- Choosing whether to buy or build your new computer
- The ease of building your own computer
- Deciding on the objectives for your computer
- Selection of hardware components to meet your objectives
- Choosing your operating system
The advantages of building your own system include custom components wth better reliability and longer life, lower power consumption and cooler, quieter operation compared to purchased computers.
To Buy or To Build? That is the Question...
Reasons to Buy
- Immediate gratification - At the local computer store, you can pick out your computer of choice, buy it, bring it home, and start to use it.
- Warranty on assembled computer - Your purchased computer will come with a warranty--one-year or maybe three years. If something goes wrong within the warranty period, you can take it back to the store for repair.
- Preloaded software - Jim Dinkey calls preloaded software “crapware”. Crapware is mostly ads. The ad company paid the builder of the computer to install the ad software.
Reasons to Build It Yourself
- Desirable features - I will describe the many desirable features you can have in a computer you build--features that are not available in a purchased computer.
- Warranty on components - You have not lost your warranty. The warranty is on the components. Often the component warranties are longer than the warranty on the purchased computer.
- Learning experience - As you build your computer, you will learn about the hardware and be in a better position to diagnose and fix future hardware problems.
- No unwanted software - The only software on your computer will be what you put on it--no crapware.
- Enjoyment and gratification - You may find it fun to build. When you first press the "on" button and the computer boots up properly, that is gratifying.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
If you can setup your TV media center without help:
- TV
- Cable box, satellite box or antenna
- DVD and VCR
- Tivo/DVR
- Extra speakers
- Remote controllers
You have the skills to build a computer. Assembling your TV system is the same process as building a computer: you are cabling together components.
On the other hand, if you:
- Cannot setup your TV without the help of your grandchildren
- Are all thumbs for mechanical assemblies
- Do not follow instructions
- Are not good with computer lingo
You should buy!
Comments
Build your own laptop
I am new to this group and hope another round of computer building gets under way. I would like to learn how to build a laptop. Is there a laptop sig on here?
How to build a laptop
Many laptop manufacturtes use components designed just for their laptop. There is not a large market for generic laptop components as there is for desk top computers.
However, it is possible to build a laptop computer. Google "build a laptop", or something like that, to learn details. Since there is not a large market for generic laptop components, as there is for desktop components, you probably will not save money by building. In fact, building may be more expensive than buying since you will not get volume discounts on the components.
Some laptop vendors, for example Lenovo, allow custom builds on their website. You can select components from a list of avaiable components. My wife needs a new laptop soon and I may take this approach.