do go wrong at one time or other).

[dramasnot6]

both my brother, my ex boyfriend, and a friend of his built their own computers. But they studied computers and computer programming in college.
If i was in your shoes i'd just by one. That way if something does happen to it, you have more of a chance of getting it looked at.

Agreed. My ex boyfriend built several of his own computers but was always coming across problems with them,and he was something of an IT genius :rolleyes: . You really are just better off buying,otherwise it's not worth the initial and long-term struggle. There are new great deals on good quality PC's every day,prices keep going down on good technological merchandise. It's a good time to buy.

[Dori]

Well my brother spends just about as much time on computer forums and sites as I do here. :D That's probably the best way to go about it.

[EricP]

I'm thinking about buying a laptop soon, but I know next to nothing about computers. I mostly just want to use it for the internet, playing DVDs, and storing mp3 files. Any suggestions for a cheap, reliable laptop?

[TurquoiseSunset]

...but, otherwise, I think it is an expensive experience if you don't know enough about hardware. So many things can go wrong (and, believe you me, they do go wrong at one time or other).

Hear, hear! I second that! If you don't know much about hardware yourself or know someone reliable who does I'd say avoid it like you would the plague. You'll need to know brands, combinations, versions, updates, reliability...and soooo much more like PeterL said.

Rather sapre yourself the trouble - get a few opinions and then buy something.

[Nyu001]

I always prefer to build because not always a computer will have all I need. Dell does let you build a computer and you can choice there what is important and what is less important. If you going to use the computer for simple stuffs then it won't be necessary a monster or expensive computer and you can just go straight to buy and not build.

Basic things that you should keep in mind are the processor(CPU), memory, hard drive, sound card and video card. And give it more priority to the CPU and memory.

Don't forget to check always deep and to look all the details of the computer and the reviews of it, for have an idea of how it worked for other people and if will fit with your needs.

[Nightshade]

are you talking about getting dell to build it for you or buying all the bits and putting it together yourself?

again thanks for the advice people, its all going into the appropriate desion making columns
:D

[Nyu001]

You building it by selecting how much of gigabytes you want for your hard drive what video card to choice from the selections they give you, etc. You can do that by checking on their site: www.dell.com if a dell is what would interest you. But again if you just want the computer for simple stuffs to buy one that is not expensive will be ok for you. Just check the details and see what kind of use you will give to it and if those details will pleasure your needs.

[Nightshade]

yes but if I do build a computer I do mean BUILD it , as in crawling under the table and swearing because Im missing a screw ripping my hair out in frustration etc etc so on and so forth .

[Morad]

Since I'm working in this field, which is building computers, I advise you to build your own. You can choose the desired storage of the hard drive, the CPU speed, the RAM, and of course you should have SUPER DVD to run movies and burn DVDs. Nonetheless, it'll cost you less than buying one from any store.