custom built pc vs. ready made pc

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StevaReno

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i have a hp 533mhz 64 mb pc and it was ok until i lost my audio
yes!! i know i need more ram and a more powerful pc
-- BUT should i build one vs. buying another ready made out of
the store
--- the price is about the same----Which is better?
and if a custom built is better--

do you all have any recommendations?

thanks in advance!
 
Its extremely easy to get exactly what you want for much less if you build yourself, so usually that is that better option. The only reason to go store bought is if you are afraid of the whole building a computer process in which case you can draw up a list of parts and have the computer store assemble it for you, usually for like $50.

I would say even better than the price is, when you build your own and turn it on for the first time all you get the reasurring windows jingle and then you can do whatever you want. Start up a dell for the first time and you get all kinds of registration offers and your start menu is already the length of the screen :)
 
I say build your DAW especially if you have already owned a Dell, Gateway, Compaq... etc. Home Recording is an endeavor which requires the user to become one with his equipment. I started with a Gateway a few years back. It, of course, couldn't do half of what I wanted. Then I built my first machine. It did half of what I wanted at the time. I just put together another DAW (almost complete - missing a decent soundcard) which is bigger and faster than any of my previous DAWs and even my regular home comp. But after months of reading and researching and posting questions I am finally becoming master of my machines. There is nothing like knowing your equipment inside and out. Now, I cannot speak of the turnkey systems that are out there. They might be all that, I considered them myself, but their price held me back. But, they seem like they do what they are supposed to do. But, if money is part of your deciding factor, build. You will be glad you did.


Vice
 
I'd say build, but with two caveats:

1) you must not fear getting to know the innards of the computer. You will do things like forget to plug the HD into the motherboard (I did this a few weeks ago), and it will freak you out.

2) you MUST be willing to do your research. Specifically, spending time reading the boards re: best mobo's, advantages/disadvantages of each component selection, SCSI vs. IDE, soundcard selection, etc. If you just buy components because they are cheap, you may find out two months later, while struggling to get your DAW to work, that the montherboard has known compatibility issues with your application, etc. Each app manufacturer (that I know of) puts together a list of known compatible components, which is worth going through after selecting your app.

There's a lot to go through, but your chances of getting a stable system for the long term are much higher if you do this up front. If you buy a Gateway, etc., you're rolling the dice.

Of course, having said that, I bought a refurb Sony VAIO off of ubid.com, and kinda lucked out re: components. Everything is working really well, so YMMV...

-mg
 
There are pros and cons to each but if you know how, it's better to build your own. Many of the reasons have already been stated. The only real good thing about buying an already built and setup computer is that if anything goes wrong, it's their fault. But the pros of building your own far outweigh the cons. For one thing, you learn a lot about computers so that you can repair or improve you own without their help. I don't know how much you know about computers, but it's really not all that complicated. And there is plenty of help on the internet.

Go for it dude!
 
BTW, if you're a really "hands-off" type (which probably doesn't describe too many people here, but anyways), it's worth looking at

www.carillonusa.com

for systems that are put together, tested, and optimized for you. All you need to do is play!

-mg
 
I've done both, and recommend building your own. My main motivation is wanting to know that every piece of the computer is quality, and will last. Places like Dell and Gateway don't tell you the make or model of the motherboard, for instance.

The price difference between ready-made systems and DIY is no longer as great as it was, but the latter is still cheaper _given the same level of components_. And will be cheaper in the long run, naturally.

There is a middle option, which is to have a system built for you by a company that lets you specify each component in the system. I bought the components for my first system from these guys:

http://www.aberdeeninc.com

and had them build me my current system, by specifying components in their online "configurator". But they seem a bit pricey now, and don't have the latest components. I just finished spec'ing an XP 2100 system, and hope to build it myself from parts from Newegg.com (a great source for parts) or have it built by these guys:

http://www.aicmicro.com/Customize.asp?system=AMD DDR400 BAREBONE

The difference between their price and the cost of components at Newegg really is pretty slight. Note that I have not dealt with them yet, but they check out from the small research I've done.

Also, if you do decide to educate yourself on computer parts, these two sites:

http://www.anandtech.com/

http://www.tomshardware.com/

are great resources.

wren
 
I don't agree with most of you guys anymore.

I've been building my own PCs for the last 8 years and this year went out and bought a ready made, off the shelf PC.

It was a vprMatrix system from Best Buy. Their site is www.vprmatrix.com. All parts are quality parts and corners weren't cut like other bigger manufacturers do (Compaq, Dell, HP). It has RAID, Firewire ports and USB 2.0.

When comparing the cost to putting a comparable system together which parts from TRUSTWORTHY vendors which I can go to in person (I never plan to buy a single thing from Pricewatch.com ever again - too many unscrupulous vendors that screwed me over) it was very competitive.

