Build or Buy?

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what do you have in your computer pumpkan.

I bought my computer I want to build one later since you guys say its better Ive heard a lot of people complaining about how there computers act funny down the line when they have built it themselves.

I have a Dell 8400
80GB Harddrive want to get a 250 might do that on one i build
512MBRAM had 1GB but the last 512M was cheap need new mem
P4 3.0GHZ
SurfBoard Cable Modem
19in monitor want a 21

I got Doom 3 works cool,, but barely play because Im caught up playing Half Life 2 Online..want call of Duty 2 next
 
The issue with playing DOOM3 on the 300 dollar dell is going to be the video card. That machine will be HURTING for a good video card. IF it runs, all of the settings will be on low. I would suggest at least getting a DELL better than the $300 one. Oh, and the $300 Dell has only 256mb of ram. Heck, windows likes more memory that that. I'm looking in Everest right now, and I'm using 511mb of ram running AIM, Firefox, and Everest. That computer, out of the box, begs for upgrades. Don't plan on gaming, that's all I'm saying.

Ryan
 
Tyr said:
I was thinking about buying one of those $300 Dells because I don't think I could configure a machine as good as that for $300. I would have to buy a copy of Windows and that alone is $90. Then I get a 17" CRT monitor for $130. That leaves me only about $80 for the PC itself.

These are the specs of the Dell,

-Intel Celeron D Processor 325 (2.53 GHz, 533 FSB)
-Integrated Intel GMA 900
-Memory - 512MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
-Hard Drive - 40GB ATA100
-48x cd-rom drive
-A215 2.0 speakers
-Windows XP Home
-USB Keyboard
-No monitor (I'll buy one somewhere else)

-$309 after rebates
Since no monitor comes with the tower, and you figure to get one for about $130, that would bring to total price of the premade system to $439-$90 for Windows, leaves you with $350 for your build....let me see what I can do
 
rkf76 said:
Since no monitor comes with the tower, and you figure to get one for about $130, that would bring to total price of the premade system to $439-$90 for Windows, leaves you with $350 for your build....let me see what I can do
I was able to built a system for $20 more that has about 500mhz more power

N52-3020 E :: Wintergreen Socket 478 Barebone Kit / Intel Celeron D 340 2.93GHz / CPU Fan / 512MB DDR PC3200 / 52x CD-RW/keyboard/mouse (19.6 lbs)
$189.99

Maxtor 40GB / 7200 / 2MB / 8.0 / ATA-133 EIDE Hard Drive (2 lbs)
$42.99

PNY Verto GeForce FX 5500 / 128MB DDR / AGP 8X / Dual VGA / TV Out / Video Card (1.08 lbs)
$59.99

NEC FE750 / 17" / .25mm / White / CRT Monitor(52 lbs)
$79.97

TOTAL $372.94
 
rkf76 said:
I was able to built a system for $20 more that has about 500mhz more power

N52-3020 E :: Wintergreen Socket 478 Barebone Kit / Intel Celeron D 340 2.93GHz / CPU Fan / 512MB DDR PC3200 / 52x CD-RW/keyboard/mouse (19.6 lbs)
$189.99

Maxtor 40GB / 7200 / 2MB / 8.0 / ATA-133 EIDE Hard Drive (2 lbs)
$42.99

PNY Verto GeForce FX 5500 / 128MB DDR / AGP 8X / Dual VGA / TV Out / Video Card (1.08 lbs)
$59.99

NEC FE750 / 17" / .25mm / White / CRT Monitor(52 lbs)
$79.97

TOTAL $372.94
So for only about $20 more I could build myself and get a better graphics card. Nice. :)

I think I might go ahead and build then. Where did you find these parts, newegg?
 
one thing that you might want to consider is ordering it from a custom built computer website such as ibuypower.com

I bought my machine from there recently and i got everything that i wanted but one thing was wrong...my psu was busted...other than that...everything was fine

btw, the new psu should be here by wednesday and then i send them the old one back...pretty sweet deal if u ask me! I'm just getting really pissed trying to play bf2: sf with a nvidia fx200
 
NickFas said:
one thing that you might want to consider is ordering it from a custom built computer website such as ibuypower.com
I acually like that idea alot. I really don't want to deal with building one myself at this point.

I'm going to go configure a machine on ibuypower but I have one question first, AMD or Intel? This is a general purpose machine with some VERY light gaming being done on it. By light gaming I mean like Quake 3, Diablo, AOE2, Half-Life and Counterstrike.
 
I am buying my parts from newegg.com and monarchcomputer.com. I saved abit of $ this way. I would go with AMD because i dont really like my current Intel. Just a personal preferance.
 
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