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So how hard is it to build a PC

#21
ah I should clarify my post, if a mobo has good ratings for reliability and such and is the cheapest, by all means grab it. I didnt mean to imply that the most expensive is best :P , just that sometimes the cheapest ends up costing more in wasted time and frustration than the you save. so read some reviews, both 'official' and from actual users before you grab parts
 
#22
Putting together a PC is no problem. It's kinda like LEGO, and the parts will only fit in one slot and only in one direction. I've been building my own PCs since 10 years ago. Only build GOOD PCs, because for a cheap PC, i can't do it cheaper than Dell, and neither will you be able to.

I'll leave a warning here though. The parts are quite sensitive, so discharge your static electricity before working on the computer. Trouble-shooting will be a big part of building your own PC. Lastly, turning on the computer without RAM chips installed will burn your graphics card.

Generally, anything you burn/damage/destroy can be replaced on warranty. At least that's how it works here. I've destroyed hard drives, mobos, GFX cards and more doing this, so if you are not sure if you can replace it, don't go experimenting.

Don't scrimp on the power supply. The cheap ones can be really useless. Spending more on the motherboard doesn't make sense to me, the expensive ones and the cheap ones seem to both last about as long - only buy the expensive ones if you need the extra doodads like RAID or SLi. I've gotten quite used to swapping my motherboard now and then when it burns out.
 
#23
How do you guys approach a build? Do you build a basic working PC first then add other things such as network cards sound cards and what nots. Or do you just throw everything together and see what happens.

Does it actually require much knowledge from the software end of things?

Once you have it built is it constant upgrades after that. Or do you start afresh once the PC has become out dated?
 
#25
I wouldn't advise it.

I recently agreed to put together a computer for my old friend/house mate. It took us 6 months. Put it together, didn't work. Nothing the computer was doing made sense. Eventually sent back the mobo. Overclockers.co.uk said it was faulty and replaced it. We tried tons of things... eventually we realised it must be the PSU, and sent it back. Overclockers said it wasn't faulty, and charged us £50 shipping to get it there and back...

Building a computer is EASY, but if something goes wrong, it can be HORRIBLE trying to work out what it is.

If you're going to do it, try to get the most likely to fail components (graphics card, mobo, processor, etc) from stores near you. If something goes wrong, you can take the item back and cuss people directly, instead of having to send the item back and wait weeks. Get the other items from websites.

Good luck! You might need it ;)
 
#26
Unless you have the time to have a computer that's down 10% of the time, buy one.

I've got the knowledge, the skills, and the sources for great computer equipment. But I'll take something with a warranty so *I* don't have to deal with it when it all goes downhill. I'm not the one who has to spend my time troubleshooting it, whereas I could be doing the homework I bought the machine for.

I'll take an off-the-shelf computer with a warranty any day. IF it's purely for gaming, go ahead and build it. If it's a crucial part of your life, buy it.
 
#28
Jezz8me said:
it shouldn't be to hard if you get compatible parts and have an understanding of basic electronics. I am planning on building one soon
Click to expand...
You're right. Building them is easy. Making sure they work is the hard part.

Before you do any building, look into getting your A+ certification. That'll teach you the ins and outs of troubleshooting. Because something WILL go wrong when you build your own.
 
#29
Well wouldn't it be better to approach building in a piece by pc way. Mother board with on board graphics. Ram hardrive and a dvd for loading the OS. Upgrade piece by piece once that is working. Sort of build test add test add test add test until your done.

Or is a basic pc alone enough to cause trouble?

Also would not cheaping completely on parts and sticking to known and recommended brands reduce issues
 
#30
Id just build it all up and then install the OS.

Id disagree about the downtime problems, out of the 3 PCs and a laptop we have had, mine has had the fewest problems (only one serious really, regarding PSU mentioned earlier). And even at that, all the parts were under warranty.

Most of my mates build thier own too, you dont need a certification, you just need common sense and to know what parts are compatible.
 
#31
tplyons said:
You're right. Building them is easy. Making sure they work is the hard part.

Because something WILL go wrong when you build your own.
Click to expand...

That's nonsense, my dad and I have been building computers together since 1997.

Building a computer since then has been made so much easier.

You just got to make sure your parts are compatible(ask your local parts dealer).

Treat the parts with tender loving care. Do not use force ever.

By reading up, any problems(unlikely) can be solved easily.
 

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