The best part was that I could make use of Best Buy's 18 month no interest financing which is VERY easy on the wallet. Try that when putting your own system together!
 
thanks guys for responding
but im still wishy washy--- not about building a pc, but the price

follow me for a sec.
if built a pc from scratch and it works !!---outstanding!
if i buy the same pc ready made and reloaded the hd
and it works!!---outstanding!

give/take a few bucks---same price

now if it doesn't work from scratch i put more money in it to
make it work

if it doesn't work store bought i throw the system disk in,reload
and take it back

believe me im not rich but i want stability for my bucks !!

do ya'll feel me

Steve Reno
 
yes!! i feel what ya'll is sayin' and appreciate the advice

ya'll got me thinkin' tuff

Steve Reno
 
I've like to build my own computer.

You don't get all the extra bullshit that always comes with the brand comps.
You get to select every single component by yourself.
You learn a bunch about computers when you do the research for what components to buy.
Maybe you can't pay it over 18 months withour interest, but OTOH, you can buy it piece by piece over time when your wallet permits. (saving the cpu and memory for last, due to ever dropping prices).
It's fun to assemble :D
 
Steve,

This is from someone who used to be in the small OEM building business. If you build your own,you can control all of the components in your machine.That means your in control of the quality.Most big name pc makers cut corners in certain areas.If you go the "build your own" route,you will NOT save any money.By the time you order components on line and pay for shipping and handling, the costs savings are gone.Keep in mind that the big guys buy components in volume,and get much better prices.You will buy one cd-rom from somebody,where they will buy a 1,000 at a time.
If you are not the type that likes to troubleshoot problems,and "dig " for answers,buy one off of the shelf. This way any problems have to be addressed by the seller. If,on the other hand,you like a "hands on" approach,don't mind some head scratching,and like to learn how stuff works,I would suggest building your own...Hope this helps....:)
 
I vote build. You can probably use some of the parts from the old one, your not stuck with propriatory limits when you want to upgrade, you can pick the componants you want (ie sound card, cd burner, software...) and I think it's still cheaper, especialy if you can do with last years p4/2Ghz, 20g hd ect. Check out tigerdirect.com they specalize in stuff that stores say went obsolete 3 months ago.
btw, the old adage "always have a friend who owns a pick-up truck" is now "always have a friend who is a computer geek" ;)
 
I'm in 100% agreement with Imecho40. As someone who has been in all phases of the business - PC sales, repair, building, support, helpdesk - I really think you are better off building your own. I understand where brzilian is coming from, but what you also need to realize is that if you do encounter a problem it is rarely as simple as "taking it all back". Once the exchange period expires (14 - 30 days usually) most retailers are NOT going to just exchange your PC. They are going to insist you bring it in for repair, you are going to wait for however long it takes for the 50 machines ahead of you to be looked at first, then Bubba The Tech is going to tell you "we can't duplicate the problem".

As someone who does home recording - even if only as a hobby like me - this automaticly puts you in a class of users above who the average Dell/ Gateway / HP system is designed for. Retail systems are designed for general purpose, and above all else are designed to be cheap. Their video cards and other componants are almost always several steps behind what you can buy for the same $$$$. Moreover, the typical roll-you-own PC can accept a new motherboard / cpu swap a few years from now when you may feel you need more horse power. You can almost NEVER upgrade the motherboard of a name brand PC - they want you to buy an entirely new PC.

Just my opinion of course. And one more thing - while most name brand PCs come with "system restore disks" as you say, it is very easy to use a utility like Norton Ghost to back up your whole PC (including your own installed software) and make your own painless restore CDs.
 
For me, the argument against building was that when you assemble a system, component for component, versus getting a pre-fab, the assembled system was always more expensive...

EXCEPT that I always forgot to add in the OS, and any programs, etc. If you're going to have a system built, these typically come with it, and do push up the value of the system. Don't forget that.

If you're looking for ultimate stability, look to a vendor who sells systems put together for digital audio (see Carillon link above, or others). Otherwise, there's probably going to be some sort of troubleshooting going on on your part.

-mg
 
Very good point about the software that comes already installed on an assembled pc.Especially the O.S.
From what I see at pc forums,most builders do it because they want to build, they are in it for the experience.The litte (if any ) cost saving is not the major factor. I know the last one that I built cost me a bit more,but I wanted something special.Simpy put,building your own pc is not for everyone..Hope this helps.
 
build your own cost benies

Actually, I think that you CAN save quite a bit with a build your own system. What I did was ask a friend who was already producing music with Cakewalk (as a hobby, but pretty good stuff) what he used. He said he got his system from Gateway and gave me the specs. I also looked at Gateway's "musician's special" which was supposedly optimised for home recording. I looked at the specs, and went through a search on wholesaler computer sites like www.TigerDirect.com and also looked for specific components on Ebay, and I basically matched what Gateway offered.

