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12 Jun 2009
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#11
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If you want to read about a ridiculous build, see here.
And I motivation poster I made, for additional inspiration. Sure, building your own PC is a blast, just make sure you have money and time.
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My System Specs |
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Computer type PC/Desktop
System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom Build/Mod
OS Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU Intel QX9650 Extreme 4.0 GHz
Motherboard ASUS Rampage Extreme Rev2
Memory 8GB (4x2) Corsair Dominator DDR3
Graphics Card 2x Radeon R390X [8GB]
Sound Card SupremeFX X-Fi
Monitor(s) Displays Dell 2408WFP 26" Panel
Screen Resolution 1920x1200
Keyboard Logitech Illuminater Pro
Mouse Logitech
PSU Corsair HX1000
Case CoolerMaster - Cosmos S
Cooling Custom Liquid - 320mm rad w/ 3x 80mm fans, CPU/NB/SB Blocks
Hard Drives 4x WD 2TB (8TB+ Total)
2x Crucial SSD 128GB (RAID-0)
1x LG Blu-ray read/write
1x Phillips LightScribe DVD read/write
Internet Speed Fractional T1 - 125Mbps
Antivirus ESET Security Suite / Microsoft Security Essentials
Browser Cyberfox Intel x64
Other Info OC'd to 5.0GHz @ 44c under full load
12 Jun 2009
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#12
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Quote: Originally Posted by jw12345
As somebody who has built most of his desktops, I'd say it's not really worth it unless you have a lot of free time and are trying to save every dollar possible.
It's not too hard to clobber a pc together, but to really make a solid build, you need to know a lot of details such as PSU rails, effective case cooling, RAID setup (if applicable). And you always run that chance that some piece of hardware you get has a crummy driver or just so happens to act wonky with another. You'll occasionally run into problems where a new build just simply won't boot and install an OS and it might take you all day screwing with it. (I had a problem where Vista simply hung during install and apparently it was some obscure conflict the motherboard was throwing up. This is despite the motherboard coming with a Vista certified emblem)
But if you do have loads of free time, not much cash, and want a very specific build, then go for it. It's just not always as pain-free as it's made out to be.
I spent maybe a month watching you tube videos on building computers before doing my first build.( Not what I would call an expensive education) I spent about the same time on sites like Newegg and Tiger Direct reading product reviews before buying the parts for my first build. It took me 3 hours to assemble my computer and it posted the first time I pressed power. Been up and running almost a year now and stable as rock. I will never purchase another name brand computer....with there proprietary crap. I spent around 1,500 dallars on my system and when I was done I compared it to comparable Dell system coming in around 2,500 dollars. Then there is the satifaction factor. I built this computer it's my baby and know one knows it better than I do. I vote build it youself! Now if you will excuse me my computer and I have made plans to go out to dinner tonight.
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My System Specs |
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System Manufacturer/Model Number Self Built:kellymac35/TOSHIBA LAPTOP X775 3DV78
OS WINDOWS 7 Ultimate x64 Full
CPU INTEL i7 930/INTEL i7 2630QM 2.9 GHz With Turbo Boost
Motherboard EVGA X58 3X SLI CLASSIFIED/TOSHIBA
Memory MUSHKIN ENHANCED 12GB/8GB SAMSUNG DDR3 1333 MHz
Graphics Card EVGA GTX570 S.C(SLI) FERMI /GTX560M 1.5GB of GDDR 5 DISCRETE
Sound Card REALTEK ON BOARD /BUILT IN HARMAN KARDON STEREO SPKS
Monitor(s) Displays TOSHIBA 32'' /17.3" LCD 3D READY 120 Hz LED BACKLIT
Screen Resolution 1360x768/1920x1080
Keyboard Logitech MX 3200/PREMIUM RAISED TILE LED BACKLIT
Mouse Logitech
PSU CORSAIR Professional Series AX1200 1200W
Case THERMALTAKE Xaser VI
Cooling CORSAIR HYDRO SERIES H70
Hard Drives MUSHKIN Enhanced Callisto Deluxe SSD X 2 240GB RAID 0/MUSHKIN Enhanced Callisto Deluxe 240 GB SSD 750 GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
Internet Speed DSL
Other Info (SPDIF) To Kenwood VR-6070 Lucasfilm THX Select Surround EX
12 Jun 2009
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#13
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Quote: Originally Posted by jw12345
It's just not always as pain-free as it's made out to be.
+1  But finally nailing a niggling issue is pretty damn rewarding. If you've got the time to flap about that is
But if you're looking to get a higher end rig for a lower cost, then sourcing and building it yourself is the way to go.
