MS... blocked from "community" for not giving cell number

[mjf]

I built my last machine 10 years ago. Now it pays to build only if you're looking for a high-powered gaming computer that would otherwise be very pricey. Otherwise something on sale is fine.

I don't think you need to be a serious gamer to justify building your own PC.
OEM PCs need to cut dollars to make money. Your own build can have many advantages.

 

[Barman58]

What I have found is that, as you say you will not be able to find your personal "Dream" system from the Big players in the PC supply game. You will also not be able to match their prices for a system, but there is another way...

I have found that if I specify the system I need exactly with one of the small specialist makers I can have that "dream" system for a lot less than I would have to pay myself even if not including the cost of my time - you should always include a rate for your time as otherwise the price you come to is unrealistic - this saving is due to the fact that even a small system builder will have some economy of scale advantage over the individual, and they also have to compete to some extent with the big boys

 

[mjf]

Building your own PC certainly involves some effort and desire to have reasonably full control of your own system. At the end of the day it is a lego build hopefully with due diligence concerning the compatibility of the system components. You can end up with a system with good ventilation, higher quality components and expandability. It can be fun and cost effective if you take these factors into account. I think I can still build a PC at a competitive price when using quality components. - but yes it is my time.

If this isn't your thing then buy an OEM PC but even then do your homework. I bought an ACER ~8 years ago and it had low quality components (under dimensioned cheap PSU), non expandable and used to overheat. I actually recased this PC to make it more expandable, better PSU and better ventilated. It was replaced with a higher powered graphics card that had sufficient power and well ventialted.
Recase an Acer Aspire X1700 X1800 desktop PC

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...I built my last machine 10 years ago. Now it pays to build only if you're looking for a high-powered gaming computer that would otherwise be very pricey. Otherwise something on sale is fine.

Not all high powered machines are gaming computers. I'm not a gamer. My current machine, for example, serves as my HTPC (including the ability to record OTA TV) as well as home office work often all at the same time. Most commercially built computers simply cannot meet my needs, be easily expanded and upgraded, etc. The only way to get a machine that does exactly what I need and want it to is to build it myself.

 

[Barman58]

I'm not a gamer either but I do use it for serious Photo Editing and have on occasions had multiple virtual machines open to work on older operating system issues so my Main system is not something that you would pop down to the local box shifter for.

I specified the system with a system builder online and It cost me less that the best price I could get for buying the parts - OK it was not ready to go, as it came without an OS which I already had so did not have a worry with I also changed the AMD Graphics card that was supplied with a nVidia unit I had and added an Audio Card (always had an intention to use the existing Graphics card and so specified a low level card (which I've since used on another Upgrade build for someone who only ever surfs the net ))

I also never bother with peripherals, Mouse keyboards, monitor - why buy what you already have?