I built this machine for $450:
**Albatron KX400+ Pro Motherboard (5PCI, 1 AGP, 3 DDR Ram slots) TigerDirect
**AMD Athlon XP 1700 processor TigerDirect
**Maxtor 40gb 7200 rpm ATA133 IDE hard drive TigerDirect
**ThermalTake Volcano CPU heatsink/fan TigerDirect
**ATX tower case w/ 350w power supply (beige) TigerDirect
**Creative Audigy soundcard Ebay
**Galaxy GeForce2 MX200 64mb video card Ebay
**256mb DDR PC2100 SDRAM Ebay

Gateway's machine came with a CDR drive, and Windows XP. Nothing else they offered would be of any value to me. If you have Windows installed on another machine, and you DO NOT use that machine anymore, it is legal to install Windows on the new machine under the same license. I plan on getting a CDR drive, but a better one than what would have been on the Gateway box.

Gateway's price: $1200

The rig I built isn't top of the line, but it will be plenty for using Cakewalk in a home environment, hobby type situation. If you are going from a 533mz with 64mb Ram, it will be a HUGE difference.

As far as software goes, I think most of the software you get with a package system is fluff, and usually worthless. How often do you get any use out that stuff? Almost 100% of the software I actually use, I buy seperately, or its a free download, that I can easily install again on the new machine.
 
One more to add in the "build your own" category.

If you plan on going to Best Buy to buy a pre-made computer, you better know what the hell you need from your computer and exactly what kind of components and software you want, because I can tell you that finding a retail employee that knows the requirements of using a pc for audio recording is just short of impossible. You are not going to get the quality you need by just blindly walking into the store and saying "I need a computer for music". I know from experience. Retail computers, with all the proprietary software, bells and whistles, are NOT designed for any heavy usage. They are web surfing, email, photoshop scrapbook machines. We've gone through three store packaged computers that were used extensively for games before we wisened up and chose a place that let us put together the machine ourselves. We simply took a gaming pc magazine, checked the recommended specs of high flying gaming computers, and applied them to an online store that put the machine together and QC'd it. We saved $1000 in parts, and the machine has yet to burp, sneeze, or fart. And that's just gaming. Audio is a separate beast entirely.

Not only that, but you can also find warranty deals and customer service from custom shops that surpass Dell, HP, and all those other bozos. You do not want to be stuck in the middle of an intense recording project at 2am and on the phone either finding out that tech support is only open during regular business hours, or speaking with some tech idiot with an attitude who can't help you unless you have them charge $30/hour to your credit card to try and fix a problem that may not even be fixable over the phone. Oh, and did I mention the call is not even toll free?

Worst case scenario at a custom shop could be finding out from someone on a toll free line that you have to replace some hardware, which will be reasonable cheap because your pc was put together in a way that makes DIY replacement a snap.

Cy
 
hi there everyone my name is sweetnubs. how are you doing? i am fine too. well, the dreaded quica sessions are over and i am recovering my sanity. traditional latin jazz is great but that latin/funk fusion stuff is downright hard to stomach. pop and slap bass should be outlawed or perhaps anyone who pops and slaps should be required to wear a sign that says "i am silly". oh yeah, building your own computer . . . . .

never buy from dell/compaq/gateway etc. . building your own computer may actually cost you a little more initially but it will pay for itself over time. there is almost no upgrade path in pre-fabbed computers. the bios sucks. they generally don't follow the atx form factor so the case is useless down the road, you can't pop in a new motherboard whenever you want, sometimes you can't disable onboard sound/video. you want a fast computer for audio right? right! thought so. onboard sound and vidoe steal cpu cycles. you usually can't swap out processers, control irq's through bios. also they don't come with a complete operating system. it is an operating system that has been modded by the company. wanna reistall the os? can't without the restore disk which rewrites your hard drive. wanna go buy an os for your pre-fabbed computer? can't, where are you going to get the southbridge drivers? i must repeat NO UPGRADE PATH. need new cpu microcodes? no bios updates. need a new agp driver? no way johnny. so what if you have to go drop $150 on windows xp. you got the the os on disk which pays for itself. this is also another reason why i hate apple. you have to buy almost everything at once, with homebrewed you can upgrade constantly and incrementaly over time which in the end saves you money. i haven't gone out and bought an entire pc system at once in about 10 years. i won't even get into how much macs are overpriced hunks of junk and how Jobs and digidesign are just as evil as Gates. please someone develop audio for linux. christ i wish the gui would go away, DOS was freakin' fast.
 
thanks for looking out ya'll

what im starting to notice is that--- for music(my life)it
will be worth building my own computer

the extra bucks i'll pay now --i'll save later

im also in the IT profession, so i dont have any "quams"
about building one---

but im new to digital/computer recording---
i used to have a tascam 788 8-trak cassette recorder(analog)
ya know and i was good with that, and then from there i went
into SOMEBODY ELSE'S STUDIO and if ya know like i know

THAT EXPENSIVE!!!

im gonna keep looking for my best deal-- i ain't goin' nowhere!

i love this and im down to get dirty for it!!

Steve
 
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