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My System Specs |
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Computer type PC/Desktop
System Manufacturer/Model Number Systems by SmartEyeball
OS 8 Pro x64
CPU i7 3770K 4.6GHz
Motherboard ASUS P8Z77 WS
Memory 16GB G.Skill Trident X 2666mhz
Graphics Card x2 EVGA 780 Ti Superclocked SLI
Sound Card SB X-FI Surround 5.1 PRO USB / ATH-AD900 Headphones
Monitor(s) Displays x3 Dell U2410 / 58" Samsung
Screen Resolution 5760*1200/ 1920*1200
Keyboard Topre Realforce // Ducky Shine MX Black // Filco Ninja TKL
Mouse Thermaltake Theron (Highly Recommended) + Razer Imperator
PSU Silverstone Strider Evolution 1200W
Case Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition
Cooling Noctua NH-D14
Hard Drives 2x Intel 520 240GB (RAID 0) * 2x WD Caviar Blacks 2TB (RAID 0) * 2TB WD Caviar Black * Sony Optirac DVD
Antivirus MSE
Browser IE, FF, WaterFox
Other Info GT Extreme V2 Sim Racing Cockpit + 40" LCD and K/B Mouse stand ▼
Fanatec CSR Elite Wheel + Clubsport V1 Pedals + CSR shifter/7G-H ▼Saitek X52 Pro ▼ TrackIR 5 Pro
Buttkicker v2 Seat Rumbler with Dedicated 5.1 and Sub Woofer attached to frame ▼
=
Bloody Big Grin
12 Jun 2009
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#14
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All in all, the best bet is to build it yourself. Hands down. I would have built my own laptop instead of customizing it, but that was a big hassle.
It may be a little bit more to build it yourself, but the difference is QUALITY. When you buy a PB pos, you are getting (sometimes) the lowest quality parts. This is so that the rig is less expensive. However, that just means that the computer sucks.
Also, I find it EXTREMELY difficult to find a computer (PB) that has EXACTLY what I want. When I built my computer though, I could.
In the end, it IS the best deal.
~Lordbob
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My System Specs |
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System Manufacturer/Model Number Hera
OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Mint 9
CPU Intel i5-2500k
Motherboard ASUS P8P67 Pro
Memory 2x 4Gb Corsair VENGEANCE DDR3-1600
Graphics Card NVidia GeForce N260GTX Twin Frozr
Sound Card Realtek HD OnBoard Audio
Monitor(s) Displays ASUS 24" Monitor
Screen Resolution 1920x1080
Keyboard Razer Tarantula
Mouse Razer Lachesis
PSU Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
Case Cooler Master Haf 932
Cooling Fans
Hard Drives G.SKILL Phoenix Series 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3R 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA II
Internet Speed not fast enough
13 Jun 2009
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#15
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If you decide to purchase, stay away from the XPS series... unless you go with a 630. They are all BTX cases/motherboards, which means upgrading in the future would be very difficult. I have a 630 and when I purchased it I had no idea what ATX/BTX cases were... but I lucked out. I have a BTX case (right side opening, usually considered to have better ventilation inside) but the 630 was specially manufactured to take an ATX motherboard (mounts upside down).
Anyways, a build is easily the way to go. I built a computer for designing and rendering at work with 8GB Patriot DDR2 800MHz memory, 2x320GB Seagate Barracuda HDD in RAID0, Core2Quad 2.83GHz, Gigabyte EP45-UD3P MoBo, Coolermaster case, and ATI FireGL 3600 video card for $830. Granted, it still needed a monitor (I already had 2)and a keyboard and mouse (already had those also).
It runs SolidWorks Premium 2009 and all of the nice add-ons flawlessly!
BUILD IT.
P.S. That same computer, plus a different CPU cooler and a few fans would be an amazing gaming computer. Almost up to spec with my XPS (except I have a Diamond Radeon HD 4890 XOC, 3.0GHz Core2Duo @ 3.2GHz, and 8GB OCZ Platinum 1066MHz memory and lots of blue fans.
See attached.
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My System Specs |
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OS Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU Intel Core i7 970
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD9
Memory 6GB STT Speed (Hypers)
Graphics Card Nvidia GTX 570, 470
Monitor(s) Displays Dell 22"
Screen Resolution 1680x1050
PSU Corsair HX1000
Hard Drives WD Caviar Black 500GB
WD Caviar Black 1TB
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB
Seagate Barracuda
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