Is it really worth while to build your own computer?

[Kaleva]

Is there a big cost savings when one purchases the needed components and puts it altogether by themselves?

I use a computer mainly for browsing the web, e-mail and watching Youtube videos. I don't play games, other then the ones that came with the OS, watch movies or do any extensive projects on the computer.

But then I see laptops on sale at places like Best Buy for around $200 to $300.

[ManiacJoe]

1. Depends on what your time is worth

and how much effort you want to put into it.

Building a desktop computer would not be that hard, laptops are more trouble due to the space limitations.

Personally, I prefer someone else do the assembly and do the testing to make sure they got it right.

[Kaleva]

3. It appears much of the time would be spent doing research.

As to what components to buy, where to buy them from and making sure all the parts are compatible.

[ManiacJoe]

7. Very much so.

As Pharaoh points out, if you are not building a specialty machine, then you are better off getting one off the shelf, especially at the $200-300 price point.

Humorous story:
Many years ago, one of my then-housemates decided to build his own gaming computer. He spent weeks on the research into what parts to get for the desired overclocking and where to get them from. He placed the numerous orders from various vendors and waited for the parts to be delivered. The very last part to arrive was the motherboard. For a week all he could do was stare and pout at the pile of parts! After he finally get it assembled, that box rocked! And generated heat like crazy....

[Pharaoh]

2. for web browsing etc..

you just need a cheap 300 dollar laptop. Building your own would be way more expensive and unnecessary...

[Kaleva]

6. I think building one's one computer is more for those...

who really are into gaming, like to do so for a hobby and/or need a very powerful computer for work.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

4. Consider that...

...minimum price for a copy of M$-windows is around $90. I built a mid-range pc from parts for about $800. If your interested in doing this as a hobby, I recommend reading MaximumPC.
Here's a build article: http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/buildapc

I mostly use newegg for parts.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Having built several computers...

don't even think about building a laptop.

Don't even think about building a one-piece desktop.

The parts for the above will either be impossible to get or be priced ridiculously high.

A desktop tower is buildable, and places like Tiger Direct regularly have kits on sale. But, the prices of the parts aren't much, if any, lower than the assembled ones on sale. And you still have to obtain an operating system. And monitor. And you can make some really, really bad mistakes installing CPUs and memory. And, after a few hours putting it together, it doesn't work...

Building a computer, for some of us, is a cool thing to do for the experience, and for some of us it gets us the computer we want that's difficult to find otherwise if we have special needs.

For the rest of us, however, it's a waste of time and money. For what you want, 500 bucks or less gets you something more than adequate.

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Can't agree more strongly with those first two sentences.

BYO can be done for two purposes: to produce a really high-performance custom machine that would cost a fortune if bought from a dealer; OR to recycle functioning parts from older computers that have partially failed or gone obsolescent, in which case you are not building from scratch but just "Frankensteining" a functioning machine by cannibalizing failed ones (it must be the Halloween influence that's making me choose that wording).

If you really want a cheap machine, check eBay, Craigslist, or even your local thrift shop. If anything is likely to go bad in one of these used machines, it is the hard drive, so if you install a new HD in a used machine you are pretty safe, and the "repair" effort is minimal. I used to buy Pentium 4 machines for <$100; they're a glut on the market now, and I've picked up used Core2Duo machines for lower prices than that since (one came with a video card, the other with a 2nd hard drive, neither of which was listed by the seller ).

Have you considered a refurb from Dell.com ? Even i7's are available, and their lowest end C2Duo's start at $200+ BUT remember you can get a short-term warranty with that.

[csziggy]

8. Not a lot of savings for regular computer users

But if you have high end or specific needs, it can be easier and cheaper to build your own - or go through a local builder - than buying off the shelf.

For instance, for my current computer I needed fast video processing, but not the type for gaming. I needed to be able to hook up two monitors and several fast hard drives. (I do a lot of scanning and image editing.)

Because I haven't built a computer for a number of years and hadn't kept up with the newest processor/motherboard combos or the best price points for things, I worked with a local computer builder I've known for over twenty years. We worked out the best setup, I placed the order through NewEgg.com then took the parts to his shop. He charged me $100 to assemble the components and test it. I brought it home and installed the operating system, drivers, my programs, imported my passwords, bookmarks and data from the old computer.

I don't know what a computer to do what I needed would have cost commercially - I had looked around and didn't see one I liked, so it would have been special order. Now I have a computer that I can upgrade as needed - I've done that with previous computers, adding a better video card, more memory (though right now I've got 32GB and more seems ambitious), another/different hard drive (6 terrabytes might not be enough!), etc. In previous cases, I've changed out motherboards, CPU and memory while keeping a lot of the old components as a cost saver.

For what you describe building your own computer isn't needed unless you simply want to learn how to do it. And if you do want to, go for it! It can be fun and it makes that box under the desk less mysterious.

[bananas]

9. get a tablet for under $100. nt

[hobbit709]

10. To me it is. you get what you want

and you don't have to clean out all the crapware a new brand name system is bogged down with.
getting rid of the garbage on a prebuilt system takes about two hours, then you have to tweak the windows settings to make it perform better.
After that you have a computer that actually performs like it should.

Laptops are not made to mess with. About all you can do to a laptop is add memory and a bigger hard drive. And a lot of the new ones make that difficult since they removed the hatches on the bottom of the case that allowed you to do so-or even take the battery out. Now you have to practically take it halfway apart just to add memory.

I sell custom built units that I build and I can beat the price on any system with comparable specs from the store.

[BlueJazz]

12. Aside from the great advice from the previous posts, I would like to add this tidbit. >

If you're going to watch youtube videos for any length of time, a cheap laptop will work fine...for awhile.
IF you watch the videos in the normal format, you'll be fine. Watching a video in full-screen MIGHT put a strain on a cheap laptop/Video card that could, in time, cause problems.
Cheap laptops are not known for having very long-lasting video cards. (and No, you usually can't upgrade them)

I say all this because decent laptops 500> can usually handle heat fairly well...cheap laptops, not so much.
At least, that's been my experience.

[mscottveach]

13. careful

There can be a savings but in my experience it usually ends up costing me more. The more i can customize the
more I find myself unable to resist overspending.

[gvstn]

14. +1000

After I up the quality of each component I end up spending ~$200 more than I would have off the shelf. I keep telling myself, Yeah, but you have a better quality machine.", maybe true but actually saving money--No.